Seeing what the Villain did to her alternate self, Vicky doesn't waste a second before launching herself after him with a battle cry. Her family moves to check on Victoria's wounded state, but she grits her teeth and motions for them to rush out after Glory Girl's reckless charge. There is a brief moment of hesitation until they notice the spider-girl's limbs beginning to reform from the molten stone that oozes from her wounds.
Knowing that the scream was probably Hookwolf finding the two noncombatants of your group, your own pursuit is pause only long enough to grab Trobror's weapon and toss it to him.
Clearing the crumbling opening, the scene outside is simultaneously better and worse than it could have been. Having run into Cattleya and Panacea, Hookwolf had taken hold of the girls and tried to escape with them acting as a human shield to prevent any serious attacks. His choice in routes proved to be a mistake however, as he was now trapped beneath the overland bridge that went right past his hideout. With Lady Photon's barrier preventing him from escaping out the other end and hostages keeping your side from doing anything that might be seriously damaging, it would seem that you are at an impasse.
If Cattleya hadn't been one of the hostages.
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Amy cursed loudly as the damned Nazi manhandled her. This was not at all how the plan was supposed to work. Cynric and Vicky were supposed to go let the alien guy free and then her family was supposed to help arrest all the Empire goons inside. She could see that the first part worked according to plan by the fact that an obviously inhuman soldier had just stomped outside behind Cynric, but the second part went to hell the moment Hookwolf showed himself.
"Stop fucking wriggling you little shit!" The gravel voiced criminal in question barked.
She didn't listen. Why would she? "How about no, you Nazi piece of shit!"
On retrospect, taunting her captor probably wasn't the smartest move. Hookwolf answered her by knocking her and Cattleya's heads together. Louise's sister seemed far more distraught than she would have expected given how... self assured the smaller girl acted. Though maybe judging anyone by Louise's insane standard was unfair. The tiny girl had gutted herself without hesitation after all. Between their pained cries, Amy tried to give the other woman a comforting expression, but it came out as more of a grimace than anything else.
It only got worse when she noticed what was happening with her co-captive's body.
Holding the larger and more cooperative Cattleya between himself and a furious Vicky, Hookwolf was too close to notice his human shield's lengthening limbs. Her screams as the transformation took hold were written off as fear until the deepening of her voice caused him to pay more attention. Cattleya was rapidly growing larger before Amy's horrified eyes, pink hair giving way to black and bones cracking to reform themselves into something between ursine and humanoid. Hookwolf's serrated body dug into her flesh as she grew, but did no lasting damage to her regenerating flesh. The entire transformation lasted no more than two seconds, giving him no time to adjust to the shifting situation.
It was like something out of a horror movie and despite her experience with Changers and Case 53s, Amy couldn't help the whimper of fear that escaped her lips.
With a primal roar, the beast tore itself from his grasp, taking one of his arms with her and freeing the both of them. Blood, fur, and tattered clothing fell to the ground along side Amy as the once peaceful woman turned on her captor. Monstrous strength allowed the bear-thing to pick Hookwolf up over it's head and throw him deeper into the blocked off tunnel. It was about to pounce onto him when Amy's frantic scramble backward caused her to trip.
Hating herself for not paying more attention where she was going, she fell over a chunk of broken brick wall and hit her head. She could hear her family's concerned shouts, but none of their words registered between her swimming brain and the crimson eyed monster that loped toward her.
Screaming was the only thing her panicking mind could think to do as she covered her head. Sharp claws dug into her side as the monster's paw hit her and Amy knew she was going to die. Oddly, her thoughts didn't drift to regrets or dreams that she might have had or even old memories. Nothing but fear and a desperate wish to live.
Which was why the sudden sensation of flying confused and relieved her. Even rolling across shattered stone and asphalt was a wonderful sensation. Oh sure, the pain of broken ribs was horrible and she probably had internal damage, but she was still alive. On trying to move, she laughed hysterically. Or rather, she gurgled.
'I... I can't move! I shouldn't be able to see my back at this angle. Shit, did I break my neck?! God damnit powers, this would be a great time to let me heal myself!'
Distantly she knew she was probably in shock and not properly assessing the situation. Given that she could still somewhat feel her injuries, it couldn't bee that bad. Shock would explain the way she could calmly watch as Cynric and the hump backed alien sprinted past her. She really should have been panicking and trying to call for help, but she was just happy to be away from the monster that used to be Cattleya.
'Meh, Louise can fix me. Maybe it was her who texted me earlier and she's on her way already.'
As soon as that thought crossed her mind, she decided to relax and just watch the fight. Upon arriving, Cynric threw a sickly green light that barely missed Hookwolf. His second try ended with him almost falling over and the alien they'd come to save pushed him back just in time for Aunt Sarah to put a second forcefield over the nearer side. Trapped in a box with Cattleya and the alien... Torpor or something, Hookwolf curled up into a huge metal ball as the two tried to break him.
Amy barely managed to see the bear monster roll Hookwolf into a corner and the alien rapidly firing his gun when her view was blocked by a trio of crying blondes. She couldn't understand their words, but she smiled serenely back as Carol stopped both Vickys from picking her up into their comforting embrace.
'Thanks... mom... at least I know you listened when I used to complain about idiot First Responders.'
As far as last moments went, pressed up up against her crush's chest wasn't the worst, but she would prefer to live.
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Putting away my phone, I watched nervously as the Travelers climbed into the armored car while Trainwreck and Circus got in another. Somehow the boss had found out that New Wave was attacking the Empire today and decided to use their fight as a distraction. I wasn't sure what the other team's job was exactly and hadn't even known we were allied with the other villains, but whatever was going on must have been awfully important to our shadowy employer to show his hand like this.
I could only hope that either Vicky or Amy got my message before it was too late. I'd have to explain to Vicky how I was involved with the Undersiders, but Amy should back me up... maybe.
"Skitter, we're leaving!" Grue called, motioning for me to get in our own van.
I did so quickly and tried not to meet the knowing look on Lisa was giving me. She was... strangely calm given how she had to know I basically just betrayed the team, even if I hadn't actually done more than tell New Wave about the other two groups. Rather than wonder about her odd behavior, which was hard to do when she'd been bouncing back and forth between giddy and depressed ever since being healed, I focused on my swarm.
Sitting next to Rachel while I felt the bugs in the other cars head toward the Boardwalk and Downtown, I made sure to tag each of the group with a dozen gnats each at their joints just in case. Which was the only reason I didn't jump in surprise when Rachel put her hand on mine and asked, "You seem tense."
"Just... Just nervous, that's all." I answered, knowing better than to outright lie to the stocky girl, even if I wasn't exactly forthcoming with the reason for my nerves.
Smiling the tiny smile she seemed to learn since Louise healed her, she snorted, "Don't be, me and you can take him alone."
Even if she couldn't see it, I smiled back at her confidence in us. At her trust in my ability rather than just her own. A few weeks ago I would have thought she was crazy for thinking we could bring down Oni Lee with just bugs and dogs, but now? I didn't doubt that it would be easy, since between my bugs limiting his view and keeping track of where he moves as well as her dogs' speed and power, the would be ninja couldn't really do much without blowing himself up. Rachel might still be a bit distant, but after everything that had been going on lately I felt I could trust her more than the others and she obviously felt the same even if she wasn't yet able to express it.
No matter whether or not Lisa told the others and they turned on me, I would always at least have my bugs. I was sure I could take them all down if I really needed to, though Alec's new toys would make it harder. Not that I wanted to be forced to do so, but the group had been growing more and more fragile of late. As if sensing my darkening mood, Rachel moved my hand onto Angelica's head, pushing my fingers through the little terrier's fur until I started doing so on my own.
"You watch my back and I'll watch yours." I finally said in reply, receiving a serious nod in return from the girl that I had once thought of as a dangerous murderer. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, but I hoped Rachel at least would side with me over the rest of them.
"I don't care if you look at my ass, but we're not gonna fuck." She whispered and I slumped down in my seat in resignation. Patting my head, she explained, "I like dick."
I wasn't sure if it was an attempt at teasing, but I didn't even bother to argue. It wouldn't have mattered if I did, she would just shrug like always and Alec would butt in about wanting to go with me to the next sleep over at the Dallons'. That story of Amy and I just refused to die no matter how much I told them it wasn't true.
'My life keeps getting weirder and weirder.' I thought as we drove toward the last bastion of the ABB.
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"Cynric, help!" Victoria calls out, drawing your attention back to the mangled mess of a child that you'd written off as dead.
Making your way over as the arachnid muscles her family away from Amy's corpse, you are forced to correct your assumption. Despite the unnatural angle of her neck and the blood leaking from her half collapsed chest, she is still managing regular if shallow breaths. It would be more convenient if she had just been dead, then you wouldn't be forced to do what you're about to and could just finish up with the fight before carting the captured parahumans back to Vahlen.
With no other choice that wouldn't alienate allies and start a fight you're in no condition for, you sigh, "This will be uncomfortable."
"Just do it!" The blonde demands before the other two can question what you mean.
Complying, you siphon what little magicka their souls can produce and take it into yourself. That none of them have ever used or even noticed their magicka before is evidenced by the fact that you receive so little from them. Even the most irrationally anti-magic individuals amongst the modern Nords has more magicka than any of the locals. Not that you're surprised, since even Nords drink and make potions frequently enough throughout their lives to at least somewhat stimulate their souls into producing more energy. Only the mutated Victoria has more than half of the amount that the average adult in Tamriel would and even that is only because she had her spirit fused with Quelana's sister's.
After draining every iota from Carol, Neil, Amy, and both Victorias, you still only have a fourth of your own maximum. It isn't enough to heal the dying child, but it is just barely enough to immobilize her within an Ash Shell.
Ignoring their complaints about your solution, you pick Amy up and fly into the air, shouting back, "I shall ensure the girl's survival, the rest of you can finish up here!"
Status: Uninjured, exhausted.
Magicka: (0/650)
Choose 1:
[] Take the child to a local hospital and wait for her to be treated.
[] Take the child to Xcom for treatment.
[] Land a few blocks away, drain passersby for magicka, and then-
-[] Heal her with the magicka.
-[] hide and turn the healer's body into a zombie. Perhaps keeping the brain alive will keep the symbiote from disconnecting and allow you to access her powers. Whether or not she gets her freedom can be decided later, there's science to do.
[] Write in.
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A/N: You missed the shot, hitting the bridge instead of Hookwolf with the corrosive spell. It was probably the least likely to succeed in all honesty, since you only had enough magicka for one chance. Lucky for you, Trobror knows to keep his employer out of the line of fire... might want to find some way to pay the guy.
