This was originally written by me over on SB, and I've decided to sign up here and put it here...
Vitriol and Quicksilver [Worm Multicross]
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1.1
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
This was originally written by me over on SB, and I've decided to sign up here and put it here as well.
I try to get a short snippet per day, two if I'm lucky, three if I'm traveling.
It's all well and good, when you die. The inky blackness takes the pain away, and you get to drift away from whatever you hate. Some, however, resist. This is the story of one who did.
Do not go gently into that good night
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
Fluid 1.1
Director Piggot
Another boring day. Piggot barely suppressed a yawn as she walked up from the weekly meeting with the rest of the PRT ENE leadership, pushing the button on the elevator to take her up to the floor where her office was situated. As the doors slid closed, she shuddered as she remembered the media firestorm that had resulted from the "Locker Incident" three months ago. It would have been bad enough that a dead body was pulled out of a locker filled with used...hygiene products. It would have been bad enough that her father dropped off the grid a week later, possibly joining a gang. But no, the universe just had to put Shadow Stalker on duty at the time, and she had seen nothing wrong. The Empire was in a frenzy over a white girl dying, the ABB had been poked by Victor, Othala, and Crusader, and the Merchants were as bad as always.
Why is it that the city always seems like a series of dominoes ready to go off at the slightest push?
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open, revealing the hallway leading to her office. Emily strode down the corridor and pressed her badge to the scanner at the side of her office entrance. The door unlocked, and she pushed it open. Dark inside. That was abnormal. She strode in, fumbling for the light switch, when the door slammed shut behind her. She hit the switch, and tried the door. Locked. On the inside? Something was very wrong. Emily tried the door again, and was dismayed when it resulted the same as the first attempt. She fumbled about for her phone, but was stopped by a voice from behind her.
"Hello, Director. Do you prefer Emily? Names are always tough."
The voice was smooth, almost too smooth, like when the computer messes up a connection and none of the regular inflections are there. It was accompanied by a pair of resonating tones behind it, almost as if another person was there, speaking out of sync. The director slowly turned to look at her desk, eying the parahuman-because it had to be-sitting behind her desk, with her feet propped up on the keyboard. They were wearing a robe, just a robe, covering their entire body. The inside of the grey cloak was cloaked in shadows too deep to be natural, nothing visible behind the concealing garb. The sleeves had green lines, running up to the neck and down their front. The outfit was completed by a hood in the same drab colors drug over the head, covering all inside of it with unnatural shadow.
"Director is fine," said Emily, casting her gaze around the room for a way out. "And you would be?"
The parahuman ignored her question, gesturing to a chair pulled up in front of her. "Please, sit. Keeping someone waiting is bad manners, after all."
Instead of sitting, Piggot pulled out her phone and hit the button three times, triggering the alert. That should get the PRT to respond to-
"I've taken the liberty of disabling that. I've also taken the pistol in your drawer, the rifle in the chair leg, and the confoam sprayer in the ceiling." The cape tilted her head to the side. "You might be a little paranoid."
"This is the exact reason." Emily said, sweating as her mind raced. "What do you want? Because if you want to take me hostage, there will be a warrant out for you in a heartbeat."
"What do I want? To talk. And that's kind of hard with you looking for a way out of this."
Instead of continuing the conversation, Piggot grabbed the foam grenade in her purse and threw it, throwing herself to the floor, and waiting for the thump that signified it had gone off. It never came. As she looked up, the situation had become apparent. The cape had, in the time it took Emily to throw herself down, calmly stood up and fired a crossbow bolt into the grenade, pinning it to the wall across from them. Where had the crossbow come from? As Piggot watched, the robed woman's hand shifted, going from a crossbow to a prosthetic arm in a second. Now that she looked, the cape was missing her right arm! It was replaced with a prosthetic, night-black metal and glowing blue lines, sleek and refined.
Tinker, Emily noted to herself. That was not a regular replacement.
"Like I said," the cape hissed, the prosthetic hand splitting and reforming menacingly.
"Sit. Down."
I try to get a short snippet per day, two if I'm lucky, three if I'm traveling.
It's all well and good, when you die. The inky blackness takes the pain away, and you get to drift away from whatever you hate. Some, however, resist. This is the story of one who did.
Do not go gently into that good night
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
Fluid 1.1
Director Piggot
Another boring day. Piggot barely suppressed a yawn as she walked up from the weekly meeting with the rest of the PRT ENE leadership, pushing the button on the elevator to take her up to the floor where her office was situated. As the doors slid closed, she shuddered as she remembered the media firestorm that had resulted from the "Locker Incident" three months ago. It would have been bad enough that a dead body was pulled out of a locker filled with used...hygiene products. It would have been bad enough that her father dropped off the grid a week later, possibly joining a gang. But no, the universe just had to put Shadow Stalker on duty at the time, and she had seen nothing wrong. The Empire was in a frenzy over a white girl dying, the ABB had been poked by Victor, Othala, and Crusader, and the Merchants were as bad as always.
Why is it that the city always seems like a series of dominoes ready to go off at the slightest push?
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open, revealing the hallway leading to her office. Emily strode down the corridor and pressed her badge to the scanner at the side of her office entrance. The door unlocked, and she pushed it open. Dark inside. That was abnormal. She strode in, fumbling for the light switch, when the door slammed shut behind her. She hit the switch, and tried the door. Locked. On the inside? Something was very wrong. Emily tried the door again, and was dismayed when it resulted the same as the first attempt. She fumbled about for her phone, but was stopped by a voice from behind her.
"Hello, Director. Do you prefer Emily? Names are always tough."
The voice was smooth, almost too smooth, like when the computer messes up a connection and none of the regular inflections are there. It was accompanied by a pair of resonating tones behind it, almost as if another person was there, speaking out of sync. The director slowly turned to look at her desk, eying the parahuman-because it had to be-sitting behind her desk, with her feet propped up on the keyboard. They were wearing a robe, just a robe, covering their entire body. The inside of the grey cloak was cloaked in shadows too deep to be natural, nothing visible behind the concealing garb. The sleeves had green lines, running up to the neck and down their front. The outfit was completed by a hood in the same drab colors drug over the head, covering all inside of it with unnatural shadow.
"Director is fine," said Emily, casting her gaze around the room for a way out. "And you would be?"
The parahuman ignored her question, gesturing to a chair pulled up in front of her. "Please, sit. Keeping someone waiting is bad manners, after all."
Instead of sitting, Piggot pulled out her phone and hit the button three times, triggering the alert. That should get the PRT to respond to-
"I've taken the liberty of disabling that. I've also taken the pistol in your drawer, the rifle in the chair leg, and the confoam sprayer in the ceiling." The cape tilted her head to the side. "You might be a little paranoid."
"This is the exact reason." Emily said, sweating as her mind raced. "What do you want? Because if you want to take me hostage, there will be a warrant out for you in a heartbeat."
"What do I want? To talk. And that's kind of hard with you looking for a way out of this."
Instead of continuing the conversation, Piggot grabbed the foam grenade in her purse and threw it, throwing herself to the floor, and waiting for the thump that signified it had gone off. It never came. As she looked up, the situation had become apparent. The cape had, in the time it took Emily to throw herself down, calmly stood up and fired a crossbow bolt into the grenade, pinning it to the wall across from them. Where had the crossbow come from? As Piggot watched, the robed woman's hand shifted, going from a crossbow to a prosthetic arm in a second. Now that she looked, the cape was missing her right arm! It was replaced with a prosthetic, night-black metal and glowing blue lines, sleek and refined.
Tinker, Emily noted to herself. That was not a regular replacement.
"Like I said," the cape hissed, the prosthetic hand splitting and reforming menacingly.
"Sit. Down."
1.2
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Fluid 1.2
Director Piggot
Piggot took her seat. Rule one of hostage situations: asses the hostage taker. Find out what they want, and you're that much closer to catching them.
"So what do you want? Someone doesn't break into the Rig, make it all the way to my office, turn off the lights, and sit until I get here for a simple chat."
"We want the same thing, Director. To clean up the Bay. You try to fix the problems with force, and look where it's got you."
"I would like to see you do better, Miss Crossbow Arm. You are still committing several felonies. When the troopers get here-"
"The PRT's private army is quite occupied right now. By the time they realize that the alert calling for their desperate need at the other end of town, I'll be long gone."
Piggot stared. This was more of a setup than she had realized. If everyone was gone from the building, then she was stuck with this psychopath until help could arrive. "Make your demands already. But I have to warn you, the PRT will not yield to your requests."
"The bureaucracy is not who I'm worried about right now." With that, the woman raised her mechanical hand, palm facing up. With a whirr and a click, a rolled-up sheaf of paper emerged from a briefly open slot in the hand. She grabbed the with the other hand(flesh, Piggot noticed) and offered them across the desk. "This is our first order of business. Your psychotic employee got an innocent girl killed for shits and giggles and then swept it under a rug with the aid of a crooked principal and a buddy with a power."
Piggot handled the papers like a bomb about to go off, slowly opening the front and reading the first page.
------------
September 3
Sophia tripped me down the stairs again.
Emma and Madison stole my history assignment, put their names on it, and gave it to Mr. Gladly.
Madison dumped more pencil shavings on me.
-----------
Piggot put the papers down. "Who wrote this? What does it have to do with any of your accusations?"
The robed woman took a few seconds to respond, and when she did Piggot could hear a slight discordant buzz in the echo behind her voice. With the emotional range that the cape had displayed during their short conversation, Emily thought that this was her equivalent of slamming her fists on the table and screaming. "This is the journal of one Taylor Anne Hebert. She's better known as the Locker Girl now. The girls described in the passages are Emma Barnes, Madison Clements, and Sophia Hess."
"I don't see what the issue is here." Piggot said, but her heart was racing. Sophia Hess? That was Shadow Stalker. She had had something to with the locker that had been haunting PR?
"You can cut the act. I know Sophia is Shadow Stalker. What I also know it that another of those girls is a parahuman. Is she one of yours?"
"I can neither confirm nor deny that Sophia is Shadow Stalker. You make these claims in my office, trying to violate a hero's identity, and expect me to comply?"
"You may want to listen to what I'm saying. For three main reasons."
"And those would be?" Piggot stated. She was feeling rather confident now, not least because she had spotted a PRT truck offshore pulling onto the force bridge.
"One. This concerns a Master-class cape, who I know you want off the streets. Two, I have every means to go public with this. And three, I have an...incentive to get you to agree."
"That sounds like a threat. You should know that threats get you nowhere with me."
"Number three," the cape continued, not caring about Emily's objection, "is that one of my associates has the trigger to the explosives attached to the pillars of the Rig and is ready to set them off if you don't agree to investigate this."
Director Piggot
Piggot took her seat. Rule one of hostage situations: asses the hostage taker. Find out what they want, and you're that much closer to catching them.
"So what do you want? Someone doesn't break into the Rig, make it all the way to my office, turn off the lights, and sit until I get here for a simple chat."
"We want the same thing, Director. To clean up the Bay. You try to fix the problems with force, and look where it's got you."
"I would like to see you do better, Miss Crossbow Arm. You are still committing several felonies. When the troopers get here-"
"The PRT's private army is quite occupied right now. By the time they realize that the alert calling for their desperate need at the other end of town, I'll be long gone."
Piggot stared. This was more of a setup than she had realized. If everyone was gone from the building, then she was stuck with this psychopath until help could arrive. "Make your demands already. But I have to warn you, the PRT will not yield to your requests."
"The bureaucracy is not who I'm worried about right now." With that, the woman raised her mechanical hand, palm facing up. With a whirr and a click, a rolled-up sheaf of paper emerged from a briefly open slot in the hand. She grabbed the with the other hand(flesh, Piggot noticed) and offered them across the desk. "This is our first order of business. Your psychotic employee got an innocent girl killed for shits and giggles and then swept it under a rug with the aid of a crooked principal and a buddy with a power."
Piggot handled the papers like a bomb about to go off, slowly opening the front and reading the first page.
------------
September 3
Sophia tripped me down the stairs again.
Emma and Madison stole my history assignment, put their names on it, and gave it to Mr. Gladly.
Madison dumped more pencil shavings on me.
-----------
Piggot put the papers down. "Who wrote this? What does it have to do with any of your accusations?"
The robed woman took a few seconds to respond, and when she did Piggot could hear a slight discordant buzz in the echo behind her voice. With the emotional range that the cape had displayed during their short conversation, Emily thought that this was her equivalent of slamming her fists on the table and screaming. "This is the journal of one Taylor Anne Hebert. She's better known as the Locker Girl now. The girls described in the passages are Emma Barnes, Madison Clements, and Sophia Hess."
"I don't see what the issue is here." Piggot said, but her heart was racing. Sophia Hess? That was Shadow Stalker. She had had something to with the locker that had been haunting PR?
"You can cut the act. I know Sophia is Shadow Stalker. What I also know it that another of those girls is a parahuman. Is she one of yours?"
"I can neither confirm nor deny that Sophia is Shadow Stalker. You make these claims in my office, trying to violate a hero's identity, and expect me to comply?"
"You may want to listen to what I'm saying. For three main reasons."
"And those would be?" Piggot stated. She was feeling rather confident now, not least because she had spotted a PRT truck offshore pulling onto the force bridge.
"One. This concerns a Master-class cape, who I know you want off the streets. Two, I have every means to go public with this. And three, I have an...incentive to get you to agree."
"That sounds like a threat. You should know that threats get you nowhere with me."
"Number three," the cape continued, not caring about Emily's objection, "is that one of my associates has the trigger to the explosives attached to the pillars of the Rig and is ready to set them off if you don't agree to investigate this."
1.3
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Fluid 1.3
Director Piggot
That was...a hell of a threat. No one that they couldn't deal with, but certainly a bold proclamation from a cape they hadn't known about until now. "You're bluffing." She had to be.
"You're welcome to call it. Or, rather you would be if Stygia wasn't making her move right now. Fifteen minutes, Director."
That was the moment that one of the squads chose to finally knock down the door. Six PRT troopers in full armor streamed in the door, cocking foam sprayers at her. If this unnerved the cape, she didn't show it as she stood up from the chair.
"Mark my words, director. This agency's corruption is the largest threat that exists inside of Brockton Bay at this moment. Do something about it, Shadow Stalker, and the crimes in the bay, and the rest of the world notices."
The troopers finally broke out of their shock and each fired a stream of containment foam. Instead of dodging, the cape raised their hand. A half-dozen distortions flickered in the air, and each one interposed itself in a stream of foam. As the yellow-white substance passed through the ripples, it ignited in a colorless flame which burned the streams away before they even got close.
"It is the will of the Principle of Hierarchy that I not be attacked." the cloaked woman stated, almost as if she hadn't just deflected the PRT's signature weapon. "Who are you to deny her?"
The troopers tried to fire their weapons again, but the cape tapped a button on the keyboard and stepped backward. The shutters over the windows sprang open, and she stepped through the glass, passing past it like it didn't exist and fell.
Emily ran-or rather speedwalked- over to the window, only to see the cape drag her prosthetic arm, the nails lengthened into claws, along the support, slowing her decent as she tapped a small metal sphere on the side of the support and put a small white rectangle right next to it.
An envelope.
Pig got was only one word into her orders when her computer screen lit up with a notice. She spin and looked, only for her heart to drop into her lower intestine.
15:00
14:59
Director Piggot
That was...a hell of a threat. No one that they couldn't deal with, but certainly a bold proclamation from a cape they hadn't known about until now. "You're bluffing." She had to be.
"You're welcome to call it. Or, rather you would be if Stygia wasn't making her move right now. Fifteen minutes, Director."
That was the moment that one of the squads chose to finally knock down the door. Six PRT troopers in full armor streamed in the door, cocking foam sprayers at her. If this unnerved the cape, she didn't show it as she stood up from the chair.
"Mark my words, director. This agency's corruption is the largest threat that exists inside of Brockton Bay at this moment. Do something about it, Shadow Stalker, and the crimes in the bay, and the rest of the world notices."
The troopers finally broke out of their shock and each fired a stream of containment foam. Instead of dodging, the cape raised their hand. A half-dozen distortions flickered in the air, and each one interposed itself in a stream of foam. As the yellow-white substance passed through the ripples, it ignited in a colorless flame which burned the streams away before they even got close.
"It is the will of the Principle of Hierarchy that I not be attacked." the cloaked woman stated, almost as if she hadn't just deflected the PRT's signature weapon. "Who are you to deny her?"
The troopers tried to fire their weapons again, but the cape tapped a button on the keyboard and stepped backward. The shutters over the windows sprang open, and she stepped through the glass, passing past it like it didn't exist and fell.
Emily ran-or rather speedwalked- over to the window, only to see the cape drag her prosthetic arm, the nails lengthened into claws, along the support, slowing her decent as she tapped a small metal sphere on the side of the support and put a small white rectangle right next to it.
An envelope.
Pig got was only one word into her orders when her computer screen lit up with a notice. She spin and looked, only for her heart to drop into her lower intestine.
15:00
14:59
1.4
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Fluid 1.4
Brockton Bay Wards
The door to the meeting room was teased open, and in walked the bedraggled superheroes. Kid Win had stripped down to an undersuit after the water had wrecked most of his gear. Shadow Stalker was still spitting out salt and ash. Vista had burns up and down her arms and face. Browbeat and Aegis were being treated for frostbite in the infirmary, and were being kept under by Clockblocker. And finally, Gallant and Glory Girl(who had been on-base at the time) were getting chewed out by Piggot.
"The rule you learn on day ONE of training is not to engage with someone who's powers you don't know. Glory Girl, tell me what you did wrong."
Victoria made a mumbling sound.
"I didn't hear that."
"I...went in because I saw Dean get hurt."
"Damn straight. And you got your ass kicked for it."
Vicky's aura surged as she yelled. "What was I supposed to do? Just let her flay him alive?!"
"No. You should have grabbed him and flew away, you suicidal idiot!"
"Can you two stop bitching and get around to debriefing us?" Shadow Stalker mumbled, and Piggot must have heard her.
"As soon as Panacea finishes putting Aegis back together, Stalker."
As if he was summoned, the boy walked through the door, leaning heavily on Browbeat with a singed Clockblocker behind him. Panacea was just behind them, finding a seat at the end of the table next to Vicky.
"First, the good news. Only one of the bombs went off, so we didn't lose the Rig." Piggot took the opportunity to stare at Clockblocker. His freezing of the bomb had been a good idea, but the timers were on an outside circuit and had deducted ten minutes from that bomb for "cheating". "We also managed to gather some information on this pair of villains. Now, the bad."
Vicky groaned, knowing what was coming.
"The entire Wards, Miss Militia, Assault and Battery, and Glory Girl all got their asses kicked by two supervillains, while failing to prevent a hostile data download in the same room."
A glum silence spread itself across the room, everybody contemplating what a brazen strike of this magnitude could mean for the future of the Bay.
"We need to reconstruct the sequence of events to understand the motive behind these attacks. First, the perpetrators." Piggot pressed the clicker that she was holding, and the screen clicked to two pictures. One showed the cloaked woman that had infiltrated Piggot's office. The other showed the armored cryokinetic that had raided the data cores. Vicky had finally gotten a name during the fight, and Piggot wrote it on the whiteboards.
Harbinger and Stygia.
"Powers. Harbinger has been rated a Shaker/Trump 6 for her containment foam stunt and the fact that it seems she can tune her defenses to beat attacks that she's seen before. On top of non-Manton limited telekinesis, that's scary as hell. Stygia has been rated a Shaker 8 for her large-scale ice manipulation, as well as an unknown Mover rating for the shadow dodges she employed during the battle."
Aegis shuddered, remembering the fateful lunge. He had been trying to pin Stygia down by flying into her and crushing her to the ground. He hadn't anticipated a second power, as she dodged through him and reformed on the other side. She had then grown the ice coating that wall, trying to crush him like a trash compactor. As well as put a scythe through his back, but that was just insult to injury at that point.
"They also seem to have a Tinker on staff or have paid for gear, considering the weaponry, explosives, and Harbinger's prosthetic."
Now it was Browbeat's turn to shudder. That arm had a crossbow, yes, but it also had a sniper rifle. That, he had found out the hard way.
"Finally, what they took. The virus they implanted gave them the PRT's entire roster. Every person we have on staff it possibly compromised."
Brockton Bay Wards
The door to the meeting room was teased open, and in walked the bedraggled superheroes. Kid Win had stripped down to an undersuit after the water had wrecked most of his gear. Shadow Stalker was still spitting out salt and ash. Vista had burns up and down her arms and face. Browbeat and Aegis were being treated for frostbite in the infirmary, and were being kept under by Clockblocker. And finally, Gallant and Glory Girl(who had been on-base at the time) were getting chewed out by Piggot.
"The rule you learn on day ONE of training is not to engage with someone who's powers you don't know. Glory Girl, tell me what you did wrong."
Victoria made a mumbling sound.
"I didn't hear that."
"I...went in because I saw Dean get hurt."
"Damn straight. And you got your ass kicked for it."
Vicky's aura surged as she yelled. "What was I supposed to do? Just let her flay him alive?!"
"No. You should have grabbed him and flew away, you suicidal idiot!"
"Can you two stop bitching and get around to debriefing us?" Shadow Stalker mumbled, and Piggot must have heard her.
"As soon as Panacea finishes putting Aegis back together, Stalker."
As if he was summoned, the boy walked through the door, leaning heavily on Browbeat with a singed Clockblocker behind him. Panacea was just behind them, finding a seat at the end of the table next to Vicky.
"First, the good news. Only one of the bombs went off, so we didn't lose the Rig." Piggot took the opportunity to stare at Clockblocker. His freezing of the bomb had been a good idea, but the timers were on an outside circuit and had deducted ten minutes from that bomb for "cheating". "We also managed to gather some information on this pair of villains. Now, the bad."
Vicky groaned, knowing what was coming.
"The entire Wards, Miss Militia, Assault and Battery, and Glory Girl all got their asses kicked by two supervillains, while failing to prevent a hostile data download in the same room."
A glum silence spread itself across the room, everybody contemplating what a brazen strike of this magnitude could mean for the future of the Bay.
"We need to reconstruct the sequence of events to understand the motive behind these attacks. First, the perpetrators." Piggot pressed the clicker that she was holding, and the screen clicked to two pictures. One showed the cloaked woman that had infiltrated Piggot's office. The other showed the armored cryokinetic that had raided the data cores. Vicky had finally gotten a name during the fight, and Piggot wrote it on the whiteboards.
Harbinger and Stygia.
"Powers. Harbinger has been rated a Shaker/Trump 6 for her containment foam stunt and the fact that it seems she can tune her defenses to beat attacks that she's seen before. On top of non-Manton limited telekinesis, that's scary as hell. Stygia has been rated a Shaker 8 for her large-scale ice manipulation, as well as an unknown Mover rating for the shadow dodges she employed during the battle."
Aegis shuddered, remembering the fateful lunge. He had been trying to pin Stygia down by flying into her and crushing her to the ground. He hadn't anticipated a second power, as she dodged through him and reformed on the other side. She had then grown the ice coating that wall, trying to crush him like a trash compactor. As well as put a scythe through his back, but that was just insult to injury at that point.
"They also seem to have a Tinker on staff or have paid for gear, considering the weaponry, explosives, and Harbinger's prosthetic."
Now it was Browbeat's turn to shudder. That arm had a crossbow, yes, but it also had a sniper rifle. That, he had found out the hard way.
"Finally, what they took. The virus they implanted gave them the PRT's entire roster. Every person we have on staff it possibly compromised."
1.5
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Fluid 1.5(Miniterludes)
O-O-O-O
The Blasphemous
"Three days. That's how long it's been."
Emma was laying on her bed, her cell phone pressed to her ear. Sophia was on the other end, sounding worried.
"I know, I know. Miss Piggy's got us locked down on the Rig until she's sure that none of our identities were on that drive."
"That doesn't matter!" Emma exclaimed. "You should be out there, beating those two up and bringing them back to the Rig!"
"Not my choice. You know that I want to go shoot that bitch, but I can't leave. If I try, I get shot."
"But you'll come over as soon as you're done, right?" Emma let a touch of her power leak into her voice.
"...yea. As soon as I'm done." The phone clicked off. Emma sat back and smirked. Sophia was so easy to manipulate it wasn't even funny. Even all those months ago, in that alley, even after her...brief unconsciousness. She barely remembered the rush of power, and the brightness-but not of the alley.
She picked up the phone again, dialed a number, and it was picked up almost immediately.
"Nice to hear from you again, Sovereign. Have you reconsidered the offer?"
"Yes, but first I need something."
Although it almost seemed like a trick of the light, Emma's eyes flickered black.
O-O-O-O
The Winding Serpent
PRT Official File
In: Parahumans>Brockton Bay>Villains
#97: Harbinger
Shaker/Trump 6
Subject made her first recorded appearance threatening the ENE director. She quickly proved that she had been creating a diversion as her teammate (see #98, Stygia) stole highly classified documents.
Costume: Grey robe with prosthetic arm
Powers: Subject appears capable of creating varying manifestations with differing abilities. Examples include:
-A distortion capable of igniting containment foam
-Selectively solid platforms
-Invisible monoatomic blades
-A light stripping kinetic energy from victims
-Localized telekinesis
See File BB-8453(Glory Girl and Gallant vs. Harbinger)
#98: Stygia
Shaker 8, Mover 2
Subject made first appearance alongside #97(Harbinger), stealing information from the Brockton Bay PRT branch.
Costume: Black bodysuit with white armor over chest, arms, and legs. Goggles conceal identity.
Powers: Subject is capable of localized cryokineisis, with fine control sufficient to grow a coating over a person in seconds. They are also capable of dematerializing briefly in order to dodge an attack.
See File BB-8454(Assault, Battery, Miss Militia, Aegis, Vista, Shadow Stalker, Browbeat vs. Stygia)
You are now signed out.
Thomas Calvert smiled.
O-O-O-O
The Devoted Traitor
Ring. Ring.
"Yes?"
"Hello. You would be...Trickster, correct?"
"Yes. Who are you?"
"My name is Coil. I have a proposition for you."
"Lay it on me."
"Come to this address in three days. I may have something that can aid your friend."
"What do you me-"
Click
O-O-O-O
The Oracle of Fear
Stygia, as she was know now, stood at the side of the machine. Her lack of aptitude for these metal libraries consigned her to aiding her friend whenever possible, but she was learning. This place was so different from the ice-choked waste where Harbinger had found her.
"Almost there...and...done!" Harbinger kicked herself back from the cheap desk on her chair, throwing her arms up in triumph.
"Would you mind explaining what you did?" Stygia asked, wondering aloud what miracle she would be shown now.
"Rather simple, actually. I set a trawler to check the PRT database you took for people that frequent downtown. A separate program cross references that with the body shape of the target, and we got a hit. Let's see...yup. We got poor interactions, often absent, all here."
"Coil."
"Yes. And, by extension, Sovereign."
Her friend had not disappointed. Their targets was in sight. The latest in her series of good ideas.
Stygia had given up a lot of things. Her name, her old thoughts, her sisters. But she gained a new destiny, unbound to her father's pathetic fears or her form's fragility.
Alsanna smiled.
O-O-O-O
Arc 1 finished.
Arc 2: Tide begins soon.
O-O-O-O
The Blasphemous
"Three days. That's how long it's been."
Emma was laying on her bed, her cell phone pressed to her ear. Sophia was on the other end, sounding worried.
"I know, I know. Miss Piggy's got us locked down on the Rig until she's sure that none of our identities were on that drive."
"That doesn't matter!" Emma exclaimed. "You should be out there, beating those two up and bringing them back to the Rig!"
"Not my choice. You know that I want to go shoot that bitch, but I can't leave. If I try, I get shot."
"But you'll come over as soon as you're done, right?" Emma let a touch of her power leak into her voice.
"...yea. As soon as I'm done." The phone clicked off. Emma sat back and smirked. Sophia was so easy to manipulate it wasn't even funny. Even all those months ago, in that alley, even after her...brief unconsciousness. She barely remembered the rush of power, and the brightness-but not of the alley.
She picked up the phone again, dialed a number, and it was picked up almost immediately.
"Nice to hear from you again, Sovereign. Have you reconsidered the offer?"
"Yes, but first I need something."
Although it almost seemed like a trick of the light, Emma's eyes flickered black.
O-O-O-O
The Winding Serpent
PRT Official File
In: Parahumans>Brockton Bay>Villains
#97: Harbinger
Shaker/Trump 6
Subject made her first recorded appearance threatening the ENE director. She quickly proved that she had been creating a diversion as her teammate (see #98, Stygia) stole highly classified documents.
Costume: Grey robe with prosthetic arm
Powers: Subject appears capable of creating varying manifestations with differing abilities. Examples include:
-A distortion capable of igniting containment foam
-Selectively solid platforms
-Invisible monoatomic blades
-A light stripping kinetic energy from victims
-Localized telekinesis
See File BB-8453(Glory Girl and Gallant vs. Harbinger)
#98: Stygia
Shaker 8, Mover 2
Subject made first appearance alongside #97(Harbinger), stealing information from the Brockton Bay PRT branch.
Costume: Black bodysuit with white armor over chest, arms, and legs. Goggles conceal identity.
Powers: Subject is capable of localized cryokineisis, with fine control sufficient to grow a coating over a person in seconds. They are also capable of dematerializing briefly in order to dodge an attack.
See File BB-8454(Assault, Battery, Miss Militia, Aegis, Vista, Shadow Stalker, Browbeat vs. Stygia)
You are now signed out.
Thomas Calvert smiled.
O-O-O-O
The Devoted Traitor
Ring. Ring.
"Yes?"
"Hello. You would be...Trickster, correct?"
"Yes. Who are you?"
"My name is Coil. I have a proposition for you."
"Lay it on me."
"Come to this address in three days. I may have something that can aid your friend."
"What do you me-"
Click
O-O-O-O
The Oracle of Fear
Stygia, as she was know now, stood at the side of the machine. Her lack of aptitude for these metal libraries consigned her to aiding her friend whenever possible, but she was learning. This place was so different from the ice-choked waste where Harbinger had found her.
"Almost there...and...done!" Harbinger kicked herself back from the cheap desk on her chair, throwing her arms up in triumph.
"Would you mind explaining what you did?" Stygia asked, wondering aloud what miracle she would be shown now.
"Rather simple, actually. I set a trawler to check the PRT database you took for people that frequent downtown. A separate program cross references that with the body shape of the target, and we got a hit. Let's see...yup. We got poor interactions, often absent, all here."
"Coil."
"Yes. And, by extension, Sovereign."
Her friend had not disappointed. Their targets was in sight. The latest in her series of good ideas.
Stygia had given up a lot of things. Her name, her old thoughts, her sisters. But she gained a new destiny, unbound to her father's pathetic fears or her form's fragility.
Alsanna smiled.
O-O-O-O
Arc 1 finished.
Arc 2: Tide begins soon.
2.1
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Tide 2.1
Dinah Alcott
Please.
Such a simple request, sometimes. At others, not so much.
Please don't let them find me.
Coherent thoughts were getting hard now. Her exhaustion and headache made it impossible to see straight. She asked herself one last question.
Chance I'll live through the next hour?
31.668%.
That's it then. The end. She felt-not saw, she was too out for that- the lid of the dumpster open up. Strong hands lifted her up and blinding light splashed in her eyes.
"You gave us a hell of a chase, little girl. The boss wants you."
The night's darkness fell over her as the goons manhandled her into the van. The engine started up, and they peeled out of the alley.
Chance I escape?
Nothing. Not even a number.
A giggle escaped her throat as she realized the truth.
"I'm never getting out."
"True that, little girl. True that. Damn it's hot in here."
The goon went to open the window.
And a single shaft of moonlight fell through the window and hit Dinah right on the forehead.
She exploded, a wave of brilliant moonlight expanding away from her in the blink of an eye. The soldier holding her screamed and clawed at his eyes. Dinah, feeling a wave of desperate hope, felt a mental switch and pulled.
Her vision changed, fragmenting and shrinking. In the blink of an eye, she had a viewpoint on the reflective floor.
A butterfly.
That was so ironic it hurt. Dinah flapped her new wings and pushed of the window like she had been doing it her whole life, speeding away from the men who wanted to take her. The moonlit halo was dying down, and Dinah made her escape into the night.
Dinah Alcott
Please.
Such a simple request, sometimes. At others, not so much.
Please don't let them find me.
Coherent thoughts were getting hard now. Her exhaustion and headache made it impossible to see straight. She asked herself one last question.
Chance I'll live through the next hour?
31.668%.
That's it then. The end. She felt-not saw, she was too out for that- the lid of the dumpster open up. Strong hands lifted her up and blinding light splashed in her eyes.
"You gave us a hell of a chase, little girl. The boss wants you."
The night's darkness fell over her as the goons manhandled her into the van. The engine started up, and they peeled out of the alley.
Chance I escape?
Nothing. Not even a number.
A giggle escaped her throat as she realized the truth.
"I'm never getting out."
"True that, little girl. True that. Damn it's hot in here."
The goon went to open the window.
And a single shaft of moonlight fell through the window and hit Dinah right on the forehead.
She exploded, a wave of brilliant moonlight expanding away from her in the blink of an eye. The soldier holding her screamed and clawed at his eyes. Dinah, feeling a wave of desperate hope, felt a mental switch and pulled.
Her vision changed, fragmenting and shrinking. In the blink of an eye, she had a viewpoint on the reflective floor.
A butterfly.
That was so ironic it hurt. Dinah flapped her new wings and pushed of the window like she had been doing it her whole life, speeding away from the men who wanted to take her. The moonlit halo was dying down, and Dinah made her escape into the night.
2.2
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"Find her! Sweep the area, burn it down, shoot every butterfly you see! I need that girl!"
"That's okay. A second trigger was something you couldn't see coming. Break off and return to base."
In both timelines, Coil slumped down into his seat. Why now? Why did his operations have to go wrong now? He had done everything right. His men had captured her perfectly, no one was the wiser due to the fact that most of the Protectorate was still on the Rig, and out of the blue, a second trigger. What the hell? Why now?
In the timeline where he had called off his mercenaries, he picked up the phone and made two calls.
"Hey, bossman! How is it!"
"This is serious, Tattletale. I'm sending you a new member. Red hair, black clothes. Named Sovereign. Do be sure that you don't chase her off like Spitfire."
"Can-do!"
Click.
Ring, Ring.
"Hello, Calvert."
"Sovereign, I've told the Undersiders that you're joining up. I need you to keep Tattletale in line, she's getting too cocky for her own good."
"A pleasure to do business, Coil."
Click.
Coil closed the timeline where he had order the burning of the block-they hadn't found anything- and called Trickster.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
"What do you need this time?"
"I need you to kidnap Tattletale. Bring her back to me."
"Sure."
Click.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
"What do you need this time?"
"Run perimeter patrols. Someone might be by soon."
Click.
O-O-O-O
Harbinger, three days later
Harbinger floated on the shard of her anima, slowly drifting between the rusted hulks of the boat graveyard. Her Charms ripped scrap metal from the boats, stretching and transmuting them before assembling another series of the same explosives that had been attached to the rig. The finished products floated down to the bag that Stygia was holding as she walked on the water between them, freezing the water beneath her feet as she stalked the floating Defiler. The explosives were a rather simple design, combining a thermite charge with a pressure detonator to spread and cut.
Harbinger stopped, and dropped to the top of a boat as her platform was reabsorbed. She turned, and Stygia walked up a staircase of frozen water to join her before disintegrating the bridge.
"Any particular reason that we're stopping here?"
"I picked up a ping. Essence."
"You're sure? Another Exalt?"
"If there's something else around here that gives off Essence like this, let me know."
With that, Harbinger strode off towards the door at the top of the sinking boat, grabbing the handle and jerking it. When it didn't give, she gestured and the door ripped itself off its hinges with a screeching noise.
The darkness inside the ship was deep, but a quick gesture and Stygia handed her the flashlight that the pair had stolen from a convenience store. The beam illuminated the inside of the ship-and the butterfly flapping around inside.
"Lunar."
One rather simple word. Of course it was a Lunar. Why wouldn't it be.
"Lunar!"
The butterfly shifted. Over the course of about a second, the flitting insect was replaced by a weeping preteen girl. Looking closer revealed the trademark mutations that excessive shapeshifting applied to its victims. Her fingernails had grown out and sharpened, her skin was an extremely pale white, and her tears were staining the floor of the ship black.
"...oh."
"That's okay. A second trigger was something you couldn't see coming. Break off and return to base."
In both timelines, Coil slumped down into his seat. Why now? Why did his operations have to go wrong now? He had done everything right. His men had captured her perfectly, no one was the wiser due to the fact that most of the Protectorate was still on the Rig, and out of the blue, a second trigger. What the hell? Why now?
In the timeline where he had called off his mercenaries, he picked up the phone and made two calls.
"Hey, bossman! How is it!"
"This is serious, Tattletale. I'm sending you a new member. Red hair, black clothes. Named Sovereign. Do be sure that you don't chase her off like Spitfire."
"Can-do!"
Click.
Ring, Ring.
"Hello, Calvert."
"Sovereign, I've told the Undersiders that you're joining up. I need you to keep Tattletale in line, she's getting too cocky for her own good."
"A pleasure to do business, Coil."
Click.
Coil closed the timeline where he had order the burning of the block-they hadn't found anything- and called Trickster.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
"What do you need this time?"
"I need you to kidnap Tattletale. Bring her back to me."
"Sure."
Click.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.
"What do you need this time?"
"Run perimeter patrols. Someone might be by soon."
Click.
O-O-O-O
Harbinger, three days later
Harbinger floated on the shard of her anima, slowly drifting between the rusted hulks of the boat graveyard. Her Charms ripped scrap metal from the boats, stretching and transmuting them before assembling another series of the same explosives that had been attached to the rig. The finished products floated down to the bag that Stygia was holding as she walked on the water between them, freezing the water beneath her feet as she stalked the floating Defiler. The explosives were a rather simple design, combining a thermite charge with a pressure detonator to spread and cut.
Harbinger stopped, and dropped to the top of a boat as her platform was reabsorbed. She turned, and Stygia walked up a staircase of frozen water to join her before disintegrating the bridge.
"Any particular reason that we're stopping here?"
"I picked up a ping. Essence."
"You're sure? Another Exalt?"
"If there's something else around here that gives off Essence like this, let me know."
With that, Harbinger strode off towards the door at the top of the sinking boat, grabbing the handle and jerking it. When it didn't give, she gestured and the door ripped itself off its hinges with a screeching noise.
The darkness inside the ship was deep, but a quick gesture and Stygia handed her the flashlight that the pair had stolen from a convenience store. The beam illuminated the inside of the ship-and the butterfly flapping around inside.
"Lunar."
One rather simple word. Of course it was a Lunar. Why wouldn't it be.
"Lunar!"
The butterfly shifted. Over the course of about a second, the flitting insect was replaced by a weeping preteen girl. Looking closer revealed the trademark mutations that excessive shapeshifting applied to its victims. Her fingernails had grown out and sharpened, her skin was an extremely pale white, and her tears were staining the floor of the ship black.
"...oh."
2.3
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Tide 2.3
Tattletale
Lisa sprinted like she had never sprinted before. Behind her, two pairs of footprints echoed her in perfect sync. She swung a left and groaned as one of Bitch's dogs blocked off the end of the alley and Grue and Regent started to close the gap. She spun around and ran straight for Regent. Maybe...
Ouch. Nope. Her feet tangled up and she faceplanted in front of Regent. He lashed out with his scepter, but she was faster and dodged, pulling him onto the ground and tazing him with his own scepter.
Grue tried to dogpile her, and she tazed him too.
Electricity won't stop the control.
Lisa stood up, staring down the alleyway at the mutant dog. It whined and trotted forwards, baring its teeth. Bitch hopped off its back and walked forwards in lockstep with how Grue and Regent had been moving earlier.
"Why do you resist?" Bitch's voice had taken on a pitying one that she never would have had she not been Mastered. "Sovereign is the best thing to happen to the Undersiders in a long time." False.
Lisa didn't wait for Bitch to finish, instead sprinting past Grue and Regent's spasming bodies and turning left. She heard stomps closing in, and cursed, turning right onto Main Street. A glance behind her showed Trainwreck chasing her, his armored visage spelling her doom if he caught up. Mastered as well. Lisa kicked her power into overdrive as she sprinted for the Docks in a loop.
Signs of habitation light. Possible cape presence? Capes not operating on regular schedule. Merchants on other side of the dock. Possibly new capes. Not here. Looking for you.
Lisa cursed. They were Mastered too?
Not Mastered. Looking for Tattletale. Looking for Coil.
"Hey!"
Lisa turned, looking at the voice. A woman in blue googles with black hair looked back at her from shotgun in a pickup truck.
"Get in. Harbinger wants you in one piece. Can you drive?"
Tone is consistent. Sovereign's thralls don't display a sense of humor. Actually wants me to drive.
"Yes, I can. Why?" Tattletale jumped into the door and gunned the engine. She peeled out-with an actual tire track and everything-and sped up.
The chick in goggles looked behind them and gestured. A wall of ice exploded from the pavement of the street, throwing Trainwreck and a dog backwards.
"Because I can't. Go!"
Tattletale
Lisa sprinted like she had never sprinted before. Behind her, two pairs of footprints echoed her in perfect sync. She swung a left and groaned as one of Bitch's dogs blocked off the end of the alley and Grue and Regent started to close the gap. She spun around and ran straight for Regent. Maybe...
Ouch. Nope. Her feet tangled up and she faceplanted in front of Regent. He lashed out with his scepter, but she was faster and dodged, pulling him onto the ground and tazing him with his own scepter.
Grue tried to dogpile her, and she tazed him too.
Electricity won't stop the control.
Lisa stood up, staring down the alleyway at the mutant dog. It whined and trotted forwards, baring its teeth. Bitch hopped off its back and walked forwards in lockstep with how Grue and Regent had been moving earlier.
"Why do you resist?" Bitch's voice had taken on a pitying one that she never would have had she not been Mastered. "Sovereign is the best thing to happen to the Undersiders in a long time." False.
Lisa didn't wait for Bitch to finish, instead sprinting past Grue and Regent's spasming bodies and turning left. She heard stomps closing in, and cursed, turning right onto Main Street. A glance behind her showed Trainwreck chasing her, his armored visage spelling her doom if he caught up. Mastered as well. Lisa kicked her power into overdrive as she sprinted for the Docks in a loop.
Signs of habitation light. Possible cape presence? Capes not operating on regular schedule. Merchants on other side of the dock. Possibly new capes. Not here. Looking for you.
Lisa cursed. They were Mastered too?
Not Mastered. Looking for Tattletale. Looking for Coil.
"Hey!"
Lisa turned, looking at the voice. A woman in blue googles with black hair looked back at her from shotgun in a pickup truck.
"Get in. Harbinger wants you in one piece. Can you drive?"
Tone is consistent. Sovereign's thralls don't display a sense of humor. Actually wants me to drive.
"Yes, I can. Why?" Tattletale jumped into the door and gunned the engine. She peeled out-with an actual tire track and everything-and sped up.
The chick in goggles looked behind them and gestured. A wall of ice exploded from the pavement of the street, throwing Trainwreck and a dog backwards.
"Because I can't. Go!"
2.4
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Tide 2.4
Tattletale
The pair sped through the streets, keeping barely ahead of Bitch's dogs and the enthralled Trainwreck. Tattletale, despite being almost a complete novice at driving, managed to keep the truck on the right side of the road (although the bolts of ice that Stygia threw kept most of the other cars out of their way) and not crashing into a tree.
"So why does your teammate want me to come with you? I appreciate the assist, but why?"
"We need to find Coil's base, she's obvious, and I'm useless at searching. You were our best bet for finding his lair."
Coil is being unusually conspicuous. Likely Mastered.
"And Sovereign?"
"Harbinger wants her dead. Not just dead, smashed on the pavement under a dumpster. I don't know why, she's rather secretive."
Partially lying. Knows why Harbinger wants Sovereign dead. Feels like she owes Harbinger a debt, and wants to repay in any way.
"Any other reason?"
Stygia shrugged, looking backwards and tripping up Trainwreck with a dozen three-yard spears of ice.
Avoiding the subject. Doesn't want to talk about Sovereign. Feels guilty over Sovereign.
Wait, what?
Knows how Sovereign got powers. Got them in sam-
Silence. Whirring gears, hissing steam. A single red iris.
Cease your inquiries, mortal. You address the Engine Of Extinction, Lord of the Void. Obey or perish.
Tattletale's head snapped back in shock.
"What the fuck?"
"Oh. Yea, should have seen that coming. EoE is a little protective of his property. I'll explain once we get to a safehouse. Turn left."
Tattletale obeyed, almost numb with shock, and gaped in the rearview mirror as two huge wolves, each at least twelve feet at the shoulder, bounded out of a sheet of ice and ripped into Trainwreck's armor, and the truck turned again and Lisa lost sight of them.
"Pull over here." Stygia pointed, and the Thinker obeyed, pulling into a perfect parallel park.
"So are you going to explain any of that?"
"Later. Inside!"
Stygia tapped the side of the car, and grey cracks spread through it before it collapsed into a pile of grey dust. Lisa wasn't even surprised anymore.
Tattletale
The pair sped through the streets, keeping barely ahead of Bitch's dogs and the enthralled Trainwreck. Tattletale, despite being almost a complete novice at driving, managed to keep the truck on the right side of the road (although the bolts of ice that Stygia threw kept most of the other cars out of their way) and not crashing into a tree.
"So why does your teammate want me to come with you? I appreciate the assist, but why?"
"We need to find Coil's base, she's obvious, and I'm useless at searching. You were our best bet for finding his lair."
Coil is being unusually conspicuous. Likely Mastered.
"And Sovereign?"
"Harbinger wants her dead. Not just dead, smashed on the pavement under a dumpster. I don't know why, she's rather secretive."
Partially lying. Knows why Harbinger wants Sovereign dead. Feels like she owes Harbinger a debt, and wants to repay in any way.
"Any other reason?"
Stygia shrugged, looking backwards and tripping up Trainwreck with a dozen three-yard spears of ice.
Avoiding the subject. Doesn't want to talk about Sovereign. Feels guilty over Sovereign.
Wait, what?
Knows how Sovereign got powers. Got them in sam-
Silence. Whirring gears, hissing steam. A single red iris.
Cease your inquiries, mortal. You address the Engine Of Extinction, Lord of the Void. Obey or perish.
Tattletale's head snapped back in shock.
"What the fuck?"
"Oh. Yea, should have seen that coming. EoE is a little protective of his property. I'll explain once we get to a safehouse. Turn left."
Tattletale obeyed, almost numb with shock, and gaped in the rearview mirror as two huge wolves, each at least twelve feet at the shoulder, bounded out of a sheet of ice and ripped into Trainwreck's armor, and the truck turned again and Lisa lost sight of them.
"Pull over here." Stygia pointed, and the Thinker obeyed, pulling into a perfect parallel park.
"So are you going to explain any of that?"
"Later. Inside!"
Stygia tapped the side of the car, and grey cracks spread through it before it collapsed into a pile of grey dust. Lisa wasn't even surprised anymore.
2.5
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Tide 2.5
Harbinger
It was the night, and she was killing again. Her hands (hand, now) coated in blood, the blood of the thing. Her blade had been lost in its gaping chest-hole ten minutes ago, its edge dulled and spirit gone. She tore, ripped, and even bit in desperation.
Don't take me back.
And then, it collapsed. A mourning wail, and the thing fell onto its too-lanky knees, a tentacle-covered bulk expiring, while the victor nursed her severed arm.
Claws. Too long, too sharp. I'll bleed out here.
The irony made her laugh and cry in equal measure, a scream of hate and madness in one mournful wail. And it shifted. Pulling itself up to regard her one last time, victorious but not, superior but crippled, alive but dead. And it fell, making one last attempt to crush her. She didn't mind. As the thing, the not-god, met her exposed bones, it changed, flowing into her like water, her blood screaming and singing like her voice, silver tears streaming from her eyes as they broke.
Retina snapped. Iris flowed. Minds shattered. Memory...
Memory returned.
Harbinger awoke.
Harbinger slept.
A bargain. That was how it had started. Four. Yes, that's it. Four. Pieces, fragments, souls, echoes, virtues. Had it started in silver? Blood? Poison? She was so broken now she hardly remembered, too many minds, too many Virtues, too few blades to rip and cut. Too few thoughts, too few arms, too many eyes. A coffin of glass, a coffin of steel, a coffin of...of
Quicksilver
Harbinger awoke.
Harbinger slept.
A red eye, beyond the world. An engine, a salvation, a traitor.
A constellation, beyond the mind. A principle, a ruler, a name.
A sea, beyond the soul. An eternity, a mother, a corpse.
A traitor, beyond the veil. A traitor, a traitor, a
Traitor
TraitorTraitorTraitor
A friend.
Harbinger awoke.
Harbinger did not see. She had seen, once.
Harbinger did not feel. She had felt, once.
Harbinger did not live. She had lived, once.
Harbinger slept.
Harbinger
It was the night, and she was killing again. Her hands (hand, now) coated in blood, the blood of the thing. Her blade had been lost in its gaping chest-hole ten minutes ago, its edge dulled and spirit gone. She tore, ripped, and even bit in desperation.
Don't take me back.
And then, it collapsed. A mourning wail, and the thing fell onto its too-lanky knees, a tentacle-covered bulk expiring, while the victor nursed her severed arm.
Claws. Too long, too sharp. I'll bleed out here.
The irony made her laugh and cry in equal measure, a scream of hate and madness in one mournful wail. And it shifted. Pulling itself up to regard her one last time, victorious but not, superior but crippled, alive but dead. And it fell, making one last attempt to crush her. She didn't mind. As the thing, the not-god, met her exposed bones, it changed, flowing into her like water, her blood screaming and singing like her voice, silver tears streaming from her eyes as they broke.
Retina snapped. Iris flowed. Minds shattered. Memory...
Memory returned.
Harbinger awoke.
Harbinger slept.
A bargain. That was how it had started. Four. Yes, that's it. Four. Pieces, fragments, souls, echoes, virtues. Had it started in silver? Blood? Poison? She was so broken now she hardly remembered, too many minds, too many Virtues, too few blades to rip and cut. Too few thoughts, too few arms, too many eyes. A coffin of glass, a coffin of steel, a coffin of...of
Quicksilver
Harbinger awoke.
Harbinger slept.
A red eye, beyond the world. An engine, a salvation, a traitor.
A constellation, beyond the mind. A principle, a ruler, a name.
A sea, beyond the soul. An eternity, a mother, a corpse.
A traitor, beyond the veil. A traitor, a traitor, a
Traitor
TraitorTraitorTraitor
A friend.
Harbinger awoke.
Harbinger did not see. She had seen, once.
Harbinger did not feel. She had felt, once.
Harbinger did not live. She had lived, once.
Harbinger slept.
2.6
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Tide 2.6
Harbinger
Awake. Pull. Assemble.
Harbinger rose from her sleeping position, the fractured shards of her memory receding to be replaced by Essence. A necessary trade, as in her nightmares she had cut her wrists with her nails again. She mopped up the silver droplets and applied some spare fabric to her wrists, unaware of the silver dripping from her useless tear ducts. Her body remembered her past, even if she did not save in her worst nightmares.
Having solved that, she stood up from the depression in the sand she had been using to shield herself from Cecelyne's winds and extended the senses that had replaced her eyes. No Essence, no fluids, dry as, well, a desert. Her skin felt the heat of the Green Sun, and she set off in that direction. The desert was treacherous, but what was it compared to the horrors of her past?
A day later, Harbinger left Malfeas twenty pounds of moonsilver heavier and half a dozen soulsteel swords lighter. Pull yourself together. Time to help Dinah.
The scorpions of the desert tried to bar her way, but a flick of the chain-blades embedded in her arm minced them into dozens of parts. Their blood called to her, guiding the blades to their hearts or lungs with their beats or breaths. She preserved what she could and burned what she couldn't.
Finally, she crested a hill and gazed upon the city of Brockton Bay. This place was so strange, to her. Such a sad place, dying and yet alive, refusing to acknowledge its ruin until it could not move anymore.
Not unlike her, in that regard. Was that why she felt drawn here, wishing to do things she had never done? To walk the waterfront with a t-shirt and shorts, as if she didn't bleed mercury and cry acid? To avoid certain chunks of the city, those tagged by gangs, as if she couldn't flay an man alive without lifting a finger? To watch the people, as if she had eyes to see anything but the lifeblood and Essence of men?
Focus. In. Out. In. Out. Find the ship with the Lun-Dinah. Find Dinah.
Harbinger fractured her anima, forming the platform she used and flying up to the tip of the ship. She floated there for a second, and then stepped off. She walked over to the propped-up door, grabbed it with her Charm, and stepped inside the ruined hulk of a ship.
Dinah was sitting on the small bench they had found, looking like she was trying to sleep but couldn't. Harbinger strode over, tapped her on the shoulder, and stood her up.
"I'll be applying some basic stuff right now. Only another Lunar can fix your caste, but I can stabilize your shapeshifting right now."
Dinah nodded, looking hungry. Harbinger should have brought her something to eat. It was hard to remember, sometimes, that people ate.
She certainly didn't.
Harbinger got to work, the razor claws of her prosthetic making small incisions in Dinah's skin and small drops of moonsilver being slowly added to the pattern, until Dinah's body was covered in a latticework of silver lines and runes. As much protection as Harbinger could add, the symbols of most of the Incarne, several Yozis, and the Engine.
She stood up, her work completed, and left. One last stop before they struck. One last stop before she got her hands on Sovereign's throat. A dingy little bar, in the waterfront district.
Somer's Rock.
O-O-O-O
Arc 2 done.
Arc 3: Storm begins soon.
Harbinger
Awake. Pull. Assemble.
Harbinger rose from her sleeping position, the fractured shards of her memory receding to be replaced by Essence. A necessary trade, as in her nightmares she had cut her wrists with her nails again. She mopped up the silver droplets and applied some spare fabric to her wrists, unaware of the silver dripping from her useless tear ducts. Her body remembered her past, even if she did not save in her worst nightmares.
Having solved that, she stood up from the depression in the sand she had been using to shield herself from Cecelyne's winds and extended the senses that had replaced her eyes. No Essence, no fluids, dry as, well, a desert. Her skin felt the heat of the Green Sun, and she set off in that direction. The desert was treacherous, but what was it compared to the horrors of her past?
A day later, Harbinger left Malfeas twenty pounds of moonsilver heavier and half a dozen soulsteel swords lighter. Pull yourself together. Time to help Dinah.
The scorpions of the desert tried to bar her way, but a flick of the chain-blades embedded in her arm minced them into dozens of parts. Their blood called to her, guiding the blades to their hearts or lungs with their beats or breaths. She preserved what she could and burned what she couldn't.
Finally, she crested a hill and gazed upon the city of Brockton Bay. This place was so strange, to her. Such a sad place, dying and yet alive, refusing to acknowledge its ruin until it could not move anymore.
Not unlike her, in that regard. Was that why she felt drawn here, wishing to do things she had never done? To walk the waterfront with a t-shirt and shorts, as if she didn't bleed mercury and cry acid? To avoid certain chunks of the city, those tagged by gangs, as if she couldn't flay an man alive without lifting a finger? To watch the people, as if she had eyes to see anything but the lifeblood and Essence of men?
Focus. In. Out. In. Out. Find the ship with the Lun-Dinah. Find Dinah.
Harbinger fractured her anima, forming the platform she used and flying up to the tip of the ship. She floated there for a second, and then stepped off. She walked over to the propped-up door, grabbed it with her Charm, and stepped inside the ruined hulk of a ship.
Dinah was sitting on the small bench they had found, looking like she was trying to sleep but couldn't. Harbinger strode over, tapped her on the shoulder, and stood her up.
"I'll be applying some basic stuff right now. Only another Lunar can fix your caste, but I can stabilize your shapeshifting right now."
Dinah nodded, looking hungry. Harbinger should have brought her something to eat. It was hard to remember, sometimes, that people ate.
She certainly didn't.
Harbinger got to work, the razor claws of her prosthetic making small incisions in Dinah's skin and small drops of moonsilver being slowly added to the pattern, until Dinah's body was covered in a latticework of silver lines and runes. As much protection as Harbinger could add, the symbols of most of the Incarne, several Yozis, and the Engine.
She stood up, her work completed, and left. One last stop before they struck. One last stop before she got her hands on Sovereign's throat. A dingy little bar, in the waterfront district.
Somer's Rock.
O-O-O-O
Arc 2 done.
Arc 3: Storm begins soon.
3.1
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Storm 3.1
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♦ Topic: Brockton Bay Protectorate HQ Attacked!
In: Boards ► America ► News
Crimson_King (Original Poster)
Posted On Apr 6th 2011:
This morning, the Brockton Bay Protectorate HQ was attacked by a pair of supervillains. Links here, here, and here.
Edit: PRT press release here.
(Showing page 16 of 63)
►Answer Key
Replied On Apr 8th 2011:
Wait, so is this the first SH9 name steal? I know that this happens every once in a while (Looking at you, Flamestrike) but calling yourself Harbinger? Jack's going to blow a gasket. Not to mention a body for the original was never found.
►Loyal
Replied On Apr 8th 2011:
Wait, does that mean that the Slaughterhouse Nine might show up in the Bay?!?!?
Nope. I'm out.
►Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)
Replied On Apr 8th 2011:
Chill out. They might leave.
hahahaweregonnadie
►Reave (Verified PRT Agent)
Replied On Apr 8th 2011:
The Slaughterhouse is currently halfway across the country. They might not even know about her.
►Swamp_Gal (La Grande Refugee)
Replied On Apr 8th 2011:
If they leave to go to Brockton, maybe they'll leave the Northwest and go away from me.
User received an infraction for this post: Please don't wish the Slaughterhouse on somebody. -Tin_Mother
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 ... 61, 62, 63
■
♦ Topic: The La Grande Massacre
In: Boards ► World Events
White Fairy (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (La Grande Refugee)
Posted On Apr 9th 2011:
Well, there might be a new S-Class threat about.
April 7: An announcement nailed to the town hall orders all civilians to evacuate, only a few do.
April 8: A bunch of dudes in silver and red armor enter the city and fucking SLAUGHTER EVERYONE. No one spared, everybody who they found died.
April 9: The massacre continues. The same people are blocking off every exit, planes are sabotaged, murders continue.
Edit:April 10: City burning, fields salted, the works.
(Showing page 231 of 1393)
►Bagrat (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Replied On Apr 9th 2011:
Jesus Christ, what is going on right now? I may be the Guy in the Know, but nothing like this has ever happened. Oregon has declared a state of emergency, the PRT has them down as A-Class, the whole city might have to be abandoned.
►Swamp_Gal (La Grande Refugee)
Replied On Apr 9th 2011:
I made it out, guys. I'm in Forks, Washington. The 9 are poking about in the northwest. Please don't kill me.
►Space Zombie (Banned)
Replied On Apr 9th 2011:
Don't run into any vampires.
User was banned for this post: You pushed too far this time. This is the sixth time you've been joking about things with people who escaped the Slaughterhouse or La Grande. Cool off for a week. -Wyrm_Engineer
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 229, 230, 231, 232, 233 ... 1391, 1392, 1393
■
►Private message to Swamp_Gal
Scaredy_Cat: What did you do?!
Swamp_Girl: I'm sorry, what? Are you accusing me of something?
Scaredy_Cat: You got the Undead Legion called on yourself, sis. What the hell?
Swamp_Girl: Anna? Is that you?
Scaredy_Cat: Yes. And you are not subtle, Elana.
Scaredy_Cat: Tell me.
Swamp_Girl: First, where have you been? I thought you were dead. Or as dead as we can get.
Scaredy_Cat: Here. You got here through Dad, right?
Swamp_Girl: Yea. I decided to lay low a couple years ago, get myself set up with some gold, and then tonight some guys tried to mug me.
Swamp_Girl: I killed them, of course. Or rather Velstadt did.
Swamp_Girl: The next day, the Abyss Watchers are in town.
Scaredy_Cat: K. I need some help. There's a person here in Brockton, name is Sovereign. They've enthralled a huge chunk of the capes.
Scaredy_Cat: Harbinger said to see if I could find some help.
Swamp_Girl: Anything for my little sister.
■
Welcome to the Parahumans Online message boards.
You are currently logged in, Scaredy_Cat
You are viewing:
• Threads you have replied to
• AND Threads that have new replies
• OR private message conversations with new replies
• Thread OP is displayed.
• Ten posts per page
• Last ten messages in private message history.
• Threads and private messages are ordered chronologically.
■
♦ Topic: Brockton Bay Protectorate HQ Attacked!
In: Boards ► America ► News
Crimson_King (Original Poster)
Posted On Apr 6th 2011:
This morning, the Brockton Bay Protectorate HQ was attacked by a pair of supervillains. Links here, here, and here.
Edit: PRT press release here.
(Showing page 16 of 63)
►Answer Key
Replied On Apr 8th 2011:
Wait, so is this the first SH9 name steal? I know that this happens every once in a while (Looking at you, Flamestrike) but calling yourself Harbinger? Jack's going to blow a gasket. Not to mention a body for the original was never found.
►Loyal
Replied On Apr 8th 2011:
Wait, does that mean that the Slaughterhouse Nine might show up in the Bay?!?!?
Nope. I'm out.
►Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)
Replied On Apr 8th 2011:
Chill out. They might leave.
hahahaweregonnadie
►Reave (Verified PRT Agent)
Replied On Apr 8th 2011:
The Slaughterhouse is currently halfway across the country. They might not even know about her.
►Swamp_Gal (La Grande Refugee)
Replied On Apr 8th 2011:
If they leave to go to Brockton, maybe they'll leave the Northwest and go away from me.
User received an infraction for this post: Please don't wish the Slaughterhouse on somebody. -Tin_Mother
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 ... 61, 62, 63
■
♦ Topic: The La Grande Massacre
In: Boards ► World Events
White Fairy (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (La Grande Refugee)
Posted On Apr 9th 2011:
Well, there might be a new S-Class threat about.
April 7: An announcement nailed to the town hall orders all civilians to evacuate, only a few do.
April 8: A bunch of dudes in silver and red armor enter the city and fucking SLAUGHTER EVERYONE. No one spared, everybody who they found died.
April 9: The massacre continues. The same people are blocking off every exit, planes are sabotaged, murders continue.
Edit:April 10: City burning, fields salted, the works.
(Showing page 231 of 1393)
►Bagrat (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Replied On Apr 9th 2011:
Jesus Christ, what is going on right now? I may be the Guy in the Know, but nothing like this has ever happened. Oregon has declared a state of emergency, the PRT has them down as A-Class, the whole city might have to be abandoned.
►Swamp_Gal (La Grande Refugee)
Replied On Apr 9th 2011:
I made it out, guys. I'm in Forks, Washington. The 9 are poking about in the northwest. Please don't kill me.
►Space Zombie (Banned)
Replied On Apr 9th 2011:
Don't run into any vampires.
User was banned for this post: You pushed too far this time. This is the sixth time you've been joking about things with people who escaped the Slaughterhouse or La Grande. Cool off for a week. -Wyrm_Engineer
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 229, 230, 231, 232, 233 ... 1391, 1392, 1393
■
►Private message to Swamp_Gal
Scaredy_Cat: What did you do?!
Swamp_Girl: I'm sorry, what? Are you accusing me of something?
Scaredy_Cat: You got the Undead Legion called on yourself, sis. What the hell?
Swamp_Girl: Anna? Is that you?
Scaredy_Cat: Yes. And you are not subtle, Elana.
Scaredy_Cat: Tell me.
Swamp_Girl: First, where have you been? I thought you were dead. Or as dead as we can get.
Scaredy_Cat: Here. You got here through Dad, right?
Swamp_Girl: Yea. I decided to lay low a couple years ago, get myself set up with some gold, and then tonight some guys tried to mug me.
Swamp_Girl: I killed them, of course. Or rather Velstadt did.
Swamp_Girl: The next day, the Abyss Watchers are in town.
Scaredy_Cat: K. I need some help. There's a person here in Brockton, name is Sovereign. They've enthralled a huge chunk of the capes.
Scaredy_Cat: Harbinger said to see if I could find some help.
Swamp_Girl: Anything for my little sister.
AU timeline
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Partial Timeline
Please note time progresses differently in each world. Dark Souls moves faster than Exalted, which moves faster than Worm.
3 years before start of Exalted Canon
Five years before start of Worm
Between Dark Souls 2 and 3
(No DLC completed for DS2)
The Eight Ministers attempt to break the Seal of Eight Divinities. This distracts The Ebon Dragon, and the Scarlet Empress escapes his clutches, regaining control of the Realm.
The fractured seal breaks through Elsewhere into Creation, but it doesn't stop. It tunnels farther and farther into Elsewhere until it finally stops on the edge of the Abyss and Earth Bet. Exposure to Abyssal energies scours Autochthonia of life, killing the Alchemicals and awakening Big A for a brief second before killing him too. He becomes a Neverborn.
He immediately reorganizes the Deathlords, taking most of Eye and Seven Despairs's Exaltations and placing the Black Heron and the Mask of Winters under his direct command. Eye and Seven Despairs, in a rage, sends his last Exaltation into the crack, where it finds Emma in the alley a few years later. In revenge, the Engine of Extinction hurls him into the void, stripping him of his mechanical arm for later use.
The Engine of Extinction opens contact with the surviving Yozis, and they initially rebuff him before realizing that he is a Neverborn now. He reveals the existence of the cracks that he created by mistake, asking for a joint operation to exploit these new boundaries. TED refuses, but most of the other Yozis agree. SWLiHN even gives a Green Sun Prince for the operation.
The first incursion enters the Abyss. They retreat, but log the existence of the Abyss Watchers. The second group enters Earth Bet, clashing briefly with the Houston Protectorate. Eidolon brings the matter before Cauldron, and Contessa realizes her powers do not work on these new foes. Clairvoyant also fails to locate them.
The Abyss Watchers make their way through one of the cracks and purge Thorns of all life and unlife, even forcing the Mask of Winters to retreat. The Realm hails them as heroes, but the Abyss Watchers start purging the Thorns refugees too.
Emma begins manipulating Coil. She institutes Sophia as the leader of the bullying campaign.
Aldrich makes contact with the Deathlords, offering them great magic in exchange for an Exaltation. He is rebuffed for now.
Elana discovers the fractures in reality and makes note of them.
The Realm invades and fortifies Thorns.
EoE constructs a new type of Monstrance of Celestial Portion, this one designed to keep the original being's power. He uses Aldrich as a willing test subject. It fails, and Aldrich is rendered a brain-dead husk, wielding powers too great for him. He is fed to the First Flame.
Cauldron finally discovers the cracks in reality that the Deathlords used. They keep a close eye on them.
Abyss Watchers enter flame.
Two years after start of Exalted Canon
One year before start of Worm.
Beginning of Dark Souls 3
The Flame begins fading due to Aldia's meddling with the Twin Princes. Aldrich is returned to life with no Exaltation, which has returned to EoE for fine-tuning.
Elana makes her escape into Earth Bet, assuming a human guise.
Aldrich eats Gwyndolin, invents the Lifehunt Scythe, and takes over Anor Londo. The Abyss Watchers return to the cracks in reality and watch for Abyssal corruption in the other worlds, reasoning that Farron is a lost cause.
Something from Elsewhere greets the Engine. It is partially accepted into the loose circle of beings, offering skill at layering reality into dreams, asking only for a test subject.
Locker Incident.
And that's all before spoilers start.
Please comment and speculate.
Please note time progresses differently in each world. Dark Souls moves faster than Exalted, which moves faster than Worm.
3 years before start of Exalted Canon
Five years before start of Worm
Between Dark Souls 2 and 3
(No DLC completed for DS2)
The Eight Ministers attempt to break the Seal of Eight Divinities. This distracts The Ebon Dragon, and the Scarlet Empress escapes his clutches, regaining control of the Realm.
The fractured seal breaks through Elsewhere into Creation, but it doesn't stop. It tunnels farther and farther into Elsewhere until it finally stops on the edge of the Abyss and Earth Bet. Exposure to Abyssal energies scours Autochthonia of life, killing the Alchemicals and awakening Big A for a brief second before killing him too. He becomes a Neverborn.
He immediately reorganizes the Deathlords, taking most of Eye and Seven Despairs's Exaltations and placing the Black Heron and the Mask of Winters under his direct command. Eye and Seven Despairs, in a rage, sends his last Exaltation into the crack, where it finds Emma in the alley a few years later. In revenge, the Engine of Extinction hurls him into the void, stripping him of his mechanical arm for later use.
The Engine of Extinction opens contact with the surviving Yozis, and they initially rebuff him before realizing that he is a Neverborn now. He reveals the existence of the cracks that he created by mistake, asking for a joint operation to exploit these new boundaries. TED refuses, but most of the other Yozis agree. SWLiHN even gives a Green Sun Prince for the operation.
The first incursion enters the Abyss. They retreat, but log the existence of the Abyss Watchers. The second group enters Earth Bet, clashing briefly with the Houston Protectorate. Eidolon brings the matter before Cauldron, and Contessa realizes her powers do not work on these new foes. Clairvoyant also fails to locate them.
The Abyss Watchers make their way through one of the cracks and purge Thorns of all life and unlife, even forcing the Mask of Winters to retreat. The Realm hails them as heroes, but the Abyss Watchers start purging the Thorns refugees too.
Emma begins manipulating Coil. She institutes Sophia as the leader of the bullying campaign.
Aldrich makes contact with the Deathlords, offering them great magic in exchange for an Exaltation. He is rebuffed for now.
Elana discovers the fractures in reality and makes note of them.
The Realm invades and fortifies Thorns.
EoE constructs a new type of Monstrance of Celestial Portion, this one designed to keep the original being's power. He uses Aldrich as a willing test subject. It fails, and Aldrich is rendered a brain-dead husk, wielding powers too great for him. He is fed to the First Flame.
Cauldron finally discovers the cracks in reality that the Deathlords used. They keep a close eye on them.
Abyss Watchers enter flame.
Two years after start of Exalted Canon
One year before start of Worm.
Beginning of Dark Souls 3
The Flame begins fading due to Aldia's meddling with the Twin Princes. Aldrich is returned to life with no Exaltation, which has returned to EoE for fine-tuning.
Elana makes her escape into Earth Bet, assuming a human guise.
Aldrich eats Gwyndolin, invents the Lifehunt Scythe, and takes over Anor Londo. The Abyss Watchers return to the cracks in reality and watch for Abyssal corruption in the other worlds, reasoning that Farron is a lost cause.
Something from Elsewhere greets the Engine. It is partially accepted into the loose circle of beings, offering skill at layering reality into dreams, asking only for a test subject.
Locker Incident.
And that's all before spoilers start.
Please comment and speculate.
3.2
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
3.2
Kaiser
Most days, Kaiser would not be sitting in a bar waiting for Merchants. This was not most days.
"Is everyone here? Good. First order of business-"
Kaiser was rudely cut off by someone slamming the door open. Probably the Undersiders, though they seemed to have fallen to infighting. He turned from his position at the head of the table to greet the Undersiders. It was not the teenaged villain gang. Instead, the figure that had attacked the Rig and brought hell on his operations stood in the doorway, clearly leaning on the doorframe.
"Ah, Harbinger. We...weren't expecting you."
"I am here now. This discussion may commence." Jesus, that voice was creepy. Kaiser wasn't unsettled easily, but that was definitely something.
"You are not welcome here, Harbinger." That was Coil. Slimy bastard. "Sit in a booth."
"Why? The Travelers sit here, Faultline sits here. Why am I not welcome?"
"The Travelers and Faultline are dependable and professional. You poked the PRT with a stick for fun. Sit in a booth."
"I see. So I must prove merit?" Kaiser knew that tone of voice. He ducked.
Harbinger lashed out, crossing the distance to Trickster's side from across the bar. She pulled his top hat down onto his eyes, and some sort of needle popped out of her arm, stabbing itself into the back of his neck as she slammed him onto the table face first. He collapsed, and Ballistic went for a golf ball in his pocket. It flew from him at bullet-like speeds, directly at the woman with the missing arm, who caught it. Caught the bullet speed golf ball. Kaiser snorted as she threw it back, clocking him in the forehead and knocking him out too.
Sundancer looked on almost in horror as Genesis advanced, the thing in some sort of crablike shape with a dozen tentacles protruding from its back. Harbinger had flipped some sort of switch, her robotic hand splitting apart into a pair of chains. No, not chains. They were, but it was more of a whip, a segmented sword splitting into dozens of metal shards. They lashed across Trickster's body, cutting through Genesis like a hot knife through butter. The body evaporated into smoke.
"I believe I've made my point."
Kaiser
Most days, Kaiser would not be sitting in a bar waiting for Merchants. This was not most days.
"Is everyone here? Good. First order of business-"
Kaiser was rudely cut off by someone slamming the door open. Probably the Undersiders, though they seemed to have fallen to infighting. He turned from his position at the head of the table to greet the Undersiders. It was not the teenaged villain gang. Instead, the figure that had attacked the Rig and brought hell on his operations stood in the doorway, clearly leaning on the doorframe.
"Ah, Harbinger. We...weren't expecting you."
"I am here now. This discussion may commence." Jesus, that voice was creepy. Kaiser wasn't unsettled easily, but that was definitely something.
"You are not welcome here, Harbinger." That was Coil. Slimy bastard. "Sit in a booth."
"Why? The Travelers sit here, Faultline sits here. Why am I not welcome?"
"The Travelers and Faultline are dependable and professional. You poked the PRT with a stick for fun. Sit in a booth."
"I see. So I must prove merit?" Kaiser knew that tone of voice. He ducked.
Harbinger lashed out, crossing the distance to Trickster's side from across the bar. She pulled his top hat down onto his eyes, and some sort of needle popped out of her arm, stabbing itself into the back of his neck as she slammed him onto the table face first. He collapsed, and Ballistic went for a golf ball in his pocket. It flew from him at bullet-like speeds, directly at the woman with the missing arm, who caught it. Caught the bullet speed golf ball. Kaiser snorted as she threw it back, clocking him in the forehead and knocking him out too.
Sundancer looked on almost in horror as Genesis advanced, the thing in some sort of crablike shape with a dozen tentacles protruding from its back. Harbinger had flipped some sort of switch, her robotic hand splitting apart into a pair of chains. No, not chains. They were, but it was more of a whip, a segmented sword splitting into dozens of metal shards. They lashed across Trickster's body, cutting through Genesis like a hot knife through butter. The body evaporated into smoke.
"I believe I've made my point."
3.3
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
3.3
Kaiser
After that display of violence, Harbinger dragged Trickster out of his seat and laid him next to the unconscious Ballistic. Sundancer stared in shock at her unconscious teammates.
"I like you."
That was Lung. Unusual.
"Are you Asian? If you are, you work for me now."
"Sorry to disappoint. I am not Asian."
Harbinger partially pulled her hood back, exposing the front of her face and her eyes. True to her word, she was not. That was not what intrigued Kaiser, though. What little he could see of the Trump's face was very odd. She seemed to be white, but her lips were a silver color instead of the red or pink of most people. In fact, most of her exposed skin had the same odd sheen to it, like her blood was the wrong color. And, most unsettling of all, she was wearing a blindfold! A strip of opaque black cloth wound around her eyes, showing no decoration. That was a scary thought.
"Unfortunate. I would have liked you." Lung sat back in his chair and gestured at the waitress to bring him another drink.
Harbinger reset her costume, leaning back.
Faultline sat forwards. "Are you a Case 53? You can compensate for blindness somehow?"
"Neither."
Coil looked furious at Harbinger's intrusion. He restrained himself after the glare Lung shot him.
"You may conduct your business, if you wait for my permission."
"Very well. After your brazen attack on the rig, the Protectorate has cracked down on our business. I propose a cease-fire between the gangs for now as we solidify our holds. " Coil finally spoke his mind? Good. Kaiser was just about to agree when Harbinger spoke up again.
"Half-truth. He's omitting something."
Coil snorted. "I can assure you that I am telling the facts as they are."
"That's a full lie. Two strikes."
Kaiser spoke up. "Are you accusing him of something?"
"No. Merely facilitating an honest debate. Truth, though, on you."
They were all cut off by a phone ringing. Kaiser's. Krieg handed it to him. He flipped up the top and answered. "Purity. What do you want?"
"The deal is off, Max! You can't tell me I'll be safe and then send Crusader to try to kill Aster!"
What?!
"What? I didn't tell him to do that! Get your kids to safety. If he tries to stop you, shoot him."
Harbinger, who was clearly listening in, abruptly put her hand up to her ear. An earpiece. "Stygia, code Scarlet. This is not a joke. Get as many as you can to point gamma. Sovereign is making her move."
"Who is making her move?" Faultline was clearly alarmed.
"Sorry about this." Harbinger abruptly drew a pistol from her cloak and put three rounds through Coil's head. He collapsed, and Kaiser put a metal spike right up to Harbinger's face.
"You have five seconds to explain what is going on here."
"Sovereign. Master seven. Implants commands into people she interacts with, slowly eroding their free will. Or, she can be direct and brutal and smash it. Anyone not in this room and some people inside it are potentially compromised."
Kaiser
After that display of violence, Harbinger dragged Trickster out of his seat and laid him next to the unconscious Ballistic. Sundancer stared in shock at her unconscious teammates.
"I like you."
That was Lung. Unusual.
"Are you Asian? If you are, you work for me now."
"Sorry to disappoint. I am not Asian."
Harbinger partially pulled her hood back, exposing the front of her face and her eyes. True to her word, she was not. That was not what intrigued Kaiser, though. What little he could see of the Trump's face was very odd. She seemed to be white, but her lips were a silver color instead of the red or pink of most people. In fact, most of her exposed skin had the same odd sheen to it, like her blood was the wrong color. And, most unsettling of all, she was wearing a blindfold! A strip of opaque black cloth wound around her eyes, showing no decoration. That was a scary thought.
"Unfortunate. I would have liked you." Lung sat back in his chair and gestured at the waitress to bring him another drink.
Harbinger reset her costume, leaning back.
Faultline sat forwards. "Are you a Case 53? You can compensate for blindness somehow?"
"Neither."
Coil looked furious at Harbinger's intrusion. He restrained himself after the glare Lung shot him.
"You may conduct your business, if you wait for my permission."
"Very well. After your brazen attack on the rig, the Protectorate has cracked down on our business. I propose a cease-fire between the gangs for now as we solidify our holds. " Coil finally spoke his mind? Good. Kaiser was just about to agree when Harbinger spoke up again.
"Half-truth. He's omitting something."
Coil snorted. "I can assure you that I am telling the facts as they are."
"That's a full lie. Two strikes."
Kaiser spoke up. "Are you accusing him of something?"
"No. Merely facilitating an honest debate. Truth, though, on you."
They were all cut off by a phone ringing. Kaiser's. Krieg handed it to him. He flipped up the top and answered. "Purity. What do you want?"
"The deal is off, Max! You can't tell me I'll be safe and then send Crusader to try to kill Aster!"
What?!
"What? I didn't tell him to do that! Get your kids to safety. If he tries to stop you, shoot him."
Harbinger, who was clearly listening in, abruptly put her hand up to her ear. An earpiece. "Stygia, code Scarlet. This is not a joke. Get as many as you can to point gamma. Sovereign is making her move."
"Who is making her move?" Faultline was clearly alarmed.
"Sorry about this." Harbinger abruptly drew a pistol from her cloak and put three rounds through Coil's head. He collapsed, and Kaiser put a metal spike right up to Harbinger's face.
"You have five seconds to explain what is going on here."
"Sovereign. Master seven. Implants commands into people she interacts with, slowly eroding their free will. Or, she can be direct and brutal and smash it. Anyone not in this room and some people inside it are potentially compromised."
3.4
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Storm 3.4
Armsmaster
The city was in open warfare. Gangs clashed in the streets, the heroes trying to keep order. The villains moved to destroy, almost indiscriminately.
Crusader attacked the Towers, his ghosts slaughtering dozens as he moved through the building in a search pattern.
Rune, Oni Lee, and Othala turned the streets of downtown into a killing field, clones and flying debris leaving it a wasteland.
Assault and Battery clashed with Trainwreck and Hookwolf, the mechanical supervillains quickly knocking them out and taking them away.
The Merchants seized the opportunity, seizing strips of territory with the aid of Skidmark, Whirligig, and Mush.
Bakuda's explosives were detonated indiscriminately, the lack of different attacks unnoticed under the sheer volume.
And under the city, a terror slept, waiting to be unleashed.
Armsmaster knew most of this as he sped through the streets on his motorcycle, passing dozens of frightened civilians. The Protectorate was stretched thin, thinner than even before, and he had to take down dozens of rampaging supervillains. Speak of the devil.
Uber and Leet were three blocks down the road from him, both dressed in some ostentatious costume. Uber was dressed in a yellow and black skintight bodysuit, with three knives protruding from each hand. He was cutting and carving through the civilians in his way, wordlessly. That was unusual for Uber. Leet, on the other hand, was cackling in his red metal helmet and purple cape, gesturing as metal balls followed his motions and slammed into people.
Armsmaster sighed and revved his cycle. He slammed into Uber and knocked him down to the ground, jumping off the cycle and landing a a practiced three-point stance.
And then he was immediately picked up by Leet's magnetic gadget and thrown into a wall. Ouch.
"He will be a grand tribute to Sovereign." Leet and Uber were talking in sync now, their voices covering each other. "She shall show you the-"
Leet was interrupted by the gloves he was wearing suddenly exploding into dozens of blades, slashing at his hands and forcing him to release them as a flickering green light illuminated them from behind Armsmaster.
Uber collapsed as a burst of colorless flames struck him in the chest, throwing him backwards as a spike forest grew over him. Leet, on the other hand, was yanked like a puppet on its strings away from Armsmaster.
His head freed up to look around, he turned to greet his savior only to find Kasier standing there and someone, engulfed in a bonfire of sickly green flame, with shards of crystal and motes of a pale blue radiance hovering within it. As the massive conflagration died down, inside of it was revealed the form of the woman that had attacked the Rig. She looked different from the last time he had seen her, exchanging her elegant cape and robe for an armored hybrid. Her prosthetic as well had changed, bulking up a bit.
"Harbinger, Kaiser, you are under arrest for-"
"Can it. We have bigger problems that I'm trying to head off. Like the Master that I warned Piggot about."
"Ah yes, the Master. Do tell."
"Put simply? I'm not human. Haven't been in a while."
"You honestly expect me to believe that?"
"Listen, Armsmaster. I bleed quicksilver, grew a bunch of extra eyes down my spinal column. My heart doesn't beat, I can see fluids through walls, and if I go all out I can drive you insane by looking at you. No, I'm not human. Neither is Sovereign-the Master-, Stygia, or her sister Elana."
That was...insane.
"Then what are you?"
"Green Sun Princess. Defiler, Priest of the Pyrian Source."
Armsmaster could feel the capitals on that. "Meaning..."
"Long story. Too long. The basics? Emma Barnes went too far, and her boss wants her back. I'm her to kill her. Main difference? This is personal."
"Why? What could get you motivated?"
Harbinger visibly straightened out.
"For what that bitch did to Taylor."
With that, she set off. Kaiser gave him a shrug, and turned to follow. Armsmaster stood up and called in.
Armsmaster
The city was in open warfare. Gangs clashed in the streets, the heroes trying to keep order. The villains moved to destroy, almost indiscriminately.
Crusader attacked the Towers, his ghosts slaughtering dozens as he moved through the building in a search pattern.
Rune, Oni Lee, and Othala turned the streets of downtown into a killing field, clones and flying debris leaving it a wasteland.
Assault and Battery clashed with Trainwreck and Hookwolf, the mechanical supervillains quickly knocking them out and taking them away.
The Merchants seized the opportunity, seizing strips of territory with the aid of Skidmark, Whirligig, and Mush.
Bakuda's explosives were detonated indiscriminately, the lack of different attacks unnoticed under the sheer volume.
And under the city, a terror slept, waiting to be unleashed.
Armsmaster knew most of this as he sped through the streets on his motorcycle, passing dozens of frightened civilians. The Protectorate was stretched thin, thinner than even before, and he had to take down dozens of rampaging supervillains. Speak of the devil.
Uber and Leet were three blocks down the road from him, both dressed in some ostentatious costume. Uber was dressed in a yellow and black skintight bodysuit, with three knives protruding from each hand. He was cutting and carving through the civilians in his way, wordlessly. That was unusual for Uber. Leet, on the other hand, was cackling in his red metal helmet and purple cape, gesturing as metal balls followed his motions and slammed into people.
Armsmaster sighed and revved his cycle. He slammed into Uber and knocked him down to the ground, jumping off the cycle and landing a a practiced three-point stance.
And then he was immediately picked up by Leet's magnetic gadget and thrown into a wall. Ouch.
"He will be a grand tribute to Sovereign." Leet and Uber were talking in sync now, their voices covering each other. "She shall show you the-"
Leet was interrupted by the gloves he was wearing suddenly exploding into dozens of blades, slashing at his hands and forcing him to release them as a flickering green light illuminated them from behind Armsmaster.
Uber collapsed as a burst of colorless flames struck him in the chest, throwing him backwards as a spike forest grew over him. Leet, on the other hand, was yanked like a puppet on its strings away from Armsmaster.
His head freed up to look around, he turned to greet his savior only to find Kasier standing there and someone, engulfed in a bonfire of sickly green flame, with shards of crystal and motes of a pale blue radiance hovering within it. As the massive conflagration died down, inside of it was revealed the form of the woman that had attacked the Rig. She looked different from the last time he had seen her, exchanging her elegant cape and robe for an armored hybrid. Her prosthetic as well had changed, bulking up a bit.
"Harbinger, Kaiser, you are under arrest for-"
"Can it. We have bigger problems that I'm trying to head off. Like the Master that I warned Piggot about."
"Ah yes, the Master. Do tell."
"Put simply? I'm not human. Haven't been in a while."
"You honestly expect me to believe that?"
"Listen, Armsmaster. I bleed quicksilver, grew a bunch of extra eyes down my spinal column. My heart doesn't beat, I can see fluids through walls, and if I go all out I can drive you insane by looking at you. No, I'm not human. Neither is Sovereign-the Master-, Stygia, or her sister Elana."
That was...insane.
"Then what are you?"
"Green Sun Princess. Defiler, Priest of the Pyrian Source."
Armsmaster could feel the capitals on that. "Meaning..."
"Long story. Too long. The basics? Emma Barnes went too far, and her boss wants her back. I'm her to kill her. Main difference? This is personal."
"Why? What could get you motivated?"
Harbinger visibly straightened out.
"For what that bitch did to Taylor."
With that, she set off. Kaiser gave him a shrug, and turned to follow. Armsmaster stood up and called in.
- Location
- Tennessee
No comments yet? That's pretty disappointing.
The multicross is very interesting, and very ambitious. I look forward to seeing if you can pull it all together. Good effort so far.
Was a bit disappointed at the brief exposure of crack fanon (I am Lung, I am a dragon, you are now Asian, you now work for me) in an otherwise serious fic, but it's nothing too egregious.
Not a fan of what seem to be "miniature chapters", but your writing is solid enough that I'll stick with it.
The multicross is very interesting, and very ambitious. I look forward to seeing if you can pull it all together. Good effort so far.
Was a bit disappointed at the brief exposure of crack fanon (I am Lung, I am a dragon, you are now Asian, you now work for me) in an otherwise serious fic, but it's nothing too egregious.
Not a fan of what seem to be "miniature chapters", but your writing is solid enough that I'll stick with it.
3.5
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Storm 3.5
Parahuman Response Team
"Directors, I have news."
Piggot was pacing back and forth in her office, talking more to herself than the senior leadership. "Brockton Bay has become a war zone."
"I can see that, Emilly. What I need it a timeline. What happened?" Costa-Brown leaned closer to the computer.
"Approximately one week ago, the supervillan Harbinger infiltrated the Brockton Bay PRT headquarters to deliver a message. She told me that the Ward Shadow Stalker had broken her probation under Master influence."
"Very serious. Any reason why you didn't tell us?"
"She also implied that the PRT was infiltrated as well. After we...parted, she left an envelope attached to the Rig support explosive. Retrieving it, inside was a list of three names."
"So you arrested your own men on the word of a villain." That was Tagg. He looked like he was practically salivating at the thought of getting rid of Piggot.
"No. I brought one in for questioning, but here's the thing: he killed himself. Cyanide pill, like the movies."
"What the hell?" Tagg now seemed legitimately confused.
"I had the same reaction. The same thing happened with number two. Number 3 was strip-searched and he slit his wrists with his teeth."
"Pardon my French, but that's fucked up." Costa-Brown looked genuinely concerned. "A Master with sufficient control to force their thralls to kill themselves?"
"That's only the tip of the iceberg. Four days ago, we got a call from a "concerned citizen", warning us that a dangerous Changer had been sighted. The caller, when we used Armsmaster's lie detector, immediately hung up. A bit of traffic camera footage later, and we determined that Coil's organization had attempted to abduct a preteen girl, and she was only saved by a second trigger into Changer powers. Or so we thought. Take a look at this picture."
Emily tapped a key on the computer, and a picture was displayed. A little girl, looking barely older than a sixth grader, was displayed on a street. She was surrounded by an aura of what looked like moonlight, a stylized image of a butterfly floating behind her in the ball of light.
"This is Dinah Alcott, the mayor's niece. She's been missing for five days. Looks like a fluke of a power, doesn't it?"
"Where are you going with this?" Tagg was visibly annoyed now. "If she's not a villain, then I don't care. What is going on in the Bay?!"
"This might interest you, then." Piggot tapped the button again, and two more pictures appeared.
The group collectively sucked in a breath. Displayed was the supervillan pair that had set this whole thing off, surrounded in similar auras. Harbinger was covered in a green bonfire, blades of crystal and balls of a similar moonlight hovering inside. Stygia, though, had black. A pure black aura, reaching out from her hungrily, while snow and ice whirled around her in a hurricane.
"As you can see, something is going on. Two people with similar powers isn't unheard of, but the powers are distinct in function. A Trump, a Shaker, a Changer? Something is definitely off here."
Costa-Brown stepped back from her desk and terminated her end of the call.
O-O-O-O
Rebecca Costa-Brown
"Door me."
O-O-O-O
Taylor Hebert
January 3, 2011
A plane of black.
Ground almost like glass, a black plane of marble or polished onyx.
Taylor pulled herself up to her knees, her body trying dutifully empty her stomach again from the waste in her locker.
I'm dead. I've died and gone to hell.
That was the only explanation. Her ribs no longer ached from Sophia body-slamming her into the wall three days ago. She couldn't smell the...the...
Her stomach turned itself inside out again. After that, she pulled herself up to a kneeling position. Staring over the horizon, Taylor noticed a glow from one side of the plane. West, she supposed. The sun rose in the west. This wasn't the sun. A red glow, bloody and angry, on the side of the glass plane.
She made to stand up, and stared at her hands in shock. They were...fractured, for lack of a better term. Long cracks running down the middle of her hands, splitting and resealing as she moved. Yellow, blue, green, red lights inside her, the slashes resealing in purple lines while she held still. The effect spread over every exposed part of skin she could see on her in the reflection of the ground.
What am I?
Parahuman Response Team
"Directors, I have news."
Piggot was pacing back and forth in her office, talking more to herself than the senior leadership. "Brockton Bay has become a war zone."
"I can see that, Emilly. What I need it a timeline. What happened?" Costa-Brown leaned closer to the computer.
"Approximately one week ago, the supervillan Harbinger infiltrated the Brockton Bay PRT headquarters to deliver a message. She told me that the Ward Shadow Stalker had broken her probation under Master influence."
"Very serious. Any reason why you didn't tell us?"
"She also implied that the PRT was infiltrated as well. After we...parted, she left an envelope attached to the Rig support explosive. Retrieving it, inside was a list of three names."
"So you arrested your own men on the word of a villain." That was Tagg. He looked like he was practically salivating at the thought of getting rid of Piggot.
"No. I brought one in for questioning, but here's the thing: he killed himself. Cyanide pill, like the movies."
"What the hell?" Tagg now seemed legitimately confused.
"I had the same reaction. The same thing happened with number two. Number 3 was strip-searched and he slit his wrists with his teeth."
"Pardon my French, but that's fucked up." Costa-Brown looked genuinely concerned. "A Master with sufficient control to force their thralls to kill themselves?"
"That's only the tip of the iceberg. Four days ago, we got a call from a "concerned citizen", warning us that a dangerous Changer had been sighted. The caller, when we used Armsmaster's lie detector, immediately hung up. A bit of traffic camera footage later, and we determined that Coil's organization had attempted to abduct a preteen girl, and she was only saved by a second trigger into Changer powers. Or so we thought. Take a look at this picture."
Emily tapped a key on the computer, and a picture was displayed. A little girl, looking barely older than a sixth grader, was displayed on a street. She was surrounded by an aura of what looked like moonlight, a stylized image of a butterfly floating behind her in the ball of light.
"This is Dinah Alcott, the mayor's niece. She's been missing for five days. Looks like a fluke of a power, doesn't it?"
"Where are you going with this?" Tagg was visibly annoyed now. "If she's not a villain, then I don't care. What is going on in the Bay?!"
"This might interest you, then." Piggot tapped the button again, and two more pictures appeared.
The group collectively sucked in a breath. Displayed was the supervillan pair that had set this whole thing off, surrounded in similar auras. Harbinger was covered in a green bonfire, blades of crystal and balls of a similar moonlight hovering inside. Stygia, though, had black. A pure black aura, reaching out from her hungrily, while snow and ice whirled around her in a hurricane.
"As you can see, something is going on. Two people with similar powers isn't unheard of, but the powers are distinct in function. A Trump, a Shaker, a Changer? Something is definitely off here."
Costa-Brown stepped back from her desk and terminated her end of the call.
O-O-O-O
Rebecca Costa-Brown
"Door me."
O-O-O-O
Taylor Hebert
January 3, 2011
A plane of black.
Ground almost like glass, a black plane of marble or polished onyx.
Taylor pulled herself up to her knees, her body trying dutifully empty her stomach again from the waste in her locker.
I'm dead. I've died and gone to hell.
That was the only explanation. Her ribs no longer ached from Sophia body-slamming her into the wall three days ago. She couldn't smell the...the...
Her stomach turned itself inside out again. After that, she pulled herself up to a kneeling position. Staring over the horizon, Taylor noticed a glow from one side of the plane. West, she supposed. The sun rose in the west. This wasn't the sun. A red glow, bloody and angry, on the side of the glass plane.
She made to stand up, and stared at her hands in shock. They were...fractured, for lack of a better term. Long cracks running down the middle of her hands, splitting and resealing as she moved. Yellow, blue, green, red lights inside her, the slashes resealing in purple lines while she held still. The effect spread over every exposed part of skin she could see on her in the reflection of the ground.
What am I?
Actually it rises in the east, and sets in the west.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Exactly.
- Location
- Latin America
Although I read all the chapters and found them enormously interesting, I do not like the setting of Dark Souls, so I practically do not know the game, from Exalted I understand more but it is more than anything thanks to fanfics, so this story although I like it, I have little knowledge of lore.
- Location
- USA
I'll be honest, I'm completely lost. I can get the basics of what's going on, Exalted and Dark Souls poked each other too hard royally ducking Exalteds setting and unleashing all kinds of shit into Bet.
Then we have what I assume is Taylor or some part of her as an Exalt opposing Emma who has all the scary social charms (one of the few things from exalted i know more than the name of). And Bet is getting fucked over in the background due to all of the shit they are simply not prepared to deal with.
The main thing I dont get is WHY. I would very much like a bit of explanation from someone who knows more about Exalted.
Then we have what I assume is Taylor or some part of her as an Exalt opposing Emma who has all the scary social charms (one of the few things from exalted i know more than the name of). And Bet is getting fucked over in the background due to all of the shit they are simply not prepared to deal with.
The main thing I dont get is WHY. I would very much like a bit of explanation from someone who knows more about Exalted.
Jack of Olives
Rolled a '3' on their Con score
- Location
- The land of fruits and nuts (California)
Interesting
Are the Abyss in Exalted and the Abyss in Dark Souls the same/related?
For that matter, what are the similarities/differences between the gods of both settings?
Is the world of Dark Souls an alternate Creation?
So many questions. I can't wait to find out!
On a side note: Worm, Dark Souls, and Exalted. Three of my favorite train-wrecks; together at last!
Are the Abyss in Exalted and the Abyss in Dark Souls the same/related?
For that matter, what are the similarities/differences between the gods of both settings?
Is the world of Dark Souls an alternate Creation?
So many questions. I can't wait to find out!
On a side note: Worm, Dark Souls, and Exalted. Three of my favorite train-wrecks; together at last!
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3.7
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Storm 3.6
Emma
August 16, 2009
The knife dropped. Emma almost felt it as it entered her eye socket, a pain beyond anything she had ever felt before, a horrible sensation of numbness.
She looked up at the figure on the roof. They shook their head and turned around. Another abandonment.
One of the thugs cheered. Emma went limp.
And saw grey. A grey fog, a black landscape, and a man. But he wasn't a man. A crippled, one-eyed...zombie? A zombie. And he spoke.
"I don't have much time. We must do this quickly." He reached out with his good arm, and touched Emma on the forehead.
"Arise, my new herald. Even as the Engine of Extinction casts my Essence into the void, you shall preserve some fragment of the Eye and Seven Despairs. Arise, nameless Abyssal."
Emma saw. Emma saw a void, a salvation.
"Arise, Mind-Grasping Sovereign. Take my knowledge forth to a new age."
O-O-O-O
Sophia
She watched as the girl died. Useless. Would have thought that she would fight back. Sophia spun around to leave, putting this disappointing endeavor behind her. She walked towards the wall behind her, slipping into her shadow state as she did so.
Or she tried, at least. Sophia bumped bodily into the wall. What the hell?
Her question was answered by her shadow-her real one, not her power. The streetlight in the alleyway with the prey under it had been pushing the darkness away from it in long shadows, but that was changing. Her shadow, the thug's shadow, the car's shadow, the dumpster's shadow, all facing towards the girl. And they detached, shadows streaming into the body, long rivulets of darkness forming into a razor-like shard around her. And the girl stood up and screamed.
The thugs looked like they wanted to run, but they didn't. Sophia wanted to run, but she didn't. They could only watch as the predator began a slaughter.
O-O-O-O
Emma, two years later
"Coil, run another perimeter check."
Emma paced back and forth in the underground bunker. She hadn't slept in two days as her dominoes fell too early. Why did the thing that Eye warned her about have to happen now?
"Done, my lord."
"Stop addressing me as 'my lord'."
"Of course, my lord."
She swore he was trying to piss her off. Emma, although she could name a thousand ways that was impossible (two years of brainwashing, all of the subliminal commands, his general brain-dead-ness), chose to believe that.
She couldn't fail. Taylor was counting on her.
She could still see that vision, three months ago. The great black dragon, a shadow, a wyrm, an inversion.
Holding that yellow spirit, her friend that she had tried to make strong like her, like Emma had done, like the alley in the locker.
Destroy Brockton, or your former friend will never feel again.
Part of Taylor was counting on her. And Emma wouldn't let an icy bitch and a crippled weakling stop her from helping her old friend.
Emma
August 16, 2009
The knife dropped. Emma almost felt it as it entered her eye socket, a pain beyond anything she had ever felt before, a horrible sensation of numbness.
She looked up at the figure on the roof. They shook their head and turned around. Another abandonment.
One of the thugs cheered. Emma went limp.
And saw grey. A grey fog, a black landscape, and a man. But he wasn't a man. A crippled, one-eyed...zombie? A zombie. And he spoke.
"I don't have much time. We must do this quickly." He reached out with his good arm, and touched Emma on the forehead.
"Arise, my new herald. Even as the Engine of Extinction casts my Essence into the void, you shall preserve some fragment of the Eye and Seven Despairs. Arise, nameless Abyssal."
Emma saw. Emma saw a void, a salvation.
"Arise, Mind-Grasping Sovereign. Take my knowledge forth to a new age."
O-O-O-O
Sophia
She watched as the girl died. Useless. Would have thought that she would fight back. Sophia spun around to leave, putting this disappointing endeavor behind her. She walked towards the wall behind her, slipping into her shadow state as she did so.
Or she tried, at least. Sophia bumped bodily into the wall. What the hell?
Her question was answered by her shadow-her real one, not her power. The streetlight in the alleyway with the prey under it had been pushing the darkness away from it in long shadows, but that was changing. Her shadow, the thug's shadow, the car's shadow, the dumpster's shadow, all facing towards the girl. And they detached, shadows streaming into the body, long rivulets of darkness forming into a razor-like shard around her. And the girl stood up and screamed.
The thugs looked like they wanted to run, but they didn't. Sophia wanted to run, but she didn't. They could only watch as the predator began a slaughter.
O-O-O-O
Emma, two years later
"Coil, run another perimeter check."
Emma paced back and forth in the underground bunker. She hadn't slept in two days as her dominoes fell too early. Why did the thing that Eye warned her about have to happen now?
"Done, my lord."
"Stop addressing me as 'my lord'."
"Of course, my lord."
She swore he was trying to piss her off. Emma, although she could name a thousand ways that was impossible (two years of brainwashing, all of the subliminal commands, his general brain-dead-ness), chose to believe that.
She couldn't fail. Taylor was counting on her.
She could still see that vision, three months ago. The great black dragon, a shadow, a wyrm, an inversion.
Holding that yellow spirit, her friend that she had tried to make strong like her, like Emma had done, like the alley in the locker.
Destroy Brockton, or your former friend will never feel again.
Part of Taylor was counting on her. And Emma wouldn't let an icy bitch and a crippled weakling stop her from helping her old friend.