It was a lot to take in. The fact that I was in an
alternate version of
Worm was
unimaginable. The fact that I had the Omnitrix was even more absurd. And then… well, everything from the boss woman, I assume that she is the boss, stomping Hemorrhagia to me being in Thunderstorm. If anyone had ever told me anything like this would have happened to me, I would have laughed in their face for a good minute.
It's just...
surreal. The fact that I'm
here and I'm not dreaming is... I-I don't have any words to really explain it. 'Surreal' or similar words are not enough. The Teeth just returned to Brockton Bay sometime after Leviathan hit. That gang of barbarians came back much earlier, or they were never driven out. I can't tell right now.
I have a lot of work to do here, don't I? Great.
I peeked up at the suit wearer. The woman was examining me expectantly. I didn't talk to people well. I've never been one to initiate conversations since I stink at it.
"Um, can I have a few moments alone? So I can think for a minute or two?" I politely requested.
Her expression turned from grim and grave to understanding and warm. She nodded, turned around, and walked to the door before opening it. I felt a cool breeze as she closed the door behind her.
Once again, I was alone. I looked over at the laptop.
No, that's a stupid idea. I don't know the password, and I'm no cracker. I also don't think it's wise to go on someone's laptop without permission.
Why would I even think to do that?
Wait. I just remembered what was on my wrist. I lifted my wrist up and glanced down at the DNA-manipulating gadget. It wasn't recalibrating anymore.
Good.
I took my finger and pushed down the activation button. The core popped up, and the hourglass symbol gave that faint emerald glow. I lifted my slightly quivering hand and moved the ring to the left. The process was slow, so I didn't screw anything up.
The hourglass inverted into a diamond shape, and the first silhouette appeared. It was the same as the first time I attempted to transform. However, it was a
foolish move to transform into that one now. That choice would lead to destruction and collateral damage. Maria and Riley seemed so kind; I didn't want to wreck this place and make enemies out of them.
How dumb would that be?
I twisted the ring again to the left. It clicked when I rotated it thirty degrees; the silhouette changed. This time, it was different from before.
I really did get a new playlist.
The second silhouette was... who was this one? The body shape was vaguely familiar, but the head was slightly different. The arms and legs were too bulky.
I shook my head and stopped trying to skim through the playlist. I sighed before glancing up at the ceiling.
I need to make a decision. I don't have anywhere to go. I'm assuming that I probably don't even exist here. Even if I did, I couldn't just make myself suddenly materialize. People would notice that. You can't just easily cover that up.
I sighed again and looked forward.
Hmmm.
Would it be too much to ask if I can get a place to stay? I don't necessarily need to stay here; where would I go?
I began to think of places to go in the city. Not going to the Undersiders and Coil. I'm not interested in the pedophile snake or sucking up to his not-so-merry band of pests. No matter how sympathetic the Undersiders are, they're still criminals who probably have a list of crimes under their belt. I'm not following the common trope where somebody (OC or SI) sucks up to the Undersiders for some reason instead of going for something else.
I don't care how useful they could be in the future. I'm not going on a team with so much baggage. Tattletale, a parahuman with super intuition, would be up my ass about the Omnitrix. That is... if the thing doesn't give her an aneurysm. And she's also an annoying little bi-
Oh God... the amount of Parahumans that are going to be up my ass... I grumbled at the thought. This city had a lot of them. As soon as the Shards get a hint of an outside context problem or a rich source of new information to their cycle, they'll slowly begin to nudge their hosts in trying to fight me. I don't think the
"heroes" would be exempt from that.
I need a team or at least a home. I don't think that Maria would be interested in cape stuff. I mean, that's what she said to the Butcher before. Taylor shouldn't have triggered at this point; that marks her out.
I might have to kick this alone in the meantime.
I could pick up Chariot, but he's months or a year away. Circus? No. They're a villain and probably don't care about being a hero. Über and L33t is a negative. I'm not interested in guys who beat up hookers for fun. (AN: I'm perfectly aware that L33t's name is canonically spelled 'Leet,' but this is how I'm spelling it here.)
Wait. Would any of that even exist here? It's an alternate world; things could be peaceful, not slowly crumbling down. But that would make my life easier, so I'll assume that things are similar or worse.
I broke myself from my introspections. I... I might have to ask if they have anywhere for me to stay temporarily.
Ugh. I don't want to be a freeloader. Do I really have another choice? Not really. I can't go to live with Taylor and Danny. They probably can't afford another mouth to feed. I'd be able to stop Taylor from triggering, but that takes away a powerful ally and an extraordinarily potent power. Ugh, but do I really want to let something so traumatizing happen to her? Does she even exist?
I flung my hands in the air again and let out an irritated groan. I don't have many good options here. My fists clenched, and I was beginning to get mad. Mad at my situation.
Why me?
I... I'll... I'll see if I can try to dwell here. If I can't, then I could stay at a homeless shelter. If anyone gets wind of the Omnitrix, the PRT, standing for the Parahuman Response Team, will inevitably track me. At that point, I could say hello to enslavement to PR and
goodbye to common sense.
No, I'm not joining the Wards. Not in this century or the next. If I was a Tinker only, then I might consider it. However, I'm not just a
Tinker. I was practically a
whole team, hopefully. The Omnitrix usually arranges its playlists in sets of ten for simplicity. These sets are generally balanced; one has flight as their biggest draw, and another could toss buildings and stomach grenades as if they were at a buffet, or one could be used underwater and in the water generally, etc.
However, I'm aware of what happened with Ben's starting ten. He didn't have many specialists or counters beyond 'this form is very strong,' 'this form is smart,' 'this one is fast,' etc. I could either have the same issue or not. It all depended on chance. I cycled through my playlist and... I was rather shocked.
It was far more...
balanced than I anticipated. I recognized every single shape aside from the second one. This was good. No, it was
great. I had a whole team of ten on my wrist. Certain ones could wreck
most Parahumans by themselves. That's not acknowledging that several are a one-person army on their own.
I could easily take control of this city. All I needed to do was remove the gangs. But if I do that, the idiots would get all whiny because I took away their easy access to good PR. They
claim they want to help humanity; they only care about themselves and their image. If you make them look bad, then they go after you. Yes, they'll target you instead of concentrating on the villains. Except
you're a villain to them because you
dared interrupt their "game."
Fricking... worthless, idiotic man-children!
Then again... not all of them are like that. A lot of them seem to be okay people trying to do good.
Despite my thoughts, I sneered at the idea of the problem on Earth Bet being called a "game." Only a
child would believe that. Or a
delusional sociopath. The fact that anybody could believe such a ridiculous notion was baffling. Do they rationalize it away as "nobody gets hurt" or "It's fine, as long as everyone plays by the rules?" My face contorted in irritation, and my fists clenched once again.
I breathed in. I breathed out. I
despised selfish people. Absolutely
loathed them. I will
never try to understand how they can put themselves above everything and every one as if the world revolves around
them.
I could only think about how my presence in the Cape community could affect things. The shards are
guaranteed to nudge their hosts to fight me.
I wonder if this world is like the traditional Worm fic, where people are dumb, and the escalation drive is real. Or it could be like canon Worm, which isn't any better.
I can't just try to ignore things.
Acceleration demonstrated what happens if the Powers That Be are aware of you and you attempt to stay out of things. It'll be nonstop manipulation from every side. Same with
A Survivor is Born.
I'd never get any peace!
I suppose that settles it. I'm going to be a... Cape.
Lord have mercy,
do I hate the term "cape." It implies that
all Superhumans are supposed to dawn a costume and break their backs fighting crime. I don't believe that for a second. That's just gaslighting the naive and taking advantage of them. There's a
literal police/military force for that.
I need to use a better term. How about... Super. It would undoubtedly aggravate the bigots out there. That's a plus to me. I giggled to myself.
Am I only doing this to stick it to Cauldron and the PRT?
Mainly yes.
No doubt about it. Screw them. They're the primary reason why this world is so messed up.
I looked at the door. It was time. I took in a deep breath in an attempt to harden myself for what lay beyond that door. I don't know what was beyond that door, but I was prepared... Even though it was
probably just the dining room.
I trotted over to the door, gripped the handle, and gave it a twist. The door creaked open, and I stepped out into the unknown. I found myself, get this, in the dining room. As soon as I strolled out, my nose instantly picked up the strengthened scents.
It was dim; the only lights were small lamps on the walls in the booths or candles on the tables. I looked around. People of varying sizes, ages, and ethnicities populated here. What really caught my attention, however, were the sources of the animal noises.
My eyes widened, and my eyebrows practically ripped from the strain. The noises weren't coming from animals. They were coming from Pokemon.
Holy crap. Real life, flesh, and blood... Pokemon. As in the
real creatures.
A pair of Patrat and Purrloin chased each other in one corner. A Pidove sat in a little booth alongside two Vullaby, three Rufflets, an Emolga, and its (the Pidove's) evolved form, Unfeazent. Specifically a female one since it lacked the pink things on its face.
They weren't the only ones here, of course. A woman had a Granbull on her left. She seemed to be sharing some of her food with her. A tall, black cop had, you guessed it, an Arcanine dozing beside his chair. The three elemental monkeys, Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour, were each on the shoulders of younger children. Obviously, they weren't
all on the same child's shoulder.
I mean, how much do they weigh, like twenty-plus pounds? How are those kids even holding them up?
"Hey! Kid!" A voice hollered out. I looked around for the source. It was that girl again, Riley. I... think she was calling me over to her. I braced myself and went over to her. I weaved around running kids, playful Mons, and waltzing servers.
(AN: I tried to use the word 'waiter'; apparently, that's "potentially sensitive," according to Grammarly.)
"Hey, Riley," I spoke casually. She grinned as I approached her. "Hey there! Glad you made it out of there in one piece!"
"Uh-huh, it was...
something," I replied with a hint of uncertainty. I rubbed the back of my head as I did so.
The tall girl grinned and chuckled. "You can tell me about it. Mom can be pretty intense at times, but she means well."
I nodded; my own small chuckle escaped me. "Seems to be... a very
passionate woman."
She laughed, a light, melodic sound that seemed to ease some tension. "It's alright. You get used to it eventually. I mean, hey, at least she didn't scare your little ass off!"
I smiled, feeling more at ease. "Nope, not scared off yet. I may not be a drama fan, but I like good food."
We settled into our conversation; the restaurant's ambiance washed over me. It was a vibrant cacophony of laughter, chatter, and an occasional Pokemon cry. Overall, it's a charming and comfortable place. I could easily see this place being popular.
The muscular lass nodded, and her smile widened. "Damn smart choice, and the food here is top-notch."
I glanced around and took in the bustling activity of the restaurant. "So... what's good here? Got any recommendations?"
She leaned back in her seat and tapped her chin. "If you like spicy food, you might enjoy the Inferno Burger-Steak Curry. If not, then you'll burn your asshole. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, you might want to try the double cheeseburger or the chicken alfredo."
Man, that sounds good! Wait. "Inferno... Burger-Steak...
Curry?"
She smiled again. "Yeah, it's pretty popular in the UK. Mainly in Britain, though."
Honestly, I liked her. As we conversed, I couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with Riley. How we met was
weird, but there was a sense of openness and warmth to her. It was a definitely welcome change from the chaos and uncertainty from earlier.
I found myself nodding along with Riley's suggestions, feeling my stomach growl in agreement. "Sounds delicious. I'll give the Inferno Burger-Steak Curry a taste, even if it means endangering my taste buds."
Riley giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Gutsy choice. Just make sure you have a glass of milk handy."
"Got it," I replied with a grin, feeling a surge of anticipation for the meal ahead.
As we continued chitchatting, the aroma of sizzling food filled the air, heightening my anticipation. Suddenly, a commotion at a nearby table caught my attention. A group of kids gathered around, their faces lit up with excitement as they watched a Magneton perform tricks in mid-air.
Waves of yellow energy(?) came off its magnets, lifting up undersized metal orbs.
One of the kids yelled, "Whoa, that's awesome! How does it do that?"
The Magneton hovered briefly, almost as if responding to the question, before gracefully spinning the orbs around, creating a mesmerizing display. Riley nudged me, pointing to the scene with a grin. "Looks like you're getting a taste of the Pokemon entertainment.
The good shit. They love showing off here."
I watched, captivated, as the Magneton continued its performance, eliciting cheers and applause from the kids. The atmosphere in the restaurant was infectious, filled with a mix of joy and wonder. It made me forget, at least momentarily, the strange circumstances that brought me here.
After the Magneton's impressive performance, the youths dispersed, still buzzing. I turned back to Riley, still smiling. "This place is great. Pokemon performing tricks, a lively atmosphere... it's like a whole new world. I didn't have any of this where I'm from."
She chuckled, "Well, in a way, it is. You're on Earth Omega now, and things here are different. We've got Pokemon living among us; they're part of our daily lives. It's pretty cool, isn't it?"
"Yeah, definitely," I replied, feeling a sense of amazement at the uniqueness of this world. "I guess I have a lot to learn about Earth Omega."
Riley grinned, "Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. And hey, if you need any support or have questions, feel free to ask. We're like a big family here."
I appreciated her offer and nodded appreciatively. "Thanks, Riley. I'll keep that in mind. Now, let's see how this Inferno Burger-Steak Curry holds up."
As we continued our conversation, our orders arrived. My God, the scent was delectable, and the food looked fantastic. The vibrant colors and sizzling sounds made my mouth water. I eagerly took a bite, savoring the blend of spices and the kick of heat from the curry.
"Good choice, huh?" Riley asked with a knowing smile as she enjoyed her own meal.
I nodded, my mouth still full. "Definitely. This is great. Thanks for the recommendation."
We continued to enjoy our meals, exchanging stories and laughter. The restaurant buzzed with life, creating a comforting and welcoming environment. I looked around, observing the diverse clientele and the Pokemon partners by their sides; I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging in this unique corner of Earth Omega.
Little did I know that my journey wasn't even beginning, and countless adventures and discoveries awaited me.
******
"Ugh,
oh God! My mouth is on
fire!" I groaned out. I had just finished chugging a glass of milk. It barely helped.
Riley chuckled. "I told you so." She said smugly.
Despite my mouth
screaming for the sweet embrace of death, I couldn't help but shovel more steak into my mouth. The flavors danced on my tongue in a tantalizing tango of zest and sweetness. As I savored each bite, the discussion flowed effortlessly between us. It was punctuated by laughter and shared anecdotes. The ambiance of the restaurant was like a blanket. It enveloped us in its embrace, amplifying the sense of harmony and joy in the air.
I looked across the room, marveling at the eclectic mix of diners. Each of them was deep into their conversations and culinary delights. There were seasoned veterans, families of at least four, veteran trainers, and their trusted partners; the entire place felt like a close-knit community.
I got lost in the moment. This wasn't just a
meal. It was a symbol of my new
life on this alternate Earth. I
heavily doubted that I'd see my old Earth again anytime soon. Or ever again. It was...
rather bleak.
My family, cats, dog, my games...
However, I didn't let my worries or sadness overwhelm me. I just kept feasting, just slightly slower.
The tantalizing aroma of spices and the mouthwatering flavors continued to weave their magic. It gave me a welcome distraction from the thoughts of my old life. Each bite seemed to carry a hint of comfort, a reminder that, even in this unfamiliar world, there were moments of joy and warmth to be found.
Right now, though? I reached over to chug more milk to put out the blaze in my mouth.
******
I leaned back in my seat and shut my eyes. I took in a pleased breath. The food was fantastic. Things were peaceful. Life was
good. A lot of the restaurant's clientele had finished their meals. A lot of them had left; others came in to replace them.
After a few minutes, I had to go hug the porcelain god. I glanced over to Riley. She had just finished her chicken alfredo and was chugging a Diet Coke.
Ick.
"Uh, Riley? Where are the restrooms?" I asked politely.
She wordlessly pointed in their general direction. Of course, this was followed by a
mighty belch escaping from her mouth. She brought her hand to her mouth, blushed, and looked around in mortification. I chuckled at her embarrassment until she noticed me; she answered my quiet mockery with the single-digit salute. I giggled a little less quietly before I got up from the table. I wanted to get away in case I needed to escape retribution.
I race-walked past clientele, Pokemon, chairs, and tables to get to the restrooms. I swiftly found myself in the cool and clean lavatories. It had a citrus scent with a hint of chemicals. I spotted an open stall with my name on it. Not
literally, of course. That would be
weird.
I entered the stall, yanked my shorts down, and got to business.
(AN: I'll skip this little part since you don't want to read about doing the business.)
After I met with my ceramic consultant, I rose from the cold, porcelain seat and flushed. I rushed out of the stall and shut the door behind me.
I got to the sink, turned the knobs, and watched the cold water flow from the faucet. I sat my hands under the flow and shuddered. Thankfully, the slightly unpleasant feeling didn't last long. I quickly washed up and dried my hands.
Unfortunately, I was interrupted by a
gunshot going off. My eyes widened. My face stretched in fear. Panic began to set in. Adrenaline began to pump through me. Without thinking, I reached for the Omnitrix. Thankfully, I was alone in the bathroom.
Convenient.
I pushed the button down and started to swiftly cycle through my playlist. I listened to anything that might be happening. I couldn't hear much through the fan. There was a notable
absence of screaming. Shouldn't there have been screaming and panicking?
I listened more carefully; what I heard was
chilling. Judging from words like
"subhuman" and
"inferiors," it was obvious who it was.
I didn't need any more prompting. Lives were in danger! I went through some mental gymnastics over the optimal choice in this situation. The fourth and ninth options were immediately eliminated. They wouldn't have been able to even fit through the bathroom door.
Option six could prove to be useful, but I needed speed. Alien number one was out of the choices due to widespread collateral. Number ten was not chosen for the same reason. Five was too slow. Eight would handle bullets and guns easily, but I was rushing too fast to consider this.
Two was also too slow(?) and looked to be heavyset.
Seven it was! I raised my hand up and slammed on the dial. A flash of green light erupted from the core. A few moments passed. I opened my eyes, expecting my perceptions to be slowed to a near halt,
but nothing happened!
What the hell?!
I glared down at the watch. My glower intensified when I saw the hourglass flashing a lime green.
Why!?
I was interrupted by the sound of a masculine yell and wood breaking. The following sound heard was a windy sound and glass shattering. If I had a weapon, I'd be out there, trying to do
something. Unfortunately, there wasn't much I
could have done since the watch was being
uncooperative!
I noticed that there weren't any more gunshots, but I heard the sound of fighting, grunting, yelling, and Pokemon noises. I carefully went over to the door. I gripped the handle and
slowly opened the door. I peeked out the tiny crack and scrutinized the action.
I couldn't tell from here what was going on. I pushed the oak door a little more and peeked my head out. There seemed to be some commotion at the front of the restaurant. A small bead of sweat dripped down the side of my face.
What was I going to do about this?
I left the washroom entirely, silently shutting the door behind me. I squinted my eyes and saw that some police officers had gotten up. They quickly made their way over to whoever had the gun.
I decided to do something thoughtless; go over to see what happened.
I swiftly jogged past the various diners; most of them kept their heads down. Since they were cowering, they didn't notice me. A few people did, mainly kids. They tried to get me to get back to no avail. I ignored their whispers as I trotted past, doing my best not to trip or bump into anyone.
I stopped close at the entrance and took in the sight before me. The police pinned the nuisances down, specifically, three of them.
"Get the
fuck off me, damn
pig!" One of them, let's call him Harpo. Apparently, he didn't expect resistance.
"No can do,
buckaroo." The cop restraining him deadpanned.
The other two, Groucho and Chico, predictably demanded release and ineffectually threatened the people who secured their pathetic selves.
Did they really not expect this to happen? Even if they didn't know that Maria was a C-Super, they should've known better than to do this IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE PLACE WAS FULL.
I looked up as I heard footsteps walking over to the scene. Lo and behold, there was Maria. However, there was someone beside her. They looked like me; in fact, we were virtually identical. The main difference between us was their paler skin color and red eyes.
They looked at me and stared intensely. I blinked at them and looked at Maria instead.
"Do these idiots
ever quit?" She asked... I'm assuming she's being rhetorical. Despite my assumption, I answered her.
"You think idiots make good decisions?" I asked ironically. Well, I didn't actually answer her.
On further inspection of the witless morons, I saw that their heads were shaved. They had racially insensitive tattoos, mainly on their necks and arms. Oh yeah, they didn't even have
masks on.
These guys need to be shown on World's Dumbest...!
Fittingly, they were part of the Empire Eighty-Eight, a gang of Neo-Nazis in Brockton Bay. How and why those delusional fools exist in the modern day is baffling.
I was distracted from my negative thoughts by Maria addressing me. "Camryn, why did you come out here?"
Uh oh. I didn't think that one through.
Wait! I can salvage this!
"Well, I figured that since you soloed that Cape this morning, you would've been able to handle it."
The boss
hmmed as if she didn't believe me. It
was a rather flimsy cover for my impulsiveness. I looked back at the apparent 'me' lookalike; I'm going to guess that they're my alternate counterpart native to this Earth.
Tension was in the air as the alternate counterpart examined me with suspicion and possibly a mix of curiosity. Red eyes bored into mine, then they looked down at my... wrist?
Oh...
the Omnitrix. Did they somehow pick up on its weirdness?
"Camryn meet Camryn," Maria said with a wry smile, gesturing between us.
Camryn's smile twitched into a slight smile while their/his(?) gaze remained intense. "It's a pleasure." Their voice was masculine yet young. Their tone was neither warm nor hostile.
I nodded, acknowledging his courteous greeting. Being in the same place as someone nearly identical to you was bizarre, yet he felt completely different. He was far more intense than I was, and his body language was distinct. "Likewise," I replied, trying to mask my uncertainty by matching his pleasantry.
Maria's attention shifted to the nitwits on the ground. Her expression hardened as she glared. "Boys, we can deal with these idiots," she said firmly, her tone not leaving room for argument.
I exchanged a look with other me, wordlessly agreeing with Maria. Despite the lingering questions and tension, we understood the importance of staying out of trouble, at least for now.
Uh-huh, coming from the guy who ran to a hold-up without a plan, that's fricking rich!
As Maria led the way out of the restaurant, I couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning of something much bigger. With my alternate counterpart by my side, I felt the road ahead would be filled with twists and turns I couldn't imagine.
******
At nearly nine o'clock, the overall ambiance of the eatery shifted as closing time approached. Most diners were gone, and bussers cleared tables; a sense of winding down settled in. Only a few groups remained, each still engrossed in their meals, but time was running out for them to finish.
The aftermath of healthy appetites and peckish eating was evident on the tables. Most plates were wiped clean. However, remnants and nibbles of edibles still lingered, mere traces of the various savored culinary delights.
I looked down at the watch.
Still beeping after nearly two hours. It's already recalibrated. What was happening? Despite my curiosity and slight annoyance, I focused on the calmness surrounding me.
Unfortunately, a sudden jolt disrupted the calm. A cold, athletic hand firmly slammed on my shoulder, startling me briefly. Reflexes kicked in, and my head instinctively twisted. I shot a glare over my shoulder.
It was Riley, wearing a grin of mischief that didn't
entirely hide her amusement at my reaction. Despite my surprise and slight irritation, a chuckle escaped my lips at the prank. Her sense of humor injected some fun into my semi-hectic day. I'm frankly grateful for having the chance to end up here. The day wasn't over yet; there was plenty of time for more mayhem and camaraderie.
******
A weary sigh escaped from me as I looked at the lady before me. We were in the process of deciding where I was going to go. We sat in the main dining space not too far from the entrance.
Maria sat upright and crossed her arms. "There's no way I'm sending you to a foster home." She... didn't like how I attempted to offer alternate options, so I didn't stay with them. I don't see how it would be so bad.
"You know how expensive it would be to take in another kid, right?" I asked while trying to avoid eye contact. I
genuinely didn't want to be a mooching leech! I slouched while my hands kept fidgeting.
Other me huffed in the chair beside us. A slight smirk appeared on the boy's young face. "We've got the money to afford another mouth to feed." He was sitting back in the most casual way he could.
"You ain't gonna win this," Riley said bluntly, shaking her head and smiling.
Thanks a lot, Riley. Really appreciate your help. "The difficult thing would be creating an identity for you." She crossed one leg over the other and leaned forward, the tabletop sinking into her gut.
I brought my hand up to my bare chin and rubbed it. After thinking for a few seconds, a lightbulb turned on. I snapped my fingers and began to lay out my realization. "If I'm right, this world has had contact with other worlds. There is a non-zero chance of people arriving here and being stranded. Logically, there's
possibly a program to help them."
Maria took on a reflective look as she considered my resolution. However, as she opened her mouth to speak, the other Camryn interrupted. "What do you mean by
"this world"?"
I turned my head, glanced at him, and narrowed my eyes. "I have my sources," I said, sounding mysterious.
"Sure thing,
oh ominous sounding one!" Riley remarked jokingly. She had a mischievous glint in her eye as she said that.
"Hush
you," I told her playfully.
Maria giggled briefly. The other me, really have to call him by a nickname or something, smirked slightly. I leaned my head back and sighed. I... guess I could see their points. I sucked in a breath and let it back out. "Oh,
alright. If you're okay with that, I... guess I could stay with you." I was desperate and too mentally exhausted to put up a fight.
The powerful Esper smiled softly and clapped her hands.
******
We walked to the car, an apparently new, bright red Ford. The vehicle had silver rims without a single scratch. The rubber wheels were new, or at least washed perfectly, and only had a few pebbles trapped in them. The boardwalk streetlights reflected off the vehicle's shiny exterior while illuminating the dark, chilly November night.
The boardwalk was next to a lovely beach with a stunning view of the rolling, foamy sea. Next door to Thunderstorm was a barber shop with those weird, red, and white tube things at the front. It was the only shop still open, and the barber was cutting away at their presumably last client's hair. They were busy chatting away, and I couldn't tell what they were saying because of the distance. It wasn't any of my business anyway.
My gaze wandered around, and I picked out the things of highest interest. The famous/infamous Fugly Bob's was across the street from us. I needed to go there. I loved greasy fast food, and that place was calling me over to it.
I saw a nest of Wingull and their mother, a large Pelipper, snuggling with them. Cute.
"So Cam. How does it feel knowing that you're gonna live with us?" Riley questioned me suddenly. I rubbed the back of my head.
"It-It'll probably be pretty awkward." My voice was an indicator of that. My words came out slowly and shaky as I comprehended what I was going into.
Oh, come on! I'm worrying over nothing! They literally offered me a place in their home out of presumable kindness. I don't need to be so negative.
I let out a breath I didn't realize that I was holding. "I'll just have to get used to it." I ground out.
"Don't worry!" Maria told me cheerfully. "I'm sure you'll fit right in."
"We shall see, Mom. We shall see." The other me spoke flatly.
As we approached the well-kept vehicle, Maria pressed a button on her key fob. The car beeped softly while the lights blinked, indicating it was unlocked and ready to be opened.
Each of us went over to a door, although Riley opened my door for me. She gestured for me to enter. A mix of emotions swirled in me, causing me to hesitate, but only for a moment. I was knocked out of my stupor as I glanced at the others. A wave of gratitude washed over me as I swallowed my hesitation.
I climbed into the car and sunk into the soft, plush seat. The interior had a faint smell of leather and... a hint of... vanilla? The scent was comforting, almost like a blanket of warmth and security.
We pulled away from the restaurant, the cracking and popping of rocks on the road and the parking area mixing with the growling engine. A sense of anticipation and excitement washed over me, but it was ultimately overshadowed by my fatigue. Despite the uncertainties and challenges that awaited me, I knew that I was in good hands.
The car journey was quiet; the only sounds were the occasional conversation between us and the soft hum from the engine. I kept an eye on the passing scenery and the moonlit sea. The main eye-catcher was the Protectorate ENE HQ sitting gloriously and roughly in the middle of the bay. It didn't seem immense from where I was, but I knew it was massive. I could barely make out the forcefield protecting the site.
I couldn't help but wonder what the point of having it would be.
Yes, having more protection on top of the automated turret system is perfectly understandable; the thing is out in the bay! It's far from turrets, cannons, or Tinker-made offensive vehicles like tanks.
Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, and I'm overthinking it...
I took in my new surroundings, from the dim lighting of the vehicle to the passing scenery outside, and basked in my new world.
We drew near a wealthy neighborhood with considerable houses and freshly cut lawns. The lawns had decorations like fake flamingoes and garden gnomes scattered here and there. Some of them had bird fountains in the middle. Others had simple decors like faux flowers and animals.
I even saw a few dog kennels and houses on the side. A handful of houses had guard Mons like Stoutland and Herdier keeping watch. They were
far more intimidating in real life.
We came to a slow as I noticed the sound of popping, cracking, and crunching rocks as we pulled into the driveway. I looked at the lawn, and like the other homes, the lawn was freshly cut. It seemed like it was cut recently, possibly today, since I noticed trace amounts of grass clippings.
I was snapped from my musing by Maria's voice. She turned to me with a warm smile. "Welcome to your new home, Camryn," she said gently. Her voice carried reassurance and kindness.
I smiled back at her with gratitude and optimism surging through me. "Thank you, Maria. I'm grateful for this." I replied, sincerity coating my words.
A click was heard, and the engine stopped its purring. We exited the vehicle, and I scrutinized the impressive house before me. It was no mansion, but compared to homes I've lived in, it was practically one.
It had a nice, pure white coating of paint gracing its walls. The roof was dark brown, with a satellite dish on the left side. Its windows were closed, and floral pattern curtains hung up, protecting the indoors from outside viewing.
Maria led the way to the front door, unlocked it, and held it open for us to go inside. When I stepped inside, it felt warm and comforting. Well... it
would have been warm had it not been so frigging
cold! I shivered as the lights were flicked on. It was colder in here than it was out there! I breathed out and saw a little puff of air.
Why was it so frigid!?
"Do y'all live in a meat locker?" I queried sarcastically.
"Whoops, sorry Camryn!" Maria apologized.
I looked at the other two, and they seemed fine. "How are you not shivering right now?"
The presumed athlete rubbed the back of her neck and looked sheepish. "We generally don't keep the heat on all day; we wait for it to come on. We don't have guests often, so we tend to forget."
I looked at the other me; I needed to call him something different. He just shrugged.
Well, at least I'm not homeless!
******
I rubbed my hands together as I stared into the bathroom mirror. The bathroom air smelled of citrus and a hint of chemicals. The walls were coated with cyan paint. I examined the shower; there wasn't a tub, only a shower. The paneling reminded me of a granite countertop.
The toilet was cold and sterile. The plunger beside it seemed slightly worn down, primarily the handle. The stick looked like someone gripped it too hard and decompressed the thing.
My eyes wandered over to the walls. They were... very yellow! It was a champagne yellow, meaning it was not obnoxious.
Thank God.
My eyes began to droop every minute I was not in bed. I took this as a sign to hurry up. I quickly got finished. Unfortunately, I did not have a toothbrush, so I had to make do with mouthwash.
I flicked off the light switch. My hand shot out, gripped the doorknob, and twisted it open. I made sure my used towel was in the hamper before I left.
There were some paintings in the hallway. I found myself wishing I could see them since it was dark! I didn't dwell on the thought because of my drowsiness. I looked to the left and found the room I was supposed to sleep in. Their guest room wasn't ready for me to sleep in. Apparently, they had a bunch of boxes that needed to be emptied, and none of us, especially my lazy self, were in the mood to move them.
I came to the door right next to the bathroom. Shutting one behind me, I opened the other. I was introduced to Riley sitting on the bed beside her brother.
Great, we're sharing the same bed. I took care not to roll my eyes.
"You're finally done?" She casually asked and peeked up at me. I nodded my head.
Cam, let's call him that instead of 'other me,' didn't even spare me a glance. Instead, he typed away at his phone. He only wore a dull blue-grey casual shirt and underwear, no shorts or pants.
The... older(?) sibling was wearing obnoxiously flamingo pink pajamas. I slowly went over to the bed and crawled onto it. The thing easily held the three of us, but only us.
The comforter was soft and comfy, at least. It didn't even have a pattern, and the color was a simple red. It felt like a home, for lack of a better term.
I examined the dimly lit room closer. I could make out everything just fine, but it was still dim. I noticed a poster for the Power Rangers on the wall. A quick examination of the rest of the room didn't reveal anything that I didn't expect.
The walls seem to be painted black or at least charcoal grey. The closet had a single, pale white door with a shiny, golden doorknob. The ceiling had one boob-like light with a little knob resembling a nipple.
Did those things really have to look like a boob? It even had a mole-like dot on its side.
My gaze wandered downwards. I was just about to start talking to the other two as my eyes snapped onto something... worrying. Two fricking
coffins were leaning on the walls.
