A/N Time bomb
Alt title: Someone's in TROOOOUUBLE!
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For those who haven't pieced it together. I'll put it at the end.
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Fernizer: That means so much to me! I love character driven stories. And exploring different perspectives. The main thing is, it gives me a fulfilling challenge. I put myself in their shoes. And think, 'Now how would I act?' and go from there. It's easier for some characters then for others. Carol, is very easy for me to write. Kitsu? Kinda. Mark? Tricky. Vicky? There's a reason I don't feature her POV as often.
And the comments? Don't apologize. I wasn't saying I disliked the feedback. I love it! The fact that you all focused on that one part, let me know how it came off. And that helps me learn to write better. You all gave me genuine criticism. And that's why I respond. I didn't hate the responses. They just caught me off guard.
DancingLeaf: Have you figured it out? The connection?
Aside from that, I never really considered the light Carol is really seen in. I always saw cannon Carol as being separate from NEWB Carol. The same mold, but different material. Or something like that. This Carol was slapped in the face with the fact that things can be better. She had a whole introspection self reflective moment over it. Where she realized that Mark taking his medicine made things so much better at home by having someone be there fully. And that as his wife, it was her job to help him. In sickness and in health. Not to say it's her responsibility to take care of her husband, but she essentially let him rot until the issue was forced to light.
I'm rambling.
Anyway! Like I said, multiple people saw what you did. And that just means it's on me for not portraying her intentions better.
CoD. My mom overheard one of the lobbys when I was playing once. I was banned from online games for a year.
And, get some sleep. Please?
Kaykaykaykayan: COD player right here! I literally played it growing up, though, I was never as good as Kitsu. My beat KDR was a 3 in ghosts.
SonicTundra: Yeah, it was pretty good until book 8. Then it said. "Hey kids wanna see a dead body? No? How about a city's worth then?!" I stopped reading when in book 17 one of the Travelers was stuck in Madison (I think?) and they took a knife and slit a birds throat to put it out of its misery and stop it from bashing its bloody and broken face into its cage over and over as a result of The Simurgh's song.
Yeah, it, it gets dark. Mercy killing animals hits too close to home for me.
ElectricalDummy: Thank you! I have no plans of stopping!
RadChaos897: Get ready for another cliffhanger.
There's not much I can say to anything without it being a spoiler of some form. But I will say there's a twist!
And wendigo's? Really dude? That's basic! Like forgetting to do your laundry. Next you're gonna tell me you ate the Tailypo!
Grimnosh: You are SO close! So close! You're right. Fleur would've 16 at youngest, 18 at oldest. And a pregnancy is not something you can hide easily.
But, there is ONE clue you're missing. Stated way back in Ch. 19. [Conduit] grabbed a random body from a parallel earth. And then dropped it into Earth-Bet.
Casanova5424: Yeah, things are gearing up! So much so that I might start a second fic and end this one just so I don't have a dauntingly large fic.
Not sure yet.
I PM'd you. If you want I have a few homemade recipes l can give for coffee.
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Disclaimer: I don't own Worm or any other characters in this work, other than my OC. All other characters belong to their respective properties.
-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
[Shard]
(Text)
*Sounds/Actions*
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-Monday, July 19th, Dallon House 9:45am-
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Kitsu POV
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*Knock* *Knock* *Knock* *Knock* *Knock* *Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
You know, if the lights had kept flickering. Vergil would've pulled off major horror movie villain vibes.
"Um, who's answering that?" I ask.
Unlike ninety percent of, everyone. Vergil has the capacity to put me down. And, I kinda don't want to hurt him if I don't have to.
I still haven't gotten that autograph!
"You?" Dad suggests.
I glare up at the man standing over me.
I should probably get up.
"Really?" I ask as I get to my feet. "Sending the little girl to deal with an A-class literally banging on the door?"
"You're the indestructible one!" He counters.
As we debate the logic and morals of sending an indestructible child to confront the, possibly, unstable cape. As opposed to the very destructible fully grown adult.
Mom stomps past us in her jammies, a pissed expression on her face. I'm talking red, cave man brow furrowed glare. Physically shoving a chair out of the way.
"Daddy I'm scared." I say as I hide behind him.
"Just don't draw attention to yourself." He says quietly as he crouches down to hug me. "And try to make yourself as unseen as possible."
I turn invisible.
"Okay that's just cheating." He says.
"What!?" Mom yells as she opens the door.
"Where's Kitsu?" I hear Vergil ask.
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"You have five seconds to go home before I put the fear of god in you." Mom says calmly.
"I just, want to talk." Vergil says.
"Three seconds." Mom says.
"What are you going to do?" He asks. "Fight me?!"
"In court. You are officially trespassing." Mom says. "You'll be hearing from my firm by tomorrow. Static Shock." Mom says before she closes the door.
"I, did not see that coming." I say as I turn visible again.
"What?" Dad asks.
"Mom just threaten lawsuit to get Vergil to leave." I answer.
"She's a lawyer." Dad says as he stands back up. Taking me with him.
Weeee!
Soon enough, Mom comes stomping back through the kitchen.
"Clean up your mess." Mom says as she passes.
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*Knock* *Knock* *Knock* Vergil starts again.
"One of you deal with that before I do!" Mom shouts.
"Not it!" I shout.
"Now!"
"Yes Ma'am!" Dad says as he hurries through the house, still holding me on his hip.
"Hey hey wait!" I shout. "What are you doing!? Let me down!"
"Nope, we're facing this together." Dad says.
"As my part time sidekick I demand you let me down!" I say as I point to him.
I'm not willing to use super strength on him. It's a basic matter of principles!
"Unfortunately for you, I'm off the clock." He says as we reach the door.
"You will-! Oh hey Vergil, what's up?" I ask the fully costumed teen at the door as I switch to totally in control mode.
"We need, to talk." He says.
"About what?" I ask.
"Before that, Static Shock, you need to head back to The Rig." Dad says. "They think you went AWOL, they even sent out an emergency line because you stormed off."
"Appropriate word choice." He says with shrug a as lightning crackles around him. "And don't worry, I'll head back. I just wanna know, what happened to Maureen."
He has that 'I'm totally sane but not really right at this moment but I'm fine' smile. Patent pending.
"Um, specify?" I ask.
"Static, look." Dad says as he sets me down. "I really think you-"
"I wasn't talk'n to you sir." He says with a glare.
"Tone it down Vergil." I say with a returned glare. "Or I'll show you the difference between classes."
"Just, tell me." Vergil says through a shaky breath and a smile. "Did you, kill, Maureen?"
Okay, hear me out. Band aide method. He's going to figure it out sooner or later. Lying now, will only make later worse. And that's something I'd rather avoid.
"Yes." I say.
Cue the fist to my face as I activate my immovable power.
And before I can say something. Dad spartan kicks Vergil in the throat!
"Wait!" I shout, getting Dad to stop.
Only for Vergil to throw his saucer at him and knock him back into the house.
"Dad!" I shout back.
"This is between me and her, old man!" Vergil shouts. "Stay out of it!"
I look to Dad, enhancing my perception to see if he's alright.
The coffee table is broke. But he's getting up.
I look back to Vergil. He has a stone face glare. The kind that shows he's being overwhelmed with anger, but is controlling it.
I run to him. Intent on using my biokinesis to shut his motor neurons off. Saving us all the time of this song and dance.
Only, as I get close. Small sparks of electricity wisp off of him. Making me jump back as his eyes follow me, if, slightly delayed.
I can't touch him! If electricity is generated inside my field. Yes I still absorb it. But not before it hurts and possibly knocks me out!
I could use my new siphon trick. But I haven't tested it and have no clue just how severe it'll be.
I return my perception to normal before it disorientates me.
The sounds all return as Vergil holds a hand up and calls his saucer back to him.
"I'd try and say something." I call to him. "But I doubt you'd listen!"
"Why?!" He yells as he tosses a bolt at me.
I let it hit. And fake the pain. I've stated it before, but electricity only hurts if it bypasses that first layer of my absorption field.
Still, no need to let any opponents know that.
"She, she asked me to." I say shakily as I make an illusion of myself to keep his attention while I invisibly sneak off.
*Zzt* *Shatter*
Looking around, my decoy is still there. But my invisibility is gone.
"You know I can see you." He says as he walks over. "Don't try and get out of this!"
He holds up a hand and lets loose an arc of electricity at me. In keeping up with appearances, I run out of its way.
Only to step on a ball and trip as it gets pushed behind me. And goes off in a burst of electricity.
It was a battery bomb!
This fucker is bombing me!
'When the fuck did he plant that!?' I think to myself. 'And why the hell didn't I hear him do it!'
Then I hear it.
*Zzzzzzzzzz*
The soft static! His little static field is messing with my ability to hear things properly! And the constant shocks of electricity is fucking with my sense of smell by filling the air with ozone!
I need time to adjust to this. But whether or not I have that time is another story. I need time to adjust and think without the threat of him.
So, I run.
"Get back here murderer!" He yells.
Looking back, I see him hop onto his saucer and chase after me.
That's good! I can use this. So long as he doesn't get smart and keeps up his chase.
'Okay, think. You're basically acting as bait.' I run through in my head as I enter the Central district and turn invisible as I run around the traffic.
I turn invisible because if people see me blurring past, they freak out and might crash. I'm fast enough to dodge around cars and roof hop on them. And light enough that I don't damage them in doing so.
Still, better safe than sorry.
'Think. Bait, trap. I need a trap.' I think to myself. 'What could I trap Vergil in?'
Think, think!
'Okay, super resilient, limited telekinesis with metal, can reattach severed limbs, effectively bullet proof.' I list in my head as I calm down. 'Um, weakness, weakness, water! But is he dumb enough to follow me to the bay?'
No. At least, I don't think so. He may be reckless right now. But I can't bank on him being so reckless that he'd follow me to his Achilles' heel.
But. Fire hydrants.
'Argh!' I think to myself as I dodge a motorcyclist. 'If I just stayed at the house! There's almost no one out back home and there's a hydrant right down the street!'
Think, think!
I can't get into an open fight. It may be early morning. But this is a city with nearly twelve million people. In other words. The roads and sidewalks are still full! And collateral damage is still a thing!
Bay is off limits. Too obvious. Hiding? No, he sees peoples bioelectric aura and sees them as unique to the individual. And I don't know if that works through walls or not.
Commercial district has too many people to risk it. I'm roughly in Central right now, backtracking to the boardwalk is a no. Again too obvious and too many people.
Nearby there's the hospital, Arcadia, City Hall, and if I stretch it Winslow and the West Slums.
Wait! Water tanks! The roofs have water tanks that supply the buildings with water! Using gravity to supply the buildings water and reduce the need for complex pumping systems!
Why do I know that?
With a plan in mind, I run to the sidewalk an jump up. Using platforms to assist my rise.
I make it to the rooftop and spot a water tank on the adjacent roof.
I run over and jump-
*Crash* *Shatter*
I'm disoriented as I cartwheel through the air. Smacking into the side of the building and tumbling down, smacking the fire escapes like Spider-Man in the second movie.
I land on the ground in the alleyway. Amongst the mud and grime. My invisibility shattered.
I'd like to mention, I'm still in my night clothes. Which are now ruined.
I get up to my hands and knees as Vergil descends on his saucer.
"What are you even doing?" I ask to try and reason with him.
"Putting down a menace." He says as he touches down and steps off his saucer. "A murderer like you needs brought in."
"Didn't she have a kill order?" I ask as I stand up.
That, was not a smart thing to say. As Vergil charges forward.
I dodge and duck. Not wanting to be put out by the static coat he's maintaining.
"Vergil!" I shout. "Chill! You don't want to do this!"
"Agree to disagree!" He says as he flings his arms out, thin trails of blue electricity spiraling around his arms and shouting out to the fire escapes. In a harsh, swift motion he brings his arms down.
Bringing the fire escapes with the motion.
I run and dodge out of the way of the crumbling metal. Once again grateful for the hearing aides as that loud clanging would've hurt.
He is so lucky I'm keeping the kid gloves on. If I really wanted to. I could shred him with a cloud of daggers, or just blitz out of here on an illusionary saucer.
"Okay! Remember the seminars?!" I shout. "You need to calm down!"
That, and I'm trying to avoid making too much of a scene in the middle of the city. Hero means I need to keep civilians in mind.
And I really want to come out of this with as much moral high ground as I can.
"I'm plenty calm." He says as he walks atop the crumbled fire escapes. Staring down at me though his glowing goggles.
Though the longer this goes on, the less I'm finding that I care about that.
"Static Shock!" I hear Dragon's voice come from his comms. "You are to return to The Rig IMMEDIATELY. Any further inci-"
He takes his comms out of his ear and crushes it.
"Okay, pretty sure you just placed yourself on the villains list for that." I point out.
"That's rich coming from someone who was on the priority list not even six months ago." He says as he hops down.
'Okay, that's, I have nothing the really counter that.' I think as I crawl back.
"Okay, counter point." I say as I hold out a hand and rapidly increase the temperature. Forcing an explosion to throw him back.
That is very energy extensive, I'm still recovering from the attack on the ferry. And all that did was inconvenience him.
I hop up and take off again. My destination being Arcadia. PRT territory, should be empty, and, fire hydrants. And if worse comes to worse, empty school!
Been meaning to destroy the gym.
As I turn invisible to keep from crashing. Sure enough, I hear Vergil hot on my tail.
Okay, never using that phrase again. Sort of takes on a whole other meaning when you have an actual tail. And when said tail is sensitive.
Dodging and weaving as I check back. Sure enough, Vergil is still following me.
He's not willing to attack me on the street. We're both playing a game of avoiding collateral. Problem is, he's a lot better at it than me. Which is why I'm trying to get somewhere with no people. And give myself the advantage. I need to learn how to fight without getting destructive.
Oh god I'm having the same issues as Vicky.
'Why isn't anyone coming after him? Isn't he AWOL? Why would the governme-'
Fuck it's the government. They're probably trying to keep this on the down low as much as possible. And Vergil is one of their highest movers, only being beat by Velocity. And there is almost nothing Velocity could do to Vergil outside of foaming him.
This is the problem with capes who have a kryptonite. While yes, they have an obvious weakness. Without that weakness readily available, there's not much that can be done.
'Fuck! Just need to get to Arcadia.' I tell myself.
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-Meanwhile, The Rig, 10:15am-
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Emily Pigot POV
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Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.
"Fuck!" I shout.
Our strongest Ward just went AWOL on a vendetta. What was Armsmaster thinking!? Talking about such sensitive topics in the fucking halls!?
"Dragon, have we had any word on the situation?" I ask.
My laptop lights up with the image of the worlds most powerful Tinker.
"Static Shock crushed his own communicator and tracker." Dragon says. "We do know he's chasing after Kitsu, but where is another story. She's gone invisible and he's been spotted roaming the streets."
"Looking for her?" I ask.
"Chasing, he can see bioelectric auras and Kitsu's invisibility doesn't cover that." She says. "We also got a call from the Dallons. Do you, want me to relay it?"
"Might as well." I say.
"Brandish wants you to know she will be pressing charges." Dragon says apologetically.
"Wonderful." I say.
The moment I get back from Boston and I have to deal with this shit?
Can't send the other Wards. Too risky. Foam? Vergil is too fast. Armsmaster? No. Previous behavior shows he's more likely to attack Kitsu and try to take her down. And then reason with Static Shock.
The problem is that Static Shock's power has the potential to be too lethal. And he's not in the right state of mind for me to assume he won't accidently kill whoever we send after him.
And Kitsu? If he pushes her too far, I'm not sure what we could do.
We've been lucky that so far she's been playing nice.
Send in Vista and Clockblocker? No, Clockblocker would need to touch him and that runs the risk of electrocution. And if anything happens to Vista then Kitsu could go berserk.
Assault and Battery would be great. With Assaults versatility and Battery's invincibility. But Battery is away on maternity leave.
Velocity could keep up with them. But not much else. Triumph could do a bit. But all it would take is one bolt and he's down. Kid Win doesn't have any gear that would be capable of taking down Static Shock. At least, none that I approved or am aware of.
"Where's Gallant and Aegis?" I ask.
"They're off, currently at home." Dragon says.
"Call them in on a class five emergency with the potential to escalate to a class nine." I say.
"Right away." Dragon says.
"And call the Dallons. Tell them to keep Panacea on standby and all of their flyers in reserve if needed."
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-Arcadia School Grounds, 10:23am-
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Kitsu POV
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I dodge more lightning strikes as Vergil hovers above.
"Vergil, last chance!" I shout to him. "Keep this up and I'll get serious!"
"Big talk from someone who's been runnin the whole time!" He shouts as I dodge another bolt.
No fire hydrants in the parking lot, none in the fields, what the hell?
Open combat for a bit. Okay!
I turn around and charge at him. Surprising him as he rears back slightly and shoots out a bolt as I enhance my perspective to dodge.
"You want a fight!?" I yell as I return my perspective. "Here's what you're up against!"
I make a giant Anubis rise out of the ground with my illusions. Think the Anubis boss from Assassin's Creed Origins. Coming up right behind me in the middle of the circle drive of the school. Like some sort of JoJo's RPG boss.
"I know your illusions are as tough as glass!" He says.
Only when I don't layer them on top of each other to spread out the force of impacts.
Which is what I am doing with the fist.
The rest of the Anubis is purely visual. Only the fist is tangible to save on energy.
It punches Vergil as he sends a bolt to it. It travels through and around the fist. Being layered enough that it doesn't shatter it. And I watch in satisfaction as his eyes widen and he's knocked off his saucer.
I don't have a lot of long range options. A hundred feet is my illusions limit before they get distorted. And I need to keep Vergil at a distance. He's fast. And if he grabs me and electrocutes me then I'm out.
As Vergil is on the ground, he unleashes a shockwave of electricity. Shattering the illusion as he looks back to me with a snarl.
If there was one thing different about this fight, I'd have won already!
Wait, why am I caring about collateral at an empty school? Wrecking these places is every students dream! Some teachers too!
I run to the parking lot as he charges at me. Throwing a smokescreen illusion with a bar in it to clothesline him.
I hear him hit the bar and unlike his cousin who just recovered when I tried that trick on her. Vergil takes a tumble onto the pavement.
I make it to the parking lot and start ripping up parking blocks. I normally have shit aim. But, yeah there's no but here. I'm just throwing parking block after parking block, and ripping parking signs out and tossing those as well. Sideways throwing the parking blocks and tomahawking the parking signs.
"Eat pavement you walking charger port!" I shout as I toss the debris at him.
"That the best insult you got?" He says as he electrifies a sign and tosses it out of the way. "Thought I'd hear better from the fur bait!"
Dude. No need to go that far.
As expected, none of the signs hit him. And some actually get tossed back to me. And I end up using parking blocks as baseball bats to slug a few away before I say fuck it and stop throwing metal objects at him.
He doesn't have the title of strongest Ward on the east coast for nothing. My shit aim actually helps me here. As my wild throws cause him to bob and weave almost as erratically as my aim. Which gives me more time to think and plan.
Throwing doesn't take a lot of thought, but dodging does. So, when I get to the last of the parking blocks. I illusion a bunch of chains to come up from the ground and pull Vergil down.
While he's recovering from his third tumble of the day, I dash for the doors of the building and barrel through. With Vergil getting back up and onto his saucer. Hovering in to following me.
The gym has places he can hide from the sprinkler system. So my goal is the cafeteria. It's too open to hide anywhere before the water gets him. And all the tables should be put up for the summer.
*Crash*
And I'm smooshed between two locker columns as they're ripped out of the wall.
"Ow!" I say sarcastically as the lockers separate. "Look, Vergil, I will hurt you!"
He's shoved the lockers to block us in. I can't get out without smashing a wall, a bunch of lockers, or running past him.
Idiot. This is better.
"Like you hurt Maureen?" He asks.
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'Don't prove him right.' I tell myself.
"Okay, that's it." I say as I enhance the body temp of my shoulders. Burning the fabric there.
I'd do more, but one, I don't want to flash my boobs to the world. Two, I don't want to risk destroying my hearing aides by igniting my hair.
"You have fire now?" He says as he starts crackling with electricity. "I've already put away one Hotshot. What makes you think I won't put you away!?"
"Fire's not for you." I say as I tear a strip from the lower part of my baggy shirt. "Thanks for following as far as you did. And for trapping yourself. This is better. The cafeteria has windows after all."
His eyes widen as I light it and toss it up towards the sprinklers.
*ERI* *ERI* *ERI*
The fire alarms flash and ring as Vergil takes off. Though, not fast enough. Seeing as he had to take a moment to move the locker wall. As the sprinklers activate and dowse him in water.
"Rraaaagh!" He shouts as his saucer drops and he rolls. Electricity cackling off him as he pants.
"Your first mistake was letting me run!" I call out as I walk towards him. "Running is what I do best. You let me gain the upper hand. I was never trying to run away."
"You, you murdered Maureen." He pants as he glares up at me. "You made her beg for death!"
"No I didn't." I say in confusion. "Who said that?"
"You did!" He shouts as he gets to his knees, glaring with unrestrained anger. "Your own words! She asked me to!"
"It was an assisted suicide!" I shout back. "I encountered her, and her first words were Please Kill Me!"
"And you didn't think to not!?" He yells. "She was crying out for help! And you failed her!"
"What was I supposed to do!?" I ask as I hold back my tears.
He's right. If I only thought to check on her.
He stands up, the sprinklers still going. And looks to me with a sneer.
"Anything!" He yells. "Anything would've been better than killing her!"
"I literally put her out of her misery!" I counter.
In a blinding motion. He grabs my neck and screams in pain as he electrocutes me.
He's electrocuting the both of us!
It only lasts a second or two. As a red blur tackles Vergil off of me.
*Rreeee*
What's that sound?
"Dude! You need to chill!" I think I hear Aegis say. "There's always a way to-"
*Rreeeeeeeeee*
"What is that sound!?" I ask as it gets louder, sharp pain racing through my skull at the sound.
'Why aren't my hearing aides working!?'
*RREEEEEEEE*
IT HURTS!
"AAAAAAHHHH!" I scream in agony as I cover my ears.
*EEEEEEEEEEE*
Everything goes black.
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Dean "Gallant" Stansfield POV
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*REEEEEEEEEEE*
"What is that noise!?" I yell as I instinctively cover my ears.
Not that it does much. I'm wearing a helmet.
Carlos looks around before he wordlessly goes over to Kitsu's prone form. Dropping Vergil and turning over the limp girl.
If Missy were here, fuck I don't think there'd be anything I could do short of try to save Vergil.
Carlos pulls her hearing aides off her ears and tosses them down the hall. Taking the high pitched ringing with them.
"Fuck, why didn't you just crush them?" I ask.
"We need to figure out why they're doing that." He says. "Can't do that if I break'em."
"Guys, what the hell!?" Vergil asks. "I was bringing her in!"
Hatred. Frustration, sorrow, and hatred. That's all I see.
"Bullshit." Carlos says. "You were on a warpath. Now come on. It's my day off and the sooner we get you back the sooner I get to sleep."
Yeah, he's a mix of frustration and annoyance.
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-The Rig, 2pm-
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Emily Pigot POV
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"Kitsu is unconscious and Static Shock is in M/S Protocol." Miss Militia reads out. "When Armsmaster went to inspect the hearing aides. His armor put itself in lockdown and he's currently stuck. And Dragon is not responding to us."
'Great.' I think sarcastically.
All things considered. This could have gone much worse. I pride myself on being competent. And to be competent, you need to face the reality of things.
If at any point. Kitsu had decided to stop playing hero, I'd be getting a much different report. Assuming I got one at all.
"Have Kid Win inspect the hearing aides." I say.
"No need." My computer lights up with Dragon's image. "I already know the reason."
"Dragon, good to see you." I say sarcastically. "May I ask where you've been?"
"Calming down for the most part." She says with a smile.
"What happened?" I ask.
'The worlds most powerful tinker is pissed. Great. What else could today throw at me?!' I think in frustration.
"Oh, I just found the reason for Kitsu's hearing aides going off." She says in a sickly sweet tone of voice. "Collin snuck in a little surprise for her. If at any point he deemed necessary. He'd activate the little surprise. And Kitsu would drop in pain as the dampeners shut off and amplifiers activated."
I just had to test it.
"Can you unlock Armsmaster?" I ask. "I'd like to have a word with him."
"Unless that's an order." She says. "Then no."
She cuts out.
Fuck my life.
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-2:10pm-
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Chris "Kid Win" POV
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"You piece of shit!" I yell at the effectively paralyzed man.
"Kid Win, I would appreciate you not taking that-"
"Shove it up your ass you rejected Tin Man!" I shout as I kick his leg.
And immediately regret it as I nurse my foot.
"Kid Win, I believe you should calm down." He says.
"Fuck you!" I shout as I nurse my foot. "You fucked with my tech, I will not calm down!"
That was the first thing I made with full confidence. It was made in good faith for the girl who not only helped me figure out my specialty. But helped me in chem class!
"Kid Win!" I hear behind me as the doors to Armsmasters lab opens up. "Step away from your superior!"
I take a step back as Miss Militia walks past with Carlos.
"Alright, Aegis, grab his shoulders." She says. "I'll grab his feet."
Carlos steps around and hefts up Assmaster. Miss Militia picks him up by his feet and Carlos drops him.
"Oops, my hands slipped." He says.
"That's a lie." Armsmaster says.
"Don't make me start kicking you too."
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-Pigot's office, 2:40pm-
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Emily Pigot POV
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"And now you have Brandish filing suit." I say with a glare to the paralyzed man.
"I sincerely believe this is all being blown out of proportion." He says. "While the timing was unfortunate. It was a necessary safety measure."
"Necessary my pale ass Collin!" Dragon says over the speaker. "You rigged what is essentially a disability support device to invert itself and further cripple its user! What's next? Are you going to make a wheelchair that jabs a spike into its users neck? Turning a paraplegic to a quadriplegic? Or maybe color blind glasses that make the wearer blind!?"
"I genuinely believe you are all making false equivalences." He says. "Kitsu cannot be injured. She was merely incapacitated for a short time."
As Dragon continues to chew Armsmaster out. I think on the repercussions of everything.
Kid Win is furious that his tech was tampered with by someone who he trusted. And not only that, it was set to sabotage the person it was intended for. And it was made as a thank you gift and in good faith towards Kitsu. Aegis is pissed that Armsmaster would abuse Kid Win's trust like that. And Lyra had to be restrained when she heard about it. Vista is still on standard patrol with Clockblocker. So that's one time bomb I'm waiting for.
There is no possible way this will go over well. Even if Kitsu went on a rampage and the device was necessary. He could've just rigged it to stop working.
Instead he put a veritable bomb inside a little girls hearing aide.
If this gets out to the public. I can see the possible headlines.
Grown man rigs little girl's hearing aide to render her unconscious.
And that's the nicest one I can think of.
"Collin, you're on leave." I say. "Effective immediately, if you are seen outside your house until further notice you will be declared AWOL."
"Director that is entirely unnecessary." He says sternly.
"It's for your safety as much as your punishment." I say. "Imagine how Kitsu will feel when she wakes up. And you don't have another device to prey on another's disability."
I hope.
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-Tuesday, July 20th, The Rig Emergency Care Room, 1pm-
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Kitsu POV
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I wake up to the smell of cookies and coffee.
Sitting up and stretching. I look around at the room. And notice Missy off to the side on her phone. Visor off, costume on.
I look around the room. Recognizing it as the hospital.
'What happened?' I ask myself. 'Did Vergil knock me out? Fuck I knew I should've stopped holding back! So what if I'd have nearly killed him. I can put him back together!'
Wait.
I hear everything again. From the electricity in the wiring to Missy's heartbeat.
"Why do I hear, everything?" I ask.
Missy's head shoots up towards me. Jumping out of her chair and running to me.
"Oh my gosh!" She says as she takes my head and holds it to her chest rubbing my hair as I hear her heart race.
"Um, not that I dislike the position." I say into her chest plate. "By all means, coddle me more. But, I'd like an explanation as well."
"Dickmaster." She says.
"Wut?"
"Armsmaster rigged your hearing aides and they got damaged in your fight with Static Shock." Missy says with a sneer in her voice.
'I thought Wade fixed that?' I think to myself.
"Oh I was so scared! You wouldn't wake up for anything!"
She pulls back and lets go of me. Before messing with the rail of the gurney and lowering it. And then climbing into the bed with me.
"Okay, now who's being cheeky?" I ask as she moves to put herself under me in our half spoon cuddle. "Weren't you complaining last time I-Mmrph!"
She kisses me to keep me quiet. Separating after a bit.
"Um, what was-Mph!" I try again.
"If you're going to talk, talk about something not related to everything here." She says softly. "I don't want to think about any of this."
'Was seeing me unresponsive on a gurney that traumatizing?' I ask myself. 'Of fucking course it is you idiot!'
So, I lay here. And talk about my experience with Call of Duty as we await for me to be released.
Much to Missy's horror.
"And people really just, say that stuff?" Missy asks in disbelief.
"One guy even said that if I didn't stop laughing, he'd track me down and bang my mom so hard that my dad would be jealous." I say with a smile. "Not that he used those words. But it was still funny!"
"How, is any of that funny!?" Missy asks. "You're getting death and rape threats!"
"It's funny because they're saying it out of pure anger, and they're being spurred on by the anonymity of online gaming." I explain before I give an evil smile. "But more than that? I'd like to see them try."
…
"I know you're trying to be scary." Missy says. "But you're just coming off as mischievous and cute."
"Everything I do is cute." I defend with a pout. "It's not my fault I look this way."
"You are literally a shapeshifter." Missy points out.
"Do you want to lose kissing privileges?" I ask.
"You like my kisses too much." She says with a grin.
I mean, she do be right though.
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-1 Hour Later-
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"I want him arrested!" Mom yells at Pigot. "Both of them! Chasing an innocent girl through the streets. And sabotaging hearing aides!? Who the fuck does that!?"
"Mrs. Dallon, I understand your frustration. However, we can't just simply place another cape under arrest without causing a massive stir." Pigot says. "Please, be reasonable."
"Reasonable." Mom says as she crosses her arms and gives that 'Oh really?' smile. "I believe reasonable, would be not being forced to wake up to a runaway Ward banging on my door and fucking with my electric bill, hours before I have to be up. Reasonable, would be expecting said Ward to leave the moment I tell him he's trespassing, reasonable, would be expecting a set of hearing aides, to not have a fucking BOMB in them!"
If anyone asks, I'm not here right now.
Even Pigot is wide eyed.
"Those are all, very reasonable things." Mom continues. "Yet none of those things happened today. So forgive me, if I'm feeling unreasonable."
Pigot takes a deep breath, before exhaling.
"Mrs. Dallon, the best I can do as of now, is keep him on leave as a full investigation is underway." She says.
"No." Mom says.
"Excuse me?" Pigot asks.
"No, you can do better." Mom reiterates.
"I'm not sure what I could do that would be better." Pigot says.
I sneak one of the cookies Missy brought me. They're basic sugar cookies.
"Either you do, or I go public." Mom threatens.
"I hab an idrea." I say.
"Swallow before you talk." Mom says with a glare.
Heh, that's what he said.
"I have an idea." I say.
"I don't believe that-" Pigot starts.
"Let her speak." Mom says.
Pigot silences herself. Clearly preparing herself for my, idea.
"Demote him." I say. "You can't fire him, you can't arrest him. Demote him, and put Miss Militia in charge. She's clearly better at leading anyway."
"Perfect!" Mom says with a smile. "Strip him of privilege and responsibility. That way, he'll never be able to do this again."
"Oh, and make sure he knows its my idea." I say.
Nothing will piss him off more.
"Okay, I'll, see what I can do." Pigot says.
"Oh, you'll do it." I say. "You can't afford not to. After all, what would the papers say if they learned the leader of the Wards, sabotaged a little girls hearing aides. Forget the public, what would the Youth Guard do?"
Mom's heartrate picks up at that.
"Very, very well." Pigot says. "I'll see to it that the paperwork is dealt with. It'll just be a matter of time and coming up with a cover."
"Have him say he's stepping down in preparation for retirement and in recognition of Miss Militia's capability. That he cares about the efficiency and well being of the Wards. And that he recognizes her as being better than him." I suggest. "There, perfect cover story that the press will love! Armsmaster, humble and grateful."
He, will be, SO pissed!
Mom gains a bit of a smile that she quickly schools and hides.
"I'm, surprised you came up with that so quickly." Pigot says.
"I'm smart!" I say with a smile.
I just thought of what would piss him off the most.
"Of course." Pigot says. "Now, onto the next matter. Static Shock."
"Just have him pay for the damages at the school." I say. "And again, let him know I suggested it. And that I could've done much worse."
"I'll take it." Pigot says, knowing that there is a lot I could demand. "If, if that is all, I'd like to call this discussion to a close. I have, too much to do."
"Just let Chris know I'll need another pair of hearing aides." I say. "Preferably without, the coma inducing pain of hypersonics."
"Of course." She says as she leaves.
We watch the potbellied woman step out of the room. A few seconds after the door closes. Mom turns to me and walks to my bed. Standing beside me as she looks down to me. Before smiling and coming down for a hug.
"Oooohh I am so proud of you!" She says as she squeezes me. "The way you handled that? Oh it was so perfect! Like a little lawyer the way you strong armed her into agreeing with you without ever threatening her!" She gushes.
"Um, thanks?" I say as I just enjoy the hug.
"Come on, I brought you a change of clothes." She says as she comes back up, still smiling. "We can pick up a pizza on the way home."
"Pizza!"
Today is a good day.
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-Wednesday, July 21st, Dallon House, 9:30am-
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"In other news. Multimillion dollar entrepreneur and CEO of Medhal Pharmaceuticals, Max Anders, is under arrest following allegations of, get this, child abuse and domestic violence." The woman says as it cuts to a scene of Max Anders in cuffs, being escorted out of The Towers by police. Stone faces as cameras flash and other officers are forced to keep the pedestrians at bay.
"Yes, yesterday afternoon his eldest son Edward, released a video to the public." The man continues. "Claiming that he'd had enough, and feared for his brothers safety. And so he posted the damning evidence on YouTube. We won't show the graphic parts here, but in it you can clearly see multiple instances of Max beating his eldest on several occasions. At one point smacking him hard enough to knock his amputee son over."
It cuts to parts where we see Max in an office. Yelling at his flinching son, Alphonse. Though there's no audio, you can see Max is being very aggressive.
"That's right, and even more disturbing is that several who know the triplet sons, Edward, Theodore, and Alphonse, say that this, explains a lot." The woman continues. "In one statement from an individual who wishes to remain anonymous, they said, and I quote. 'I've met the boys on many occasions. Edward is very vocal about his disdain for his father, Theodore always tries to change the subject anytime he's brought up, and Alphonse would always get fidgety and evasive."
"Horrible, just, absolutely horrible." The man tsks. "Though it does raise the question. What'll happen to Medhal? They own and run the vast majority of hospitals and pharmacies on the east coast."
"We don't know, so far the share holders are staying quiet." The woman says.
"Oh my god." Amy says from the couch.
Turning to her, she's on her phone and watching something. She's in her Panacea robes. She was about to head out until she got several phone calls and texts telling her to check the news.
"Everyone has secrets and dirty laundry." Mom says as she heads to the door for work.
"Um, this is worse than you two think." I say. "Mom, you might want to unground me."
"What the hell are you on about?" She says as she turns to me, right as Dad opens the door.
"You know how if you take out a leader of a gang, without dismantling their structure, it just causes a power grab that increases crime and violence?" I ask.
"I was at the Boston Games, so yes. I'm intimately aware." She says.
"Well, Max Anders is Kaiser." I say.
Her eyes widen at my statement. And Dad freezes in place.
"Oh god!" Amy says. "I'm gonna be sick!"
We're about to be hit with the Boston Games two. Nazi boogaloo.
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-Thursday, July 22nd, Hookwolf's holdout-
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Brad "Hookwolf" Meadows POV
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"Well boys!" I shout to my loyal dogs. "Looks like we have an opportunity at our feet! Who wants to be the top dogs of the bay!?"
I grin at the roaring crowd of people. Eager to get to work and establish my kingdom.
"This is gonna be fun."
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-The Towers-
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Kayden "Purity" Anders POV
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"You stupid boy!" I yell at the amputee. "Do you have any clue as to what you've done!?"
"Should've known his side piece was in on it." He scoffs. "What? You gonna hit me too?"
"I'd never hit a child." I sneer. "There's a reason I was filing for divorce. And now that's going to get infinitely harder now that Max is in jail!"
"Well look at it this way, there's no way in hell a court will grant visitation or guardianship to a man convicted of child abuse." He points out. "If anything, you're in the perfect position to take everything from him."
'He's right.'I realize. 'A man convicted of child abuse? There's no way the courts will ever side with him!'
"And, if he's accused of domestic abuse, you'd get everything in the divorce." Edward calmly says as he lounges back on the couch. "Hell, you could get Medhal, set your kid up for life. All without the hassle of sucking up to that mans ego."
"What do you need me to do?"
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-Industrial Hideout-
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Klara "Stormfront" Risinger POV
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"Alright." I say to myself as I see the news.
The hypocrite is down for the count. Knew he wasn't up to snuff. No man who uses fake principles could ever be a real leader. Not like his father and sister were.
No. It's time for someone who actually believes in their preaching to step up! Someone who will follow through with their word! Purity believes in our natural superiority as much as Kaiser did. And Hookwolf is just a rabid dog not worthy of the race he was born to.
"Time to suit up." I say to myself.
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Bonus
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Unit-003, designation: Informant
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[Error: Possible Outcome Intercepted]
[Reworking: Subroutine 0093.5; Backtrack]
[Error: Unviewable]
[Reworking: Subroutine 0089.3; Localized Wavelength Interception]
[129790 Data entries recieved]
[23781 Data entries corrupted]
[Error: Source of unknown origin interfering with Route 034]
[Route 034: Analyzing]
[Error: Unviewable]
[Route 034: Unviewable past 650.88 ellipses]
[Route 034: Abandoned]
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3rd person POV
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As the being locally known as The Simurgh floats along in space. It finds itself experiencing something, new.
As it slowly loses hold of its visions and it's own interface becomes more unreliable. It feels, frustrated. And afraid.
What could be blocking its sight and dismantling its plans?
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Bonus 2
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Rebecca "Alexandria" Costa-Brown POV
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"We managed to get buccal cells from her." I say to the other members of Cauldron.
Contessa, The Number Man, and Eidolon.
"And?" Eidolon asks.
"I am quite curious as well." Number Man says. "Every calculation says that the possibility of Kitsu having a relative here on Earth-Bet is less than zero point zero to the tenth power one."
"Correct. Further more." Contessa adds. "There is no path that can be modeled with her factored in. Coil is locked in his base and his civilian identity is about to be declared dead. All because his power is not functioning properly."
They're right. The longer Kitsu is in Brockton Bay. The larger the blindspot on the city becomes. Fourteen plans for the city have already been scrapped. Any further and we'll have to abandon all plans for the area altogether.
"Well, the results are in." I sigh. "And Lightstar is her father. And Fleur is, or rather was, her mother."
"Impossible." Number Man says. "Fleur would be between sixteen and eighteen to have conceived the child. On top of that, she was an active hero. The odds of miscarriage while maintaining active hero work are absurdly high. To say nothing of there being no birth records, no period of inactivity, and while technically possible, no one noticed any signs of a pregnancy. The longest amount of time she went unaccounted for was a month when she was seventeen. And that was for a broken arm. The odds of Fleur having a child in that timeframe are barely higher than Kitsu having any close relatives."
"Unless." Eidolon says. "She is a Case Fifty Three."
"Not possible, if-" Number Man starts.
"Contessa, if you had a path tell you to create a Case Fifty Three and then wipe all of our memories and records of it to avoid any interference" He leaves off.
"If it lead to a higher probability of victory." She says. "Without a doubt."
Her body language all indicates that she's telling the truth.
"So, an alternate earth where Fleur and Lightstar had a kid?" Number Man says. "The odds of an earth with those criteria are guaranteed. The multiverse is large. The odds of us finding one such earth? Eighty percent and some change."
"So, that's it?" I say. "We broke our rule of not making Case Fifty Threes if they have Earth Bet relatives or counter parts. And wiped our memories of it?"
"Factoring all other bits of information?" Number Man says. "Odd, I'm getting a clean fifty percent. That never happens."
"Unless, it's also a universe with a high mover and Kitsu got thrown in here by accident. And her power mutated her of its own accord." Eidolon suggests. "Or she triggered with a trump power that gives her powers she needs, like we theorized, and she was in an incident that required her to develop a universe jumping power."
"We'd have sensed it." Number Man says.
"Would we?" Eidolon challenges. "She's a blindspot in nearly every other sense."
He's right. We already struggle to model her in any predictions. Who's to say she couldn't hide a teleportation power?
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A/N
If it seemed the fight between Vergil and Kitsu was anticlimatic, don't worry.
I've got a slew of things prepared.
That, and it came down to their goals. Vergil wanted to take Kitsu down. But Kitsu didn't want to take Vergil down.
Overall their encounter lasted about thirty minutes.
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*Spoiler* *Spoiler*
It was stated that [Conduit] grabbed a random body from one of the connected Earths in the sectioned off portion of the aether. And dropped it into Earth-Bet so it could have its fun.
Kitsu, was only five years old when she was placed on Earth-Bet. She got yoinked through the fourth, fifth, and sixth wall in the process of the move. Shattering her mind and stripping her of her sense of identity. That's why she was confused that she was a little girl. But didn't seem bothered by it and took to her body rather quickly. And, while confused at first, didn't take long to just say, I'm a girl.
Not all of her 'memories' from before are hers. That's why they're inconsistent. For example, she once said she had three sisters and a brother before. But then said two sisters and two brothers. Then once recalled that she was the brother. Once, she remembered her mother was a nurse. Then, another time she couldn't recall. She knows so many random bits of knowledge with no connection.
She remembered being in Alton, Illinois before. Yet has never gone there. You'd think if she had a sense of attachment or memories to the place, she'd try and visit.
She trusted and got attached to the Dallons and Pelhams, WAY too fast.
Missy mentioned that Kitsu looks like a miniature Vicky with minute differences, and that Carol and Kitsu look like they could be mother and daughter.
Kitsu, is an alternate universe child of Jess and Mike. Fleur, and Lightstar. Or as RadChaos897 put it, an alternate universe Maybe-Baby.
She came from a world set slightly in the future where New Wave and The Brockton Bay Brigade were never a thing.
That's why this story is labeled a Semi-SI. The only self insert is my meta-knowledge. And that's explained by her being tossed through Cthulhu's living room right before landing in Earth-Bet. Her mind couldn't handle the strain of everything it went through. So it wiped several things to keep her from breaking down from everything she saw and had forced into her head.
*Spoiler Over*
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The hearing aides are water resistant, shock proof, and heat resistant. But those resistances were not mutually exclusive. The heat, mixed with the water, adding in the shock. Broke the inhibitors to the failsafe Armsmaster slipped in. Setting them off.
Wade did set a virus in place. If Armsmaster ever tried to remotely trigger the hearing aides. His suit would lockdown. However, he didn't press the button. He did press the button when he went to inspect them to try and fix them. Thus, activating the virus.
Basically it was a software virus, but the trigger was faulty hardware.
Dragon just lied to protect Wade's identity.
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QUESTIONS!
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FOR NEWB!
Casanova5424: What are the odds i can get a detailed tutorial/shopping list to that coffee setup. Just the idea of having that in my room had me in literal shock and envy for a WHILE.
Newb: I sent you a pm. Keep in mind I used my holiday discount. So it took off like, $150 of that.
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FOR KITSU!
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FOR ONE TIME ONLY!
ERIC!
RadChaos897: How strong are your shields? How much damage can they tank before they break?
Eric: Okay, so, it's like I have this, tank inside me. And I can use that tank to fuel my shields. The more juice I put in, the larger and stronger I can make them. But the faster they wear out. I imagine that at max capacity, they'd handle a nuke, but would only last a few seconds.
RadChaos897: Are you able to create multiple shields or just one at a time? If so, then how many?
Eric: This is something Kitsu and I are working on. I can do one just fine. Two is tricky. Three becomes difficult. Anything after that and I risk all of my shields just popping. It's mostly a focus thing.
RadChaos897: Do you need to use your hands to create your shields or is it more like a psychosomatic reaction?
Eric: *Googles psychosomatic* Uh, yeah. That thing. Psycho sonar trick.
RadChaos897: Can you change the shape of your shields or are they in a fixed shape? Ever try something like a spiked shield or a blade shield?
Eric: They can only really be basic shapes. Squares, rectangle, spheres. I did try, it just never went anywhere.
RadChaos897: Have you ever used your shields in an offensive manner? Shield bashing, shield striking, that kind of thing.
Eric: I've used the shield to clothesline a fleeing motorcyclist once. Does that count?
RadChaos897: Have you ever enclosed a criminal or villain in your shield and then shook them around like a snow globe? Something to try out later on a Brute or a particularly rowdy person.
Eric: Ooh! I am so stealing that for later.
RadChaos897: How has your status as a New Wave cape affected your life outside the household? Ever had anyone try to be your friend to get closer to your other family members? Did you ever get stalked by crazy fangirls? Do you even have fangirls? What about fanboys? A fanclub?
Eric: Let's just say there's a reason I stay at the house. And leave it at that.
RadChaos897: Since you're a streamer, what are the current most popular streamers? Do you have any personal favorites? Do you know if there are any other capes that do streaming, in or out of costume? That would be a pretty funny sight, watching a cape in full costume playing GTA or COD and cursing out a kid for killing them for the umpteenth time.
Eric: There's actually a compilation of my raging at little kids killing me in battlefield, halo, and COD. My editor put it together as an April fools joke. And it's my most watched video.
There's a few popular streamers. Though it's poor form to plug others in your own QnA. I will say there's this one girl who's getting really popular. Her name's Alicia King and she goes by Dru.
As for capes? Pinky is the only one I know of.
Grimnosh: What is your favorite game and what type of games do you prefer?
Eric: I actually prefer story based RPG. Like Assassins creed, Fallout, Mass Effect. My favorite right now is Bioshock.
It just sucks that people prefer to watch me play games I don't really care for. Like TF2 or COD online.
Casanova5424: If your evil clone decided to spill your worst secrets, whats the most emotional damaging thing it could say.
Eric: I am not answering that!
*Wibbly wobbly timey wimey bullshit*
Evil Eric: I am evil Eric! The Dark Eric! You may call me! Deric!
*Proceeds to wrestle Eric and tape his mouth shut*
Deric: He once masturbated four times in a row to see how often someone could masturbate before he just couldn't anymore. He was sweating so hard and so out of breath his mom took him to the hospital to see what was wrong.
NEXT TIME!
PINKY!
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As always, leave a comment and tell me what you think! It makes my day when you guys leave reviews and it pushes me to write faster.