Avenger Assembled
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Eira's greeting of Voltage was friendly enough, as was her introduction of "Percy, from, ah, a magical community in the Arctic," to her uncle's old friend. She even brought herself almost down to ground level, her boots just barely touching the ground. She was about to ask after his welfare when there was a dramatic shift in circumstances. "Oj!" said Eira ebulliently as the Christmas tree opened up and discharged a family. Suddenly the hard-nosed very genius was a little girl meeting the Freedom League with her uncle and her American family all over again. "Look at that!" She grabbed Percy's arm, pointing excitedly at Fleur and her children. "Yes, it's very impressive," agreed Percy, sipping his peppermint white Russian cocktail. "Can she control all trees, or just the fir?" He caught her look and laughed. "älskling, of course I read your files. I know who these people are. A pleasure to meet you, Voltage - Percy Pepparkaka, at your service." Up close, the man smelled distinctly like - was that warm gingerbread?
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When the doors were thrown open wide, the Patriot took the lead, even though everyone was distinctly sure she'd been in the back when Spaceman, La Puma Negra, and Golden Star worked together to throw the door open. The group found themselves in a room that looked like the master control room at NORAD from a WWIII movie, dotted with computers, keyboards, and a glowing map of the Earth on the wall. There were numbers counting down on the wall; it looked like they only had about twenty minutes until - something. "Hah!" Lady Liberty was hovering in the air, surrounded by a patriotic glow, as she confronted the heroes. "You're too late! In twenty minutes, this world will be free! No gods, no masters!" Without hesitation, the Patriot drew the gun at her side and licked off a shot at the floating heroine, which she dodged, leaving a noticeable divot behind in the steel ceiling. She looked like she had in her last news appearance, long black hair, red white and blue costume, but she seemed to glow from inside with a silver light, filigrees of circuitry visible beneath her skin. Meanwhile, Lady Liberty's compatriots squared off against the other teen heroes. "We don't have to do this," said a blue-haired. blue-colored, blue-bodied androgynous person who smiled at Spaceman with glowing silver eyes. "We can share what we are with everyone. No more wars, no more violence, no more supervillains!" "It's time for humans to evolve!" said a caramel-skinned woman in a green and purple unitard squaring off against Gamma Buzz. "Why should they be trapped in one body, one form? We don't need to selfishly horde our gifts." La Puma Negra got - well, she got something very familiar. It was clearly Neko, or something that looked very much like her, eyes silver, body lined with circuitry as she said, "La Puma Negraaaaa," said Neko, her voice a low, accented sing-song. "They'll never call you a freak again. Everyone will be special - just - like - you."
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When she'd had enough sake that she felt pleasantly warm, Neko said "I better not. That is - a lot." She leaned on Leon as they walked, her footsteps a little shaky but not showing a sign of it on her face. "Idle wagering is no way to spend your time," said Owain in that gentle way that showed he actually meant it but didn't have any malice behind it. "But you are always welcome to ride a horse at my side." He hesitated a moment, then admitted, "I have thought - to try myself as a police rider." There were only a few cops here, since it was the Fens and all, and none of them were particularly close. "They seem a potent symbol. But to lie to find work is - an irksome thought. What are you doing to make money?" he asked the others.
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Well, Neko's illusion + high interaction skills are not technically passable by bystanders. =D Are you looking for them to get into combat? I can take care of that, I had some ideas for the convenience store. But if we're doing something else you'd like to do now that we're out of it, that's fine too.
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Okay. Let's talk about what your plans are so we don't step on each other again.
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If you like.
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Angelic was indeed present for the Christmas party, her usual costume modified to match the times. Her usual white and gold outfit was now white and red, with white fur on her skirt line and torso, giving her the look of a hero dressed for Christmas. She was alert and smiling, hovering slightly in the air as she talked, her red boots with white laces just off the ground, and introducing everyone to a man she identified as Percy. Percy, who looked to be about Angelic's age, looked like a hero from a Hallmark Christmas movie brought to life; his skin tan, his jaw square, a faint stubble on his cheeks. He wore a business suit that was cut tight and close and looked expensive, at least if you ignored that it too was red and lined with white fur, giving him a look of a man who'd bought a very expensive Christmas novelty suit. The only thing that made him look abnormal was a faint aura of magic for the initiated and distinct points on his ears. "This is good," Eira was happily telling the League catering staff as she sipped some vegan hot chocolate. "Vanilla almond milk...nothing like this back home, yes?" she said with a wink at Percy. "Very good," agreed Percy. "Hmm - how does one milk almonds, again?" Eira laughed and started explaining the process to him.
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Though of course he hadn't had his powers as long as many a veteran hero, Spaceman had flown through his share of heavy metal objects. But he'd never had an experience like this. He came out through the wall on the opposite side of something and found himself suddenly hovering far, far above what looked to be the Arctic below. But there was no air here, no heat, no light (but wait, how could he see anything if that was the case?) - and suddenly, as if that logical thought had broken through something, he was falling and falling, powerless, pinwheeling - And he was back in the trophy room where they'd started, barely able to hear the conversation down at the end of the hallway. "He's gone!" the Patriot had declared, her voice breaking with raw agony. "I can't believe - they're dead! They're dead!" she practically wailed to the heavens before putting her hand on Michael's shoulder. "It looks like it's all on you now, son."
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Neko's demeanor shifted from pleasant to unpleasant for a barely perceptible instant. She looked at Ramon and said in an icy voice. "Look at this." She pointed down at the sushi which Consuela could see was suddenly swarming with insects; loathsome cockroaches and maggots crawling from fish and rice so overrun with swarming insect life that the sushi rolls themselves were visibly twitching and moving. "Is this what you serve people?" she asked, her tone sharpening like a katana held to the throat. "That is disgusting. You are disgusting." She slapped her hand against the table. "Look what they did!" There was much confusion and alarm from customers at the sight of the swarming mass of insects, defensiveness and not a little fear from the employees - and in the hubbub, Neko threw down cash and took Consuela's hand as she stood up, taking the girl's hand in hers and not incidentally bringing the food with them. Once they were outside, the sushi returned to normal. "That one was free," said Neko cooly. "I will have to tell them an evil witch was there the next time I go in." She popped a sushi roll in her mouth, then offered another to Consuela.
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"I am a visitor to this realm," said Owain easily, "from a realm that includes Camlann, the home of my liege lord Arthur." He spoke perfectly seriously, then said, "But tis just where I am from, as a flower may grow from the soil of Galilee or Olympus. I did grow up with horseflesh," he added, "so tis pleasant to find a way to summon it here amongst horseless carriage and all."
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"Things have been quiet," said Owain agreeably. "No further progress in, ah, amores," he added with a distinct blush in his cheeks. "But our foster father assures me that I will find the right sort of fellow before I know it." "He should show off his muscles," said Neko pleasantly. "That will get him a - kareshi." Feeling pretty good about her own prospects with that, she said, "Things are good! We have money! And I am learning things," she added. "Try some sake!" she encouraged Luke.
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Neko watched Leon approvingly, smiling as she saw him carefully give hot cocoa that was just cool enough that it wouldn't burn little mouths out. Negotiating all these superpowered tots wasn't going to be easy, but he seemed to be doing well so far. He's so good with them. He's going to be a great father someday. She considered what that thought meant, blushing slightly as she did so, then quickly had her attention diverted when she spotted a little toddler creeping up on Leon from above, camouflaged like a chameleon. "Naughty!" she said, laughing, making it a game as she pointed up at the little lizard boy - who promptly dropped down from the ceiling and landed in her arms with a thump. He was a big little guy! The boy, whose name was Matthew, turned pleading golden eyes on Leon and said in a hissing voice "I have choco-late?"
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Sure, Huckleberry - Have you ever been inside a big gas station/convenience store like Wawa or Sheetz? It's basically one of those, but obviously a local business rather than a chain. It looks to be mostly a business that caters to Hispanic people - the snacks are mostly Latin American brands like Bimbo, they have Mexican Coke, there's a sign for money transfer, etc. Their menu is mostly Long John Silvers type, fried fish, etc - and sushi!
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Even in Freedom City amid the mad, riotous abundance of the 21st century, there are no 24 hour sushi places - but there are places where you can get sushi 24 hours a day. Neko first led Consuelo out of Claremont's grounds, flashing her senior card through the security system so she could bring herself and her 'guest' out onto the streets. "I am over 18, so it is easy," she confided. She led the way through the bustling streets of Bayview after dark. Her tail and ears invisible, she fit in perfectly with the alien crowd, walking with the confidence of someone born on these streets. She led the way to a big convenience store called MUCHO ROLLO, the sort visited by locals as much as tourists passing by on the nearby interstate, and headed straight for the computerized menu in the back. Neko jabbed the SUSHI SAMPLER PLATTER button, then turned curiously to Consuelo. "It is my treat," she promised her. "I have money."
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"Did someone say a driiiink?" asked Neko, reaching into her bag and producing her two bottles of sake, one down a little, the other still full. "Come on, I brought stuff for a real party!" Her accent was noticeably thick, but she could still make herself understood. "I have been doing well," she said in a sing-song voice. "Someone just had her five - half a million download!" "Neko hath begun the party a touch early," admitted Owain. "Alice, Luke, a pleasure as always," he said, sketching a little bow for both of them. "We fare well! Mine own education progresses well, as does the apprenticeship with the farrier. You should come," he said cheerily, "there is hardly a trace of good horseflesh around in this city but it can be found if you look hard enough"
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The kibble faded away into nothingness; its scent turning out to have no taste at all, and then its form even less. Neko stared at Consuelo, then said firmly, "No! No, you do not do that. If you perform for people to like you, they will never like you." She poked Rot in the chest, heedless of the other girl's antilife field. "Crawling on your belly is for dogs. Not cats." She hissed and looked away, tail lashing, obviously trying to master her feelings, frazzled as much by guilt as by anger. "I am not stupid. I know men watch my show because they are filthy pigs." She smiled, hard, showing sharp teeth. "So I play the game. I show them the sweet, lovely, and super-kawaii catgirl they want," she added, batting her eyelashes as her show's theme played from nowhere in particular, "and they send me money - so I get what I want." She gave Consuelo a pitying look. "There is no shame in being made to bow. But never bow for them." I should feed her. "Have you ever had sushi?" she asked. "Actual sushi, not what they serve in the cafeteria."
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"Yes, there is a prison. I almost died there," croaked Sea Devil with unaccustomed softness. She knew from long experience that Surfacers regarded close confinement in the air as a mercy, not the torture of all her senses that almost driven her to madness when she'd first come to the Surface. Perhaps this woman would find peace and stillness there. Or perhaps she would die. The truth was that Aquaria did not care very much one way or another. When the police pronounced themselves ready to guard the prisoner, she nodded, a gesture that seemed to take her entire upper body. While the Surfacemen went about their hunt, she hopped away from them and decided to try and get the creature's attention again. She hopped again, keeping her distance, and bellowed. "YOU! YOU WHO CRAVE FLESH! I EAT FLESH!" She snapped her jaws as she spoke, exposing impressive shark-like teeth inside her gigantic frog mouth. "ARE YOU STRONG?! OR ARE YOU WEAK!? COME AND SEE!" She snapped again, banging her trident against her armor. "COME AND SEE!"
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Neko looked at Consuelo and smiled, her teeth looking sharp. "Yes," she said, her voice grave. "It's the only thing the modern cat eats, and I am very modern, no?" She produced what looked like a handful of dry kibble from one of her ample pockets and walked right up to the other girl, practically holding it up under her nose. "If you want to prove you're a real cat," she said, her voice a low purr as her tail lashed behind her, "you're going to have to eat it too."
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she is not lying.
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Neko Of course, not everyone had today off - largely because not everyone was celebrating Christmas. Up in the creche on the second floor, a highly-rated metahuman babysitter and friends were watching the kids of the Freedom League, their employees, and their friends; the ones that weren't old enough to venture around on their own and too big to be carried around, anyway. The excited declarations of 'Kitty!' had come fast and furious when the littles had spotted Neko, but from her childhood she'd known how to entertain children - and from the Espadas household, metahuman children. There were stuffed animals and sensory tables, armored tablets and video games, in this big soft room, and also there was a fast-moving cat right in the middle of it. A simulacrum of a dancing amabie was watching some children as they drew Santa Claus with crayons; some cyclopean hitotsume-kozō with reindeer antlers were being led on a merry chase all around the room, and Neko hadn't stopped moving once. But that was all right, because her Venmo URL was on her card and her tip jar was affixed to the wall. She was going to make a lot of money tonight.
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Neko wrinkled her nose as she walked the streets of the Fens, her arm through Leon's, then shook her head. So this was poverty! There were no dead bodies, no sick horses, and no smell of raw sewage, no dead-eyed people shuffling through the streets. She had seen much worse than this, in times when people were far crueler to one another than they were today. Relaxed, she leaned against Leon, the sake in her shoulder bag clinking as they went. As usual, it had been trivially easy to get whatever she wanted from the liquor store clerk; and she'd helped herself to a little before they left. "Come on, Owain, sing!" she called to him. "Well as you like," said Owain, who had notably not partaken in anything. He began singing in a deep voice, primarily for their little group rather than the crowd: "Wynter wakeneth al my care; Nou this leves waxeth bare. Ofte Y sike ant mourne sare When hit cometh in my thoht Of this worldes joie: Hou hit geth al to noht!" earning him a faint scattering of applause when he'd finished.
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The Patriot nodded to two of her agents, who went about trying to pry pieces off the armored walls, but looked to be a tough job. "Be careful if you try," she said, "you-know-who is probably lurking in the walls right now. Goddamn metal freaks." While the agents went about their work, she told Spaceman - "These so-called heroes have been corrupted by Communion nanotech. They're planning to infect the whole world with their poison; and they can do it if they get access to the Centurion's tech. Come on, kid, you think you can get this?" Her voice was tight and cold, a professional masking what would have to be some real unease - right?
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"Hm," said Neko, half-approvingly. It had been an honest effort, and she knew what it was like to scrabble so. "A cat cannot fly. See?" And so saying she fell out of the tree, landing directly on her well-padded butt with a loud thump. She looked startled by the impact but unhurt, and by the time Consuelo had joined her she was licking her hand and running the back of it through her hair. "What do you like to eat?" she asked Consuelo before shaking her head.
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The Patriot didn't bat an eyelash at the strange conversation from the boys one way or another; instead she seemed to focus in on La Puma Negra. She spoke at a run, followed by her armored agents. "The last of the holdouts. They must be planning to make their stand here!" They reached another door, a big metal one like a giant airlock hatch; only to find it locked. The Patriot yelled in frustration at the sight and punched the wall, producing a holographic message from Lady Liberty. The heroes all recognized the young trans woman, a Hispanic immigrant who was primarily active on the West Coast of the United States of America. "You'll never win, you fascist pig!" Lady Liberty declared. "Heroes forever!" And then the signal cut off. The Patriot said something in Vietnamese that sounded extremely rude, then said, "I used the last of my charges getting through the Communion bunker outside. Can any of you get through that?" she asked, pointing to the heavy door in front of them.
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Neko walked to the end of the roof and turned, balancing so that only her toes were still clinging to the rooftop, half her feet protruding out behind her into the dark. "No," she said cooly. "This place is almost dead." And with that, she scrabbled down the side of the building (there was no more discreet word for it), leaped into the branches of a nearby tree, and studied Rot from inside the shelter of its leafless branches. The winter tree lent voice to her words. Her eyes glowed like a cat's in the dark but impossibly large, only the white in her hair and fur clearly visible in the gloom. "Come on," she proposed. "Jump."