Outsider Chronicles: Full Metal Worm

You know, there were a lot of things I was expecting when I got reborn into a world of traumatized Superheroes. Becoming one of those heroes was actually pretty high up my list, but when your a Tinker whos main trick only needs a bit of chalk, thats Bullshit on a whole other level!

And we're back. As much as I'd love to have Alex spend his whole time in costume channeling Bravo, its just not feasible. I can't maintain it He will occasionally bring out his inner Bravo though. Oh, and fair warning, this chapter has Skidmark in it. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Never had I been so glad for the lessons in martial arts and freerunning from my parents as I was right now. I was currently running across the rooftops of the Docks, inwardly marvelling at how light my Silver Skin was considering it was a completely impregnable shield, as well as how useful it was as a climbing tool. Because it was so strong, I could easily dig my fingers into walls to pull myself up and didn't have to worry about cutting my hands as I climbed any bits of rusted metal.

Much to my surprise, I haven't managed to find any crimes going on yet, but it was still early in the evening. I'd have to head home soon, but I wanted to try and at least find someone I could make an impression on. Alternatively, I could head home and sneak back out once everyone was asleep. I didn't have to get up tomorrow after all. Plus, we were currently in that end of year slump at school between the end of exams and start of the holidays, so it really didn't matter if I fell asleep in class. That said, I don't think that it would be such a good idea.

A flash of metal caught my eye and I skidded to a stop at the edge of a roof, looking down into the streets below. It looked like I'd stumbled onto a robbery in progress, ABB judging from the bandanners the group were wearing and the fact that they were all of various asian denominations. Frankly, this was exactly the sort of thing I was looking for to cut my teeth on, a bunch of normal idiots robbing a corner shop. Now I just had to hope some idiot hero didn't show up and pick a fight with me without thinking.

I quickly brushed off that thought and watched as the thugs started loading up the things they'd stolen into the back of a nearby van that just so happened to be in the alleyway directly below me, looking around wearally. They probably thought they were mostly in the clear by this point. Time for my dramatic entrance.

I stepped up onto the ledge that surrounded the roof I was on and let myself fall. I landed on the bonnet of the van with a loud crash, making a couple of large dents and probably damaging something important. I didn't even feel the landing thanks to my Buso Renkin. Good god, the Silver Skin is bullshit.

"HALT, CRIMINAL SCUM!" I shouted as the thugs all nearly jumped out of their skin and looked up at me.

"SHIT, CAPE!" yelled one of them as he whipped out a gun.

Before I could react, he fired three times...which did precisely nothing. It didn't even make my Silver Skin tremble. The thug paled as he realized that his gun was utterly useless. I smirked behind my collar.

"A simple gun will not be able to hurt me," I said, continuing to channel the man whose power I shared, "Surrender. You cannot defeat me and I do not wish to fight if I do not have to."

"FUCK YOU YA NAZI BASTARD!" roared one of the ABB goons and they scattered.

I frowned.

"Nazi? Now thats just rude," I muttered and jumped.

I came down on the shoulders of the nearest thug, hard, driving him to the pavement and putting him down with a sharp blow to the temple. The next one went down to a fist to the kidney as I kicked his friend into a nearby dumpster and slammed the lid down on his head. By this point, the last one, and the one who had shot me, had reached the end of the road.

"YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE!" I shouted as I took off after him.

The man was certainly fit, but I was fitter and faster, so it didn't take me long to catch up to him and put him in a choke hold. Within seconds, he stopped struggling and I let him go. After checking to make sure he was still alive, I hoisted him over my shoulder and carried him back over to his friends. I took a few seconds to pile the goons on the pavement, before clapping my hands and transmuting a set of bonds out of the wall that would hold them until the cops arrived. I couldn't actually transmute without a circle, but I had discovered that the Silver Skin had a set of simple circles on the gloves. That would be helpful for future fights as it would give me some much needed range for when I couldn't or didn't want to use my ignition gloves. Flame Alchemy was for Cape fights, not random mooks.

I ignored the violent cursing of the few conscious thugs as I finished the concrete bonds, brushed off my gloves and turned to the shop where a few people were watching me from the doorway.

"Is everyone alright?" I asked.

There was a moments silence as everyone tried to decide if they should trust me or not, before someone shoved their way to the front.

"Yes, everyones fine," said the tall, bespectacled man, "They weren't stupid enough to start shooting the place."

"Well, thats a relief," I said, "I take it that someone has called the authorities?"

The man nodded.

"Good, they will need to cut them free, but the goons will not be going anywhere," I said, "Now, I'm sorry to cut this short, but I must be going."

"Wait, whats your name?" called the man.

I hesitated for a moment, before deciding that I might as well.

"You may call me Flamel," I said, "Stay safe!"

And with that I jumped, bouncing off the roof of a nearby van and onto the roof of a nearby building. As I ran across the rooftops away from my first fight, I couldn't stop the fierce grin that crossed my face. The fight had been nerve wracking since I'd never really been in a real fight before, but my skills and Silver Skin had pulled me through. Now all I could feel was a sense of accomplishment and pride over having completed my first rescue without issue. Plus, acting like Bravo was surprisingly fun.

"You look rather cherpy," said Vicky as I vaulted over the back of the sofa and landed next to her, "Did something good happen?"

"Sort of," I said, "You might say I've had a good day."

Vicky snorted.

"Wish I could say the same," she muttered, "I was gonna hang out with Missy, but she got called away for something."

Hmm, I wonder if I had something to do with that? I mean, I'd dealt with that robbery and stopped about a dozen other crimes on my way home, so there should be some news about a new Cape running around the Bay by now.

"Hey, did you know theres apparently a new Cape running around the Bay?" said Vicky, who had her laptop on her lap and was trawling the PHO forums.

"Really?" I asked, "Any interesting information?"

"Only that he apparently took three gunshots without flinching, can apparently manipulate concrete or something and is rather...energetic," said Vicky, "Theres a picture, here."

She turned the screen to show me. It showed me transmuting the wall into bonds for the thugs I'd caught. Huh, I hadn't even noticed anyone taking it.

"Interesting costume," said Vicky, "Looks professional. I wonder if hes a part of a team?"

"Well, hes not part of the Protectorate or New Wave," I said, "If he was, we'd have heard something about him."

"Thats true," said Vicky, "Maybe hes a Tinker? But that coat doesn't look much like Tinkertech."

I shrugged.
"I suspect that we'll be finding out more once he really gets started," I said.

"Guess so," said Vicky, before snapping her laptop shut, "Enough of this, lets have some fun!"

We spent the rest of the evening playing Mario Kart.

The next day saw me perched on top of a particularly tall building, looking out over the city as I enjoyed the feeling of the wind blowing past me and making the tails of my coat flap dramatically. I'd already stopped three petty crimes since I'd come out, leaving the crooks tied up with bonds made of whatever junk happened to be nearby for the cops to collect. All in all, a good use of a morning in my opinion.

A flicker of movement on a nearby roof drew my attention. I turned to look and saw Vista and Kid Win making their way across the rooftops in a series of rather nauseating hops as the female Ward bent space to allow them to cover large distances in a single step. The two Wards paused and I saw Vista point in my direction and the two changed direction to head towards me. I remained where I was, watching as they closed in, and turned as they arrived at the roof.

"Hi!" said Vista as soon as they hit the asphalt roof, "Your that new guy, right? Flamel?"

I grinned behind my collar and tipped my hat.

"At your service," I said, "And what can I do for the Wards today?"

"We wanted to meet the new Hero in town," said Vista.

"Yeah and probably try and sell me the idea of joining the Wards, right?" I asked.

The twitches I got were more than enough confirmation.

"Well, let me save you some time and say no," I said, "I am willing to work together though."

"Well, thats a relief," said Kid, "There are so many villains in the city, any help would be appreciated."

I snorted.

"That I can imagine," I said.

"Hey, if your free, why don't you join us for our Patrol?" asked Vista, "I doubt we'll see anything interesting, but it'll help you get some idea of how best to go about it."

Somehow, I couldn't help but get the feeling that she'd just jinxed us, but I nodded and fell into step alongside the other teen Heroes nonetheless.

"So, what exactly are your powers?" asked Kid a few minutes later as we crossed a ten foot gap in a single step.

"Why?" I asked.

The Tinker shrugged.

"Just curious," he said, "You've been seen tanking bullets and doing something to turn concrete into bonds. Some kind of Brute/Shaker combo?"

I laughed.

"Not really, no," I said, "I think my powers are closer to that of a Tinker, although since I don't deal in tech maybe not…"

I shook my head.

"Never mind. I'm actually an Alchemist."

"An...alchemist?" asked Vista, not looking convinced, "You mean like how Myrridins a Wizard?"

I grinned.

"Nope, because I can actually prove that I'm an Alchemist," I said, "Basically, I can create circles that allow me to transmute matter. I'm limited by the concept of Equivalent Exchange, so I can only get out what I put in. As for my Brute rating, that actually came from this."

I tapped my chest.

"A different application of Alchemy that allowed me to create a uniform thats completely indestructible."

"Thats...rather hard to believe," said Kid Win, "How would that even work?"

"Superpowers!" I said cheerfully, "In all seriousness though, I am aware of how unbelievable my powers are, but its the truth. Not the Truth though, thank god."

"Eh?"

"Never mind."

Kid Win looked like he was about to push, but before he could, Vista spoke up.

"Not to interrupt your fascinating conversation, but we might have trouble," she said.

"Are you using your powers to look ahead again?" asked Kid Win.

In answer, Vista waved an arm and the air in front of us did things that made the universe cry as a window appeared showing Hookwolf, Rune and a group of E88 goons facing down a large number of Merchants, including Squealer in a rather ugly contraption that made my inner Alchemist scream in fury and Skidmark, who made my inner decent Human being want to punch something. Under normal circumstances, I'd be happy to let to two gangs duke it out, but for whatever reason, they had decided to make trouble in an inhabited neighborhood. I could see a good many people fleeing, desperately locking windows and a few cowering in alleyways, anything to get out of the gangs path.

"Alright, got it," said Kid Win, who had been reporting the little stand off to whoever was on monitor duty, "We've been ordered to observe and wait for reinforcements."

Vista scowled, but didn't say anything. I on the other hand wasn't about to stick around and potentially let someone get hurt.

"In that case, I'll be taking my leave for now," I said.

"Wait, what?" asked Kid Win, looking shocked.

"This is why I don't want to join the Wards," I said as I turned in the direction of the fight, "I can't leave something like this, not if someone could get hurt. See ya."

I sprinted in the direction of the fight, ignoring the shouts of the Wards as I reached into my pocket and pulled out a bundle of wires. I'd managed to master this particular trick the day before and it would likely prove to be instrumental in this fight. The wires started glowing blue as I channeled Alchemical energy into them, reaching completion just as I reached the last roof before the stand off.

I hit the roofs edge and jumped, charging more energy into my free hand and the circle on the glove as I visualized what I wanted. I'd found that, despite not being as efficient as a proper circle, the Circles that were part of the Silver Skin were able to perform some pretty impressive Transmutations when combined with my Thought Acceleration and Memory Partition. So far, I had three partitions and had managed to achieve about twice the speed of the average person's thought speed, which allowed me to ignore a good portion of a Circles runes and symbols, although I still needed the Circle itself to properly guide the Alchemic energy. I wouldn't be losing that unless I opened the Gate, which I wouldn't be doing anytime soon.

All of that combined meant that, when I hit the ground, a surge of blue energy shot out, crackling like lightning as the ground bucked like a living thing, the already cracked asphalt breaking up into even smaller pieces and shifting as it was used to form massive walls in front of alleyways and inhabited buildings to keep the fight from accidentally hurting anyone. They wouldn't keep someone like Hookwolf or Squealers truck from simply plowing through them of course, I wasn't that good, but it would stop someone from getting hit by accident.

"Evening scumbags," I said as I slowly straightened.

And that'll do. Sorry for the cliffhanger, but theres a strong possibility that I'll actually continue this one.

Like I said up top, I can't have him act like Bravo all the time. Its fun as hell to write the guy, but I quickly found myself running face first into a wall and eventually just gave up. That said, expect some Bravo moments.

And since I can't think of anything else to say, I'll be signing off now. Don't forget to leave a review!