I woke up slowly, again soaked in sweat though fortunately nothing else. After this, I was never going swimming again. I rose from my bed and began stretching. I knew it wasn't Leviathan Day, but it helped me wind down from the buzzing panic that hammered at fresh mental defences. Slowly the static of fear died down and I was allowed to think again.
Fuck you Tattletale.
My plan had been good. Sure, Clockblocker hadn't exactly agreed to help but if I'd asked during the fight he would have. Probably. Unfortunately, Skitter's absence and my having a building dropped on my head meant he drowned. Poor guy... At least I tried to save him. Then Armsmaster, dead before I even showed up to witness him do the stupidest thing ever and play with his food.
And all of it because I'd opened my fat mouth around the smartest girl in the room. Well, scratch the Undersiders off the list, then scratch it off a few more times, and set the list on fire. Attacked twice trying to set up a plan, then both times it falls through because of them. I was starting to understand why Armsmaster didn't like them.
No matter, I couldn't dwell on it. Clockblocker silk was out and I needed to think up an alternative. I changed out of my sweat-soaked pyjamas and into my usual hoodie. I paused, then took it off, changing into jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I wasn't going to school, once more I had no time to spare. Now I had to come up with a new plan, one that stood a chance of working. For that, I wanted a change in atmosphere.
“Hey Mom,” I said, coming up the stairs. “Mind making an extra cup for me?” She arched a brow.
“Alright,” she agreed, pouring another scoop of coffee into the machine. “But don't drink too much, it'll stunt your growth.” Yeah I had bigger things to worry about.
“Thanks.”
I poured both our mugs when it was finally ready, adding cream and sugar to both despite Mom's protests. As usual, she quieted down once she actually tasted the drink. One of these days I'd figure out how to get her to accept it without complaint, it would make my life easier. Then again, I really hoped I wasn't here that long. No signs of an end in sight though...
She was out the door not long after finishing her coffee, heading to work or whatever she did when I was supposed to be at school. I knew Mom worked for some healthcare company or another, but no details beyond that. Oh well, it wasn't like it was relevant information anyway. I finished my coffee and headed downstairs to grab my stuff. Once I was ready, I started out the door to a bus stop two blocks over.
My old ideas were failures, the Protectorate wouldn't let me figure out what my powers could do, and the villains I wanted to rely on were apparently unreliable. I needed something new, and I figured maybe a new atmosphere would help with that. I hopped on the bus when it finally arrived and settled in for the ride.
It wasn't much longer than the other ones I'd taken, rumbling past the familiar towers of downtown. My lips twitched in a barely suppressed sneer as we passed the PRT building. If only they had...oh well, forget it. That was then, and now there was no time to waste on melancholy. I turned away and the bus rolled on.
Finally my stop came, and I got off just down the road from the Boardwalk. I wasn't one for shopping, nor for eleven dollar coffee. I just figured if there was anywhere with some scenery, it would be here. The Boardwalk itself wasn't too special, just a series of raised piers along and over the beach. All sorts of little shops lined it, reminding me of the waterfront back home. Everything was far too expensive for a teen like me though, so I just wandered along as a tourist.
I was right though, the views were fantastic. I paused on a viewing platform that looked out to the PHQ in the distance, its shield glittering in the mid-morning sun. In two days it would be dashed on the shore here, torn apart by tremendous tsunamis. The Boardwalk itself would be so much splintered wood and rubble, until Skitter got her hands on it anyway.
I could prevent that, maybe. I had the chance, in any case, and had to seize it. Plan A was dusted, the Undersiders unreliable or hostile and the Protectorate as useful as any other three-letter agency. Plan B then, which didn't exist yet but I was hopeful. I knew plenty about Worm, all sort of heroes and villains with myriad powers, I could figure something out.
It felt like I was out of time already though, like for all my thinking and planning it would fall apart in the first second of fighting. Sure, no plan survived first contact with the enemy but some part of it might. I couldn't think like that anyway, I'd just give up before I even got going at that rate. So fucking think.
Powers that could beat Leviathan, well...shit. I guess Armsmaster's halberd, sort of, but that never did any real damage that I could recall. Shadow Stalker too, since she could make her projectiles intangible to get inside him. Oh Foil, or Flechette currently. could do the same thing to her quarrels couldn't she? Not just those, but a sword as well. And those could literally go through anything. Too bad she only had the crossbow...
Sundancer could be good, if she could be convinced to make a large enough star. Who else on the Travelers? Genesis could probably make a projection that could go toe to toe with Leviathan, better than mine anyway. Oh, Ballistic too. He'd hammered the Endbringer with stuff before and staggered him. Ballistic...
I licked my lips as my eyes widened. Could it work? It had once but...but I sure as hell wasn't Khepri. It wasn't something I could set up in advance either; I didn't know where Ballistic hung out, and Flechette wasn't local. There would be a lot of moving parts to keep in mind, besides just persuading them to listen. I could probably do it though, and if not I'd...try again.
I sighed and hung my head over the railing, staring at the surf crashing against the beach below. Try again, die again, wake up screaming. I really, really hoped that wasn't going to be my life from here on out. I wasn't sure how long I could...cope. I let out another, long breath and tried to shake it off. I had a decent backup plan now, one that could work at a relatively safe distance if I was smart. I just had to use my brain a bit more, easier said than done.
I looked up and out, past the PHQ, past the sunken boats. The ocean stretched out beyond, a reminder of sights from home. Home...another sigh. Since getting here it felt like I'd barely had time to think, just been scrambling to figure out a way to avoid dying...for what that was worth.
Fuck this sucked. If I had someone I could talk to, to bounce ideas off of or just fucking vent, it would be easier. There was one person that might not think I was insane, but I'd seen her reaction to me. And she'd tried to fucking kill me so, yeah, I wasn't keen on getting closer to the queen bitch of the Undersiders.
I couldn't think of anyone else that wouldn't just treat me like I was crazy. As far as I or anyone else around knew, time travel was impossible. Patently untrue, as I was so fucking tragically proving, but still. The Protectorate would scoff at me, and it wasn't like they had time to test it even if they didn't. I could try making an appointment, but before Friday? Yeah right, it was the government. Next week if I was lucky, next month if not, and all made irrelevant by the asshole lizard lurking offshore.
What I wouldn't give for someone I could trust, but in a two-day loop getting to that point was impossible. Like it or not, I was alone in here until I figured out how to survive Friday. I ran my fingers through my hair and let out a shuddering breath. It had been a long time since I'd felt this lonely. Without prompting, my projection settled itself on my shoulders again. I...let it be.
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One more round, I just had to push through one more round and I'd be fine.
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Another day, another chance to kill an Endbringer. I rose, stretched, and dressed before the clock struck six. I was upstairs and out the door a minute later, striding towards the beach. First thing I had to do when I arrived was find Flechette. I wasn't sure where she'd be, but probably wouldn't be too hard to spot.
Ballistic was a bit different. He was hanging out with the rest of the Travelers, and I wasn't sure how to approach them. They'd dealt with the Simurgh though, so might be more open to listening than the Undersiders had been. If I told them I had fought Leviathan before, it wouldn't be a lie and might get them in too.
If they believed me of course. If anyone believed me. It didn't matter, I had to convince them somehow. I had convinced Tattletale I was genuine, to my own detriment but still. I could do this, I had another chance, and a plan that didn't hinge on people who simply wouldn't show up. The Travelers would be there, they always had been. Flechette...I'd gotten far enough to see her once, if she was the one that shot Leviathan in the head. Who else could it have been though?
I ducked into the building just as the rain began to fall. A minute later later, I nodded to some surprised looking heroes as they came in and set things up for the briefing. They didn't question my presence though, we all knew why we were here. I kept an eye out, noting the Travelers as they filed in quietly. I didn't see Flechette, though I didn't actually know what she looked like, so I guess I'd talk to Ballistic first. With no time to waste, I walked right up and tapped the back of his chair.
“Hey,” I said as the three of them turned towards me. “Ballistic, right?” He glanced me over, then slowly nodded.
“Who wants to know?” Trickster piped up.
“Someone who's fought Leviathan before.” I saw Trickster's eyes widen as Ballistic leaned slightly away from me. “And someone who has an idea to kill him.”
“Bullshit.
“Fuck off.”
“I'm serious,” I snapped, glowering at them. “How's your aim?” He frowned.
“Fine.”
“And you're just going to be shooting shit at him, right?”
“Yeah,” he said impatiently. “Get to the point.”
“Shoot with the thing I tell you,” I replied. “That's it. Do whatever for the rest of the fight just...don't die.” He grimaced.
“You really fought Leviathan?” It was Sundancer. She sounded afraid.
“Yeah,” I said, feeling suddenly tired. “I have. So, please, work with me.” They shared a glance.
“One shot,” Ballistic said after a second. Trickster gave him a look, but Sundancer shook her head and he stayed quiet.
“Thanks,” I said with a sigh. “I...just thanks.”
“Sure.”
I walked away, looking over the more crowded room. I may not have known what Flechette's costume looked like, but she had a big, fuck-off crossbow that would hopefully make her stick out. It took a moment, but I finally spotted her talking to a girl that could only be Parian. Cute, almost a shame I had to break it up. Almost.
“Hey are you Flechette?” She turned as her conversation was interrupted, not looking too happy.
“What's up?” She sounded cagey and her hand strayed just slightly towards her crossbow.
“Your power,” I said, gesturing to the weapon. “It work on things other than your bolts?” She cocked her head, but nodded. “Okay, how big?”
“Oh christ,” Flechette muttered. “Did Clockblocker put you up to this?”
“What? No.” I shook my head and knit my brows together. “I have a plan for the fight, need to know what kind of projectiles work.”
“Why do you--”
“Please,” I interrupted, unable to keep the desperation from my voice. I took a deep breath and tried again as Legend took the stage. “I have an idea, and if we're lucky...this could be the last Leviathan attack.”
“No shit.” She didn't sound convinced.
“One projectile,” I was practically begging, but didn't really care. “That's it.” She eyed me, glanced at the stage.
“I shouldn't be listening but...” She sighed. “Quick, what's the plan.” My heart practically skipped a beat.
“Use your power on something big.” I held my hands about a foot apart. “Something that'll make a hole, right? Then Ballistic.” I pointed over my shoulder. “Takes a shot, should go right through him. We hit the right place...” She nodded slowly.
“What's your power?” Flechette asked. I saw Parian slip away but ignored it. Not important.
“Basically a Brute,” I replied with a shrug. “Personal...force-field, for lack of a better term.” Introducing myself as a Master seemed like a bad idea.
“And how'd you come up with this?”
“We don't have time,” I snapped, glancing as capes began marshaling into groups. “Come on, with the Blasters.”
I didn't wait for a response, simply trotting over to the group and taking the armband when offered. I tried to give it the name I was using and, yet again, it refused it. I tapped my foot, trying to think of something on the fly but...nothing. Well whatever, one more round without it wouldn't make a difference anyway. Ballistic and Flechette joined the group a moment later and got ready, just in time for the first wave.
Flechette needed a second to recover, losing her balance in the tide of rushing water. I helped her to her feet and gestured for her to follow. She shook her head and ran towards Legend as the Triumvirate leader directed capes all over. I decided to follow her, since she was probably the more important part of the plan. The Ward clambered up a fire escape to a three-story building and I began to follow, but paused as I remembered something.
“Hey!” I shouted, making Flechette turn her head. “No roofs, another wave's coming.” She jerked to a halt, then quickly nodded and came back down.
I glanced around the battlefield just in time to see a shelving unit wrap itself around Leviathan's head. I grinned and pointed, leading Flechette to where Ballistic was living up to his name. A barrage of random pieces of debris flew from a shattered storefront, hammering the Endbringer as more capes pressed the attack. Alexandria was clambering to her feet after her attempted drowning just as we reached the shop.
“Ballistic!” He turned as I yelled, mouth fixing in a hard line. “Wave's coming soon, we need to find cover.”
“How do you--” His and Flechette's armbands suddenly rang with a loud warning.
“Come on!” I led the frantic sprint towards a cape I recognized as Bastion, the guy that got flattened by the building. A few more joined us just before he threw up his field as the wave crashed down.
“How did you know about the wave?” Flechette demanded, raising her voice over the roar of water.
“Not my first fight!” I shouted back. She flinched, but I ignored it. “When we get back in, I'll find a vantage point! One shot right?”
Ballistic stiffened, but nodded. Flechette did too. Well, at least I had a couple people that would finally listen. I ignored the looks we got from the other capes taking shelter, I had to focus. We'd get a chance for maybe one shot before the wizard and Eidolon did their thing, one chance to do real damage. I clenched my fists as my heart pounded in my chest.
The water began dispersing into mist and Bastion dropped his force-field. I ran into the fog as it began to clear, searching for something, anything that could be used. Not twenty feet away, Leviathan pounced on a group of capes, tearing into them. I swore and turned away, eyes fixing on a toppled bus stop bench.
“This!” I snapped, pointing. I turned to Flechette “Can you do the whole front of it.” She cocked her head.
“I can do the bench,” she replied a half-second later. “Not the supports.”
“Cool, Ballistic, get ready!” He nodded and stepped behind the bench. The ball of mist was growing and I knew we only had seconds. “Flechette!” I barked, and she ran her hand over the forward edge of the bench.
She nodded and I slapped Ballistic's shoulder. A half-second later, the bench rocketed towards the Endbringer as he struck a force-field that stopped him dead for just a moment. I saw it vanish, then a puff of dust from a building behind him as Leviathan reeled back. He didn't cry in pain or anger, in fact there was no noise at all besides the splash his arm made in the water below.
“Holy shit!” Ballistic swore, sounding elated. Flechette was just staring, awestruck. “We fucking did it!” I glanced up and saw Leviathan's four, burning green eyes glaring at us.
Before I even had the chance to flinch, he was on us. Flechette's scream only made it halfway from her throat before his claw pulped everything from the waist up. Ballistic had the chance to scream longer as the blow stopped on my projection, but was cut off as Leviathan's tail looped around and bisected him with a whipping blow.
His fingers wrapped around me and suddenly we were airborne. I willed my projection not to move as we crashed through a building. Leviathan was quick to recover, smashing me repeatedly against the concrete floor with no effect, thank god. I saw the walls warp as the Endbringer gripped me with the claws of his foot and punched through the floor to a flooded basement below.
No, no it wasn't fucking fair! I thrashed and pushed against Leviathan as he picked me up and plunged me into the dirty, brackish water that filled the floor below. I kept my mouth shut and tried to focus as he held me in place. I tried to push my projection out, to force the monster's fingers to release me. Nothing. I fought, and fought, and fought as the world outside grew darker.
Then I gave up.