----------------------------------------
Previously,
One by one, the men and women in the warehouse began to feel weak and nauseous - some finding their nightmares very real. The gas seemed to seep into their very minds, distorting their perceptions and making them feel horrible, others literally attempting to kill themselves to get away from what they saw.
"What the hell?" Stormtiger muttered, his voice tinged with confusion as he watched his comrades stagger around him. Then he noticed the gas, but before he could blow it away, the entire tableau changed, and he began screaming, as his nightmares took hold of him.
Hookwolf's eyes narrowed, his instincts kicking in. With a snarl, his body began to shift, metal ripping through his flesh until he was a towering, monstrous figure of blades and armor. The gas swirled harmlessly around his metallic form, unable to penetrate his defenses.
"Everyone, get up!" He roared, his voice a grating metallic growl. "We're under attack, stand and fight!"
But his words fell on deaf ears. The gas had taken hold, making the weaker members of Empire 88 fall to their knees, their minds consumed by confusion and disorientation or worse. Stormtiger stumbled, falling to the ground even as he screamed and clawed at his face, blood running down in rivulets.
Cricket staggered, her agility useless against the gas. She motioned frantically to Hookwolf, trying to signal that they needed to escape.
…
Brad glared at the body of Cricket, incensed that she'd turned out to be weak enough to fall to this cowardly weapon. How dared she!?
"Gas…" He scoffed, gritting his teeth together, "Fucking cowards…"
Stormtiger had already died shortly after they broke out of the warehouse, screaming as he ripped his own eyes out, the screams petering out slowly afterwards as he succumbed completely and stopped breathing.
Brad had only gotten halfway to Othala by the time Cricket died. He could respect the fact that she had managed to resist, unlike Stormtiger, only sitting in the passenger seat and breathing heavily, hands clenched so hard they were bleeding, as she fought whatever nightmares the gas made them see before death.
But in the end, she'd been too weak as well, and had died. And now Brad…
Brad was enraged. At their weakness, at the cowards who'd dared! At Kaiser for not cleaning out this filth in the first place, always holding his Wolfpack back.
He glared down at Cricket again, sneering, "I'll get them for you, you fucking pussy." He reached over and closed her eyes, cursing under his breath, gritting his teeth together, fucking bitch, dying on me…
He brought his phone out, stepping out of the truck he'd used to transport them, ripping the car door off with a snarl, before stomping away, already dialing.
There would be blood in the streets today, or he'd rip off Kaiser's head and use it as a fleshlight.
No way those two losers died and there wasn't war on the streets as a cause. He'd make sure they had a legacy.
----------------------------------------
Medhall, Brockton Bay,
"Stormtiger and Cricket are dead… You are certain?" Max said, jaw flexing as he ground his teeth, wanting to reach through the phone and strangle that wild dog.
They didn't normally do business like this over the phone, but extreme circumstances required it.
And Brad, aka Hookwolf, was never the most conscientious about following Max rules to begin with, only paying lip service to the unwritten rules in the first place, uncaring about the risks.
Like a beast. A useful beast, but a beast nonetheless. His Wolfpack was a good deterrent, but absolutely useless at anything except thuggery.
Max's expression grew colder, even as he listened to the ravings of the mad dog on the other line. This complicated things…
While the E88 were hard to find and strike at in general - at least the people that mattered… Hookwolf and his crew were the outlier, with their fighting rings, dog fighting, and general outrageous behavior making them fairly easy to find if you tried. And someone had finally taken advantage.
And it put him in a disadvantageous position. Like they always do, damn them, if they hadn't been so useful as a deterrent, I would have eradicated them myself!
"You have any idea of who…? Of course…" Max wanted to groan out loud, but held it back, of course he'd blame everything on them, not their obvious suspect in Poison Ivy.
"This is not a move heroes would make." He ground out coldly, holding back his irritation and fury. "Poison Ivy is the obvious culprit, you'll start a war with the Protectorate and the independent teams…"
The last thing Max needed when he'd already lost two pawns, was for Hookwolf to endanger them all with further retribution.
His ill-advised hits on civilian families was already causing a lot of trouble for the Empire. Max wouldn't be surprised if a kill order would be forthcoming if Brad continued to escalate.
Part of him was toying with speeding that along. Hookwolf was very useful. Except for when he was not.
Like right this moment.
"Understood." He bit out, responding to the nonsense his most valuable/useless subordinate was sprouting, "This is your last chance, after this. It's done! No more. This matter will be finished!" He ordered dangerously, voice coldly final, not waiting for the confirmation before he hung up.
He seethed as he crushed the desk in front of him, wishing it was that damned mutt before him, that he could wring his hands around his neck and slowly squeeze.
He'd have preferred to have it be Hookwolf writhing underneath his steel right now. He could have ordered the man to back off - but giving an order you knew was going to be disobeyed was poor leadership.
He'd have to play the hand he was dealt, muster the Empire 88, show Brockton that they were still the most dangerous people around - make them fear, again. Ruining years of work to make them appear more respectable. Damn him!
And after that, his mutt would need to heel.
He'd help deliver this revenge - misguided as it was, and then leash him - even if he'd have to call on Krieg to send the mad dog to Europe for correction.
I have to call everyone in, no half measures…
The Empire was going to war.
----------------------------------------
Wolfpack safehouse, Brockton Bay,
The roar of Hookwolf's rage echoed through the warehouse, his metallic form glinting menacingly in the dim light. The night had been an unmitigated disaster. Cricket and Stormtiger were both dead, dying before he could get them to Othala, and his pride had taken a severe hit. He needed to strike back, and he needed to do it now. No one got away with striking at him like that!
Kaiser had tried to stop him, but he'd badgered the man down, forcing his support. He was going to get his revenge.
"Spread out!" He bellowed to the members of his pack who were present, they all looked shaken but determined. "Hit their businesses, their homes. Make them regret ever crossing us!" He snarled, aiming his rage towards Starlight and New Wave, because who else could this be? This was revenge, plain and simple, and Brad knew revenge.
He'd pay them back tenfold for their temerity in thinking they could afford to strike back at him instead of cowering like the victims they were.
He didn't give any thoughts to Kaiser's assertion that Poison Ivy was behind the hit. It was too targeted. The people behind it knew who had killed all those civilian pussies, and wanted revenge.
It was the only explanation. Heroes were too dumb to realize how obvious their involvement would be when they were the only suspects. Taking baby steps into revenge, like it was a game, not a lifestyle.
He'd make them suffer.
His lieutenants nodded at his orders, their faces grim. They knew better than to argue when he was in this kind of mood. Within minutes, the wolfpack had split into smaller groups, each heading to different parts of the city. Their targets were the known associates of New Wave, Starlight, and any business that showed even a hint of cooperation with them.
…
Hours later, Brockton Bay.
Downtown Brockton Bay was a scene of chaos. Sirens wailed as fires burned uncontrollably, smoke billowing into the night sky. The first attack had been at a known New Wave supporter's business, a high-end restaurant. The owner's son had dated Laserdream back in highschool. The Wolfpack had stormed in, tearing apart everything in their path. Now, the building was a smoldering ruin.
Unlike normal procedures during these kinds of gang actions - the death toll was total. Everyone that was in the restaurant was dead, a complete escalation that took the PRT and Protectorate by surprise.
Miss Militia's voice crackled over the comms. "I've engaged multiple Wolfpack members near the boardwalk. It's a mess down here. I need backup, Victor and Alabaster are here as well."
This was bold of the Empire, too bold. The Protectorate didn't dare send all their forces into the city, in case something else was behind this. It didn't seem like Kaiser's usual modus operandi.
They couldn't risk the chance this was all some ploy, not with Lung in captivity. So Dauntless and Assault and Battery were currently stuck in base, cooling their heels in case this was all a massive diversion.
Although no one could figure out why the Empire would possibly do this, or why they'd risk Lung being broken out in the chaos. Without Lung, the Empire was practically undisputed, no one really counted Coil as a big threat, not when facing the Empire alone.
There was Poison Ivy now, but her against the entire Empire 88? Things still leaned towards the Nazis, which was why none of this made any sense!
Armsmaster's reply was terse as he replied over comms, sounds of screeching metal heard in the background. "Heavy resistance at the docks. Hookwolf is here, along with significant numbers. We're holding them off, but it's getting ugly."
There was a pause, before he reluctantly continued, "We're thin on the ground right now, I can't send help."
Console cut in, "New Wave and Starlight have been contacted, some of them are already fighting, having been attacked, but the rest are on the way to assist."
"..." Silence was all that came from Arsmasters comms, as Miss Militia sent a terse, "10-4." back to the console.
…
At the boardwalk, Miss Militia found herself soon joined by Mouse Protector and they were both immediately locked in combat with a gang of Wolfpack members and Alabaster, with long range support from Victor. Miss Militia had her rifle out, firing controlled bursts of rubber bullets that kept the attackers at bay, or left them moaning on the ground with broken bones.
It didn't do much good for Alabaster, but frankly, he was not much of a threat other than the fact she had to keep putting him down to keep him out of the way.
Meanwhile she kept moving to find an advantageous position, waiting for the chance to get a few seconds of peace to switch to a sniper rifle and find Victor. Already she had several bleeding cuts where she'd barely avoided serious injury from his shots.
Only her own experiences in sniping and counter sniping allowed her to understand the likely angles and times for his shots, dodging already by the time Victor would take them. He wasn't going lethal, but a few bullets through her legs would still put her out of the fight, and with the Empire apparently rampaging, she couldn't afford that.
Luckily with Mouse Protector having just arrived, having appeared in a crack, Strider disappearing immediately after, she might have a chance to drive Victor off. "MP, I need time." She called out.
Mouse Protector darted around, her agility and quick reflexes allowing her to land hits while avoiding the worst of the enemy's attacks as she slipped in and out of the Wolfpack's ranks, breaking bones and cracking skulls, making sure they'd stay down. "Sure thing, MM," She laughed, acrobatically jumping onto a wall, using it as a springboard to soar over a hulking Wolfpack member, before slamming him into the wall with a high kick, smashing his head against it, knocking the man out, "I'll shred these guys so we can cheese it!"
Alabaster loudly cursed at her, "Fucking don't try that cartoony shit on us, we're the Empire!" He bellowed, drawing a gun, Miss Militia blowing his fingers off before he could even aim, before moving back to what she was doing.
Mouse Protector kicked Alabaster into the same wall, "Your Empire strikes back is no match for my return of the Jedi!" She said, posing.
Alabaster just groaned, "Someone shoot the btich already!" Already back to pristine condition. Before he could do more than moan, the comfoam grenade Miss Militia had casually lobbed over, got redirected to him by Mouse Protector, and he cursed as he was enveloped in foam.
He really wasn't much of a threat, just annoying.
One of the wolfpack members, a hulking brute with a buzzsaw arm - which Mouse Protector found to be totally cool, if it wasn't worn by a racist - lunged at Mouse Protector. She dodged to the side, flipping over a fallen comrades of his, and landed a kick to his knee, a crack ringing out, sending him sprawling.
"Nice try, but you're not cutting me down that easily, now buzz off" She quipped, her grin sharp despite the chaos.
Miss Militia switched her rifle to a baton, engaging another wolfpack member in close combat, blowing out a huff in frustration. These men weren't hard to beat, but there were many of them, and they were preventing her from getting a bead on Victor. She parried his wild swings, landing precise blows that drove him back. "Stay focused, MP. We need to wrap this up quickly. There are more attacks happening across the city." She drove the baton into the thug's gut, then slammed his face down on her knee.
She immediately threw herself into a roll, and just avoided a shot from Victor, a crack appearing in the wall behind her; she'd anticipated it, as the short fight had left her standing still for a moment. Now I know which building you're on… She thought with laser focus, switching her weapon to a sniper rifle, clambering up a wall of a storefront, "Cover me."
Mouse Protector nodded, ducking under another swipe from a desperate member of the Wolfpack, their lessening numbers making things easier. "Got it, boss lady. Let's finish this and close the mousetrap on these rats."
As MP took down the remaining gang members, Miss Militia quickly found the building Victor had been in on her scope, and had to curse lowly to herself at finding a weapon left behind, and no sign of the man.
It was the difficulty in dealing with clever enough enemies - when they saw the writing on the wall, they would simply retreat and join another battlefield. The last missed shot, Alabaster being captured… He'd cut his losses.
Miss Militia glanced around, taking in the chaotic scenes around them, reluctantly putting Victor out of her mind. "We need to secure this area and move to the next hot spot. The city is under siege, MP you'll stay with me."
Mouse Protector laughed campily, standing with one foot on an unconscious gang member, "I knew you couldn't resist a nibble." She teased, running a hand down her side.
Miss Militia sighed, knowing this would be… A long night.
…
Back at the docks, Colin was engaged in combat against Hookwolf and a group of lesser E88 members. The consistent interference of the gang members prevented him from being able to properly deal with Hookwolf, as he risked actually killing them if they got in the way of anything that could harm Hookwolf.
He knew the situation wasn't looking good, while the E88 could reinforce Hookwolf, he knew he didn't have much chance for reinforcements, not with three of their capes guarding their base, with the wards held back or relegated to helping evacuations and fire fighting.
Velocity was stuck babysitting the wards to ensure they didn't run into too much, so that didn't leave a lot of Protectorate forces that could actually make a difference. Not for the first time he bitterly cursed the ridiculousness of their small team in a city with so many villains.
"Back off Armsmaster, I'm not out here for you." Hookwolf called out sneering, his eyes lit up in a fervor unlike anything he'd seen in the man before.
"I can't do that, you're killing civilians, you're pushing for a kill order. Stand down, and this could still end peacefully." He said stiffly, analyzing the surrounding men, plotting the easiest way to take them out of the equation.
"Those bitches killed Stormtiger and Cricket! They have to pay!" Hookwolf snarled, turning fully metal, Colin preparing himself, his halberd humming as it began to vibrate, ready to cut steel.
Stormtiger and Cricket are dead…? Whoever kickstarted this has a lot to answer for. He thought grimly. At least it explained why they were rampaging. Not that it helped them deal with it.
The air crackled with energy seconds later as Purity arrived above them and unleashed beams of light, scorching the ground where Hookwolf had stood moments before. The E88 cape managed to move, well used to the sound of a Purity blast and reacting immediately.
Hookwolf roared up at her, his claws slicing through the asphalt as he dodged. "You think you can stop us? You're nothing but a traitor bitch, you're nothing compared to the Empire!" He glared up at Purity, "Was it you? Did you help them!?"
Purity simply answered with another blast, sneering at Hookwolf, the E88 gang members showing a modicum of sense, and hightailing it at the sight of the former E88 cape.
Colin's halberd whirred as he swung it, rushing Hookwolf now that there were no distractions. "You talk too much," He growled, thrusting the weapon forward. The strike caused Hookwolf to jump back, cursing profusely.
Inwardly he was seething, he'd come to somewhat accept the other hero team, but Purity's inclusion still rankled. As far as he was concerned she was still a Nazi, just with better PR. And now I have to fight with her….
This was turning into one of the worst days he'd had in Brockton Bay already.
Purity took advantage of the opening, her energy beams forcing Hookwolf to continue to retreat frantically, his howls of rage telling what he felt about that. "This is for all the innocent lives you've hurt," She said, her voice cold and determined.
Colin wanted to call her out on that, considering the innocent lives she's hurt, but he was too pragmatic, and prioritized the fight.
One of the E88 members who hadn't been smart enough to run, a burly man with thick muscled arms, charged at Colin, swinging a metal pipe. Colin blocked the attack with his halberd with contemptuous ease, then countered with a precise tranquilizer dart that neutralized the threat. But it had been enough to allow Hookwolf to get a few feet of separation.
"You're outmatched," Purity said, her voice unwavering. "Surrender now, and you won't get hurt." Her glare intensified, "Much."
"You bitch! You think I'm scared of you!? You're just Kaiser's leftovers, I'm gonna bend you over and fuck you with a hook!" Hookwolf roared, cutting pieces of the road apart and hurling it up at Purity.
Purity dodged and returned fire, her beams pushing Hookwolf back, even as some of his metal shell began to melt.
Colin took the chance, springing forward, Halberd ready to cut Hookwolf down to size.
Then suddenly Purity fired a beam right in front of him, forcing him to back off, sending a glare up at her, "I knew you hadn't reall-"
Purity glared at him, gesturing to the side.
Colin swallowed his words, seeing Fenja and Menja stepping up next to Hookwolf. Getting in close to all three at the same time was not advisable.
The four capes glared at each other, readying for round two.
…
In a residential area, Glory Girl and Remedy were facing off against a group of wolfpack members who had set a row of houses on fire while they had been walking back from school. The flames cast an eerie glow on the scene, illuminating the anger in Vicky's eyes. They weren't in uniform, but with how recognizable they were it wouldn't matter, the gang members were focusing on them immediately.
Amy felt rage and guilt boiling in equal measures in her gut. I did this… Fuck, I should have thought this through more.
"Get out of here!" Vicky shouted at a family huddled behind her. "We'll handle this."
Amy was focused, her hands glowing with a faint green light as she healed a burn on the mother's arm. "Go, now! We'll cover you." She told the mother coolly. Trying to stem the burning anger inside her.
Ivy was already moving, trying to hunt down E88 capes to give the rest of them more breathing room. Her phone was already going insane with texts from her team members and New Wave, as they informed her of engagements. What a fucking day to have none of my shit with me. She thought, angry at herself for being so unprepared after having hit the Empire.
She just hadn't expected this kind of reaction. And she should have. She'd thought Kaiser would refuse to commit to something this crazy. She'd obviously been wrong. Had read him wrong.
Or she'd miscalculated on Nazi naziness. Of course they wouldn't go after the pretty statuesque white villain - they probably have thoughts of fucking recruitment for her. It was obviously the dyke who did it. Fucking Nazi logic. Even if they happened to be right this time.
The Wolfpack members advanced, weapons drawn. One of them, a wiry man with a cruel smile, sneered at Vicky. "You think you can stop us? We're just getting started." He cocked his gun cockily, "Even if you handle us, the capes are going to town on all your friends, you'll lose today, Hookwolf is going to rip you apart!"
Vicky's eyes flashed with determination. "You have no idea who you're messing with." She launched herself at him, her fists flashing forward fast enough he couldn't catch even a glimpse. The impact caused him to crash into a nearby wall, cratering it, the man's eyes rolling back in his head, the gun falling limply from his hands.
Amy stood her ground, her expression fierce. "You're not hurting anyone else tonight." She casually put a cigarette in her mouth, her power going to work, changing the cigarette down to its cellular level even as she inhaled, several Wolfpack members rushing her with bestial roars. She blew out a cloud of smoke far greater than what a cigarette should be capable of, that impacted the men, and they all fell immediately like puppets with their strings cut, hitting the ground harshly.
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Amy smiled bitterly, taking another drag of the cigarette, "Consider yourself lucky that it's not fatal." She murmured to the knocked out men.
A Wolfpack member, a large man with a sledgehammer, charged at her from behind but Vicky intercepted him, breaking the sledgehammer with one punch, before kicking up between his legs with a fierce snarl, sending the man up ten feet into the air, a high pitched whine the only noise he was capable of, once he hit the ground, he didn't move again.
"You messed with the wrong city, and the wrong girls," Vicky said, her eyes blazing with determination as she turned around, hair swirling, as she checked on Amy.
Amy glanced around, seeing no more gang members in their vicinity. "We need to stop these fires. The whole neighborhood could go up in flames." She said, knowing it would delay them, but they couldn't just leave this situation be.
Not with her having been the one that started it. Her eyes dimmed as she took in the few civilian bodies that she could see, her fists clenching. They'll all pay, I'll kill them all for this.
Vicky nodded, her expression serious. "I'll handle the fire breaks, keep an eye out, and call me if someone else drops by…"
Amy nodded grimly, playing with the cigarette, developing toxins even as she trodded around, checking if any of the bodies on the ground were still alive and needed healing.
They weren't.
She was going to destroy the Empire.
…
The fighting spread across Brockton Bay, each clash more intense than the last. At the edge of the Dockworkers' territory, Crusader had suddenly appeared to add to the list of enemies facing them, fighting together with Fenja and Menja as they faced off against Colin and Purity - something which had allowed Hookwolf to escape, to Colins disgust at his own inability to stop him. The clash of powers was intense, each side giving as good as they got.
Crusader's ghostly minions swarmed around Colin, trying to overwhelm him. But the seasoned hero held his ground, his halberd cutting through the spectral attackers with precision, he'd long ago managed to tune his equipment to handle Crusaders ghosts, but they still kept him too busy to impact Crusader himself, leaving them in a stalemate.
One Colin knew he couldn't afford, not with Hookwolf heading off elsewhere. Miss Militia and Mouse Protector were already trying to intercept - and they had no other backup available, as New Wave was split fighting Kaiser, Night and Fog in one engagement, and Kieg and Victor in another.
Velocity and the wards were constantly caught fighting E88 gang members as they tried to assist with fires and evacuation, so he couldn't even pull one of them off to help.
He was loath to do it, but as he cut through another swathe of ghosts, he contacted the console, "We need Dauntless, leave Assault and Battery to protect the base, send Dauntless after Hookwolf, he was heading towards the boardwalk, if he can't find him, have him reinforce New Wave and drive off the Empire there."
Purity's energy beams illuminated the sky, forcing Fenja and Menja to retreat and regroup. "We need to take them down quickly," Purity called out, flying down to hover above Colin, her voice strained. "They're causing too much damage." Both of them were over fifteen feet now.
Colin nodded, his focus unwavering, even as his bitterness only grew. "If you can take Crusader out, we can end this. We can't let them regroup with the other empire capes." He refused to acknowledge out loud that he needed her to take him out.
Fenja and Menja, towering and armored, charged forward, their immense combo of sword and spear cutting through the air with deadly precision. They moved in tandem, their synchronized attacks forcing Colin and Purity onto the defensive for a moment.
Colin parried Fenja's strike, his halberd vibrating with the impact even as servos in his armor strained, while Purity fired and blew Menja's strike back. "Purity, focus on Crusader. I'll handle these two."
His armor and halberd had been extensively prepared for the villains of the bay, hence why he could survive parrying a strike from Fenja, although he foresaw days of maintenance ahead of him due to it. While he could handle a few strikes, it stressed his armor considerably.
Purity nodded, her energy beams targeting Crusader's minions and dispersing them - before zeroing in on the cape himself as she flew forward.
"We won't go down that easily," Crusader taunted, his ghostly minions erupting out of his body tanking the energy beam, his eyes gleaming with disgust, "Traitor… Kaiser will make me his second if I bring him your broken body!"
Purity narrowed her eyes, her focus unwavering. "You underestimate me if you think that is enough." She said coldly.
As she concentrated her beams on Crusader, Colin fought fiercely against Fenja and Menja. His halberd clashed with their weapons, sparks flying with each impact. Despite being outnumbered, he held his ground, his experience and skill evident in every move as he predicted theirs, and moved just as much as he needed too, to dodge and parry their strikes. Spending more time avoiding them, then parrying, his tiny size compared to theirs was actually a boon as he ran circles around them.
It helped that their size, while making them strong, didn't make them faster than him, and because both of them were there, they couldn't strike at him easily while he drew close to the other, forcing them to hesitate.
A rain of energy beams suddenly filled the sky, as Crusader screeched in agony, falling to the ground, scorched, his ghosts not able to keep up with the amount of fire Purity had concentrated on him.
In Fenja and Menja's distraction, Colin rushed forward, slicing Menja's Achilles tendon, while using enough tranquilizer to sedate an elephant.
Fenja grabbed her swaying sister, cursing.
Things were looking up.
"This is Console, base is under attack by Oni Lee and out of town mercenaries, I repeat base is under attack by Oni Lee and out of town mercenaries."
Colin cursed bitterly, it's just one of those Brockton days..
…
As the night wore on, the heroes of the Protectorate, New Wave and Starlight worked tirelessly to protect the city and its people. The coordinated effort and determination of the heroes began to show results, with the E88 forces being pushed back and some of their capes neutralized.
It couldn't be seen as a win however, with almost a hundred civilians dead. Several hundred wounded, Assault and Battery in critical condition until Amy had seen to them - Lung freed during the chaos.
Amy knew they should have kept him powerless under her organism, fearing just this kind of thing. Lung would be more careful now, and out for revenge.
And in the end, all they had to show for this debacle was Crusader, Alabaster and Fenja and Menja in custody. All the other E88 capes got away,
There were still some hit and run attacks going on around the city, forcing the heroes to stay on guard.
New Wave was pulled back for rest, with Carol and Crystal both injured severely against Kaiser, Night and Fog. Amy had healed them of course, but that took energy from the healed one, so they'd decided to pull back and rest up, wary of a repeat in the morning.
Which left Starlight and the Protectorate to patrol the city and deal with the odd attack now and then.
Most of the E88 capes had withdrawn, but Hookwolf would still periodically show up, seemingly hunting for Amy specifically.
How the hell he'd clocked on that she'd been behind the gas attack, she didn't know. Ivy was the perfect suspect after all. She couldn't imagine any other reason why he was specifically after her.
Either way, it meant she wasn't out patrolling, left behind with Vicky as a bodyguard. The Protectorate and Starlight patrolled in pairs together, showing the flag.
Amy refused to just sit back however. Ivy was already working on a way to hit the Empire back for this. Her? She would go help people, further putting it into civilians minds that her and Starlight - were far better then the Protectorate in both saving people, and helping them in the aftermath.
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2 hours later, Downtown.
The aftermath of the battle had left Brockton Bay in a state of chaos. Smoke still lingered in the air, the acrid smell of burning buildings mixing with the salty tang of the sea breeze. The streets were littered with debris, and the wounded lay scattered across makeshift triage centers downtown.
Usually the downtown area was spared much of the consequences of cape violence, but Hookwolf had spent a lot of time during the night prowling through, and Kaiser's fight hadn't been too far from here either.
Amy walked through the scene, Vicky hovering protectively nearby, Amy's eyes scanning the area for anyone in need of immediate medical attention. Her hands glowed with a soft light as she healed a gash on a young man's arm, her mind only partly focused on the task at hand.
In the distance, she saw a group of people dressed in white robes not too dissimilar from her own previous outfit. The Church of Remedy had arrived, their presence both a blessing and a thorn in her side. They needed all the volunteers they could get, but she loathed the fact it was her annoying worshippers that were the only one up to the task.
The church members moved efficiently, handing out blankets and bottles of water to those huddled on the sidewalks. They set up stations with hot food and provided medical supplies where needed. Their leader, a tall man with a kind face and a commanding presence, directed the volunteers with a gentle authority.
"Praise Remedy for her blessings and her guidance," He intoned, his voice carrying over the din. "We are here to help, to heal, and to offer comfort in these trying times."
Amy clenched her jaw as she overheard his words. The Church of Remedy - formerly Panacea, had sprung up seemingly overnight after her Endbringer fight, its followers devoted to spreading the word of her supposed divine mandate. It was flattering, in a way, but also deeply frustrating. She was just a person, not some deity to be worshiped.
Could it help in her goal of eventually taking over Brockton? Yes, it could help significantly. But dealing with religious nutjobs did not get better just because they were your religious nutjobs.
The fact Vicky so cheerfully engaged with them, playing along as a true believer - was driving her nuts. It didn't help that she was actually still a member of the church. No matter how many times Amy asked her to withdraw her name from the rolls.
A woman approached Amy, her face lined with worry. "My daughter, she's hurt. Can you help her?" She begged, wringing her hands together.
Brocktonites recognized her easily, even with the uniform change, perhaps even more so, with the uniform change. Amy and Vicky had taken the time for a quick shower and change before making their way here, expecting trouble at some point, and the Starlight uniform certainly made them visible amongst the downtrodden brocktonites who'd just lost homes, family members, or friends, in the Empire attack.
Amy nodded, following the woman to where a young girl lay on a stretcher, her leg twisted at an unnatural angle. Kneeling beside her, Amy placed her hands gently on the injury, her powers flowing into the girl and mending the broken bone. "You'll need to make sure she eats a lot of protein in the next few days, a few extra glasses of milk wouldn't hurt either." She murmured.
She was done being a healbot, but today, she'd help, if nothing else, out of a feeling of guilt. This was all the fault of the Empire, she wasn't stupid enough to completely blame herself. But there was a twinge of it there anyway, because she could have planned things better, and dealt with her revenge more extensively.
She wouldn't make that mistake a second time… Kaiser… Hookwolf… Your days are numbered.
"Thank you," The woman whispered, tears of relief in her eyes. "Bless you, Remedy."
Amy forced a smile. "Just doing my job."
As she stood, she noticed a group of church members nearby, tending to another group of injured. They worked with an efficiency born of practice, their movements precise and purposeful. One of them, a young woman with bright eyes and a serene smile, caught Amy's gaze and nodded respectfully.
"Remedy, we are honored by your presence," She said, her voice filled with reverence. "We strive to follow your example in all that we do."
Amy's frustration bubbled to the surface. "I'm not a saint or a god. I'm just trying to help people." She snapped.
Vicky immediately looked her way, but at seeing her with a church member, went back to the conversation she was having with a few other members.
The young woman didn't seem fazed by her tone. "And that is why we revere you. Your selflessness and your dedication to healing inspire us all."
Before Amy could respond, another voice cut through the air. "Water and blankets here! Make sure everyone is warm and hydrated!"
Amy turned to see the apparent leader of this group of church members, directing more volunteers, his voice calm and reassuring. He met her eyes and smiled warmly. "Remedy, your presence here is a beacon of hope for all. We are grateful for your guidance." He said with a kind voice.
She sighed, knowing that arguing with them was pointless. They were helping, and she couldn't deny the good they were doing, even if their devotion made her uncomfortable. "Just... keep doing what you're doing. The people need all the help they can get." She muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
She hated the fact that even now, she was calculating how she could use them for the future, in getting her plans for the city state she'd create, working.
The leader nodded, his expression one of understanding. "Of course, Remedy. We are here to serve."
As the church members continued their work, Amy moved through the crowd, her healing touch bringing relief to the injured and comfort to the mourning. Despite her irritation, she couldn't help but notice the impact the Church of Remedy was having. People seemed calmer, more reassured with their presence, and the distribution of supplies was clearly making a difference.
Notably, the PRT wasn't present in any great numbers, and what little supplies they brought, wasn't making a dent - it seemed they were focused solely on policing efforts still.
A group of children, their faces smudged with dirt and fear, clustered around one of the church volunteers. She knelt down, offering them warm blankets and soft words of comfort. "Remedy's light shines upon you all. You are safe now." Before leading them in a prayer.
Amy watched, a mixture of emotions swirling within her. She wanted to be angry, to rail against the idea of being worshiped, but seeing the relief on the children's faces made it difficult. The church members were doing good work, and the people of Brockton Bay needed all the support they could get. It was also… Incredibly useful as a support base for when things kicked off for real.
She needed to figure out her own emotions on this, and get over it.
Near a collapsed building, a group of church members worked tirelessly to clear debris and search for survivors. Their leader joined them, his hands dirty but his spirit undeterred. "We do this in the name of Remedy," He said, his voice filled with conviction. "Together, we will rebuild and heal, this holy town, the birthplace of Remedy, will be rebuilt!"
Amy approached him, her expression weary. "You're helping, and for that, I'm grateful. But please, stop treating me like a deity. I can't control what you do, but acting like I'm a goddess is going to create problems..."
The Fallen would be an issue at some point what with her having helped immensely in an Endbringer attack, and now this… Cult of hers…
The last thing Brockton needed right now was a Fallen attack.
The leader looked at her with deep respect. "You are more than that to us. You are a symbol of hope and healing. But we will respect your wishes near you if it makes you uncomfortable. Our goal is to help, above all else."
She nodded, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Thank you. Let's focus on that."
As the night wore on, the efforts of the Church of Remedy continued to bring much-needed relief to the city. They worked side by side with the heroes and first responders, their combined efforts creating a sense of unity and purpose, binding Brocktonites together. Amy couldn't deny the positive impact they were having, even if her feelings were mixed.
By dawn, the immediate crisis had passed, and the city began the slow process of recovery. There hadn't been any sign of Hookwolf for hours, and all the fires had been put out. Amy stood on a hill overlooking the scene, her heart heavy but her resolve strong. The Church of Remedy had proven to be a valuable ally, and while she still struggled with their adoration, she couldn't ignore the good they were doing, and the ideas she had on how to use them.
She was absolutely exhausted, as she leaned into Vicky, who herself couldn't stop yawning, her arms around Amy's midriff.
"Take us home, Vicky." She said quietly, and Vicky kissed the top of her head, before lifting her up in a bridal carry, flying them back to Starlight HQ.
As they approached their home and headquarters they saw a commotion near the Church of Remedy. Aurelian, the French cape who had been preaching about her, was speaking to a crowd, his grand gestures and fervent voice marking him as a fanatic, just like his creepy posts on PHO had.
Vicky set her down, and they both watched, Amy feeling a spark of anger at the church again, with this creep so obviously cracked in the head.
"Remedy is our light, our guide in these dark times," Aurelian proclaimed to the crowd. "She shows us the path to salvation through her healing touch and boundless compassion. Praise be to Remedy!" The crowd all shouted after him, "Praise be to Remedy!" Before the French cape continued, "Evil festers in this city, but we have the light of Remedy behind us, we will root it out, and through her divine will, end it!"
Amy clenched her fists, her irritation growing. She noticed Cherrie Hart, the high priestess of the church, standing beside Aurelian. Her dark hair and intense green eyes made her a striking presence, her robes, similar to the other church members in aesthetics - were much tighter, showcasing a lithe body with sinful curves that Amy couldn't help but note. Cherrie stepped forward, her voice smooth and confident as she addressed her people.
"Remedy's teachings inspire us all to be better, to help those in need. Together, we will rebuild Brockton Bay and bring hope to its people." She said sweetly, speaking quietly, but the crowd all seemed to hear her just fine, all staring up at her with adoration.
Amy's frustration boiled over. She marched up to the stage, her expression stormy. "What the hell are you doing?" She snapped, Vicky trailing behind her sleepily.
It was one thing for them to be volunteering and helping the downtrodden or those who'd lost homes in the chaos. That was productive and built a good reputation. This? This was just fanaticism, and that never led anywhere good. Rooting out all evil? That's how you created mobs!
Aurelian looked taken aback, his opera style mask leaving the bottom of his face clearly visible, his silver cape fluttering behind him as he quickly bowed in her presence, but Cherrie simply smiled, her eyes gleaming with a strange intensity. "Remedy, we are spreading your word, hope is important to people, and we haven't had much until you showed that there was still a chance left, hope that things could improve."
Amy glared at her. "If you want to help people, I can't stop you, but there's a limit to what I can handle, I won't stand by and let you make this some sort of cult!"
Her hand almost twitched to the pack of cigarettes in her pockets, it would be so easy, just one breath, some tweaks, and she could make all of these nutjobs just… Stop.
Aurelian stepped forward, his eyes wide with fervor behind his silver mask. "But you are a nothing short of a goddess to us, Remedy. Your power, your compassion - it is divine. We must spread your message, show the world your light."
Amy's irritation turned to pure anger. "I am not a deity! I'm just a person with powers trying to do some good. You turning this into a religion is only making things worse."
It wouldn't even really be that bad, if she brainwashed them all, right? She thought irritably. Vicky laid a hand on her shoulder, and she slumped slightly, yeah, yeah, I get it, calm down…
Somehow that was enough, and she suddenly felt much calmer and more relaxed about things, the fog of exhaustion and anger clearing up in her mind.
Cherrie placed a calming hand on Aurelian's shoulder, her smile never wavering, as the cape stepped back seemingly calming down. "Remedy, we understand your reluctance. But consider this, your influence, your example, has inspired so many. People look to you for hope. Is it so wrong to provide them with a guiding light in these dark times?"
Amy crossed her arms, her tired gaze fixed on Cherrie. "I never wanted to be anyone's guiding light. I just want to help people without all this... Worship." I just want my own little slice of heaven, this city. Everyone else can go fucking die.
Cherrie nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I understand, but think about how much more help you could provide with an organized group backing you. We have resources, people willing to follow your example. Together, we could do so much more."
Amy shook her head, frustration evident in her voice. "I don't need a cult following me around. I just need to be left alone to do my work." But she could feel herself wavering, what they were saying was reasonable. And she did need followers once she set things in motion, didn't she?
Aurelian stepped closer, his voice low and intense. "You underestimate the power of faith, Remedy. Faith can move mountains, it can heal wounds that science cannot. Your presence here, your very existence, gives people something to believe in - it's the most powerful thing in the world."
Amy took a step back, her discomfort growing at the french capes presence, his devoted fanatic stare. "This isn't about faith. This is about reality. I'm not some savior. I'm just a person who got powers and is trying to use them for some good."
Cherrie moved to Amy's side, her tone conciliatory. "We are not asking you to change who you are, Remedy. We only wish to amplify the good you are doing on our end. Imagine the reach we could have, the lives we could save, if we worked together."
Amy hesitated, her irritation beginning to wane under Cherrie's calm reasoning. "I just don't want people to lose sight of reality. They can't rely on me like some sort of miracle worker."
The last thing she needed was to be slotted back into the healbot category. That's what she was escaping from in the first place.
Cherrie nodded, her expression understanding. "And they won't. We will ensure that our message is clear - you are an inspiration, a beacon of hope, but also human. Your followers will be taught to support and help, not to place all their hopes and burdens on you alone."
Amy glanced at Aurelian, whose adoration was almost palpable. "And what about him? He looks like he's ready to build a shrine." She snarked, Vicky giggling behind her.
"I wouldn't mind a shrine for you." She teased, caressing her hair with one hand as she leaned her head over Amy's shoulder, whispering, "I'd get on my knees for you…" Amy blushed beet red, trying to mentally impress on her - not in front of the nutjobs, please!
Cherrie laughed softly. "Aurelian's passion is... intense, but his heart is in the right place. He truly believes in the good you are doing. We can temper his enthusiasm, guide it into more constructive channels."
She apparently had no problems talking about him like that while he was right there. But then again, Aurelian didn't even flinch, just staring at Amy with an intense gaze, eyes flickering to Vicky with narrowed eyes.
Amy sighed, rubbing her temples. "I still don't like this. But if you can promise to keep things realistic, to focus on helping people rather than worshiping me, then maybe we can find a way to work together." She agreed, finding that her anger and irritation had ebbed, and she just felt tired.
Cherrie placed a hand on Amy's arm, her touch surprisingly warm. "Thank you, Remedy. We will honor your wishes. Together, we will bring hope and healing to Brockton Bay." She murmured kindly.
As Amy walked away, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered, something had felt off about that interaction, but she attributed it to Aurelian being a creep. For now, she had more pressing concerns. The city needed her, and despite her reservations, it seemed the Church of Remedy would be part of that effort.
She'd find a way to use them, make them better than a group of nutjobs.
Cherrie seemed reasonable at least.
Vicky grabbed her arm as they walked into HQ, a teasing smirk on her face, "So… About me 'praying' to you?"
Amy blushed, "Shut up!"
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PRT headquarters, Brockton Bay,
Emily tiredly stared at the computer, just done with the day, but unable to just leave, paperwork always needing to be done.
The day had been a cluster fuck no matter which way you looked at it. The E88 had been beaten back, but they'd needed Starlight and New Wave to pull it off, and in the end they'd still lost Lung, and in return they'd only gotten a few empire capes that would just be broken out of prison in a few weeks - none of them having the kind of rap sheets that would invoke a birdcage sentence.
The PR situation would not be in their favor. Already she'd gotten reports of the Church of Remedy assisting with the injured, search and rescue, and providing food and supplies. Which somehow, hadn't been provided by the PRT, despite the order she'd sent out.
She'd already started an investigation, Dragon was looking into their systems, as her e-mail had never arrived, and more disturbingly, the phone call she'd had with the agent in charge of disaster relief, had either been someone else with a vocalizer, or something worse - because the agent swore up and down that he'd never talked to her.
He was in M/S screening right now, just in case. But Emily felt that it was likelier that someone was playing games with her.
She smiled bitterly, reading Miss Militia's report. She'd already interviewed Armsmaster extensively, and her suspicions peaked.
Starlight did have Strider available, so it wasn't out of the realm of possibility for them to arrive so quickly to assist the Protectorate heroes that were bogged down - but combined with the Church of Remedy and the enemy action to prevent the PRT from assisting with clean up and search and rescue…
Someone was doing a good job making the PRT look ineffectual while boosting Starlight. And she didn't have to look any further then Panacea, or Remedy, she supposed. She snorted at the ridiculous name change - like it changed anything, the girl was still the same arrogant little snot she'd been before.
She started typing, drawing up a contingency plan. Just in case Starlight was behind all of this, was looking to infiltrate the PRT and Protectorate.
She sent an e-mail off, requesting additional resources from mental health professionals for the wards. They were always rejected, but now she could claim a pressing need. They were all too close to the Dallons, they needed reeducation.
Remedy was definitely a threat, and she had to make sure she had no Trojan horses within.
Even with the Chief Director protecting her, this at least she should be able to get away with. She stared at the screen, going over plans and discarding everything that was too risky. There were limits to how daring she could afford to be.
She knew Remedy was a danger, just as dangerous as Poison Ivy. Biotinkers were all monsters. How people could see Remedy moving from a support position to a leadership and combat position and not realize she was up to no good, baffled her. It was parahuman 101, escalate more and more until suddenly there goes the city.
Now that she was likely the one sticking her fingers into the PRT, she'd prove it and get sanction to take the girl down. Emily was if nothing else, a stubborn woman.
She'd find a way.
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That night, Starlight headquarters.
The night was still, a deceptive calm settling over Starlight headquarters in the aftermath of the night's chaos. Amy was inside relaxing after having tended to her team and making sure everyone was as ready as they could be for whatever might come next. The building was quiet, the silence a contrast to the day's turmoil. She couldn't sleep, having crashed that morning, and slept through much of the day.
She just had a feeling in her gut that it wasn't over. Ivy was working hard on several different biological weapons, giving her options for how she wanted to handle the Empire. And this time, she'd make absolutely sure they knew it was Ivy, so that any surviving fools didn't go after them, or civilians loosely affiliated with them or New Wave.
Ivy hadn't ended up being very useful during the fighting, too far away to reach any E88 capes in time, and there were too many eyes on her to risk having Strider pick her up and drop her off. So she was making herself useful now, crafting the weapon that would make the Empire fall back.
She stretched languidly, eyes falling on Vicky, who'd insisted on hanging out with her once she got up, even though she was clearly exhausted. She was asleep again on the couch, snoring cutely.
She sighed, smiling honestly for what felt like the first time in forever, with the last 24 hours going as they had, sitting down at the head of the couch, sitting back, relaxing, slowly stroking Vicky's hair, her sister not waking up even as she moved her to get comfortable.
…
Outside, in the shadows, Hookwolf, Night, and Fog crept closer, their intent clear, they were to punish the dyke. They couldn't kill her unfortunately, even Hookwolf had realized that after much grumbling. The triumvirate would not take kindly to her death so they had to hold back. But they could kill everyone around her just fine, and showcase the Empire's superiority. This was retaliation, payback for the previous day's defeat and the embarrassment their organization had suffered when they lost Cricket and Stormtiger.
Even Kaiser had agreed, the previous day's revels not enough to drive the point home, especially not with Lung once again free. Not with some of theirs in PRT lockup.
"Let's show them what happens when they mess with us," He growled, his voice a low rumble, hands fiddling with the explosive they'd brought with them.
They knew from grunts probing the building that they had fucking force fields, so they needed to get the cowardly meat out on the street, so the explosive would get their attention - then Hookwolf would do what he did best. Kill shit until they stepped out to take the next turn.
Without any further words, since talking to Night and Fog was pretty fucking pointless. He tossed the explosive against the building, the shield's flaring as it exploded in contact, Night and Fog already moving towards their first target.
…
Amy and Vicky immediately jerked too at the sound of the explosion, Amy running to the window, Vicky beating her there, cursing, "It's Hookwolf."
Amy's eyes narrowed, she didn't see anyone else, "He wouldn't have come alone, Vicky get Strider on the line, get him to pick up MP, then wake Purity if by some miracle that didn't wake her up."
"No need, I'm here." Purity said grimly, floating over, dressed in a loose tank top and sweatpants combo, as she arrived, Vicky floated away, phone already out and dialing, as she headed to change into her uniform no doubt.
Amy gestured out of the window, "Your thoughts?"
Purity wrinkled her nose, "Hookwolf is bold, but for all his idiocy, he isn't actually an idiot. I doubt he's alone. And he definitely has a plan."
Hookwolf was shouting something, Amy had a feeling she didn't want to hear any of it, but they needed to stall anyway, she was half tempted to call the PRT as well, but she wanted Hookwolf, and she didn't want the Protectorate to butt in and arrest him. She flipped a switch, allowing them to hear and speak. "What do you want, Hookerwolf." She called out testily.
Purity snorted, slapping a hand to her mouth, turning away, her shoulders shaking.
Hookwolf snarled, but managed to keep himself decently composed, proving that he wasn't fully brain-dead, only like 75 percent, like all Nazis.
"Get out here and fight, you pack of pussies!" He roared, glaring up at them.
"What? Got tired of killing defenseless civilians, you coward?" She yelled back, knuckles white as she held herself back from marching out there. She eyed Purity, biting her lip, the powers she had on tap weren't great for fighting Hookwolf, what would she get if she switched one of them out for Purity's power?
Hookwolf interrupted her thought process, grinning bestially, "If you won't come out to play, then…"
Screams were heard, as with perfect timing, people fled out of the church across the street, the Church of Remedy, a fog following them eating through the surroundings.
"Shit." Amy said succinctly, Purity already, making ready for going out the window, just waiting for Amy's order.
"If Fog is here, so is Night. Can you whip something up for Fog?" Purity asked, looking conflicted as she stared down at the street.
Just then, Vicky returned, suited up, and Strider popped in with Mouse Protector.
The cheesy hero grumbled, snapping her fingers, "I was this close to finally loosening Hannah up." She complained, but dutifully got ready to fight.
"Alright, here's what we're going to do." Amy said, knowing they were strapped for time, with civilians running across the street in a panic.
Amy's mind raced as she formulated a plan, eyeing the fog creeping across the street, speaking up rapidly. "Purity, you take to the air and light up the area. Fog and Night thrive in darkness; we need to eliminate as much of their cover as possible."
Purity nodded, her eyes blazing with determination. "And Hookwolf?"
Amy glanced at Vicky and Mouse Protector. "Vicky, I need you to keep Hookwolf busy for a minute. We need to deal with Night and Fog. Mouse, coordinate with Strider and evacuate the remaining civilians, be between Hookwolf and any civilians."
Vicky's gaze hardened, and she nodded. Mouse Protector saluted with a grin, then vanished with Strider, leaving Amy, Purity and Vicky to focus on the task at hand.
Purity shot into the air as Amy pressed a button, allowing the windows to open, her beams of light slicing through the night, turning the fog into a swirling, illuminated haze - the screech from something within being hit - confirmed where Night was, hidden in the fog. Below, Hookwolf snarled, metal glinting in the artificial daylight of Purity's glow, as he began running towards them changing into his bestial metal form.
Amy turned to Vicky. "Give me a lift, and stay safe." She kissed her quickly, before Vicky flew down with her, letting her down on the ground before she flew to intercept Hookwolf.
Amy moved cautiously towards the fog even as Purity kept firing, Amy's hands in her pockets, one preparing the mulch she'd kept for some easy biological material, working on it to emit a gas with surfactants, which would reduce the surface tension in the liquid aspect of the fog, collating it together, hopefully interfering with Fog's breaker state. The other found her pack of cigarettes, preparing something a little more lethal.
She might play at being a hero for her overall plan, but if needed. She'd kill a bitch.
The air was thick with tension, the screams of the fleeing church members echoing in the background, although growing lesser as Mouse Protector played a matador to Hookwolf's bull charges, letting Strider get the civilians away, as Vicky flew in and out attacking the Nazi cape. Fog's amorphous shape shifted and twisted, his malevolent presence growing more apparent as the light cut through his veil due to Purity's blasts, the fog growing closer to her, even as Night's chittering body did as well.
Purity's beams intensified, trying to focus on Night's location within the fog, but the villain was quick, darting into deeper shadows and disappearing again. Amy cursed under her breath, knowing Night's power was in her ability to transform into a monstrous form when not observed directly. And as long as Night was within Fog, once they got close, Night would be a terror.
Fog's form suddenly undulated, spreading out and enveloping everything in his path, rushing towards her. Amy knew she had to act quickly. So she let the gas she'd been developing loose. Concentrating, she altered the bacteria on her skin to make her completely immune to Fog's corrosive effects, shivering as she was enveloped, feeling her hair and her clothes melt.
She could fix that, but now Fog and Night had made one very large mistake. They thought they had caught her, Purity not able to fire with Amy caught within. But it was Amy who caught them.
"Fog!" Amy called out, manipulating the gas from her mulch to ensure the corrosive fog didn't slip inside her mouth, her voice steady. "Surrender, or I won't be held responsible for what happens to you."
A low, curious voice resonated through the fog. "Can you fight the very air, Remedy?" Fog asked, parts of the fog solidifying, well out of her reach, a face briefly visible.
Amy's eyes narrowed. She extended her gas, swirling it around Fogs insides, even as she heard Night approach. She searched for any solidified matter in Fog's being amidst the swirling mist. Her hands glowed brighter, a beacon in the haze. "I don't need to fight the air. I just need to fight you."
With a sudden surge, Amy found a spot that was beginning to be pulled together by her gas, temporarily solidifying Fog in her reach and she immediately touched it, and directed her powers into the fog, manipulating the very particles around her. She could feel Fog's presence, a sickly, pulsing core spread through the mist. Concentrating, she reached inside his brain, and destroyed his Corona Pollentia, just as Night appeared behind her, striking down with a chitinous limb.
Fog came apart, as his brain, what was left of it anyway, crumbled. Night shrieking even as she became visible, coming out of her changer state just in time to take a Purity blast to the face. Amy was splattered with blood and brain matter, Night no longer having the incredible durability her changer form had now that she was seen.
"Ew." Amy said, looking around quickly, letting out a sigh of relief at seeing no more civilians. She was, after all, naked. And bald, and now covered in gunk.
Hookwolf snarled as he saw Night and Fog dead, having been frustrated by the constant hit and run tactics of Mouse Protector and Vicky. Albeit showing no real damage from the process.
Purity hovered above him, now, hands glowing. "Give it up." She told him in no uncertain terms.
Hookwolf simply laughed, clawed hand grasping a piece of asphalt, "You know, it's amazing what one can learn with loose lips, and I ain't leaving here empty handed…"
He threw the asphalt at Vicky, who scoffed, not making any attempt to move, not scared of a rock.
Amy, feeling a chill down her spine, realized what Hookwolf meant, "Vicky, DODGE!" The E88 tortured your friends, they know!
Vicky was hit by the hunk of rock, which didn't get past her shield, but at that exact moment, when the shield was down for just a moment, there was a loud bang.
Amy watched as if in slow motion, as Vicky's eyes widened, Vicky falling back slowly, droplets of blood in the air from the perfect shot right in-between her eyes.
Purity cursed, flying off in search of Victor, Hookwolf already high tailing it out of there, laughing wildly.
Amy was already by Vicky's side, healing her, sobbing wildly, even as her heart was practically exploding out of her chest in sheer agony and hatred at the Empire for trying to take Vicky away from her.
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Ivy suddenly stopped, Sherrel giving her an odd look, "Hey boss, didn't you say this stuff was like super volatile, and you couldn't afford to lose concentration?" She asked, nervously.
Ivy slowly turned her head to Sherrel, an expression of utter agony twisting her features, making Sherrel take a shocked step back.
"Sherrel, find out something for me, will you? And get the invisible car running." She said, Sherrel feeling like one wrong move would have her skewered.
"S-sure boss, w-whatever you need."
"Find out where the water treatment plant is, and every access point to Brockton Bays water system." Ivy said, eyes burning with righteous rage, as she returned to what she was doing, now being a lot less nice about what her biological weapon would be doing.
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Preview of next chapter,
Alexandria turned to Legend, one eyebrow raised, "I believe your exact words were, she doesn't seem that bad, if we leave her alone she'll be a helpful ally?"
Legend moaned in distress, hiding his face in his hands, "She didn't seem evil." He protested.
"It's been two days…"
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