----------------------------------------
Tattletale…
Fucking Tattletale was here for her. Which meant Coil was here for her.
Amy bit her finger tensely, mind whirling at the revelation, Sherrel continued to talk over the line, but Amy and Ivy ignored her, as plans were formed and discarded and formed again.
Killing her before she opened her mouth felt like a good choice, but she probably shouldn't…
"Send her over here." Was ordered tersely instead, after a few minutes where Tattletale waited for an answer from Sherrel. Amy soothing her nerves with a long draw of her super weed, perhaps being slightly stoned would throw off the other capes super intuition.
Perhaps she could offer Lisa a drag, she though with a flicker of amusement, if there ever was a cape that needed to just chill and leave the cape life behind for a minute - it was her.
Either way, Tattletale could not be allowed to see the two of them together. Ivy was already slipping out the back door to avoid Tattletale - they didn't need that complication.
If she was here, it doubtlessly meant she already knew there was a connection, but there was a very big difference between knowing of a connection, and knowing Ivy was her clone.
Amy made a face, wrinkling her nose, I'll probably have to sell the same bullshit the clowns already believe… That Ivy and I are a 'thing'.
It's not like she hadn't had any thoughts on experimenting a little, it was basically just masturbation anyway - but to play date herself just to throw off the scent of thinkers like Tattletale just seemed… Wrong.
Beyond just being a criminal wrong, to just creepy wrong.
Masturbation was one thing, but to actually date herself, she wasn't nearly narcissistic enough for that. Not to mention how absolutely mortified she'd be if anyone ever found out…
She'd have to go live in a cave in the Himalayas to survive the embarrassment.
Amy took another calming drag of her drug of choice, at least she'd used Ivy to upgrade herself now, so it wasn't like Tattletale was a physical threat to her. She could deal with the big mouth easily enough if it came down to any kind of fight.
But then Tattletale didn't fight like that anyway, she just dug her way deep into the recesses of your secrets and feelings and tore them out gleefully by the stem, to bludgeon you with them.
Tattletale wasn't so much a backstabber, although she was definitely capable of it - as she was someone for gleefully stabbing you in the face with truths and half truths - so she could see the pain setting in herself.
God, she was such a bitch.
Amy knew it was partly her shards influence, as the constant need to dig and search and find out more - was intrinsically tied to her power. But she was also, in Amy's opinion, a complete and total bitch. That made it hard to give a shit about why she was ripping someone apart mentally and emotionally.
She stubbornly pushed her thoughts away from that direction, she would not show fear to the bitch. If anything this could be an opportunity, maybe she could be recruited? There was a lot she could get done with Ivy's gang if she had Tattletale in the mix… Or the entire Undersiders for that matter. If she could stand dealing with her for that long, that was a definite consideration.
She was too much of a bitch herself to stand having another around… The Undersiders weren't so bad though.
She'd probably get along pretty well with Regent… Which probably didn't say much good about the state of her mental health.
There was a knock on the door, the rapping of knuckles against wood, quick and impatient. Amy took another slow drag, not getting up from where she'd taken a seat on the living room couch.
"It's not locked, just get in here." She called out irritably as the knocking continued obnoxiously.
The door opened and she got her first good look at Tattletale, why must all the bitches be cute? She wondered. The girl stepped through the door carrying a telltale smug smile on her face, her eyes filled with mirth. She practically strutted through the door, and like most female heroes or villains, she wore a tight bodysuit that really didn't leave overly much to the imagination.
Amy approved, but at the same time she didn't, because it was very distracting. She could practically picture the other girl naked with how body conforming her suit was…
Tattletales grin widened as she stopped and preened slightly at Amy's look, running her hands down her sides, giving Amy a knowing look, "Like what you see? I can tell, you know? I hate to disappoint though, Amy… I can call you Amy, right? I'm just not into being a plaything."
Amy scoffed, pulling the blunt away from her lips, giving Tattletale a dry look, "Do we have to do this? Can we save the posturing and just say we did it? What do you want, Lisa?"
She couldn't let Tattletale take full command of the conversation or it would just end badly…
Tattletale cocked her head curiously, a spark of something flittering through her eyes, "You know me…" She said, sounding absolutely certain at the same time as she sounded slightly insecure - it was an odd dichotomy. She took a slow step back, shaking her head, staring at Amy, "No… You really know me, like way too much, there's no surprise in you at all, what the fuck!?"
Amy grinned toothily, enjoying Tattletale being on the backfoot, even while knowing it wouldn't last, "You're not the only one who knows too much about everyone, maybe you should step carefully here, hmm?" She rested an arm over the back of the couch as she took another drag of her blunt, feeling much more at ease seeing Tattletale stumbling slightly.
Yeah, you bitch, I know a lot about you… She thought smugly, taking another drag of her blunt demonstratively, because she could see Tattletale seemed surprised at its presence.
Tattletale wrinkled her nose, her eyes narrowing behind the domino mask, "You're making drugs now?" Her grin was back again, looking quite foxy now as she sauntered forward to slide into an armchair across from Amy, notably the chair was well out of touching range. "Of course you are, you've got a criminal girlfriend now, gotta contribute somehow, right?" Except immediately after saying that, Tattletale drew in a sharp breath, focusing on Amy's face, "No… That's not what this is? You're more like… Sisters? How does that work!?"
Tattletale seemed slightly put out that her original hypothesis had so quickly been disproven, especially by something she couldn't understand, the purple clad villain leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, gaze intently on Amy, foxy grin firmly in place, "Wanna tell me how exactly you joined the sisterhood of villainy?" She coaxed challengingly.
Amy blew smoke in her face across the divide between them, making the girl wrinkle her nose in disgust, "No." Amy told her simply, not intending to make things easy.
"Just no?" Tattletale pouted slightly, "Well that's no fun, but you see I'm a bit psychic, so I'm getting enough to figure it out anyway, curious?"
"You're not psychic, Sarah." Amy said with a penetrating gaze, aiming to keep her off balance.
Tattletales' eyes widened minutely, but she had no other visible reaction to that reveal. She slowly leaned back in her armchair, smirk widening imperceptibly as Amy looked on unamused, "Kitty has claws." She said amusedly, continuing on, "You really don't like me do you? Which is curious, because I know we haven't met."
You're just generally unlikeable. Amy told her mentally, for all she knew the girl would pick up on it.
"Why are you here, Tattletale?" Amy pushed straight to the point, not intending to be drawn into any mind games with the annoying cape. "You're probably well aware of at least some of the things I can do… Why are you within reach of me, unless you were forced to come here?"
Tattletale sighed demonstratively, crossing her arms under her bust, "Well you're no fun, Amy, I had so much more we could talk about, but you're all business…" Her gaze turned contemplative, "You know why I'm here, you know who sent me, how the fuck do you know all this?" She sounded both impressed and wary, her posture slightly more tense now then when she arrived.
Amy gave her a half lidded glare, "I could be more fun than you could ever handle." She said, sounding aloof, "You know I can take away those headaches with a touch, right?"
Tattletales' grin dimmed a little, her lips quirking distastefully, "Yeah, I'm not letting you touch me, frankly what I'm picking up of your capabilities is terrifying." She said bluntly, shivering a little.
Amy shrugged, "Your loss, you can tell if I'm lying anyway, right? So I could promise to only fix your headaches…"
Tattletale shook her head firmly, giving Amy a dry look, "I can tell what you're doing, you know. I'm not interested in the ties attached to that offer."
"Fair enough, you know where to find me when you change your mind." Amy said, feeling quite pleased with the way she'd managed to lead this conversation.
Tattletale let out a disbelieving laugh, "Oh, so that's what you've been trying to do." She smirked playfully, wagging a finger at her, "Trying to distract me from your little secrets are we?" Her grin turned very vulpine as she leant forward again, "Why? Got anything even juicier… Oh you do! Oh, this is just gold!"
Amy clacked her teeth together in annoyance, that was her fault, for even thinking of it in Tattletales presence, "Drop it." She warned bitingly.
Tattletale ignored her, stretching sensually across the armchair, "Attracted to your own sister, attracted to Poison Ivy, who somehow is like a sister or something close," She peered weirdly at Amy, "Can't figure that one out quite yet," She admitted, before switching tracks slightly as she leered at Amy, "Will I get any benefits if I call you little sis? That seems to be your thing?" She said mockingly.
Amy really didn't like Tattletale much, for all that she hadn't picked up on the truth about Ivy, she was very annoyingly perceptive, "Tell me why you're here and stop the games." She said coldly, with an undertone of threat in her voice.
Tattletale gave her a superior smirk, looking like the cat that got the canary, "You won't kill me, I can tell." She said flippantly, annoying Amy further.
Amy cocked her head, giving a sharp grin, fingering the remains of her blunt, "No," She agreed calmly, "However, I can make you quite miserable without much effort, I have organic material right here in my hand, I could make an airborne pathogen that binds with you and ensures you never spend time without being ten feet from a toilet, if you'd like."
Or course it wouldn't be tailored to only her in such a short amount of time, so that would be risky to let loose…
Tattletales grin slipped off her face as she looked disturbed, shivering slightly, "Okay, don't do that." Amy continued to stare at her, coming up with ideas on how to make her miserable, Tattletale grabbing her head and wincing, "Okay, okay, truce! I'll get to the point, stop with the disgust train, please!" She asked, her face a little green.
Amy gave a short laugh, shaking her head, "How you even survive if your attitude amongst people more powerful than you is to piss them off and regurgitate their secrets, I have no idea." She waved a hand negligibly, "Get to your purpose here, Lisa, before you annoy me further."
Tattletale sighed, pouting again, "You're taking all the fun out of it, but fine…" She pursed her lips thoughtfully, "You have my lovely boss spooked over something, I'm here to give you an offer."
Amy scoffed, leaning back against the couch, "What does Coil want? Couldn't get enough out of a timeline of torturing me?"
Tattletale froze, eyes blinking rapidly, it was interesting to Amy, to watch the process of Tattletale connecting all the dots. "That's how he does it!" She cursed suddenly, looking chagrined and disgusted, "I can't believe someone got it before me." She whined a little.
Amy wasn't interested in going further down the rabbit hole today, it was better to leave some things unanswered, perhaps it would still draw Tattletale in, she could be useful, even if she was, so. Fucking. Annoying! "What does he want?" She repeated forcefully, trying to keep Tattletale on track.
Tattletale sighed, looking put out, "He's offering to withdraw from Brockton Bay, if you fix whatever it is you've done that has him so freaked out, he didn't provide me with the information and I couldn't quite parse it over the phone…" She smiled coquettishly at Amy, "Couldn't give big sis a hint?"
Amy snorted, "Unless you're planning on putting that mouth to better use, no." She said, smirking at the absolutely disgusted look that marred Tattletales' pretty face for a moment. "Thought so… Now what exactly is his entire offer?"
"You undo whatever you did, while under watch by someone who's power prevents lying, and in return, Coil will leave Brockton Bay, his local resources handed over to you or a proxy of yours to do with as you wish." Tattletale rattled off looking slightly grumpy. "Did you give him super cancer?" She asked abruptly, needling for an answer.
Amy ignored her. She was just annoyed and grumpy at how things were progressing.
No wonder. Tattletale no doubt wanted her own revenge on Coil, and this way, he'd simply slip away, leaving her with nothing.
Perhaps even a bullet through the skull on the way out… Or… He'd take her with him.
Amy wasn't sure what she wanted out of this, but she might have to accept. Because if Coil figured out that she'd left a tiny cluster of cells in his brain that would slowly take over its neighbors until he eventually was her puppet… Then if she turned down fixing him, he would be desperate, which meant he'd go after her and everyone she loved having nothing to lose. It might be honestly worth 'fixing' him if she could get a guarantee he would actually leave Brockton Bay forever - and leave her and hers alone.
"You know… I could do a lot with Coil's resources… I already have an in with his mercenaries, I could even offer my services for cheap for that girlfriend/sister/whatever you are, of yours…" Tattletale offered, putting herself forward as a possible proxy.
The insane balls on this girl. Amy thought acerbically.
Amy raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "If your goal was that, you shouldn't have done your best to annoy me." She pointed out, before smirking, "Revisit the whole, use your mouth better idea - if you're looking to receive Coil's assets."
Tattletale wrinkled her nose again, but actually looked contemplative, "Would almost be worth it…" She muttered to herself, looking like she was trying to psyche herself up.
Ookay, moving on before she actually says yes… Amy did not need that kind of complications, especially through force of any kind, "Tell Coil that I tentatively accept, but I need reassurances." She pursed her lips and gave Tattletale a hard look, "Feel free to tell him that your freedom is part of the deal - you're an annoying bitch, and I don't like you, but you don't deserve a bullet." She said bluntly.
It was likely Coil would force Tattletale to come with him if he relocated, and Amy wasn't quite that much of a bitch that she'd let him get away with that.
Tattletale looked visibly surprised, but it soon turned into what almost looked like an honest smile, "I'll pass it along, thanks lil' sis!" She chirped.
Amy's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, "You're not letting that go, are you?"
"Letting what go, baby sis?" She said mock innocently, her smugness dialed up to 9000.
Amy sighed in aggravation, it wasn't even fair to tease her about the sister angle, no one met Vicky and didn't feel attraction to her.
No wonder Coil wanted to put a bullet in her…
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At the same time,
Ivy stormed into Skidmark's house, "Sherrel, get the car ready! Jason, anything from here we still need, grab it and put it in the car, we're leaving!"
Sherrel pouted, sitting cross legged on the floor, overalls half off and budged up at her waist, leaving her in an oil spotted sports bra up top, "Aww, do we have to, boss? I'm in the middle of something here!" She gestured to the absolute mess of mechanical parts, her hands practically black with oil and grease.
Ivy waved impatiently at it all, having no idea what exactly the entire mess was, it didn't look like car parts, "Dump it in the trunk if you want to keep it, but you have only fifteen minutes, tops, then we're gone."
Sherrel rubbed her face with a slight pout, uncaring of the grease marks she left behind, "Yeah, yeah, I'm going, I'm going." She grumbled, unfolding her legs.
Jason grunted in annoyance, already packing stacks of cash into a bag, having moved immediately at Ivy's order, like a proper minion. "Is this cuz of that purple bitch?" He asked, moving with purpose, eyes scanning the room for anything of import.
With how much filth and garbage was around - it wasn't an easy task to separate the actually useful from the absolutely useless.
They didn't really have much here to keep, it had entirely been intended to be a temporary dwelling, but that didn't mean they had nothing worth keeping. Skidmark had still been a minor drug kingpin despite everything.
Ivy began assisting Jason in collecting what cash and weapons they wanted to keep, as well as some of the drugs they continuously found. Not to keep and use, she'd cleaned up her minions for a reason, but because the drugs could become useful to Ivy to play with and study for an improved version that wasn't as bad for you. As she did, she explained what was going on, "That 'purple bitch' is Tattletale, whose power is absolutely bullshit super intuition, she can basically figure you out in a conversation and ferret out your secrets." She explained tersely.
Although she knew Canon Tattletale and Fanon were two separate issues - there was no point in taking risks and interacting with the smug villain more than she needed to. Even if she couldn't quite draw out all secrets just by a glance or single conversation - often coming to the wrong conclusions, she could still figure out way too much. Their whole game here hinged on no one figuring out the true angle between Ivy and Amy.
Sherrel nodded sagely, holding a bunch of machine parts against her chest, oil leaking down all over her torso, "You don't want her to find out you and Panacea are boinking, makes sense." The tinker said, thumbing the side of her nose and winking at Ivy exaggeratedly.
Ivy glared at her, "We are no-" She paused, rubbing her forehead, feeling annoyed, it doesn't matter what they think anyway, she told herself, "You know what, it doesn't matter, just get the car going, Sherrel…"
That idea about how they were connected was still better than the truth, and what her minions didn't know, they couldn't accidentally spill or have tortured out of them.
"Anyway, Tattletale also secretly works for Coil, and we're going to entirely stay out of any and all of that business." Ivy finished explaining to Jason, Sherrel already on her way out, hugging her precious machine parts to herself.
Honestly, she was never going to be able to take that girl anywhere at this rate…
At least it seemed Coil was unaware of their entire connection if Tattletale was. She doubted Coil would have approached this the same way if he'd known.
Ivy and Amy still needed to keep separate to a certain extent, even if that was having some odd effects sometimes on their mind. Amy would have to deal with Coil on her own, saving Ivy as the backup - all the better for Coil and Tattletale to continue to be in the dark about exactly how close they were.
Ten minutes later found the trio back in their invisible car, Sherrel in the driver's seat, Ivy grimacing in discomfort as she sat down in the machine oil covered passenger seat, Sherrel had been free with storing her machine parts everywhere it seemed…
She was beginning to wonder if Skidmark was really the reason that house had been a disaster zone, or if it was because of Sherrel just constantly dropping whatever, anywhere - whenever she had a new thought.
"Where are we going then, boss lady?" Sherrel asked, activating their invisibility as she pulled out of the yard, just as Tattletale exited the neighbors house and trotted down the steps, walking with a certain smug swagger that reeked of playacting. She was putting on a show, expecting Amy to watch her the entire way.
"Oops, my bad." Sherrel said, not even trying to affect innocence - as she accelerated madly, (much faster than a car should be able to for such a short distance) and drove right by a puddle of dank muddy water - spraying Tattletale down in a great splash, the mouthy villain covered from head to toe, and from the way she was spitting as they continued on by - the bullshiter had gotten a bad taste in her mouth.
How poetic.
"...Sherrel I know I'm not paying you currently, but you get a raise for that," Ivy said, trying to keep her expression level, even as she wanted to giggle so bad. Her need eased as she felt Amy begin laughing back at the house, watching Tattletale stomp off down the street muttering to herself, looking like a drowned rat.
"I just did what came naturally, boss." Sherrel said easily, chuckling to herself.
"What do I have to do for a raise?" Jason asked, not really sounding like he cared, just wanting to be part of the conversation.
Considering they were hardly even a gang at the moment, let alone had a payroll, it was really a moot point, but she played along anyway. Jason needed all the encouragement he could get to show that he wouldn't be put down for putting his voice out there and asking questions.
She might be a villain, but these were her people, and she would take care of them - plus proper backup meant she had more time to have a blast, enjoying life and the villain life style.
That was the whole reason for this body to begin with - to play and have fun in a way Amy couldn't yet. Oh, would the world be in for a treat once they dropped the act and Amy stepped out as the proper Queen.
Ivy thought about Jason's query, tapping her chin with one nail, "Stop Sherrel from stripping for one day and you'll get a raise." She said, eyeing the tinker and her once again odd way to wear her clothes - as in half off.
Jason grumbled a bit, before he got a thoughtful look, "Can it count if I wrap her in sand the whole day so she can't move?" He asked hopefully.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Sherrel immediately gave him the finger from where she was driving, one hand on the wheel as she drove up on a sidewalk to avoid traffic, breaking a fire hydrant - which immediately began flooding the street behind them.
Ivy nodded, brushing some of her hair from her face, "I can accept that." She said succinctly.
"You guys suck!" Sherrel complained but the easy grin on her face said differently, "Not that I don't love the whole vibe here, but I do actually need directions if I'm going to stop driving aimlessly for shits and giggles." She pointed out, as they turned a corner, and left the cascading mess of people and vehicles stuck amongst the minor flood of water behind.
Ivy thought about it, they needed an actual place to grow, a place to call home - and most importantly, well defended, so the Protectorate or the other gangs wouldn't hassle them too much in their budding state.
With her powers there were opportunities, especially if she cheated a little… It would garner attention, it would definitely garner attention… But it would make for a very defensible location, a very eye catching debut, and give her actual territory.
Yes… This could work. She'd have to experiment a bit to make sure it would work as she thought, but her power seemed to be brimming with excitement at the thought, so it probably would work.
Or the Triumvirate would visit the next day to wipe her out…
Which was okay, because she'd just be back the next day in a new body. She snickered slightly to herself at that, imagining the faces of them all if that happened.
She'd have to break out her minions which would be a hassle, but it's not like the PRT actually made it hard to do that anyway.
Her cheeks gained a light dusting of red as she noticed in the car mirrors that Sherrel and Jason were both watching her snicker to herself while waiting for directions.
She coughed lightly into her hand, "Well… First to Fugly Bobs to eat our fill.. Then… To the Trainyard as close to the boat graveyard as we can get!"
Anticipation was building in both her bodies, finally, she would be able to just let loose and completely play the role of the villain, have fun, do whatever she wanted, the time was here.
Watch out Brockton Bay, I don't intend to use lube when I bend you over.. She thought viciously, a dangerous grin growing on her face.
"I just peed myself a little." Sherrel said companionably, referencing Ivy's dangerous expression, throwing Ivy off her game.
"One minute, you couldn't let me have one minute!"
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A week later,
"This isn't half bad." Kayden said with a soft smile as she ran a hand alongside the lobby wall in Starlight's finished headquarters.
Amy hummed along, standing in the middle of the bright floor, right in the middle of the golden star laid in relief amongst the tiles.
The futuristic looking building looked like it was surrounded by glass, but it was not, it was some sort of Shatterbird proof material Uppercrust had provided them with.
Instead of walls separating the areas, it was what appeared to be glass screens - looking vulnerable while they were actually not, the material might last longer than a wall against a cape brute. The idea was that once this floor was open to the public each screen would show action shots of each team hero in action, and beautiful landscapes or waterfalls or something when they intended to keep it a bit calmer.
The gift shop would have the most action shots for obvious reasons, selling action figures and posters would not add much to their pockets, but it was expected. And if you did as expected people didn't start looking too hard at what else you were doing.
The front of the lobby held the security office which was not made transparent, and in front of it - was the reception desk. Once they hired some normals to run the 1st floor, this is where those seeking Starlight out could come and make an appointment.
Vicky did a pirouette in the air, laughing triumphantly, "Yes! This is what I'm talking about! This is a hero team!" She crowed, making a sentai pose in the air in front of the large star on the wall. Amy had modeled it from the Nova Corps from marvel, pretty much just stealing it, Aleph could sue if they wanted, she didn't care.
It was cool, and you should always follow the rule of cool as a superhero. Now if only she could recruit Weld and make their team really look like a marvel team…
Charlotte and Strider both looked on in amusement as Vicky swept a protesting Amy into her arms and started twirling her around in the air, flying around the large open lobby of the building. The two adults both testing out the large black couches that were interspersed around the waiting area.
The security measures were mostly out of sight, force fields that automatically kicked in if a certain amount of force was applied - gun turrets in the ceiling for when they had to go lethal, something better to have and not need, then need and not have.
Especially if Jack Slash walked in one day…
As affiliates of the PRT and Protectorate she'd even been allowed confoam sprayers by going above Piggots head and contacting the head office. They were maintained and installed entirely by PRT personnel so Amy didn't have control of filling them or replacing them - just on using them.
Kayden looked emotional as she touched the star on her own uniform as she looked around at the bright, open space, the entire tableau screaming hero.
As a disgruntled Amy was put down, Vicky sweeping up a bemused Mouse Protector in her stead, Kayden stepped up to Amy, hand still gently touching the mark that denoted her a hero.
"Thank you." She said with feeling, putting a million different feelings, hopes, dreams and regrets - into those two words.
The way this changed everything… How Aster would grow up safe from the gangs…
Amy watched her shrewdly, a tiny quirk to her lips, "You're allowed to live, Kayden. You're not dead yet, so move forward and enjoy life as best as you're able, that's what I'm going to do." She brushed aside some of her frizzy hair, looking around at the idyllic scene of the team just hanging out, "I spent to much time worrying about what other people thought instead of living my life, we have another chance now."
Kayden chuckled a little breathlessly, "Just live, huh?" She said with some tension releasing from her body at that simple solution.
Kayden got a thoughtful look on her face, before she gave Amy an impish look that had Amy backing away raising her hands in denial.
In a quick swoop, Purity joined Vicky into her air, a protesting Amy in her arms as they flew around the lobby.
Starlight was officially in business.
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Trainyards, a few days later.
Ivy sat in the derelict warehouse, concentrating as she sunk her hand into the earth, feeling the roots she'd created beneath - having destroyed the cement floor to get to the ground beneath.
She'd been experimenting almost entirely since setting up, letting her power run wild, she knew Starlight was ready for a debut… And she could both put her own mark on Brockton Bay - while inviting a response from her neighbor that could give Starlight some exposure.
And let them achieve something the entire Protectorate had failed at.
With Coil and Tattletale already starting to catch on to them - even if Coil would be killed or driven out of town… It was time to go big before anymore players started poking around and figuring things out.
The bigger you are, the more preconceptions people will make about you, making it that much harder for them to draw conclusions linking Panacea and Poison Ivy.
Her main issue was in gaining full territory control, and the issue with that was that she could only affect plant matter in her near vicinity and had to be touching it to start the process. So she'd remembered reading once how Skitter's control could be expanded by Panacea creating relay bugs that extended her signal.
So she'd attempted something similar and had been working hard on expanding her root network over the past week - creating relays, a root system that would allow her to access the entire system by one touch anywhere in the territory once it was grown in.
She sat down in a seiza, hands on the roots, taking deep breaths, it was time. She was ready.
She closed her hands and exhaled slowly.
Grow, live, DEVOUR!
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Across Brockton Bay,
The whole city was trembling slightly, enough to register on the seismological sensors the PRT had access to.
Alarms were blaring throughout the Rig as Director Piggot stared at the reports that were filing in, "Get me an answer on this NOW!" She shouted, PRT personnel rushing to and fro in frenetic activity as reports were flying in from across the city, drowning them in the deluge.
Piggot gnashed her teeth together as she stared out towards the city, I need a fucking drink… She thought, stuck staring and not able to divert her gaze.
Staring at the giant tree raising far above Brockton Bay, from the middle of the Trainyards.
Having flashbacks of Nilbog, of monsters with sharp teeth, of claws ripping teammates apart…
"Call the PRT director!" She barked, even as she held onto her desk to steady herself, It won't happen again, I won't let it!
Not again!
….
Trainyards,
All across the Trainyards a forest spread quickly from the many specially prepared seeds spread across it, Ivy having spent several days engineering them as well as her relay trees, their roots spreading underground and spreading across the entire area, allowing her power to reach a much greater territory, bouncing between all the relay trees, following the roots, touching the seeded areas, inspiring growth with a thought - while she sat inside the midpoint between the trainyards and the boat graveyard.
The warehouse around her cracked and broke away, a giant tree growing out of it with Ivy right up against its trunk, even as Ivy sat still in a meditation position, eyes closed, hands on her root system.
She was feeling the heavy strain as she kept reaching out and altering biology on a giant scale, stretching the definition of touch to its limits, her hand on a root that was now, through her relays - connected to every part of her claimed 'territory'.
While normally she didn't need biomass for conversion with using plants, her plan here was so big that she'd had to send Hot Wheels and Sandman to rob a slaughterhouse for all their carcasses. Enough to grow a giant tree reminiscent of the world tree in many mythologies - having sent them to rob a dozen butchers for more before she started, when she'd realized the tree would likely take up her entire first batch.
The amount of energy needed for all of this was making it so her normal shard bullshitery - avoiding the cost of energy conversion with plant matter - couldn't quite handle it. Forcing her to convert biomass to continue on.
Rusted train carts broke apart as trees stretched hungrily up towards the sun, tall grass specifically engineered to eat through metal, secreting special acids and then eating them up again in a cycle, spreading across the area, cleaning it up - moving like a swarm of locusts as it grew and broke down the debris in the abandoned and dilapidated area.
Here and there she could feel homeless fleeing in utter panic ahead of the swarm of flora, mistakenly believing it would devour them as well.
If they returned she would allow them actual living space as long as they swore to her. Some would likely be brave enough, the homeless not having much to lose.
At an invisible line, but in actuality - right where her underground roots ended, the growth stopped, leaving a clear line between the city and her new forest. The trees were still growing steadily across the dying trainyards. Some would provide free food. Fruits, honey, maple syrup. She'd have vegetables grown as well, in cycles that would beat out the speed of any farm in the world.
Brockton Bay would not be able to starve her territory, they wouldn't be able to intimidate her, she could fireproof everything to a certain extent if needed. Or at least give her territory a regenerative aspect once it set in and didn't need her constantly monitoring it.
Once she had time to personally visit the edge of her territory she intended to plant flowers and hedges denoting her area - that would give off a pheromone that would engage the fear response in anyone approaching.
Whoever she'd take into her gang or to live in her territory would get an antidote - but everyone else would be unable to enter without specific gear - which would exclude the majority of people and leave her to only deal with the PRT and the gangs.
She was pretty sure she could do it, her power didn't seem to be putting any blocks in the way, if anything her power felt more relaxed and easy to use than ever, even eager if she had to put a word to it. It hadn't taken her long at all to grow and create her relay trees and its root system, nor her metal eating grass.
She kept just working with biological matter with a loose idea of what she wanted and the blanks kept being filled in for her. She never would have been able to spread herself this thin otherwise - it would necessitate she stayed in her territory for a while to let it set, but that was fine.
She could have moved slowly, but she couldn't even be killed as she was, so why bother? She had feared the triumvirate, but they already ignored several groups. So she'd actually be in more danger if she was deemed dangerous while moving around on a low or medium threat level. History had shown that if you showed yourself to be on a level that was too costly to remove - you were safe. It was practically Cauldrons motto.
Especially if she went huge, but with no deaths, an actual almost benevolent villain - because then you were an asset for Endbringer fights.
This still wasn't Amy reminding them of Nilbog - she just did plants, honest! And then once Amy took over the villain mantle… They'd never dare touch her.
Of course Piggot would likely get Nilbog flashbacks either way, but she didn't have the resources to evict her - and Alexandria wouldn't be giving it to her, not with how Ivy hadn't harmed a single human.
She'd probably get a pre-signed kill order in case she started to replicate past her borders, but that was fine, she had no intention of swallowing all of Brockton, she was just cleaning up the unused derelict wasteful parts.
She smiled impishly, opening her eyes, reaching out a hand to the mass of animal carcasses, Now this is really going to freak them out, she thought, holding back an evil laugh, since no one could hear it anyway - it would be a terrible waste.
Proper evil laughing needed a proper retinue and audience for the real effect.
….
Boat graveyard,
Ethan whistled lowly, crouched on the rooftop as he watched what was happening. The entire city was going nuts, civilians streaming out of their homes and businesses gaping at the city changing before their eyes.
Showing once and for all that Brocktonites were a special breed, too used to capes to have the sense to get away from the rolling mass of biology eating parts of the city.
Honestly, anywhere else and Ethan would have to worry about protecting people as they stampeded away, crushing civilians under the rush, looting and general destruction spreading in the panic - so he wasn't exactly complaining about the lack of panic, but he acknowledged it was weird.
Welcome to Brockton Bay, where we keep the weird shit. Ethan thought, wryly. Slap that on the welcome sign, it fits too well not to.
All over the boat graveyard a veritable forest was growing - seemingly spreading from the trainyards, large trees reaching over the distance, vines and flora and long reedy grass spreading like a plague across the rusted hulls, trees growing out of them, shattering parts of the ships, some branching off and growing over the bay, meeting other ships with their own growths, creating bridges, between the vessels.
If the churning of the water was any sign, and the small flashes of thick dark wood that he could briefly spy, roots where coming up from the bottom of the bay as well - and honestly it was all scaring the fuck out of Ethan - because this was god damn Nilbog level of shit.
The entire thing was taking place rapidly as well, already ten percent of the graveyard was entirely naturalized - large trees swaying in the wind as they floated on green covered vessels.
Large wooden piers were also beginning to jut out in specific locations, Ethan noted, which confirmed it was an intelligent mind behind this.
Brockton Bay would likely never become a big port again either way, shipping lanes having switched focus to other nearby larger ports. But if the entire boat graveyard got converted - some shipping could come. And whoever this was… Would have sole control.
That would be a fun negotiation… He could see the Mayor tearing his hair out already.
He could only be thankful it all seemed to constrain itself to the trainyards and boat graveyard and did not appear set to eat the whole city, because he had no clue about how he was supposed to stop that.
Hell, he had no clue how anyone was supposed to stop that. He had to sit through a lot of boring PRT classes - but he must have missed the one that dealt with Mother Nature trying to eat your city.
"Is it eating the metal or just growing over it, do you know?" Victor asked, the Empire 88 cape sharing his rooftop. The two had been about to square off, Ethan chasing after an Empire group beating up minorities near the docks, when the city started shaking. Unspoken, a truce had developed like it did during Endbringer attacks or other S - rank threats.
As distasteful as it was, a normal beating - an everyday occurence - didn't quite match up to the current threat.
"Can't tell from here, but if this thing - whatever it is - eats metal, we are going to have a larger issue on our hands if it spreads." Ethan said seriously, "How do you even fight a living forest?"
And didn't they already have a villain like that? Lost wood or something… It was kind of cheating to use another villain's trick like this. He didn't think it was that one though, because they'd have heard about it if they were heading here.
Victor smirked, raising his hand to point towards the trainyards, "With fire." He stated simply.
Fucking Nazi was enjoying this, Ethan thought with irritation. It was all well and good for them, their territory wasn't being eaten up - guess they'd never heard the - first they came for us - poem in their Nazi school lessons.
Ethan looked over to where Victor had indicated, squinting his eyes slightly at the distant glow, realization setting in, 'Oh, shiiiiit…" He breathed out, scrambling for his communicator, "Console, this is Assault, we have Lung on the move towards the forest growing in the trainyards, and he's already ramped up, apparently he had issues with the redecorating."
If Lung burned up that giant ass tree the whole damn city would be covered in ashes for a month, if the fire didn't spread and burn down the whole city… Which was likely if that entire area was set aflame. Fuck…
Victor chuckled next to him, Ethan glaring at him and making a shushing motion. He didn't need comments or amusement from the Nazi peanut gallery.
Especially since the ass didn't look like he was going to be lending a hand.
A stressed sounding Clockblocker replied after a moment, "Copy, Assault. There are situations spreading across that area, Armsmaster and Miss Militia are enroute, the Director is keeping the rest of the Protectorate at the Rig in case this is all a diversion."
Ethan wanted to be snippy, but it wasn't the Wards fault that he was receiving stupid orders. What was Armsy and Militia supposed to do against Lung on their own? "Copy that, console, Assault moving to assist."
He had to hand it to the director, her paranoia really was world class if she could see a decent chunk of the city turned into a forest - and choose to ignore it as a diversion. A diversion from what exactly? What else could happen right now that would be worse?
"Copy that Assault, I'll let Armsmaster know." Clockblocker said, with a hint of relief to his voice.
Ethan let go of his communicator, "You going to be an issue?" He asked Victor, well aware that with the Protectorate tied up like this he wouldn't be able to waste time on the Nazi trying something.
Victor eyed him thoughtfully, before shrugging, "As far as I am concerned we are under truce while dealing with a new threat, if Kaiser orders me differently that's another matter."
"Good enough for now." Ethan muttered, taking off without another look back, heading towards the trainyards.
Whoever set this off has no idea what kind of fire they're starting…
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Amy smirked as she checked herself over, the black and gold uniform was tight, which usually would have been a problem. With Ivy's help however…Her body was much more appealing now, less pudgy and more slim and fit, which made her bust stand out a little more on her profile - and she didn't mind the image she was presenting now at all.
It was a full body suit, with brute rated golden armor in the shape of a large Nova corps star across her torso - with a visored helmet that let her hair flow freely out the back of it on her head, her mouth and nose free. She checked herself in the mirror again, stretching a bit. She also wore no gloves, so she could still touch someone for an immediate knockout.
It was perfect, a complete rebrand, she just needed to change the name too and Panacea and New Wave would be entirely behind her. Remedy… She'd be Remedy now. A reminder of her healing past while discarding her last tie to New Wave - but also a point of how she'd be the 'cure' of Brocktons Bay's problems, keeping the tie to being a healing cape.
"Hah, you're loving it, I knew I picked the right uniform." Vicky said smugly, having entered the room during her introspection "Your ass looks great in that." She said approvingly, nodding firmly to herself.
Amy glanced at her, sliding the visor up so her face was clear. She smiled at her sister, "Did you get such a tight uniform for me just so you could stare at my ass?" She teased lightly, while taking in her sister's uniform.
It was the same basic armor design, but Vicky had foregone a helmet, or any kind of face covering - instead keeping a golden tiara with a nova star shaped centerpiece. She also continued to insist on a skirt, wearing golden boy shorts underneath.
At this point Amy just assumed flashing all of Brockton Bay was Vicky's secret fetish. Not that she ever personally visited the Glory Girl upskirt sites. She just heard rumors is all.
No matter how quick they were taken down, another one would always pop up. With how quickly it happened she half expected Dragon to be a fan of Vicky's.
"It might have been part of the plan." Vicky said flippantly, giving Amy a cheery bright smile. "So Starlight is ready to take flight, how do you feel?" She asked, sounding softer, her eyes more gentle. "I know fighting was never your thing."
Amy shrugged, going back to staring into the mirror, she was dressed like an actual hero now - funny, when all she wanted to do was to let go of the illusion and just become a villain… "It's… New." She said slowly, not sure how to even explain. "It's not bad." She lamely added.
Kayden popped her head in, smiling softly as she saw Amy in her uniform, "You look very good in that, Amy." She said kindly, stepping fully through, wearing much the same uniform as Amy, except with a golden cape and a simple domino mask, her power would do the work in protecting her identity when they started anyway, but a domino mask was a simple matter to don.
"Thank you, is Charlotte ready?" Amy returned the smile and asked about their last member, Strider would not be assisting unless someone needed emergency teleports back to base and was already sitting in the room, somehow calm enough to read a book while he waited. He was worth too much to risk in a fight. If Amy had her way he'd stop participating in Endbringer fights except for bringing capes to the battle too.
She'd see how much she was willing to annoy the Protectorate when the next Endbringer arrived.
Kayden nodded, starting to glow slightly as she grasped her power, "She's on location, it seems your tip was right, something is definitely going down at the trainyards, trees are popping up suddenly, growing to full height in less than a minute, it's been going on for ten minutes now."
Vicky rubbed her hands together gleefully, "I can't believe we're going to punch out Lung as our first foray into heroing on our own!"
"He might not show." Kayden said somewhat dismissively, although not meanly, "The trainyards and boat graveyard is not technically his territory." She'd fought Lung before, Amy knew.
Amy shook her head firmly, "You are more experienced than us, but I think you're wrong on this one, he can't not respond to whoever is growing an entire territory around him."
Whoever indeed…
"Shouldn't we be worried about the forest?" Kayden asked, seemingly not happy with taking two teens into a fight with Lung.
Amy could understand her hesitation, but between Purity and Glory Girl, and the hidden support by Ivy, they were golden. Amy just needed one touch to shut Lung down if it came to it. And worst case, Ivy could surreptitiously assist her in getting the shot.
In a last resort kind of manner she'd prepared a weapon, one she'd prefer not to have to use.
"The forest is a problem for the PRT, not us." She said decisively, "Lung is a threat to everyone if he ramps up enough, the forest is in areas where there are almost no people, right? So it doesn't take priority."
They're interrupted by Kayden's cell phone ringing, the new hero picking it up with a pinched expression, listening for a moment, "Thank you Mouse Protector." She said clippedly, putting the phone down, turning back to Amy, "Lung is on his way, he's already ramping up at the threat to his territory."
"Strider, put us down by Mouse Protector, then return to base and wait for news on any emergency pickups." Amy ordered seriously, feeling nerves setting in, she knew they'd probably be fine.
Still… This was Lung!
The teleporting cape nodded seriously, his uniform simply the same as his previous one except in black and gold, he placed his book to the side
They all stand in a circle, Strider giving them all a nod and murmured, "Good luck." Then they were gone.
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They were set down near some apartment buildings, Mouse Protector standing right there on the street, her uniform still somewhat appearing as knightly armor, just now black and gold, the star prominently displayed on her chest, the mouse ears and whiskers still on her helmet.
"Glad you're joining the party, hope you brought a cheese platter, because that bugger looks mighty hungry." She quipped, pointing over her shoulder at the approaching Lung a block away, already over nine feet tall and still rising, apparently not needing a fight when the challenge of an entire living forest appearing in front of him challenged him just by its existence.
"The civilians?" Amy asked, eyeing the surrounding apartment buildings, seeing the edge of the forest just beyond them.
"Fled when the forest popped up, so where all good on that account, maximum property damage is a go!" She said excitedly, giving off a smart salute.
Purity gave her a look, shaking her head before she started glowing, taking to the air, Glory Girl following behind her.
"No property damage." Amy stressed, walking up to the irreverent hero. "Purity and Glory Girl will hammer him, think you can teleport me close with your ability?"
Mouse Protector, shrugged, "I think you're kidding yourself if you think you're going to stop that with no property damage, but I'll get you in close," She tossed a hockey puck into the air, catching it quickly, "It will be only a second or two and then I'll teleport us away again," She warned, "We're the squishy kind, can't tangle with big beastie."
Amy nodded, "I'm aware, although I recently gained a brute rating so I won't die from a love tap."
Mouse Protector cocked her head, "Huh, brute and a healer, sounds super cheaty to be honest."
Their eyes turned to Lung as he entered their street, roaring in anger as Purity let loose from both hands, a bright glowing fuck you beam taking him right in the snout, Lung staggering back, blood dripping even as his face began to char, and then, just like that it all regenerated as he ducked under the beam, Purity swerving out of the way as Lung sunk one large claw into a nearby car and with a mighty heave - threw it at the flying cape.
"Vicky PUNCH!" Glory Girl roared as she flew down under the curve of the car, hitting Lung like a wrecking ball, smashing into his chest, the sound of ribs breaking audible down the street as Lung was ripped off the street and smashed into the wall of the building next to him, crumbling it.
Vicky, Amy thought in embarrassment at the shouted attack, even as Mouse Protector took hold of her arm, her thrown puck already by the staggered Lung.
The world disappeared for a second before she felt the burning intense heat of Lungs presence, Mouse Protector cutting at Lungs claw as it approached, Amy frantically reaching for a spot on his torso that wasn't entirely scaled. He was ramping up too fast!
She could have used her own version of MP's power, but she needed to focus on getting a hand on Lung, while MP could protect her or teleport them both away if the attack was a bust.
Purity fired a beam from both hands, impacting where Mouse Protector had cut, forcing Lungs arm back as he roared in pain, his arm practically flaying apart, Amy's eyes gleamed with triumph - and that's exactly when a clawed foot slammed into her midsection sending her rolling down the street, tearing up the asphalt and putting her uniform and brute power to the test.
Glory Girl swooped in with a panicked cry right before Amy would have hit the wall, managing to grab her and roll with her, tanking the hit to the wall, letting Amy's head rest on her chest.
"Ow…" Amy muttered, pretty sure she cracked a rib, she didn't want to imagine what it would be like if she hadn't gotten the basic brute package from Ivy.
Glory Girl breathed out a sigh of relief, before immediately disappearing as she flew down the street low enough to the ground that everything on the street blew into the walls from the wind tunnel effect her passing created - then she hit Lung, pushing him back once again through simple wrecking ball tactics.
Purity flew in, dropping Mouse Protector down, the woman cradling a broken arm. "She tried to get in the way between you and Lung." Purity explained before flying off to help Vicky, as Amy laid a hand Mouse Protectors arm, healing it, "It will be weaker for a bit, do not break it again." Amy warned her, sweating slightly as she felt the environment heat up as Lung grew even more draconic.
"Holding him still enough to get you to touch him is going to be an issue, we might have stuck our head in a mouse trap here." Mouse Protector said seriously.
Amy nodded, eyes narrowed as she watched Purity and Glory Girl tag team Lung, keeping him corralled between them and doing damage - but Lung was continually ramping up, it wouldn't go well for them if they didn't do something soon.
"You have the pouch I gave you?" Amy asked, not really wanting to give away her capabilities to that extent, but she'd prepared it just in case.
Mouse Protector nodded, touching the cord around her neck fishing out a small leather pouch. "Need it?" She asked.
Amy shook her head, hesitating, "Not yet. We'll try one more time, that's an option that's going to have more eyes on me and it will be troublesome to deal with." She said, wincing as she stood straight, Yep, a definite cracked rib.
She could also lean on Ivy, but again, that was an extreme case because she did not need any connection to appear there now of all times. Not to the PRT.
She watched the fight, trying to find an opening for Mouse Protector to teleport her in.
Glory Girl tanked a full on hit from Lung as he reared forward to swat Purity out of the sky, Purity swerving around Glory Girl and hitting Lung full blast in the face again, the blinding beams crackling with power, pushing Lung back even as flames began to spread throughout the area, transforming it into somewhat of a hellscape.
Lung roared even as his eyes melted in the face of the beams, quickly regrowing as soon as they ended, his jaw snapping loudly in the air as he reared up and almost caught Purity's foot.
Amy could help so much more if she could let loose her full powers and abilities. Her lab was finished now, so after this she'd finally be able to stretch her wings. As it was, she was a bystander yet again, waiting for an opportunity to help.
Glory Girl and Purity both just barely avoided being shot down as Lung tore out half an apartment building facade and threw it at them, and then suddenly one of them didn't manage to avoid it. Glory Girls shield failing for a moment in the rain of continuous debris - as Lung kept throwing it with an enraged roar, Amy feeling her heart stop for a second as Glory Girl took a hit to the chest by a piece of rubble before her shield was back on, smashing into the ground, thankfully her shield covered that, having returned by then.
But that was still a piece of a building impacting her sister.
"To Glory girl." Amy snapped, Mouse Protector having already foreseen the request, tossing a puck to the site. Before they could teleport, Glory Girl flew up again, the armor on her chest had held, looking slightly dented, and she was immediately back in action, flying full speed into one of Lung's claws as it held off Purity's fire - as he grabbed a car with his other claw, Purity already dodging, anticipating the throw, letting the beam go.
As Glory Girl pushed the claw away, unbalancing Lung for a second, Purity took her chance to hammer two beams straight to Lungs chest, pushing him back further, his clawed feet ripping up the melting, bubbling street beneath him, a car still attached to his other clawed hand.
Amy wanted to smack her head at her stupidity, realizing that at this close range, she didn't need to go to someone to heal them, reaching out with her power to ensure Glory Girl was in tip top shape from that hit.
Suddenly Amy was teleported away, giving Mouse Protector a questioning look as they appeared in the small crater left over by Vicky.
"He tossed the car at us, he's almost got wings on him now, looking real dragon like, you sure you can afford to wait any longer?" Mouse Protector asked, sounding worried. Amy wasn't the only one that was apparently feeling worthless at the moment. There wasn't much either of them could do to a building sized Lung - larger than the buildings now..
"Give me the pouch." Amy said, agreeing with her, albeit annoyed that they needed it. If only Lung hadn't ramped up so quick, she'd expected to have more time - figuring the forest would piss Lung off, but not having accounted for just how mad he must be, ramping up as he had.
Or maybe seeing Purity had been enough, they'd tangled before…
She hadn't planned this out nearly as well as she'd thought…
As soon as she had the pouch in her hand, she fished out the small organic lump of matter looking like a small fleshy hand grenade, feeling all the alterations she'd done to it, the fireproofing a major part of it to not have it's contents burn up just by being near Lung.
"Vicky!" She called out, almost unheard over Lungs roars and the crackling of fire and sounds of asphalt melting or getting broken apart by Lungs clawed feet.
Glory Girl swooped down, her face sweaty and red, her uniform burned in patches, any burned skin thankfully healed by her long distance efforts, once she remembered she could do it… "That's it then?" She asked with a nod, grabbing it, "Just drop it on him?" She asked seriously, holding it gingerly to not accidentally crush it before delivery.
That would be… Less than ideal.
Amy nodded, "Just contact is all it needs."
"Purity can't hold on, not on her own." Mouse Protector warned, sounding frustrated as she shifted her feet, glaring at the continuing fight.
Glory Girl took to the skies, and under the cover of Purity dropping off her continuous barrage of beams - leaving herself purposely open - drawing Lungs ravenous attention - she swooped in and dropped the flesh grenade onto Lungs back.
They all looked on in tense anticipation, the grenade exploding, a deluge of greenish thick liquid spewing over Lungs back, making the dragon roar in anger and pain.
Purity and Glory Girl flew back to guard Amy and Mouse Protector as Lung roared to the sky, flames spearing the sky as the liquid bubbled on top of him, moving across his scales, finding access points and seeping into the skin beneath, uncaring about the flames.
Lung threw himself against walls, trying to rub the gunk off, when that didn't work he zeroed in on them, flying forward far faster then someone almost the size of the buildings around him should be able to do.
Purity and Glory Girl swooped them up and took them to the air. And for a second it looked like Lung was going to follow, then… He simply froze. Growling at them, unable to move.
"It's taken hold." Amy said grimly. At least if the PRT freaked too hard she could go hide in the forest, she thought, seeing Armsmaster and Miss Militia in the distance from her height.
Lung began shrinking, the organism within him attacking his brain, specifically his Gemma, the control station for active use of powers. Lung's power was now entirely under her control, or well the control she had planted in the organism - which was simply a cease and desist order for his power, and a muscle lock for his body.
Lung could neither move or use his power as long as Amy's concoction was inside of him, and only she could remove it. Well… She assumed. She didn't know who the PRT had…
"We won." Amy said tiredly, as Lung returned to the size of a normal human, his eyes glaring up at them still in impotent rage.
It didn't feel like a victory.
This was going to be such a hassle.
Director Piggot was going to be a pain…
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