Chapter 5: The Inventor's Attacked
November 3rd, 9:00 am
A door slammed open. "You!" shouted Mr. Crush, along with two FBI agents.
"Why hello?" sighed Mr. Wolfric at his desk, as he gazed across at a Hispanic young man with a suspicious five o'clock shadow.
"I don't know how you did it," said Mr. Crush, his voice trembling with anger, "but this ends now. You went after my son! He's in the hospital because of you!"
Mr. Wolfric shrugged and pulled out a book, beginning to read without interest in the situation.
"You're involved in this somehow!" Mr. Crush accused.
Mr. Wolfric raised an eyebrow and said, "Arrest me if you want, but I hold the right to know the charges. We both know you have all the evidence yourself, and I have done nothing wrong."
He turned his back on the angry officer and began fiddling with a few strange beakers and test tubes sitting on a nearby table.
"I was working late and didn't leave this office until well after midnight," Mr. Wolfric said calmly.
The FBI agent demanded, "And what is it you're so keen on working on?"
Mr. Wolfric smirked as he poured a beaker of blue liquid into a tube of yellow liquid. "I'm working on my own brand of blueberry flavored whisky," he said amusedly. "Once I perfect the recipe, I plan to sell it."
He shifted his tone to a dull one and continued, "You're aware of my work, I suppose?
"Since you taped my office. You think I don't know you're listening to every conversation I have here, private or otherwise."
"You deal with the carteles, and gangsters of the city, we have footage of them in this very room!" barked Mr, Crush.
With an eye roll, "I own a bar, they come and ask to have a private meeting with me all the time," replied, the lanky man.
"You are Their direct linked to the banks!" Crush stomped, his foot, growing more frustrated with every passing second,as vein began to bulge on his bald head.
"I'm a banker and a businessman, what I do with my money is further my business, Which is none of yours." Replied the skeleton calmly, before taking out a flask bottle from his pocket and filled it up with his own mixture.
"The FBI has been wrongly harassing me for nearly half a decade, and you still haven't found anything on record to this very date." He reminded the officer as he put the flask back in his pocket. "You've also harassed my employees, and listened to lies about me that have been spread around for far too long," said Wolfric growing in anger with each passing word. "AND NOW YOU ACCUSE ME OF HURTING YOUR SON! I SHOULD HAVE THIS REPORTED AS A FREE CITIZEN OF THE STATE!"
"Where was he then!?" Shouted Crush as he pointed at the young man who'd been silent that whole time.
The man flipped through a page as he told him, "Hay I'm not involved."
"Your car last night was located in the middle of a back alley, not too far from my home! You however were not seen inside, where were you?!" Demanded Mr Crush.
"Oh well uh," his lips twitched into a nervous grin.
"Answer him or go to prison Jaime," his boss instructed.
"Well it's a bit embarrassing but uh, the man swung his arms as,” the reason my car was there was because I was asleep in the back of it. You would have known if you actually looked. But im guessing you, nor who ever you had watching my car bothered to do so. I didn't go anywhere else either". He shook his head quickly.
The FBI, agent clenched his fist in furry, but had to admit hes been played.. "And why were you sleeping there?"
"Yes, well," Jaime scratched his head. "Look, my apartment is nice and all but..." his eyes dashed to his boss who rolled his hand, gesturing to continue.
"Before I came here, I would often sleep in the back of my pops, old car. We didn't have much back then and often lived in the car during the war so... now I find comfort in there so, the man shrugged his left arm, and immediately switched his attention back to his book, avoiding eye contact.
"There, now you see what you did. You now harassed my employee into giving his tragic backstory, and still don't have a clue closer to whoever attacked your son, congratulations. What he's done definitely deserves a fine, perhaps a car toe, but you can't arrest him for sleeping in the back of a car! Or me for working late on my whisky." Mr Wolfric grabbed his cane from the corner of the room, before spinning around to the officers. With a mighty stomp of his foot he declared, "Now if you don't mind I have some work to do!"
He picked up a few papers from his desk. "Here, these are simple letters to my other employees. I should hand them to my assistant, but here," he held them out to the FBI agent. "Why don't you read them and make sure there's not some kind of hidden message in them!" He said with both rage and sarcasm.
Mr. Crush grinded his teeth, fed up with this whole charade, but left bitterly as his officers followed.
With that, Mr. Wolfric handed the papers to his assistant and went back to work on his desk. Jaime took them and headed out the door along with the rest of the cops. He went to his car as he watched the cops drive away unsatisfied. He chuckled slightly at them and looked at the papers. All the letters were stamped at the bottom with the Reapers logo, however, each logo was a bit different. some of the lettering was faded in each spot making the traces of a letter of the alphabet. If you didn't know what to look for you'd think it was just an issue with the stamping process, however, if you lined up the faded letters, a message could often be read. This was how Mr. Wolfric would often communicate with his assistant in secret.
Jaime smiled as he decoded the message sent to him. Only to frown when he read it.
Lay low, you're lucky you're not fired, I'll think of a new plan.
At this, Jaime sighed frustrated. "Damit," the man cursed as he kicked the side of his car before driving away, never even glancing at the black motorcycle helmet in the seat next to him.
...
Sarah set the newspaper on the table, saying, "Wow, this is front-page news."
"Yeah, the whole campus is talking about it," Ray replied with her mouth full of her lunch, when she took a glance at Sarah's newspaper.
"Yeah, but who would want to hurt him, And why?" Asked Sky curiously.
"Heh, I can think of a few good reasons," Ray muttered.
"Ray, "He's unconscious in a hospital bed! Sky reprimanded her.
"Serves him right," Ray replied sarcastically, as she took another bite.
Sarah quickly turned to her with a burning glare. Her brown eyes on the verge of glowing green. "Look, I don't know what your history with him is, but no one deserves to be attacked. GOT THAT!"
"I was kidding, alright, yeash." she defended herself. “I don’t like how hes all over sky all the time, but i wouldn't want him hurt. She swallowed. Unless it were me who hurt him, she shrugged.
At that Sky raised lifted her head, as a look of realization struck her face.
“What is it?” asked Sarah who noticed.
“The night i got…” she paused an dashed her eyes left and right, at the folks around campus, deciding not to finish that sentence she continued, Eddie gave me his jean jacket.
“Why does that matter? Asked Ray, with her nose in the air.
“No…” Sky might be on to something, Sarah said slowly as the gears began turning in her head.
Ray, tilted her head in confusion.
"Guys, we need to get to the scene of the crime, and take a look. If your right about this Sky, we might have a lead."
"And how are we gonna do that?" Complained Ray.
"Yeah, they have his apartment all blocked off by cops." Sky asked with skepticism in her voice.
Sarah, took a moment to think before answering. Go to the party store and get some costumes. Make sure youll be unrecognizable. Meet me later tonight just outside the building with Maroo, She told them before taking off, leaving the two of them speechless.
...
As the clock struck one in the morning, several shadows crept onto Eddie's apartment building. Two police officers stood guard outside the building, while the window was covered in police tape. Lowering a pair of binoculars, took note of the situation, and put on her purple skeleton mask before jumping out of the tree and landing in front of her sidekicks.
"OK, guys. There are two officers there and they're still waiting for the inspector. Sky, I made you this," she pulled out a fake id from her pocket.
Sky, dressed like a jedi wearing a yoda mask, nodded her head. "Uh, you sure this is gonna work?" She asked timidly, as she stared at the card in her hand.
"Eh, fifty, fifty," Maroo smirked. “So whats the plan, you and me nock out the guards and get int there or what? " he smiled wide with excitement.
"No, you Maroo, wait here with Sky and keep a look out. Ray can fly me up to the third floor, and we'll sneak and search for clues.
“What, then why am I even here? He crossed his arms, and putted like a little kid.
Your my side kick arnt cha, i need some one not only to keep an eye on the guards, but for any new mutant attacks.
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Sky could do that, why don't i just go in with you?
“Hey, superhero work isn't cool all the time, and I'm supposed to be babysitting you remember, I think bringing you along for a secret mission is a lot better than sitting on the couch playing video games. Or would you rather we be doing that? Sarah asked with a smirk on his face.
“All right all right, he gave in. But I do not need a babysitter. I'm almost thirteen, ill scout the north side of the building. At least let me do that on my own.”
“Fair,” Sarah stated, “do you know the north side of the building?’
“I brought my compass, now,” he chuckled and pointed at Sarah, and Ray, "what's up with those ridiculous outfits.”
" Maroo asked
"Ray, you look like a Roman gladiator, and Sky, why are you in a yoda mask."
"Oh yeah because yours is any better," Ray remarked.
"Better than yours," he smirked, as he straightened his leaf headband.
"This whole thing was on such short notice, this was cheap at the party store." Sky answered.
"Well as long as you won't get recognized if seen," Spector threw in. "well, keep in touch on our phones, just text me when your set got it.
Got it, they replied before splitting up.
Sky snuck into the bushes, hoping her green Yoda mask would blend in better with the surroundings.
Spector nodded, and Ray spread her arms, revealing her wings, which expanded from her back as she took off to the third floor.
Meanwhile, Maroo ran to the side building, scanning his surroundings carefully to make sure no one was watching.
Spector wasted no time undoing the latch and entering the apartment with Ray.
"See anything, out of the ordinary?" Sarah asked.
"Uh, no. Unless you mean how disgusting this place is," Ray gagged.
"Focus, I'll start searching by the window, you look over by the couch," Sarah instructed.
With a roll of her eyes, Ray replied, “alright scooby,” before looking around. As she did, Rat Stepped in something that splashed. Looking down she noticed a strange purple sticky liquid, that was coming from behind the couch. "Uh, hey, over here,"she called Spector over, and the two carefully walked over.
A sniper rifle case was sitting on the floor, but a strange purple liquid seemed to have spilled out of it. Sarah carefully examined the strange substance and pulled out a pair of tweezers, taking a sample. “Go grab me a bag or something,” she told ray, who headed over to the kitchen.
…
As Maroo walked around the area, his phone suddenly rang in his hand, making him look at it.
The news app on his phone displayed a news report about a mutant attack in the area.
With a smirk, Maroo tried to text Sarah when his screen went dark.
Maroo groaned in frustration and stomped his foot.
etting the phone away. He then looked up, the fire escaped,knowing full well what he had to do.
…
Inside, Ray found a garbage bag and brought it back to Sarah, who quickly put the sample of the strange substance inside it. "Good find Ray." She whispered as she eyed it,”ill get a little more of the it and well get out of…”
They heard something coming up the fire escape, and the two quickly took a fighting stance.
Maroo stuck his head in the window, breathing heavily. “Wooo, why did Eddie have to live on the third floor.”
“Maroo, i was ready to drop kick you, what are you doing here,” complained Ray.
Marro helped up a finger, telling them to give him a moment as he caught his breath. Phone died, but before…” He breathed between words. “Mutant attack in area…. It said,” he gasped before looking down at his feet. Something white caught his eye as he looked down, and he picked it up curious to see what it was.
“We gotta get going, text Sky about the attack.”
“On it,” Ray replied as she took out her phone.
“Blueberry muffins and tea?” mumbled Maroo.
“What,” asked sarah.
“Oh nothing, I just found this out here. He handed her the paper.
It was a receipt, for a cup of tea and two blueberry muffins. “Hmm, the guy who attacked Eddie came in through the window. He must have dropped this heading out. She said, as she pocketed the receipt. “Good find Maroo, now let's go, we have a mutant to stop. Spector instructed her team.
…
As they ran onto the streets of town, they found themselves in front of the hospital,People were quickly trying to get out of the way of a giant sparkling sea pony balloon, on the back of it was a mutant with horns and claws, and roared a shock wave of sound that made the glass shake around him.
Maroo's mouth dropped. "Uh, you see what I'm seeing."
Sky nodded as Ray stared, with a look of bewilderment, in her eide eyes.
“I was afraid of this,” Sarah said as she took off her mask. “It's Eddie.”Sarah's eyes locked onto Eddie's face, her expression grim.
“so , so what does that mean, I mean,” Sky sputtered.
Means you were right, Sky. you only got mutated because you were mistaken for eddie. They were after him the whole time.
Sky's voice rose in panic. 'What do we do now?'
Catching up, Ray shook off her wide eyes, and asked, “ but why him, though, I mean sure i hate him but, a mutant?
“I don't know but right now we gotta stop him, Ray, you and I will deal with Eddie. Maroo, Sky try to keep any nearby civilians safe."
"On it." They simultaneously replied, ready for action.
Many were screaming at the top of their lungs as they ran away from a raging angry creature with horns. They watched as in seconds he seemed to almost transport from one spot to the next. He was so fast as he whipped through the streets baring his fangs, roaring as he lowered his head like a deer who was about to fight. He jumped off the balloon and rammed straight forward smashing into the side of a building, shaking it under his newfound strength.
"Uh oh. Guys, if he keeps doing that the hospitals gonna collapse."Sky squealed.
"Ok, we gotta stop him and we gotta do it now." Ray charged in, Sarah tried to spook him with a blast of fire, from her hands, bright enough to disorient him. But despite blinding him, it actually made him angrier, as he kicked Ray in the chest, sending her back into the building causing more damage,breaking more glass.
"Hey, we should be stopping her from dishing out more damage, not creating it," Maroo complained.
"Sorry." Ray moaned due to her pain, she shook it off before she flew down to save some civilians from the raining glass.
"Uh, now what?"Sky asked, in a high pitched voice.
Any ideas?" Maroo yelled out.
"I'm thinking, I'm thinking," Sarah yelled out frantically as she looked around.
But as she moved too quickly, her ribs began to ache, causing her pain.
“If only my wounds were fully healed," She thought as she rubbed her side. “Wait a minute,” Her eyes went wide and she turned, calling out to Sky.
Sky peeked her head up from behind a car. "Yes?"
"We need you. Need your powers." Sarah yelled out to her.
Sky squeaked in fear. "Oh, no, no no, no no. I can't. I don't even know how it works."
"It works with anger. So get angry." Maroo told her.
"Uh, but what if I can't control it?" she said, as she bit her lip, twirling her hair nervously.
"We can tranquilize you if need be. But right now you are the only one who can take on Eddie. he's too strong and when you went wild you were far stronger than the rest of us."
"What but I, I." She stuttered.
"sky!" Ray screamed out as Eddie jumped, swung around, and back kicked her into another wall. Sky's eyes began to glow. "RAY!" she screamed out. Suddenly, she went wild, trying to catch up to Eddie. Though he was faster she had wings, letting her take flight as she tackled him to the ground. the two creatures snarled at each other as they resold around. Eddie was able to scratch her with his horns, causing sky enough pain to back off. But it was enough to tire the beast out, as he soon began to topple over.
The team cheered only for her sky to take flight about to end it all right then and there.
"Uh oh," She muttered and quickly shot a tranquilizer dart at Sky, Ray then caught her as she fell
"Ugh, What happened?"
"You just saved my life, that's what happened, you feeling alright?" Ray asked excitedly, yet out of breath herself.
"Uh yeah but..." She shook her head clear. "That rage, It's scary." She mumbled and began to tear up.
"Don't worry, I used a tranquilizer dart on you, so you're gonna feel a little tired." Some of the folks around began to look, noticing the two monsters were now down. Some began to cheer as others cowered in fear of the other mutants.
Sarah shot a dart at Eddie. "That should calm him down. Quick, we have to get her out of here and back to our apartment". Sarah looked around. "We've seen enough."
Ray picked up Sky and threw her over her shoulder, as everyone else picked up Eddie Sarah Raised her hand, and created a cold fog with her powers. Once it surrounded them she guided her friends into the shadows, disappearing from view.
…
Eddie slowly came to, his eyes fluttering open. 'Where am I?' he groggily asked.
You're at my place," Ray said, her annoyance clear as she entered the room.
"Oh, oh great, what, you knocked me out and brought me here against my will huh?" He chuckled, but the humor was quickly lost as he winced in pain." "Wow I don't remember anything but I guess we had a few too many drinks thanks to my headache." He said as he set a hand on his head, only to feel something else. "Huh, what, what's on my head." He asked as he began to panic a bit as he set both hands on his horns.
"You have antlers now, congrats." Chuckled Maruu.
"Eddie's eyes went wide with shock as he leapt to his feet. 'What?!' he yelled, before spotting Ray and Sky's wings and panic setting in once more. He grabbed a nearby mirror, his reflection staring back at him."Seeing himself in it he didn't know whether or not to call himself a handsome devil or panic at the fact that he looked like a devil. He had not only sharp fang-like teeth and her antlers. So instead he just screamed like a girl.
When he was finally done screaming he turned to the rest of the room. "How come no one is freaking out about this." He asked bewildered.
"Because we're all pretty much used to it by now." Ray threw in.
'You have wings,' he said, 'Sky has wings,' he added, 'And I have... antlers. I have horns." HORNS!!!
"Antlers actually," smirked Sarah.
He turned back to the mirror examining his fang-like teeth. "And these are crazy," he said as he nearly cut his finger with his own tooth. "So what, you're all mutants," he turned to them again. "What you got, a tail, can the kid belch fire."
Actually, I'm completely normal, Maroo confirmed.
"And I don't have a tail but I can do this." Sarah created a shard of ice using her powers. "You seem to have speed, Sky has great strength and can fly as well as Ray. The antlers are new though, although I've seen someone with them too. A Lot of the mutants tend to resemble each other in one way or another. So here's the deal: we can either turn you in or you can help us figure out who is turning people into these things and stop them once and for all. You'll also have to help me in my research to discover a cure." She told him calmly like it was just an average Wednesday discussion.
"Go out there looking like this, hell no what if my dad sees me!"
"I have a solution for that actually," she said, holding up a hat and a saw.
"You gotta be kidding me? This, this is not happening!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Look at this way you can be a superhero now and take out bad mutants." Chuckled Maruu.
Eddie stopped in his tracks, his eyes, dashing over to the boy. "Hay, hay, hay not a bad idea actually,” he shook his finger at him, in thought. “I'd be like Spiderman or Batman, or, or hell we could be the X-Men! He jumped, and landed in a hero pose, with his fist on his hips.
"Yeah, and we'll need to come up with hero names." Maroo encouraged him.
Seeing Eddie finally begin to relax to this idea made Sarah smile as she uttered "Boys." But as she did she caught herself again and wondered. “When did I start acting like this?” Her expression changed to a serious one as she called out, "Hay!" catching everyone's attention. "Sorry, but we still have one more thing to discuss before you two boys go superhero crazy."
"And that is," asked Maroo.
"Eddie, who did this to you? Did he have antlers and glowing eyes, laugh like a freak?"
Eddie, tilted his head in confusion, as he thought back to what happened that night." No, in fact the guy who did this was in a motorcycle helmet that covered his whole face. There wasn't a trace of what he looked like, sorry."
Sarah nodded, displeased with the answer, but accepted it. "Well one more thing, you'll find powers are easily activated like flexing your muscles. your eyes will glow when you use them, so do yourself a favor, and train yourself not to flex them, otherwise everyone will figure it out."
“But ,but, I did find that receipt outside Eddie's window.” Maroo stuttered,”Eddie, you don't eat blueberry muffins and tea do you?” Asked Maroo.
“Muffins yeah, but I don't even like blueberries or tea,”he said with a wave of his palm.
“Well that settles it, it's a start. Problem is the receipt had no name, but I remembered how much it cost,” Sarah set her thumb on her chin. “I'll do some digging on it, see what I can find. The gun we left there for the cops, but it's clear the dude who did this was a sniper…”
“And he will strike again”