"Goddamnit! Don't just stand there!" Anissa's voice went from hysterical to full blown panic in a matter of seconds and I mean, sure I can understand why she feels that way but fuck me! I don't even know where they are!
"Where even are you guys?" I said, repeating my thoughts with a bit of a friendlier twist. "All I see are plants."
"We're outside the warehouse-" I sighed in relief at that, which, I guess is a bad idea since Anissa just went back to full on hysteric afterward, "Don't fucking pretend that we're safe and try to help us jackass!"
I started running, "Where are you guys again?" I asked as I let go of my current boost- I felt the power fade into obscurity once I stopped feeding it Theikos, then, without so much as a blink, I went ahead and did another roll, hoping that I'll get something lightning related or even better, fire. But that sort of thing is still a gamble since I don't know if heat will even kill the black vines creeping out of the warehouse.
"We're on the west side of the warehouse, somewhere near an abandoned dilly shop?" Anissa answered with a questioning tone.
"Deli? Okay, I think I remember seeing it back when I was walking across the street." I actually didn't, but a bit of reassurance wouldn't hurt anyone.
I started sprinting, going to a nearby car as fast as I could and climbing it in record time. With a heave, I bent my legs and jumped just as a small migraine crept up my head, I winced from the pain and almost missed the bar I aimed for. 'Focus.' I told myself as I tightened my hold on the rebar I was holding onto, my feet dawdled as I kept myself from falling down an 8 foot drop, knowing that rolling my power gives me a headache is a good thing.
Just not in the moment.
The power to alter my body rolled in and I turned my insides into gas while turning my skin even thicker. With the changes, I hefted myself up a nearby roof, crawling on top of it like some pathetic cockroach with only one leg.
I stood on the roof while panting for air. I closed my eyes, every breath made my migraine worse, causing dull throbs to form each time my lungs took in air. Gritting my teeth, I let go of my current power and rolled for another one- 'Come, I only have four, what are the chances that I won't get the lightning one?'
1 in 4, obviously- a traitorous part of my mind whispered as I embraced a new wave of the migraine. With a powerful inhale, my lungs filled with air, and I plan on keeping them in there until I get my new power which should come... "Fuck." I swore. "Super Strength, really?" I asked out loud.
"WHERE ARE YOU?!" That was Inga.
"I'm trying to roll for a proper power-"I tried to argue back but all four of them went in and started screaming at me for help. "-Fine." I raised my hands in defeat, scrunching my nose slightly because of both displeasure and the migraine. "Don't blame me if everything goes wrong."
"It's fine." Oliver's calm voice came through the comms, "If you can make walls with your hands, then we're more than set."
I started running, "Make walls with my hands?.." The meaning of his words clicked in that very moment, "... right, punch through walls. Got it." That sounds easy enough. I can work with that I think. "But aren't we gonna fight her?"
"Who? The Queen?" Asked Anissa rhetorically, "You probably will but not us. We don't exactly have a toolbox filled with powers on our bodies at all times."
I didn't reply and jumped across the next roof, searching for them. And as it turns out, I didn't have to search for the Deli because all I had to do to find them is to follow where the vines moved.
I stopped short the ledge of a roof and with my vantage point, perfectly saw that all four of my teammates are split up and struggling. I scanned the place, making sure to find the person who was in the worst danger so that I can prioritize them later- Inga got stuck between two houses on my left, and as the vines crept in, she fired shot after shot with her boomstick and doing nothing to the black vines in the process. Since she had an open path that led to a street behind her, I looked away and turned to where Anissa is.
Even with all her panicked screams, she was looking well, all things considered. She was on top of a fire escape, firing at the plants with a calm yet angry expression. Even from here, I could hear her cybernetic arms loudly whir as they kept the recoil of her gun in place, the machine gun- which I don't even know how she got a hold of, - didn't dare bounce back under the tight grip of both her hands. Unlike Inga, she looked fine. Enough that she looked up and met my eyes.
I nodded at her, "I'll rescue you last." She didn't reply and just kept firing, her bullets causing actual damage and managing to shred through some of the lone vines.
When I turned away, Fred was nowhere to be seen so I was just left with Oliver who... was in a fine state because of a blue forcefield in front of him he uses to keep the vines at bay. And all the while firing off what seems to be unlimited plasma shots from a pistol that looks exactly like mine- out of everyone, they were the most effective in killing the plants. Deciding to copy him, I took out my gun and threw that mode on.
I jumped down a lower roof and headed for where I last saw Fred; I don't know where the guy went or even if he's fine right now. Finding him wouldn't be easy too, Fred isn't really the talkative type and from what little I can gleam from interacting with him, he's someone who wouldn't scream when in pain. Which means that I'm gonna have to search for him the old fashioned way- calling out his name and hoping that he answers.
"FRED?!" I yelled, more or less announcing my presence to both my teammates and the person attacking them, "I know you're out here somewhere!" I hopped down a roof just as Anissa screamed 'No shit!' which was followed by a bestial roar with gunfire in the background.
I kept to the roofs as I looked around for the enchanter, all the while eyeing the black vines that have now left the warehouse and are instead, spreading around our general vicinity. 'A weakness, great.'
Is it bad that I'm not feeling confident even when I know that we can actually escape if we tried hard enough?
Something hit my side and I rolled across the roof. I reached out with a hand and dug my fingers deep into the concrete rooftop, stabilizing myself for a split second before I used both hands to push myself from the ground and into an upright position. Another strike came but I was ready for it this time, literally, everything paused and a dull throb attacked my head for the three seconds I had the sped-up perspective, but that was enough for me to plan something- I held out my right hand in an attempt to block and braced myself for impact which...
...didn't come. "Huh." Really, what else can I say to the black vine wrapped around my arm and trying to drag me down?
I pulled and the vine snapped, replaced by more and more until I was drowned out in a sea of black plants that threatened to swallow me whole. I fought back, punching, tearing, and damaging all the vines I could while trying to use Theikos to boost myself even further, I absorbed the energy, translating it into minor regeneration while using most of it to bolster my current boost. A vine crept up and coiled around my neck, trying to strangle me but failed, it couldn't even bend my skin, let alone the muscles underneath.
I yanked it off without much effort and continued to fend off the vines, "Where are you?!" Anissa's voice came through the comms, I listened in, hoping that what I'm doing is enough that I got to distract Queen enough that she ignored my teammates, "Tyler?"
"I'm fine- Queen's distracted I think?" I punched a rope of intricately woven vines, it was harder to do so than last time, "You guys can run? I'll be fine when you do," more woven vines came, Queen clearly noticing the success of the other one just now, "Okay, I can't talk- I need to go."
The other lines went silent for a moment or two before Oliver's voice cut in, "You- are up on a roof?" I agreed with a grunt, "If that was a yes, then try breaking the floor."
My eyes lit up, "I can kiss you right now."
"Ew... he has a son!" The happy feeling from hearing Anissa sound calm disappeared once I digested her words- Wait what?
I tried not to think about what Anissa said just now and raised my foot for a stomp, I brought it down and my heels met the roof, collapsing it and revealing nothing underneath. I fell with minimal damage and started running in the direction that I'd been facing, the wall got closer with each step and when I thought I was close enough, I jumped and tucked my arms and legs into myself, putting myself in a cannonball position that was quickly heading for a solid wall.
I broke past, sending debris and concrete flying across the alleyway below, a pipeline released a stream of air, sending out a shrill scream that made my ears hurt just from listening. My feet met the ground, I didn't waste time and started running away as fast as I could. Behind me, the sounds of the vines crawling didn't stop, if anything, judging by the sounds of shattering glass and bending metal, they seemed to have become more ferocious and unrelenting.
I activated my comms, "Are you guys fine now?" I took a peek at the vines just as I turned an alleyway and saw that there was a massive ball of it rolling behind me, "I think most of Queen's attention is on me now?"
"They did slow down, sort of." Inga replied with a grunt, "They're still here, though." She further added.
I bit my lip, "And Fred?" I asked as I tried to do another roll. Mentally preparing myself for the headache to come, I went into an open street wide enough for me to notice the vines if they decided to follow which- I looked back, the vines are still there, now in much thicker bounds than before, "Fuck." - is sure to happen.
"Fred's fine," Came Oliver's voice. "He's not even injured, I think he hid somewhere using one of his disguises."
Right. I forgot about the part where that guy is basically their team's disguise specialist, with him looking androgynous and all. I sighed in relief at the news, "That's good, that's good." I said twice.
I felt my grip on super strength slowly slip away as I pushed past a vine that decided to ambush me, going so far to meet me with its body coiling out of a sewer pipe from five meters ahead. Queen must've seen that I'm slowing down because the vine suddenly coiled and launched itself at me with the precision of a viper, reaching out with a body as thick as my calves. It coiled around my ankle, trapping me in place until I felt my migraine evolve into a headache and a new power slipped in- "Goddamnit!" I cursed as I stretched my arm to grab hold of a street light.
I pulled myself free from the vine and gained distance from a ball of it following behind me, "Is something wrong?" Oliver asked in concern.
I waved my hands- not that he could see it, - and grit my teeth as I fell down the streetlight, "Nothing, just- power problems." I said, glaring at the mass of vines at the other end of the street. Seeing that Oliver's plasma shots were effective, I could've stood a chance against it with lightning.
"Are you seriously thinking of fighting the Queen?" And, it seems, that Anissa did not at all share my confidence. "What? Do you want to lose your first time fighting a hero that badly?" She snarked.
"N-no?" I stammered- why did I stammer? Whatever- I shook my head and slung myself across the street, gaining even more distance from the ball of vines. When I landed, my legs were soft enough that they didn't break even as I they met the street in the worse way possible; heel first then proceeding to a quick snap of my ankle's tendons.
I winced for the split second I saw what happened before calming down when no pain came. "Where are you guys, anyway? I think we need to plan to meet with each other right?"
"That is what is happening," Oliver replies, "I'm running on top of rooftops right now, looking at everyone and scanning for anything that we can escape to- but..."
"But what?" The concern in Anissa's voice was well justified.
"...I think, I see Queen herself." Oliver's words weren't surprising- we are getting attacked by her after all- what I'm worried about though is where she is.
"Where is she?" I asked as I scaled a building as best as I could. I needed to get back the height advantage and fast, "Also, she can't be any more dangerous in personal than her vines right?"
"She's somewhere north of the Deli," Oliver answered my first question, prompting me to look around and notice that I am, in fact, in that place where he spotted Queen.
Meanwhile, Anissa decided to answer my second question, "You shouldn't say that sort of thing when it comes to B listers. Especially if you're one yourself. You probably have an ace or two up your sleeve right?" Asks Anissa to which I replied with a positive, "Yeah and so does every other cape- us, Ace, even Dart Rat. It shouldn't be that surprising that Queen has something with her for close combat."
"And that is?" I asked as I reached the roof.
I paused.
My eyes went up and down the black latex suit that tightly clung to her body, my gaze went right and saw a white line going up from her wrist and into her shoulder and eventually disappearing at the edge, just by the neck. Red gloves outfitted her hand- a closer look let me realize that it was a deep crimson, the color of a rose. Cowboy boots of the same color going up her knees can be found covering her calves and feet, up top and on the opposite direction is a featureless white mask with a clover at its center.
I stood in front of the Clover Queen and she gave out a well practiced bow, "Well, my dear, it's because-" She stood up and I can her the smirk in her voice as she adjusted her tilted mask, "-I'm the battery for my plants! Do you know what that means?"
"No?" I answered questioningly while repeating her actions- fixing the mask and all.
"Don't talk to her." Warned Oliver but I honestly didn't see the harm with a bit of banter.
"Well, let me tell you, then- My plants get stronger the closer they are to me because they are... hmmm... Energized." I just now realize that she actually didn't just adjust her mask earlier, she made sure to tilt it slightly upwards so that I can see her mouth and at present- her smirk.
"Goddamnit! Don't just stand there!" Anissa's voice went from hysterical to full blown panic in a matter of seconds and I mean, sure I can understand why she feels that way but fuck me! I don't even know where they are!
"Where even are you guys?" I said, repeating my thoughts with a bit of a friendlier twist. "All I see are plants."
"We're outside the warehouse-" I sighed in relief at that, which, I guess is a bad idea since Anissa just went back to full on hysteric afterward, "Don't fucking pretend that we're safe and try to help us jackass!"
I started running, "Where are you guys again?" I asked as I let go of my current boost- I felt the power fade into obscurity once I stopped feeding it Theikos, then, without so much as a blink, I went ahead and did another roll, hoping that I'll get something lightning related or even better, fire. But that sort of thing is still a gamble since I don't know if heat will even kill the black vines creeping out of the warehouse.
"We're on the west side of the warehouse, somewhere near an abandoned dilly shop?" Anissa answered with a questioning tone.
"Deli? Okay, I think I remember seeing it back when I was walking across the street." I actually didn't, but a bit of reassurance wouldn't hurt anyone.
I started sprinting, going to a nearby car as fast as I could and climbing it in record time. With a heave, I bent my legs and jumped just as a small migraine crept up my head, I winced from the pain and almost missed the bar I aimed for. 'Focus.' I told myself as I tightened my hold on the rebar I was holding onto, my feet dawdled as I kept myself from falling down an 8 foot drop, knowing that rolling my power gives me a headache is a good thing.
Just not in the moment.
The power to alter my body rolled in and I turned my insides into gas while turning my skin even thicker. With the changes, I hefted myself up a nearby roof, crawling on top of it like some pathetic cockroach with only one leg.
I stood on the roof while panting for air. I closed my eyes, every breath made my migraine worse, causing dull throbs to form each time my lungs took in air. Gritting my teeth, I let go of my current power and rolled for another one- 'Come, I only have four, what are the chances that I won't get the lightning one?'
1 in 4, obviously- a traitorous part of my mind whispered as I embraced a new wave of the migraine. With a powerful inhale, my lungs filled with air, and I plan on keeping them in there until I get my new power which should come... "Fuck." I swore. "Super Strength, really?" I asked out loud.
"WHERE ARE YOU?!" That was Inga.
"I'm trying to roll for a proper power-"I tried to argue back but all four of them went in and started screaming at me for help. "-Fine." I raised my hands in defeat, scrunching my nose slightly because of both displeasure and the migraine. "Don't blame me if everything goes wrong."
"It's fine." Oliver's calm voice came through the comms, "If you can make walls with your hands, then we're more than set."
I started running, "Make walls with my hands?.." The meaning of his words clicked in that very moment, "... right, punch through walls. Got it." That sounds easy enough. I can work with that I think. "But aren't we gonna fight her?"
"Who? The Queen?" Asked Anissa rhetorically, "You probably will but not us. We don't exactly have a toolbox filled with powers on our bodies at all times."
I didn't reply and jumped across the next roof, searching for them. And as it turns out, I didn't have to search for the Deli because all I had to do to find them is to follow where the vines moved.
I stopped short the ledge of a roof and with my vantage point, perfectly saw that all four of my teammates are split up and struggling. I scanned the place, making sure to find the person who was in the worst danger so that I can prioritize them later- Inga got stuck between two houses on my left, and as the vines crept in, she fired shot after shot with her boomstick and doing nothing to the black vines in the process. Since she had an open path that led to a street behind her, I looked away and turned to where Anissa is.
Even with all her panicked screams, she was looking well, all things considered. She was on top of a fire escape, firing at the plants with a calm yet angry expression. Even from here, I could hear her cybernetic arms loudly whir as they kept the recoil of her gun in place, the machine gun- which I don't even know how she got a hold of, - didn't dare bounce back under the tight grip of both her hands. Unlike Inga, she looked fine. Enough that she looked up and met my eyes.
I nodded at her, "I'll rescue you last." She didn't reply and just kept firing, her bullets causing actual damage and managing to shred through some of the lone vines.
When I turned away, Fred was nowhere to be seen so I was just left with Oliver who... was in a fine state because of a blue forcefield in front of him he uses to keep the vines at bay. And all the while firing off what seems to be unlimited plasma shots from a pistol that looks exactly like mine- out of everyone, they were the most effective in killing the plants. Deciding to copy him, I took out my gun and threw that mode on.
I jumped down a lower roof and headed for where I last saw Fred; I don't know where the guy went or even if he's fine right now. Finding him wouldn't be easy too, Fred isn't really the talkative type and from what little I can gleam from interacting with him, he's someone who wouldn't scream when in pain. Which means that I'm gonna have to search for him the old fashioned way- calling out his name and hoping that he answers.
"FRED?!" I yelled, more or less announcing my presence to both my teammates and the person attacking them, "I know you're out here somewhere!" I hopped down a roof just as Anissa screamed 'No shit!' which was followed by a bestial roar with gunfire in the background.
I kept to the roofs as I looked around for the enchanter, all the while eyeing the black vines that have now left the warehouse and are instead, spreading around our general vicinity. 'A weakness, great.'
Is it bad that I'm not feeling confident even when I know that we can actually escape if we tried hard enough?
Something hit my side and I rolled across the roof. I reached out with a hand and dug my fingers deep into the concrete rooftop, stabilizing myself for a split second before I used both hands to push myself from the ground and into an upright position. Another strike came but I was ready for it this time, literally, everything paused and a dull throb attacked my head for the three seconds I had the sped-up perspective, but that was enough for me to plan something- I held out my right hand in an attempt to block and braced myself for impact which...
...didn't come. "Huh." Really, what else can I say to the black vine wrapped around my arm and trying to drag me down?
I pulled and the vine snapped, replaced by more and more until I was drowned out in a sea of black plants that threatened to swallow me whole. I fought back, punching, tearing, and damaging all the vines I could while trying to use Theikos to boost myself even further, I absorbed the energy, translating it into minor regeneration while using most of it to bolster my current boost. A vine crept up and coiled around my neck, trying to strangle me but failed, it couldn't even bend my skin, let alone the muscles underneath.
I yanked it off without much effort and continued to fend off the vines, "Where are you?!" Anissa's voice came through the comms, I listened in, hoping that what I'm doing is enough that I got to distract Queen enough that she ignored my teammates, "Tyler?"
"I'm fine- Queen's distracted I think?" I punched a rope of intricately woven vines, it was harder to do so than last time, "You guys can run? I'll be fine when you do," more woven vines came, Queen clearly noticing the success of the other one just now, "Okay, I can't talk- I need to go."
The other lines went silent for a moment or two before Oliver's voice cut in, "You- are up on a roof?" I agreed with a grunt, "If that was a yes, then try breaking the floor."
My eyes lit up, "I can kiss you right now."
"Ew... he has a son!" The happy feeling from hearing Anissa sound calm disappeared once I digested her words- Wait what?
I tried not to think about what Anissa said just now and raised my foot for a stomp, I brought it down and my heels met the roof, collapsing it and revealing nothing underneath. I fell with minimal damage and started running in the direction that I'd been facing, the wall got closer with each step and when I thought I was close enough, I jumped and tucked my arms and legs into myself, putting myself in a cannonball position that was quickly heading for a solid wall.
I broke past, sending debris and concrete flying across the alleyway below, a pipeline released a stream of air, sending out a shrill scream that made my ears hurt just from listening. My feet met the ground, I didn't waste time and started running away as fast as I could. Behind me, the sounds of the vines crawling didn't stop, if anything, judging by the sounds of shattering glass and bending metal, they seemed to have become more ferocious and unrelenting.
I activated my comms, "Are you guys fine now?" I took a peek at the vines just as I turned an alleyway and saw that there was a massive ball of it rolling behind me, "I think most of Queen's attention is on me now?"
"They did slow down, sort of." Inga replied with a grunt, "They're still here, though." She further added.
I bit my lip, "And Fred?" I asked as I tried to do another roll. Mentally preparing myself for the headache to come, I went into an open street wide enough for me to notice the vines if they decided to follow which- I looked back, the vines are still there, now in much thicker bounds than before, "Fuck." - is sure to happen.
"Fred's fine," Came Oliver's voice. "He's not even injured, I think he hid somewhere using one of his disguises."
Right. I forgot about the part where that guy is basically their team's disguise specialist, with him looking androgynous and all. I sighed in relief at the news, "That's good, that's good." I said twice.
I felt my grip on super strength slowly slip away as I pushed past a vine that decided to ambush me, going so far to meet me with its body coiling out of a sewer pipe from five meters ahead. Queen must've seen that I'm slowing down because the vine suddenly coiled and launched itself at me with the precision of a viper, reaching out with a body as thick as my calves. It coiled around my ankle, trapping me in place until I felt my migraine evolve into a headache and a new power slipped in- "Goddamnit!" I cursed as I stretched my arm to grab hold of a street light.
I pulled myself free from the vine and gained distance from a ball of it following behind me, "Is something wrong?" Oliver asked in concern.
I waved my hands- not that he could see it, - and grit my teeth as I fell down the streetlight, "Nothing, just- power problems." I said, glaring at the mass of vines at the other end of the street. Seeing that Oliver's plasma shots were effective, I could've stood a chance against it with lightning.
"Are you seriously thinking of fighting the Queen?" And, it seems, that Anissa did not at all share my confidence. "What? Do you want to lose your first time fighting a hero that badly?" She snarked.
"N-no?" I stammered- why did I stammer? Whatever- I shook my head and slung myself across the street, gaining even more distance from the ball of vines. When I landed, my legs were soft enough that they didn't break even as I they met the street in the worse way possible; heel first then proceeding to a quick snap of my ankle's tendons.
I winced for the split second I saw what happened before calming down when no pain came. "Where are you guys, anyway? I think we need to plan to meet with each other right?"
"That is what is happening," Oliver replies, "I'm running on top of rooftops right now, looking at everyone and scanning for anything that we can escape to- but..."
"But what?" The concern in Anissa's voice was well justified.
"...I think, I see Queen herself." Oliver's words weren't surprising- we are getting attacked by her after all- what I'm worried about though is where she is.
"Where is she?" I asked as I scaled a building as best as I could. I needed to get back the height advantage and fast, "Also, she can't be any more dangerous in personal than her vines right?"
"She's somewhere north of the Deli," Oliver answered my first question, prompting me to look around and notice that I am, in fact, in that place where he spotted Queen.
Meanwhile, Anissa decided to answer my second question, "You shouldn't say that sort of thing when it comes to B listers. Especially if you're one yourself. You probably have an ace or two up your sleeve right?" Asks Anissa to which I replied with a positive, "Yeah and so does every other cape- us, Ace, even Dart Rat. It shouldn't be that surprising that Queen has something with her for close combat."
"And that is?" I asked as I reached the roof.
I paused.
My eyes went up and down the black latex suit that tightly clung to her body, my gaze went right and saw a white line going up from her wrist and into her shoulder and eventually disappearing at the edge, just by the neck. Red gloves outfitted her hand- a closer look let me realize that it was a deep crimson, the color of a rose. Cowboy boots of the same color going up her knees can be found covering her calves and feet, up top and on the opposite direction is a featureless white mask with a clover at its center.
I stood in front of the Clover Queen and she gave out a well practiced bow, "Well, my dear, it's because-" She stood up and I can her the smirk in her voice as she adjusted her tilted mask, "-I'm the battery for my plants! Do you know what that means?"
"No?" I answered questioningly while repeating her actions- fixing the mask and all.
"Don't talk to her." Warned Oliver but I honestly didn't see the harm with a bit of banter.
"Well, let me tell you, then- My plants get stronger the closer they are to me because they are... hmmm... Energized." I just now realize that she actually didn't just adjust her mask earlier, she made sure to tilt it slightly upwards so that I can see her mouth and at present- her smirk.
