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Your name is Elise. Elise Martins. And, to put it simply, you are not normal.

What you are is a mutant— one of the many few in Konigsburg who possess strange and unnatural abilities due to the explosion of FutureLabs’ particle accelerator.

You have two brothers, Matt and John, but it's only Matt who knows of your powers. John, on the other hand, is a mutant, and a powerful one at that.

How that had slipped through your perception is still beyond you, but you do know one thing: it’s that John is strong– stronger than you would’ve ever expected him to be.

It’s not something that’s easy for you to admit, but had you been a tad less lucky or inexperienced you’re not sure what could have happened. You’re not used to being at the losing end of a fight, and, even after your wounds have healed, you can still feel the phantom sensation of sharpened claws in your torso.

Drifting in the open water, your stomach screams for sustenance– to repair the damage that was wrought– and you let your instinct take hold, blacking out then and there.

When you come to, the sweet taste of flesh lingers on your tongue, which does wonders for your frazzled nerves. Your dress, or what had been left of it, is missing as well. With all the damage it took, it’s a wonder it stayed on for as long as it did— you suppose your last brawl with John did it in… Not like you intended to keep it anyhow.

You think you should really catch up with the others. While you don’t know how much time has passed, by now you know the rest of your posse is certainly at the rendezvous point, or at least close to it.

No matter, you know the bay well enough to catch up with them, and, in no time, you see the white stern of your stolen yacht come into view.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5307214

Pulling your neck gaiter over your face, which had miraculously stayed fastened to your person, you waste no time in clambering on the boat. You receive a few stares for the state you’re in from the few passengers that are on deck– a few, young mutant stragglers– but otherwise no one says a word.

It’s not like you really care if you’re being honest, at least not at the moment, and, without really thinking, you let yourself slump down onto the deck with an ungraceful thud, until you’ve slid back far enough to see the night sky above.

Absently, you take note of the faint pinpricks of constellations that bob along with the boat– which are barely any, even for as far as you are from the shoreline.

The more prominent thought on your mind, however, is a huge, resounding shit… Because you really cut it close back there with John, but what’s done is done.

Next time… Well, you’re not quite ready to think about that yet– the night is not quite over yet.

You should probably join the others since, you know, this whole operation was your idea from the start.

>In any case, what to do now?
>Let the others know you’re back– you’ve been gone from the boat way longer than you should’ve been.
>Make yourself decent, dammit! You’re the city’s hero– present yourself as such!
>Someone’s bound to come to you– if not, just stay comfy until the boat ride’s over.
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
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Welcome back, kings, to the greatest, most campiest capeshit quest that has ever walked the face of this planet! That's right-- it's back!!!

>Previous Threads:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=mutant%21quest

Pastebin: Now added: Berserker Mechanics (take a look at that one if you haven't already)!!!
https://pastebin.com/u/SiirenQM

Recap of thread #10:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kqH26Slk5vluh3geQraMqfLhsNk9ZoOR5tBLgA1ebOg/edit?usp=sharing

>QM Twitter for updates:
twitter.com/QmSiren

----------

>Dice:
>31d100 unless otherwise noted

>Other:
This thread might be slower for reasons. Namely work. Still working out how to work around the scheduling for that, but I'm just going to take that as it comes.
>>
Oh, and this will probably be the first and last sets of posts of the night, if only for the fact I gotta roll tomorrow.

Until next time, kings!
>>
>>5307225
>Let the others know you’re back– you’ve been gone from the boat way longer than you should’ve been.
I missed this girl like you would believe, you too OP. How’s it going ? Nice to see your progress in art.
>>5307241
Who did this fanart ?
>>
>>5307225
>>Let the others know you’re back– you’ve been gone from the boat way longer than you should’ve been.
>>
>>5307225
>Let the others know you’re back– you’ve been gone from the boat way longer than you should’ve been.

Speaking of letting people know you're back, hell yea, dude--glad you're finally back! Hope work's treating you well. Digging the new art, by the way.

>>5307386
Pretty sure Bathic from Drowned Quest whipped it up.
>>
>>5307225
>Let the others know you’re back– you’ve been gone from the boat way longer than you should’ve been.
No time to flop around... yet...
>>
>>5307386
>>5307403
>>5307495
>>5307672

Looks like it's unanimous! Calling now! Writing!

>>5307386
What >>5307495 said-- credit goes to Bathic from Drowned Quest!! I just forgot to give the credit in the image last night cause I was admittedly tired.

Aside from that, it definitely is good to be back!
>>
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>>5307962

For as comfortable as the boat deck might be, you suppose the logical course of action is to find the others. Whatever else can come next.

Letting your proprioception guide you forwards, you make your way towards where you can sense the familiar heartbeats of your crew– somewhere below deck, to be exact.

On your way down, you pass more of the captives, some of them more familiar to you than others, like that seagull-harpy and earth kid. It seems like everyone for the most part is crowded below the deck, except for where the captain’s quarters are. Evidently, the yacht you’re on is way larger and nicer than the last one you were on, and it had to be with all the kids you were hauling.

It’s kind of a shame that you’re probably going to have to sink it when you’re done.

“Do I even bother asking?” Are Matt’s first words once you cross the threshold to the main lounge area, raising a brow at your half-naked state. In his hand is a tennis ball, while a troupe of mutant kids look at him expectantly.

“I might’ve gotten sidetracked…” You start, not really wanting to address the events that happened not even an hour prior.

“Sidetracked.” Your brother repeats, deadpan.

“Hey stick,” Bernard cuts the two of you off with a flash of green. “Didn’t I say it was your turn to throw the–” Whatever he was going to say next is cut off as glowing eyes land on you, the sight of your half-nakedness being enough to render him silent.

“Are you okay, mister Blink?” One of the younger mutants asks innocently.

“Never better…” He chokes out, finding some spot on the ceiling very fascinating. “If you don’t mind me askin,’ fish, what took you so long anyhow?”

>(1/2)
>>
>>5307990

“I got lost in the bay.” It’s an obvious lie. Bernard knows it, and Matt knows it too; but you’d rather not cause panic among the captives when you’d just gotten home-free. They damn-well know you tell them the full scoop later on when you don’t have a million listening ears surrounding you.

“Fore!” Matt suddenly shouts, throwing the tennis ball at the other end of the room. It ricochets off of a wall and then a fancy-looking mantle before a long, translucent tendril reaches out to grab it, courtesy of a mutant that looks like an amoeba.

Just as quickly, the ball whizzes back to you, bouncing against a couple of pieces of furniture until Bernard teleports in midair to catch it, tossing it down to Matt before he reappears at the ground.

>So how much longer until you get to the rendezvous-point?
>Just what the heck are you going to do with all of these kids?
>Anything happen while you were gone?
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5307993
>Just what the heck are you going to do with all of these kids?
>>
>>5307993
>Just what the heck are you going to do with all of these kids?

We might wanna think up a plan before more trouble shows up.
>>
>>5307993
>Just what the heck are you going to do with all of these kids?
>>
>>5308001
>>5308015
>>5308063

>Plan? Come again?
Writing!
>>
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>>5308106

With another cry of, “Catch!,” the tennis ball is in midair once more, and you watch as another kid takes a turn at catching the ball–this time one with a raccoon mutation. She barely misses the couch, the ball bouncing off of her fingers and onto the ground below, but she plucks it up from the ground as if it were some lost treasure, disappearing with it into the throng of former captives just as quickly.

“Got another one.” Matt calls, pulling another tennis ball out of nowhere. Which reminds you…

“What are we going to do with all these kids?” You find yourself voicing your thoughts aloud.

“Weren’t we just gonna keep em’ at the warehouse for the night?” Bernard tilts his head. For that, you really don’t have a choice.

“I meant afterwards.” You clarify, because it’s a dangerous idea to keep your base-of-operations filled with mutants on a long-term basis– both for yourselves and for the other mutants.

“Ah.” Bernard’s face fills with realization. “I just kinda thought we’d figure that one out once we got em’ situated.” He looks kind of sheepish at the admission before he turns to Matt. “Stick, you got any ideas?”

“Well,” He starts, throwing the ball back to the other end of the room. “Our main goal was to get them back home. Their homes.” Matt corrects himself, stepping closer to the two of you before lowering his voice. “We can’t really do that tonight or in a single day for that matter, so we might be finding ourselves housing some of these guys longer than we expected.”

“Define long.” You return, just as quietly. From off to the side, you watch as Bernard continues the game of catch, making a show of catching the ball with a series of flashy teleports.

“A couple of days, maybe a week…” Matt shrugs. “It all really depends on how fast we can get them back home.”

“But I mean where,” You put extra emphasis on the ‘where’ so that he’s on the same page as you. “Where are we going to put them?”

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5308221

“Honestly, I’ve been thinking about that all night. I was almost going to suggest the sewers, and, while I hate the idea of all my clothes smelling like shit, if it boils down to it…”

Well, he’s not wrong– there really is no shortage of tunnels in Konigsburg’s sewers. You’re bound to find one or even many that will fit your newly-acquired troupe of mutants. As much as you don’t like the smell of sewage, if it’s what you have to do, it’s what you have to do.

Still, the warehouse and the sewers can’t be your only options. Honestly.

As you struggle to find any other solutions to the problem at hand, amid the turning and grinding of gears in your skull, you can’t help but blurt out, “Is there anywhere outside of Konigsburg that we could possibly hide these kids?”

At first, Matt doesn’t seem to have a response to your question… that is, until brown eyes go wide, as if suddenly remembering something.

“Hey, I know that look.” You poke him in the chest. “ If you got something, spit it out.”

“I might.” He says, smoothing over his visible features, but he still doesn’t look like he wants to spill the beans.

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5308223

However, Matt knows very-well just how stubborn you are and that you likely won’t relent until he gives in, which he does. “You know that girl with the gravity powers? Actually, let’s just call her Nova…” He mutters. ”Anyways, back on topic, Nova’s aunt and uncle own a big-ass farm.” Immediately, it clicks, and you realize your brother’s initial reluctance at the idea.

“I can call her tomorrow. Or not. Wherever we hide these kids, it’s up to you, Kelpie.”

Putting your hand to your chin, you take a quick moment to ponder on which of these places would be the best for your newest operation at-hand…

>Where to hide the captives?
>The warehouse! (Pros: Close by, Ermac monitoring 24/7; Cons: Base of operations = gigafucked)
>The sewers! (Pros: Close by, secluded, hard for normal trespassers to navigate; Cons: might smell, dodgy closed-quarter fights)
>Nova’s!/Jenna’s! (Pros: Far away from Konigsburg; Cons: Far away from Konigsburg)
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5308224
>>The sewers! (Pros: Close by, secluded, hard for normal trespassers to navigate; Cons: might smell, dodgy closed-quarter fights)

I figure close-quarters works in our favor if we take the time to get the lay of the land and set it up correctly. There's also bound to be a monitoring station or maintenance area that isn't as exposed to crap water.

As for the smell, well, it'll keep the Nosey Nellies away too. We could always stock up on, like, air fresheners and disinfectant, too. The sewers also allow easy travel around the city--that should make it easy to get the kiddos home.

Warehouse is a bit too close to home and the farm, while cool, might be bad if we have to rush over in the near future.
>>
That's it for the night-- feeling tired as hell since it's a bit past my bedtime.

Other than that, I should mention that updates/new drawings *might* be a bit sluggish in the coming weeks, namely because I'm still recovering from having two episodes in the same nine-day span.The cure, thankfully, is none other than R&R, so I'll be doing just that in the meantime.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5308224
>Nova’s!/Jenna’s! (Pros: Far away from Konigsburg; Cons: Far away from Konigsburg)
Bruh I almost forgot Jenna herself was a mutant. How strong are her powers again ? like echoes act 3 or higher ?
>>5308235
damn, I wish you well my dude. btw what's R&R ?
>>
>>5308224
>The sewers! (Pros: Close by, secluded, hard for normal trespassers to navigate; Cons: might smell, dodgy closed-quarter fights)
Pros: cool, sewers!
Cons: oh no, sewers...
>>
>>5308224
>>Nova’s!/Jenna’s! (Pros: Far away from Konigsburg; Cons: Far away from Konigsburg)
>>
>>5308238

R&R = rest and relaxation/rest and recuperation--and yeah that thread with Jenna in it seemed like forever ago.

>Jenna's powers
As for her powers, I'd say definitely higher than Echoes Act 3-- in thread #3, with negligible control over her powers at that time, she was able to negate the gravitational field around the entire bank and then some (if I'm remembering correctly). Since then, she's gotten a way better handle over her powers.

Gonna leave the vote until later, since there seems to be a bit of an impasse here.
>>
Wew. Guess that vote really is a tough one, which is why I'm gonna call the vote in about a half-hour (probably with a dice roll or something), so until then!
>>
>>5309037
Screw it--I'll change >>5308231 to
>Farm
>>
>>5308238
>>5308485
>>5309071
>Goodbye, city life!

>>5308407
>Morlock ripoffs!

Congrats on taking advantage of my lateness--Looks like some mutants are going to get to discover the joys of country living in the near future!

Writing!
>>
Sorry folks, I'm not feeling all that great, so I'm going to move the update to tomorrow-- hopefully sometime in the afternoon.

Thanks for the understanding, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5309207
Take your time, OP. Get well and post your best fit fishes
>>
>>5309207
You weak, wretched, SLIME of a QM... How DARE you?

Nah really dude, take care of yourself. And do what >>5309213 and get well enough to post more fit fish.
>>
>>5309213
>>5309219

Thanks frens! Feeling a lot less funky after resting-- might not be in the 100% field quite yet, but I'm definitely feeling much better than last night!

Anyhow, enough procrastinating-- it's writing time!
>>
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>>5309736

You take a moment to consider where exactly you should hide these kids.

On one hand, you have the sewers, which would have no shortage of tunnels and passages to hide in. Moreover, you’ve found that the sewers have kind-of grown on you if you’re being honest with yourself– aside from the very-distinctive smell, there’s something about the tunnels that you find almost welcoming, in a strange sort of way.

If your hiding place were to be found, particularly by FutureLabs or any of their affiliates, a closed-quarter fight could get dodgy pretty fast, and, with one wrong turn, any of the mutants here that you just saved would be good as captured.

This isn’t for you, however, and, the more you think about it, the more appeal you find in the idea of sending the captives off to Jenna’s farm. While you can’t quite recall how far said farm is from Konigsburg, there’s a lot more breathing room and room to run if need be. You’d think the kids would appreciate the prospect of open space much more than a cramped sewer as well.

It’s a no-brainer, really. And, with that, you declare your choice with a, “Let’s go with the farm!”

“Really?” Matt lifts a brow, looking slightly surprised. “Could’ve sworn you would’ve gone for the sewer if I’m being honest.”

“You said it yourself,” You tell him, giving Matt a nudge with your elbow. “Do you really think anyone here would honestly like going somewhere that smells like sewage of all things?”

“Touche.” Your brother finally concedes. “I’ll let Nova know tomorrow– getting them all out of Konigsburg will be an absolute cinch.”

“You already have a plan?” A smile pulls at your lips.

>(1/?)
>>
>>5309806

“Do you remember who you’re talking to?” A hint of smug pride fills Matt’s voice. “Since when don’t I have a plan?” At that, he straightens up, nearly starting for the direction of the captain’s quarters, but then stops just as quickly, eyes training themselves back onto you.

“By the way,” Matt begins, his voice much lower than it was before, so that only you can hear. “What did take you so long?”

“Why is it so important?” You respond, voice suddenly becoming a hiss. It’s clear that you’re none-too-pleased that Matt brought up something you hoped he would’ve dropped for the time being. Sure, he might be asking in case there’s more of FutureLabs’ goons trailing you, but that last fight with John left a bad taste in your mouth.

“Well, for starters, you’ve been standing around in your underwear the whole damn time without giving a crap.” He points out. “Either A: you’ve completely forgotten where you are and what the hell you’re doing; or B: there’s something else that’s on your mind.”

“I destroyed all the boats and their backup.” You respond, crossing your arms.

“Good.” Matt finally nods after a beat. “Then that’s all I needed to know. Now let me make sure Pharos is charting the course correctly, or someone’s gonna get it...” And, with that, he swivels on his foot, throwing his bat over his shoulder and disappearing into the crowd.

From an outside point of view, it would appear that Matt’s curiosity had been sated. However, you know for a fact that he’ll want full details later, because he’s not stupid. Everyone will have to know you nearly got gutted in your fight with John, like… like a damn fish!

“Hey Kelpie!” Bernard’s voice rouses you from your thoughts. “I got a problem with one of the kids over here.” Turning around to face him, you find that the blonde is carrying a short, tawny-haired kid so that his arms are pinned to his sides– a familiar one, to be more precise.

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5309812

“Stooooop!” Simon whines, kicking his feet at the air. “Put me down!”

“Not until you stop usin’ your power on the other kids without permission.” Is Bernard’s rebuttal.

“But they let me.” Simon insists, pausing his kicks for a brief moment.

“That’s a lie, and you know it.” Bernard doesn't believe him one bit, and, turning his focus back to you, the teleporter asks, “Any clue on what to do with the miniature psychic?”

“I’m not a psychic!” The small kid is more indignant at being called a psychic than the fact he’s being carried around like a toddler, and now his reddish eyes are on you. “Tell him, Kelpie!”

“No, Simon is not a psychic.” You shake your head, finding his insistence oddly amusing. “He just seems to really like using his power on people without their permission.”

While you thought you’d given Simon a good lesson on what happens to kids who use their powers on others without permission, it seems that he didn’t quite get the message. Still, you should see what he has to say for himself.

>Wat do?

>Give him a chance to plead his case. Figure out if he *really* got permission, or is he lying through his teeth?
>What kind of stories did he think he was going to find around here with everyone being a former-captive anyhow?
>What did you say about him keeping his freaky-deaky hands off of other people? Were you not clear enough back at the building?!
>Reluctantly give him the benefit of the doubt with a small warning on the side. You don’t see the big deal in him using his power on others if they let him.
>Write-in
>>
>>5309819
>>Give him a chance to plead his case. Figure out if he *really* got permission, or is he lying through his teeth?
alright shitty tot, you get one freebie
>>
>>5309819
>Give him a chance to plead his case. Figure out if he *really* got permission, or is he lying through his teeth?
You're on thin ice, kiddo!
>>
>>5309889
+1
>>
>>5309831
>>5309889
>>5309896

Time to see what Simon has to say for himself!
Writing!
>>
>>5309819
>Give him a chance to plead his case. Figure out if he *really* got permission, or is he lying through his teeth?
>>
>>5309976

Kids are poor liars, and really obvious ones at that– even the mutant ones are no different than their normal-kid counterparts. Simon should be no different.

“Alright, Simon.” You address him, putting a hand on your hip. In Bernard’s hold, the small kid is nearly eye-level with you, but, on ground-level, he would barely come past your hips. “Give me one good reason why I should believe you.”

“Uh–” He stammers, reddish eyes bugging slightly. You feel his heart rate pick up just the slightest. “Um… I helped you guys find that stuff you wanted, didn’t I?” The Aurum Impulsum, you recall, although you could’ve easily found that on your own with a little extra time and searching.

Still, that’s not an actual reason, and, when Simon realizes that the two of you aren’t buying it, he tries for a different angle, one that has a bit more logic than his first attempt at a plea.

“Ask the seagull girl!” He exclaims, eyes lighting up with a new idea. “Let’s go see her– she’ll tell you I’m not a liar.”

No sooner does he say that then are the three of you taken to the seagull girl in a flash.

—----

“No?” Disbelief colors Bernard’s voice.

“That’s right. I let him.” The bird-girl affirms, who calls herself Delilah. At the moment, you don’t really care if it’s her real name or a codename.

“No offense, kid, but you looked kinda wonky when you were under his spell.” Having been at the tail-end of Valjean’s power, Bernard seems to be more cautious of Simon than either you or the seagull-harpy. “You sure you really let him do that to you?”

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5310190

“...I wanted to.” She nods before digging her face into the crook of her shoulder in a very birdlike way. “I wanted to see if I made back– caw!” The end of that sentence is punctuated by a series of coughs.

Mind flitting back to your time at the compound, you do remember that she’d been coughing back there as well. In addition, the hard, cold stone likely hadn’t been too good for a mutant of her size and stature. Perhaps choosing the farm over the sewers was a good idea after all.

Finally, she says, “I wanted to see if I made it back home.”

“Did you?” You wonder aloud. Her lips quirk upwards in the faintest semblance of a smile, so you’ll take that as a yes in your book. At that, Delilah goes back to preening herself, not really paying attention to the three of you anymore.

“Case closed?” You fire the question off to Bernard, who still seems nonplussed about this whole thing.

“Looks like it’s your lucky day– you’re free to go, Simon.” Rather dubiously, Bernard lowers the younger kid to the ground. “Now don’t go doin’ your mind-stuff without permission, cause I’ll know.” He waggles a finger at Simon. “It’s not nice, ya hear?”

“I won’t.” Simon says earnestly. “See you soon!” He waves, dipping out from your view, and, with that you feel him disappear from your side of the room.

While you’re not in the mood to play ball yourself, you entertain yourself by watching Bernard resume the game of catch he was playing with the other kids, but it isn’t long before the game of catch comes to a close as the crackle of an intercom interrupts the game.

”Hello, this is your captain speaking, telling you that it is now time to disembark.” Valjean’s voice resounds throughout the room. “Please gather below deck in a calm and orderly fashion, where our complementary teleporter will take you to your next destination.” Stealing a glance around the room, you watch as the captives file into the room a little too calmly for your standards. No way that Valjean isn’t using his power there. “As always, your cooperation is appreciated. Thank you for sailing with the Pharos Cruise Line.”

“Looks like it’s my time to shine, fish.” At that, Bernard pulls another Super Vital Shot out of nowhere, tears the top off, and downs the whole thing in one go.

>(2/?)
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>>5310208

With renewed fervor, Bernard takes the captives from the ship in groups of twos, threes, and fours, stopping only to let more captives grab onto him. Next goes Valjean, Matt, and Julia, followed by the loot you took from the club.

All that’s left is you and the boat, and, without really even thinking about it, you drive your fist into the nearest wall a good several times until water is downright gushing into the lounging room.

As you watch the opulent space fill up with water, you’re vaguely reminded of that one movie with the giant boat, the R.M.S. Gigantes. You definitely didn’t cry at the end of it, and, even if you did (which you definitely did not), no one was around to see it.

So, yeah, it definitely did not happen, nor did you used to cry when you heard that stupid flute song on the radio. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar!

“Kelpie,” Bernard snaps you out of your musings, voice devoid of the energy that was present only minutes ago. “What? Did you think I was gonna let you swim back home?” That’s what you assumed since you’re the one sinking it.

”Well, I like a midnight swim as much as the next guy, but I’m feelin’ kinda tapped out.”

With the water nearly up to his shoulders, you make to close the distance between the two of you, and, the second your hand touches his, the sinking ship is replaced by the familiar walls of the warehouse.

>(3/?)
>>
>>5310209

Since it’s usually only five of you at most, it throws you off for a split second to have so many extra people in the warehouse, but your focus is brought back to Bernard as he throws his arms around your neck, barely standing on his own two feet.

Carefully, wordlessly, you help the blonde to the ground, letting him lean on your shoulder for support.

“Nngghh… How far was that stupid boat from this place?” He grouses, but the complaint itself is half-hearted.

“I think Bludgeon got us as far as we could get to the warehouse without compromising it.” You tell Bernard, remembering the barest bones of Matt’s plan.

“...felt like a lot more than that…” Bernard mumbles, not seeming to care that he’s using your half-naked body as a pillow. Unaware, he slouches more, head lolling onto your shoulder. “But you gotta see the bat we got–” He stops, trying to hold onto the last threads of consciousness but to no avail. “...the bat we got stick… s’ the coolest thing…”

That’s the last thing he manages to say before he’s gone from the land of the wakeful, warm breaths brushing against your skin.

>Get Bernard somewhere comfy, stat. He’s earned it!
>Go find that loot Bernard was talking about– you might be tired, but now you wanna see that new bat for yourself!
>Stay where you are for now– you’re not going anywhere until Bernard wakes up, and it doesn’t look like he’s waking up any time soon. Plus, you deserve the rest.
>Write-in

>(4/4)
>>
>>5310233
>>Get Bernard somewhere comfy, stat. He’s earned it!
>>
Damn. It's way past my newly-established, functional human-being bedtime by a wide margin.

Good thing I get a day off tomorrow yeet yeet! I may have plans tomorrow, however, so updates will probably be like around 7-8 EST unless I say otherwise.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5310233
>Get Bernard somewhere comfy, stat. He’s earned it!
>>5310246
Sleep Tight OP
>>
>>5310233
>Get Bernard somewhere comfy, stat. He’s earned it!
>>
>>5310233
>Get Bernard somewhere comfy, stat. He’s earned it!

oh pog this is back
>>
>>5310236
>>5310250
>>5310431
>>5310618

>Le unanimous vote
Writing!
>>
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>>5310908

“Yo, B.” You lower Bernard so you can pat his cheek once, then twice to try to rouse him. However, the only response you get for your troubles is a loud, drawn-in snore.

If Bernard was teleporting as many people as you think he did at such a far distance from the warehouse, then it isn’t all-that surprising to you that he really is out for the count.

You should get him somewhere comfy, you think. Bernard pretty much earned it for all the heavy lifting he did, teleportation-wise.

Hefting the blonde up in a bridal carry, you make for the new loft at the end of the warehouse– the one that Bernard wanted to build by himself. On it, there’s already an old mattress with springs bursting out of its sides as well as a few of the blonde’s T-shirts.

However, you find that the loft is occupied by one of the captives: a kid who looks like he just stepped out of that Meinkraft game.

He’d been setting down new planks of wood on the half-finished platform, but your sudden arrival causes the kid to whip around, looking like he just got caught with his block-hand in the cubical cookie jar.

“No, keep doing what you’re doing! I’m just bringing Blink somewhere to sleep.” You tell the kid, who looks a whole lot less tense after those words.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5311119

Taking stock of block-kid’s handiwork, you find that, not only did he almost finish the platform, but he also added torches. Torches! Curiously, you put your finger to one, finding that it's just about as warm as a heated blanket. The crafting table, on the other hand, does nothing when you poke it or slap your hand down against it. Perhaps it’s something that only works for him? You wonder to yourself, which is most likely the case.

“Wanna see my diamond pickaxe?” The kid interrupts your examination of the crafting table, and you nod, because why the heck not? Proudly, the kid brandishes it, but, at the same time, he looks kind of sheepish for whatever reason.

“Uh…I got in a lot of trouble for making this. I took my grandma’s necklace to get the diamonds.” He scratches the back of his head. Before, you couldn't really tell how old this kid was with his mutation, but, after hearing him speak, it sounds as if he were just about high-school age, if not a little older.

“I enchanted the crap out of it though so it’d never break.” Block-kid continues, and, looking closer at the pickaxe, you note the glowing sheen that encompasses it.

“I took some of your wood too, if you don’t mind.”

“Yeah, go ahead–we’re not using anything here.” If the warehouse gets a long-overdue cleanup, you don’t really mind. “Got a name I can call you?”

He takes a second to consider your question before finally saying. “Ralph is fine.” From the tone of his voice, it sounds like he couldn’t really think of anything better, but you’re not one to judge.

“Well, nice to meet you, Ralph.” And, even though he can’t see it from beneath your covered face, you flash him a grin anyway. “Just hang tight, kid. We’ll get you home soon.”

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5311125

There’s a newfound smile on Ralph’s cuboid features, and, with a couple of quick hand-chopping motions, you watch as he destroys the bed you were just about to put Bernard on.

While you're miffed about getting bed taken from you so suddenly, your gut says the block-kid’s up to something, and, true to your intuition, the dingy mattress is replaced with a brand-new bed in a matter of seconds.

“Try it.” Ralph’s prompts.

Leaning down to touch the new bed, Bernard’s lanky frame still in your hold, you find that it looks and feels like a regular bed, which is what you kind of expected here. Still, you have to wonder if it does anything special like the torches, or does it just do nothing for you like the crafting table.

At this point, you’re pretty sure that most of the stuff responds in a video-gamey way when only Ralph uses it, while everything else reacts normally for every other, non-cubic folk.

With that reasoning in mind, you’re pretty sure the bed is safe enough for Bernard– or anyone else for that matter– and, with that, you set the teleporter down on the bed, not wasting time in sitting on it yourself.

Sweet crap. you think. The bed really is comfy.

>(3/4)
>>
>>5311130

While you don’t think anyone will disturb Bernard on the loft, you can’t find it in you to get up off the bed.

Ralph, meanwhile, seems content to keep to himself and his building, and you can’t really argue with that– there have been too many times where you’ve seen Matt lose entire days to the construction of Meinkraft monoliths.

The temptation to stay is indeed very real.

>What do you do?
>Call in the rest of your crew on your comms– make sure there's order with the rest of the captives (Who?)
>Go peep the loot you got at the Miller-Ford Building. Didn’t Bernard say something about a new bat?
>Stay here for now– there are a shitton of other mutants afoot, and it's comfy! You’ll stay for that reason and nothing else.
>Write-in

>(4/4)
>>
That's it for the night! I gotta go to bed if I want any hope of not being a walking corpse in the morning.

Probably no update tomorrow, unless I feel sufficiently not-tired.
As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5311164
I can guess what Ralph was doing when the particle accelerator exploded. Is this a form or is he stuck like this forever? I guess there are worse physical mutations you could get... This
recent batch of mutants is pretty bullshit, but M-guard is also kinda bullshit so I can't complain.
>Go peep the loot you got at the Miller-Ford Building. Didn’t Bernard say something about a new bat?
>>
>>5311178
So, on the topic of our loot... What do we do with the Aurum Impulsum? Do we risk drawbacks and maybe death in exchange for powerups?
Jewel is out on account of already having her dose, Ermac is out on account of not having a body, I don't trust Pharos with even more power.
And we already struggle with keeping Elise in check so I'm certanly not voting for us.
Blink has the most important power on the team for sure, he certainly could use the powerup. But no one could use a powerup more than Matt, tho we don't know IC that you can give normies powers with AuIm, he's the safer option. So, what do you guys think?
>>
>>5311164
>Go peep the loot you got at the Miller-Ford Building. Didn’t Bernard say something about a new bat?
Meinkraft reminds me of that funny video of a German grandpa who mistakes the Minecraft his grandson wanted for a copy of Meinkampf
>>
>>5311164
>Go peep the loot you got at the Miller-Ford Building. Didn’t Bernard say something about a new bat?
>>
>>5311164
>Go peep the loot you got at the Miller-Ford Building. Didn’t Bernard say something about a new bat?
Where's the redstone?
>>
>>5311164
>Stay here for now– there are a shitton of other mutants afoot, and it's comfy! You’ll stay for that reason and nothing else.
definitely no other reason
>>
>>5311164
>>Go peep the loot you got at the Miller-Ford Building. Didn’t Bernard say something about a new bat?
>>
>>5311178
>>5311225
>>5311242
>>5311417
>>5312387

>Peep that shit!

>>5311572
>Stay cause it's comfy, b-baka...

Looks like loot-check wins out! I'll start writing the update later in the afternoon.

But just to answer/respond to some stuff first:
>>5311178
Yes, Ralph is stuck as-is. Kind of sucks when you put it in perspective-- some mutants are less fortunate than others.

>>5311225
Saw that. Keked heartily.


>>5311417
Ralph can only take pre-existing materials and use them as 'blocks,' if you will. However, in a sort-of black-boxed way-- the same way he could take the junk bed and convert it into a new, Meinkrafty bed-- he is able to take certain gemstones (i.e. rubies to redstone) and convert them into their in-game equivalent. Does not work for all gems though. That, and it would take a heaping ton of rubies to accomplish anything of worth.
>>
>>5313116

Forgot trip dammit.
>>
>>5313116
So we can buy him several dozens of eggs, and have him throw them around until we get cute cubic chicken-ducks?
>>
>>5313116
Somebody needs to get him pumpkins and saplings and a bucket and a portal to hell so he can mine in the Nether
>>
>>5313179
>spoiler
if he has an enchanted diamond pickaxe he has obsidian, so he could make a portal if the nether actually exist.
Also, if he can get five diamonds out of one necklace surely it shouldn't be hard for him to get enough redstone for a perpetual motion machine to give us infinite clean energy.
>>
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>>5313125
Odds are 1/8 kek. Would behave exactly like the in-game chicken. Edibility to normies is unknown as of yet.

>>5313322
>>5313179
At least for Ralph, the Nether *does* exist, kinda like in those comics where the MC can access video-game mechanics. Recall how Ralph was able to use the crafting table, but Elise wasn't. He doesn't and will not talk about it. Picrel.

>clean energy
Didn't even think of that-- I'm pretty piss poor when it comes to redstone mechanics. Had to google how that works myself. But it looks like Ralph has a very promising future as an energy tycoon.
>>
>>5313374
I'm not knowledgable in redstone at all but i'm pretty sure all you need is a repeater and a red torch to make a piston go on and on infinitely. There you have it, infinite clean energy.
>>
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>>5313116

Ah, the loot! That’s right– you picked up some pretty interesting stuff from the crates before you high-tailed it out of there.

For one, there was that bat that Bernard kept going on about, and, while you don’t have any need for a bat or any weapon for that matter, you’re sure Matt is over the moon for it.

More importantly, however, was the Aurum Impulsum; had it been left in the hands of the enemy, it wouldn’t have been long before someone learned how to synthesize it into some sort of street drug.

Now the nefarious serum is in your hands, and you need to figure out just what you’re going to do with it.

Sparing one last glance to Bernard, who continues to sleep without a care in the world, you hop right off the platform in the direction of where you sense the others.

Even before you reach them, you can hear the sounds of heated chatter. Over what, you’re not sure, but, once you near your teammates, the topic of debate soon becomes clear.

“Watch it!” That comes from Valjean.

“Don’t be such a wimp–” Is Matt’s retort, followed by the sound of a resounding crash. “You’re in a bullet-proof vest for crying out loud!”

“What’s the commotion?” Your arrival interrupts the squabble-in-progress.

“Got a new bat and am taking it for a spin.” Matt brandishes his new weapon proudly before driving it into the nearest crate, the force of his swing breaking right through the wood.

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5313536

Compared to his old bat, while you’re not an expert on metals, the new bat seems far sturdier than his old one. However, the defining feature of the new bat is that it’s wrapped in barbed wire– that, and regular wire as well.

“It’s just a bat covered in barbed wire.” Julia points out the obvious. “What’s so special about that?”

Wordlessly, your brother presses a button on the side, causing small, electrical sparks to dance across the spikes. Looks, however, are very deceptive, and you know for a fact that any normal person that gets shocked by that is going to be down for the count. Neat!

Though, you have to wonder how Matt’s not getting shocked by the bat, until you notice the material wrapped around the handle. Whatever that’s made of is likely some sort of insulator, you reason.

“Where’s the other stuff?” You segue the conversation into more pressing matters, like the Aurum Impulsum. You know it’s on Matt, as you can feel that same, leaden aura that you felt back at the Miller-Ford Building emanating from somewhere on his person.

“The Yuan?” Matt throws a fat stack of foreign bills to the ground. “Don’t see why you guys took what’s basically funny money, but I’m not one to judge.”

>(2/3)
>>
>>5313539

“She means the Aurum Impulsum, you obtuse midget.” A bolt of shock courses through you, and, in the darkness, you see Matt’s eyes widen just a fraction. Is Valjean able to feel it too?

You don’t spend long guessing, however, as the former Crux leader then adds, “Maranzano had plans to sell it before we busted down his little operation– that operative you fought said so herself.”

“Then shouldn’t it have been somewhere with the captives?” Julia questions, and the question is enough to have two sets of eyes on you.

>Wat do?
>Lie. You didn’t have enough time to search with Zeus blowing up the side of the building.
>Flip the topic of conversation. Shouldn’t there have been some on that Predator mutant you fought?
>Be transparent with your team. Tell them you have it, and that’s that.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5313544
>>Be transparent with your team. Tell them you have it, and that’s that.
Thank Simon for that
>>
>>5313544
>Be transparent with your team. Tell them you have it, and that’s that.
Did we end up using it ? Gotta check the archive real quick.
>>
>>5313587

Nope. It hasn't been used. We gave it to Bernard, who handed it off to Matt.
>>
Calling vote at about 9:30 EST cause I gotta wake up early.
>>
>>5313549
>>5313587

Called! Writing!
>>
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>>5313618

It’d be no use to hide this from your team, not when you’re going to be working together for as long as it takes to bring down FutureLabs.

“We have the Aurum Impulsum.” You direct your words at the two former Crux members. While both Valjean’s and Julia’s faces are unreadable, Matt gives you a look as if you just killed someone. The heck, Matt?

“So you did find it.” Valjean’s words are more of a statement than a question.

“Yes.” You affirm, wondering just what he has to say about the matter.

“Better you guys than Maranzano or FutureLabs, I guess. Asshole’s going to be running back to New York with his tail between his legs after this, that’s for sure.” Valjean says, a jeering grin spreading across his face. “So much for that so-called mafia pride.”

“Well, if FutureLabs didn’t have their eyes on them before, then they definitely do now.” Matt interjects. “This might work in our favor in the long run.”

With no one saying anything to that, your brother takes that as his cue to continue.

“So you know how Maranzano’s main headquarters is actually in New York, and FutureLabs was just given the go-ahead to deploy their forces there?” The question is mostly a rhetorical one. “What I’m thinking is that they’ll eventually go after Maranzano, possibly in the near future, and so they’ll be spreading their forces pretty damn thin if they decide some special intervention is needed.” Special as in mutant, your mind fills in.

“So if and when we finally extract Conduit, I was thinking we could coincide it with whenever they’re deployed.” Matt finishes.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5313720

“Not to be the bearer of bad news, genius, but it’s not like FutureLabs is especially forthcoming with their information.” Valjean crosses his arms.

“Are you kidding? That whole freaking group has been the talk of the Internet ever since the conference– they even got a Chitter hashtag. And merch!” Matt sounds almost jealous at that last part.

What did they call themselves again? The X-Force? True to Matt’s word, you get bombarded with those damn headlines every time you open a social media app, and you’re getting really tired of seeing John’s traitorous face plastered everywhere. Clyde’s too!

“Then there’s the MutantWatch station.” Matt’s voice interrupts your seething train-of-thought. You’ve been using that radio station to save other mutants for as long as you’ve known it existed. “Honestly, I’m surprised they still haven’t caught onto us.”

“That’s cause most people are too stupid to use the radio anymore.” Is Valjean’s remark.

“Damn right.”

“So when are we taking these kids out of Konigsburg?” You wonder aloud, mind flitting to another topic of importance. You hadn’t been really paying attention before, but, so far as the captives have been in the warehouse, they’d been acting a whole lot less raucous than they were on the boat. Almost unnaturally so.

You got a good idea as to who the culprit is, and, while you’d like to tell Valjean not to brainwash the captives, you think it’s better that they don’t act as rambunctious as they would be while they’re still in your main base of operations. For now, you’ll let the whole brainwashing-thing slide.

“Tomorrow night, when B’s ready for it of course.” Is Matt’s answer. “Gonna teleport them out of Konigsburg and drive them all to Nova’s. Not in our car, of course.”

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5313721

“Who’s Nova?” Julia lifts an eyebrow. You watch your brother fidget a bit through the darkness.

“A friend.” Matt says and leaves it at that.

With that taken care of, all that’s left is to wait for Bernard to wake up so you can go home and catch some rest before you have to follow up with the plan Matt already concocted.

That is, if he wakes up anytime soon. He could very well sleep right into the next day if you let him.

>What do you do?
>Stay awake until Bernard’s up. That shouldn’t be long at all, right?
>Go find somewhere to sleep– the kids are sort-of taken care of and you’re very, very tired.
>Wait– you had something else to talk about (Who?/What?)!
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
That's it for the night! Will try for an update tomorrow (at least one). If not, I'll let you guys know.

Also, for the third option there, I meant 'with whom.' Not 'about who.' Simple mistake on my part, and I don't feel like deleting.


Other than that, if you *have* noticed the absence of new drawings... I may have hit my hand on a ceiling fan. Wouldn't have admitted it otherwise, but it affects my drawing hand.
And I like making new drawings :C

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5313729
>Stay awake until Bernard’s up. That shouldn’t be long at all, right?
Not long at all! Obviously we should stick with him--I'm sure we won't conk out in the same room or anything weird like that! H-haha...

>>5313738
Sounds like you met your biggest fan, QM. Hope it feels better soon--we dig your drawings too.
>>
>>5313729
>>Go find somewhere to sleep– the kids are sort-of taken care of and you’re very, very tired.
>>
>>5313729
>Go find somewhere to sleep– the kids are sort-of taken care of and you’re very, very tired.
>>
>>5313729
>Go find somewhere to sleep– the kids are sort-of taken care of and you’re very, very tired
Go sleep (literally) with Bernard
>>
>>5313729
>Wait– you had something else to talk about (Who?/What?)!
Ask Matt why he was so freaked we admitted to owning the Impulsum

>>5313721
also that stuff makes it past the FutureLabs social media stranglehold? Must be because it isn't critical of them
>>
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>>5313741
>Sleep is for the WEAAAKKKKKK
Keked at the pun way too hard.

>>5313762
>>5313780
>>5313787
>Good night, sweet prince(ss)

>>5314221
>Write-in!
If Lockheed Martin can market pride socks, why can't FutureLabs market their own superheroes? Picrel.
And pretty much as you said that stuff makes it past the stranglehold, at least within the bounds of Konigsburg, since it's not mission critical. I think I either mentioned or implied this in an earlier thread (pretty sure it was the one thread where Matt was trolling Eddie on Chitter), but FL pays social media companies grossly to keep Konigsburg-based trends or hashtags (i.e. muties) *within* Konigsburg. Even still, most non-Konigsburg natives who've managed to get a glimpse of mutant-based content are highly skeptical about the concept of mutants, though you have the occasional fanatic who wholeheartedly BELIEVES.

Anyways, just got back from work, so I'll start writing up the next update in a bit.
>>
>>5314432
WAIT A SECOND. I just realized I'm stupid.
Julia is made out of diamonds. We could get our own diamond axe from Ralph right now!
Ah well, next vote for sure.
>>
>>5314432

The more you think about sleep, the more appealing the idea becomes– that is, the idea of going to sleep yourself. Thankfully for you, Valjean and Julia take their leave once it’s settled that you’ll be taking the kids out of Konigsburg tomorrow.

You’re pretty sure Matt’s got the specifics of that more-than handled.

Speaking of which, there was something you wanted to ask him once you got him on his own.

“Still here?” You address him, lowering your voice a notch.

“Mhmm…” Matt hums, making himself comfortable against the wall.

“Why’d you look so freaked that I told the others about the Aurum Impulsum?” You cut straight to the chase.

At that, he gives you a look– one that tells you he wasn’t quite expecting that question– and, for a good, long moment, he doesn’t say anything, opting to run a hand down the bridge of his nose.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Matt huffs. “Don’t beat yourself up over that shit. I’m the one being stupid here.”

“Stupid how?” You shoot back, still wondering what Matt’s issue with the whole transparency thing is.

“I’m just… I dunno, I keep getting paranoid over every damn thing. It kinda feels like a force of habit not to trust anyone at all… even though the asshat knowing about the Aurum Impulsum doesn’t really make a bit of difference.” Your brother trails off, pulling at the hem of his sleeve.

“So what was the big deal then?” You ask, waiting patiently as Matt seems to wrack his brain for an answer.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5314620

“Just…” Matt starts, dithering a bit over his words. “I honestly feel fucked up over what John did to us.” He admits, and it becomes glaringly obvious what the root of your brother’s trepidation is. “You think that shit hasn’t been on my mind all day long? Just how much time until the next person comes and screws us over?”

You’re reminded that it hasn’t even been a day since John revealed himself as a mutant, and not even a few hours since you fought him yourself. “Sorry if I’m ranting, but all of this has really gotten to my head.”

While Matt isn’t one for useless platitudes or anything else of the sort, you think that listening to him is the best support you can give him for the time being. At the very least, you’re thankful he’s not asking about what happened before you got on the boat or back at the Miller-Ford Building in general, though you know he hasn’t forgotten.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5314623

If anyone should know what happened back there, it’s Matt– because, while John has sworn himself as your enemy, he’s still your brother– which is why Matt has as much of a right to know as you.

You feel the words forming on the tip of your tongue. At the same time, however, a lump forms in your throat that prevents you from speaking, as the sensation of that brutal fight is still fresh in your mind.

>Tell him what happened. Get it over with.
>Drop it for now and get some rest. You’re not ready to talk about it quite yet-- plus, you think the others should definitely know.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5314628
>Tell him what happened. Get it over with.
You think you feel bad? We're about to blow this poor child out of the water in these depression olympics.
>>
>>5314628
>>Tell him what happened. Get it over with.
then tomorrow you'll wake up fresh and free of grievances
>>
>>5314628
>Tell him what happened. Get it over with.
It's a shitty situation, but Matt needs to know. John clearly isn't going to pull his punches in the future, so we gotta make sure Matt won't either.
>>
>>5314623
That john is looking fresh
>>5314628
>Tell him what happened. Get it over with.
>>
>>5314630
>>5314632
>>5314643
>>5314689

Called! Writing!
>>
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>>5314694

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6MdOmOelbM

Like the beat of a fervent rock tune, the weight of the night’s events relentlessly crash down upon you. All-too-quickly, Matt’s voice brings you back to the present. “What’s wrong?”

You bite your tongue until you taste blood, feeling a rush of warmth slide down your throat. The familiar taste does nothing to calm the buzzing tumult that is your mind, but, instead, you bite harder, as if to bite your own tongue from your mouth.

It’d be far easier to clam up and run away– to leave the problem to fester like a spot of mold until the next time you’re confronted about it. However, something within you is urging you to spill your guts to Matt here and now.

“I fought him tonight, you know, and do you want to know what happened?” Your tongue ultimately betrays you, the words tumbling helplessly from your mouth. Still, you let the words dangle in the air, as if they were hanging from a noose.

“He tried to kill me.” You finish, long and drawn-out. Matt doesn’t respond; the hollow look in his eyes is a mere echo of how you feel. What could he possibly say?

That’s all it takes for the rest to come pouring from your lips like a gushing waterfall– from the detour with Clyde, to the ambush, to the part where you confronted John about his wrongdoings.

Most importantly, however, is one thing you would have never imagined, not even in your wildest dreams. It’s that John…

John is just like you.

That same face you’ve seen for the past eighteen years of your life– one that’s been present in nearly every stepping stone of your life– shares a body with the scaled, hulking monstrosity you faced off against in the bay: Jacobson.

And, just like you, there's a roaring instinct that thrums beneath the surface of his skin, brutal and visceral and unforgiving in every sense. You saw that side of your older brother firsthand.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5314924

As much as you wish to deny it, you could feel the killing intent for yourself, whether that stemmed from John’s own brutal instinct or a deep-seated desire for revenge over Eddie’s “death.” But your instinct, while savage and unpredictable, has hardly ever been wrong about that sort of thing.

“I wonder if we could have stopped this if we told him from the get-go…” Matt mutters, at as much of a loss as you are. Even retroactively, the mere idea of revealing your secret to anyone-- especially John-- makes your blood run cold.

>What do you say?
>You couldn’t have known this would’ve happened. Not whatsoever. Whatever happened has happened– nothing can change that.
>Maybe telling him would’ve been the better option back then– maybe you could’ve gotten some help (any help?)– but you were stupid and scared and didn’t have one ounce of control over your powers. It’s not your fault!
>Who’s to say he wouldn’t have taken you straight to FutureLabs if you revealed yourself? Even if it was out of misguided kindness, you’d be worse-off in the long-run.
>Telling him anything wouldn’t have changed a thing– he would’ve still hidden his powers from you anyways. Would've still hidden everything from you (wouldn't he have?).
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
That's it. I'm dead for the night-- super dead actually, which is like dead but with a cape.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5314931
>He'd still be under Atticus' thumb and a mutant so...
>>Who’s to say he wouldn’t have taken you straight to FutureLabs if you revealed yourself? Even if it was out of misguided kindness, you’d be worse-off in the long-run.
>No M-Guard means lots of people enslaved or dead. Sucks to say that your conscience and John's wellbeing is a small sacrifice for the greater good.
>Telling the truth is suicide so long as FutureLabs exists, so we'll fix that problem first and deal with the fallout then.
>>
>>5314931
>Who’s to say he wouldn’t have taken you straight to FutureLabs if you revealed yourself? Even if it was out of misguided kindness, you’d be worse-off in the long-run.
>>
>>5314931
>Who’s to say he wouldn’t have taken you straight to FutureLabs if you revealed yourself? Even if it was out of misguided kindness, you’d be worse-off in the long-run.
>>
>>5314969
+1
>>
>>5314969
>>5314987
>>5315012
>>5315180

I can work with all of these. Writing!
>>
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>>5315456

Matt might be speaking in the hypothetical sense, but he’s wrong all the same, which is why you tell him outright, “That wouldn’t have changed the fact that he’d still be a mutant, and he’d still be right under Atticus Charles’ thumb.”

Telling John your secret wouldn’t have changed a thing– at least for John himself, it wouldn’t have– whether or not he told you his own secret in kind.

“Maybe…” Matt mumbles, not quite looking you in the eye.

“Maybe what?” You echo, wondering what Matt has to say on the matter.

“Maybe he would’ve helped you with, you know…” He pauses, hesitating over his words. “...your instincts and… and everything else.” Like the hunger. “Even if he can barely control his powers himself, like you said, maybe it would’ve been easier to manage. For both of you.”

“Who’s to say he wouldn’t have taken me straight to FutureLabs if I told him?” You fire back. Even if it was out of misguided kindness, you can’t help but wonder if FutureLabs would’ve been John’s first go-to.

“He wouldn’t–”

“You don’t know that!” You cut him off heatedly. “What if he thought that’s what was best, and then I’d be no better off than… I don’t know– Conduit, Caesar?” At best, you’d become a prisoner, trapped in one of FutureLabs’ many containment cells with the occasional visitation from John and held over his head forevermore. Worst case scenario, you’d end up like Caesar– a plaything for the many scientists who roam the whitewashed halls.

“Then we’d have to think about all the people that’d be enslaved or dead without us. You like that idea?” And that would be between both the Crux and FutureLabs.

For someone who thrives off of counterpoints, Matt doesn’t have anything else to say. Because he knows you’re right.

>(1/?)
>>
>>5315806

“As long as FutureLabs exists, telling John is suicide. We can deal with them, and then we can worry about John.” Whatever fallout you’ll face, you’ll deal with it afterwards.

For what feels like the longest time, you and Matt stand there in a tense sort of silence, both of you being equally frustrated at this whole thing.

Perhaps telling John could’ve prevented one thing or another, like you getting stabbed and shot the first time you faced him. However, in comparison to everything else that would’ve changed, those things are inconsequential because, all the same, John would still remain an unwilling prisoner to the whims of the mad doctor.

Eventually, Matt says, “I’m just gonna go. I’ll watch the kids– night.” Then he turns on his heel, wandering off and out of your sight.

You thought you’d feel much better if you told Matt about John, but, after that discussion with him, all you’ve earned is more aggravation for your troubles.

Now is a better time than ever to go to sleep, because you want nothing more but to dive into the nearest trench and never, ever come out; and, here and now, sleep is the next-best thing.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5315808

Scouring the warehouse, you note the distinct absence of comfy spaces other than Bernard’s newly-finished platform, and, while you’d like to give the souped-up space an inspection, you’d rather end the day already.

The only thing you note so far is that the couches are just like how you’d make them yourself in Meinkraft. Fashioned from wooden stairs, in no way would they be comfortable for sleeping.

Which leaves you two options: the floor and the bed.

At the mere thought of the bed, heat rises to your cheeks– one that isn’t borne from the late summer weather. Sure, the space is big enough that it wouldn’t be a squeeze, but Bernard is there, and you– you spare a glance down to the rest of yourself– you’re half-naked for crying out loud!

You wish you told Matt to give you back your suit, but he’s likely very pissed at you; nor did he sound like he wanted to talk anymore after the discussion you had. Well, you don't want to talk to him either.

In any case, you’re sure you’ll feel better in the morning (at least you hope you will). You will have no choice but to win against John, or perhaps die trying.

But, for now, that can all wait for tomorrow– it’s finally time to get some rest.

>You choose to sleep:
>On the bed. B-Because it’s practical!
>On the floor. Save yourself the embarrassment!
>Write-in

>While you sleep:
>You dream.
>You don’t dream.

>(3/3)
>>
>>5315828
>>On the bed. B-Because it’s practical!
>You don’t dream.
>>
>>5315828
>>On the bed. B-Because it’s practical!
>You don’t dream.
>>
>>5315828
>On the bed. B-Because it’s practical!
Isn't there anything in the room we can use to make us show less skin ?

>You dream.
>>
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>>5315830
>>5315863
>>5315927

Looks like bed and no dreaming wins out.

And now that we dug our bed, we gotta lie in it too-- so let's see some 1d100s for how bad we embarrass ourselves!! Just to note: lower is worse in this case.
Best of 3!! Go!
>>
Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>5315938
Now is the time for our third Nat 100
>>
Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>5315938
>>
Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>5315938
Lucky third roll go
>>
>>5315954
>>5315962
>>5315964

>Highest roll: 43!
Writing!
>>
>>5315974

Of course you’re going to sleep on a bed, because you have standards!

Nonetheless, your mind flits to the very obvious issue of your half-nakedness, which is one that you really can’t rectify at the moment. You, however, are not one to let anything get in the way of your precious beauty rest– not even the prospect of eternal embarrassment.

Creeping right up to the bed, you test the digital-looking duvet by plucking it up with the tips of your fingers, pleasantly surprised to find it moves and feels like a regular cover.

Good. You smirk. You can definitely work with this.

While it would take no less than an airhorn to wake an over-exhausted Bernard, you take much care in moving him off the cover until you have enough for yourself, feeling a small rush of elation when the bulk of it is in your hands.

You wrap yourself in the red duvet like a cocoon, wriggling over as far to the edge as you can without falling off. Right now, you feel like a scaly, fishy butterfly, Bernard’s back to yours; while you thought you’d be hot beneath the blanket, you find the evident benefit to your lack of clothing.

One moment you’re awake… and the next, you’re gone to the world. It’s a deep, dreamless sleep– the kind that makes you feel as if you’d been asleep for ages.

Only when something nudges your head are you pulled back to the land of the living.

At first, you refuse to open your eyes, wanting to return to blissful nothingness.

But then you’re nudged again. And again. And again. Who dares?

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5316107

You don’t spend long wondering because the first utterance of ”Fish” has you snapping your eyes wide open, straight into those of Bernard.

Moreover, what you had initially thought was a really comfy pillow was actually, well… him! The hell?!

Like your own face, whose burning is concealed by the color of your scale, the teleporter’s face has taken on a very deep shade of red.

As if time were frozen, the two of you lie there for the longest time, neither of you wishing to acknowledge the… current state of affairs.

Eventually, the awkward tension is too much to bear, Bernard being first to break the silence.

“Mind gettin’ off of me?” He says, and, in any other situation, you’d admire his ability to keep a straight face.

Deeply and truly mortified, however, you do the only thing you can think of doing and roll right off of the bed, tumbling to the ground with a thump.

“Fish, what the--?!” Bernard isn’t sure what to make of that display. “Where the hell are your clothes?”

“No one gave me back my suit.” You state, straightening yourself up off the ground in a vain attempt to regain your lost dignity. Though, you refuse to mention that you fought with Matt.

“It was either there or the floor, but I thought you wouldn’t wake up.” The last part almost sounds like an accusation because, by all means, the blonde should’ve stayed asleep for way longer.

“You’re kinda all over the place when you sleep, fish–and I thought I slept like the dead! Heh.” Again, he tries to lighten the situation with a joke, but an awkward silence overtakes the platform once more.

“...anyone else awake?” You would rather no one caught wind of this. Especially Matt.

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5316112

To that, Bernard doesn’t respond, and, reaching out with your proprioception, you feel Matt somewhere on the ground, in motion. With the way he’s staying in one place, you think he’s exercising or something.

Valjean, too, seems to be in motion somewhere farther away. You can’t blame him either for wanting to keep training.

Strangest yet is that Julia’s heartbeat–which has a unique sort of quality to it when she’s in her crystalline form– is very close to you. Very close to you indeed.

Turning your head in the direction of the heartbeat, you confirm what you already know and find that Julia’s been standing right at the edge of the platform.

>What the hell? Has she been standing there the whole time?!
>Play it cool. Act like you were sitting there since she got there.
>Don’t say anything and see what she wants. Maybe she won’t acknowledge it if you don’t.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
That's it for the night! Gonna rest and stuff.

See you all next time, kings, and thanks for playing!
>>
>>5316114
>wordlessly turn back to Bernard
>wordlessly turn back to Julia
>repeat once or twice
>end with looking back at Julia
>"Mind sparing me some clothes?"
>>
>>5316114
>>Play it cool. Act like you were sitting there since she got there.
>>
>>5316114
>Play it cool. Act like you were sitting there since she got there.
"Have you seen Ralph ?"
>>
>>5316122
+1
>>
>>5316114
>>Play it cool. Act like you were sitting there since she got there.
>>
>>5316114
>Play it cool. Act like you were sitting there since she got there.
"Suuuuup."
>>
>>5316459
>>5316401
>>5316175
>Cool as a freaking cucumber!

>>5316122
>>5316177
>Play it kewl!

Hope this doesn't step on anyone's toes, but I'm going to try and work all of these together! Writing!
>>
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>>5316578

There’s a look in Julia’s crystalline eyes that you can’t quite discern, and it’s one that makes you feel oddly squirmy beneath her gaze.

“Hey… uh, Jewel.” You give a small wave. Stealing a glance back to Bernard, you note that his face is a tinge redder than it was before turning back to Julia and then back to Bernard again.

Finally, your eyes stop on Julia as an idea suddenly forms in your mind– an easy and obvious fix to the situation.

“Mind sparing me some clothes?” You ask, trying but failing to pay no mind to the very awkward atmosphere permeating the air. Something about the request has her quirking her lip to the side, but, as per the sacred rules of Girl Code, Julia is bound to oblige, disappearing from the platform in an instant.

It’s not even thirty seconds before one of your old Zed Leppelin tees and a pair of denim shorts that should have never seen the light of day again are unceremoniously thrown into your lap. For the moment, you’ve never been happier to see such ratty-looking clothes, wasting no time in donning them.

Giving yourself a quick once-over, you feel satisfied with your regained modesty.

Stealing a glance to the side, however, you note that Julia has yet to move from her place.

You honestly hoped she would have left right after that, but you suspect that the crystalline woman didn’t come here out of the goodness of her heart.

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5316764

So,” You begin once more, as coolly as you can possibly manage. “What’s up?”

“The kids are hungry, FYI.” Julia states factually. “Pharos has them calm for the most part, but they do need to eat sooner rather than later.” With Bernard asleep, there was no way you were getting anything for them last night, and you’re pretty sure everyone else around here is hungry as well.

“Yeah, we’ll hop right to it!” Bernard sounds a little too eager to leave.

“Unless you’re still busy, of course.” She adds, putting a little extra emphasis on the ‘busy’ part. The smirk on her face is absolutely cattish. You’re never going to live that down, are you?

“Pizzaitisbye–” And, with that, Bernard makes his great escape.

“Anything else?” If Julia has any additional business with you, you think it’s best to get it addressed here and now.

“Well, maybe you could bring me more clothes.” Julia says, striding closer to you. Waitwaitwait. You can’t help but give her a look. Didn’t you just buy her clothes?

“Don’t get me wrong, I really like the dress you bought– and the one I got from yesterday. Did you know that was Piccante and Gabbana?” She trails off, looking oddly enthused about stealing someone’s designer dress.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5316766

You can’t help but be surprised with just how talkative Julia’s been. Hell, this is probably the most she’s said to you in a single conversation since she got her brain-damage healed or after that fight for that matter– all for the cause of high-end couture!

“Anyways, I just did you a solid there.” Julia tells you, pointing a diamond finger at you. You know for a fact that she’s referring to the clothes– clothes which happened to be on-loan from you– though you refrain from pointing that out. “At least when you’re not busy… maybe think about it.”

>Wat do?
>Sure! Agree to it out of the goodness of your heart :DDD
>You’ll do it for her… she’s just gotta do something for you… (Diamondsdiamondsdiamonds)
>You got stuff to do, places to be… maybe later, but thanks a whole bunch, Jewel!
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5316771
>"Don't you worry, just need to get things in order and I'll make sure to get more soon." then turn 360 and leave (to get the food).
>>
>>5316771
>>You’ll do it for her… she’s just gotta do something for you… (Diamondsdiamondsdiamonds)
>>
>>5316771
>>You’ll do it for her… she’s just gotta do something for you… (Diamondsdiamondsdiamonds)
Diamond sword from minecraft boy? Gonna have to step up our game against the institutionalized enemy mutants.
>>
>>5316771
>You’ll do it for her… she’s just gotta do something for you… (Diamondsdiamondsdiamonds)
>>
>>5316786
>>5316802
>>5316861
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6j0RV8EXss

>>5316782
>Le Write-in

Pardon the long(ish) wait-- got cooking and it took longer than expected!
Writing!
>>
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>>5316913

A trip to the Schönbrunn Mall or a couple of hours doing some online shopping is no big deal for you– what’s one more shopping trip out of all the others you’ve taken thus far?

There’s just no way in hell you’re going to blow your money on the really high-end stuff, though you’re not going to tell Julia that.

She’s gotta do a little something for you first, and, mind flitting back to a certain cuboid mutant, the perfect idea comes to mind.

“Give me diamonds!” You exclaim, and for a split second Julia looks a little taken aback, clearly not expecting that response. That’s how you end up introducing Julia to Ralph, who seems more than willing to give back to his saviors.

And you? You’re going to be the owner of some shiny, new diamond swords… or at least whoever can use them will be.

However, when Ralph frowns, you have a sneaking suspicion that getting your diamond swords won’t be as easy as you initially thought.

“Eh. What gives?” The look on Ralph’s face is one of consternation. “Why am I getting glass?” He holds up a glass block for emphasis.

“Aren’t you supposed to be made of diamonds?” You ask Julia, picking up one of the crystals she made so you can inspect it.

“I am, but Pharos told me my original power was glass control. That could have something to do with it.” She hums, pursing her lips at the crystals on her arms.

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5317193

“Maybe they just need to be configured a little differently…” Ralph interjects, scratching his head with a blocky arm.

“What do you mean by configured?” You question, tilting your head at his turn-of-phrase.

“When I take stuff from the real world, my inventory turns it into the thing it’s most similar to,” He explains after a moment’s pause. Then he holds up one of Julia’s crystals to make it disappear, only for it to reemerge as a glass block.

“This really isn’t it, but I think we’ll be golden if she just makes our diamonds as close to the Meinkraft diamonds as possible.” Ralph seems very confident in his hypothesis.

“But I’ve never played Meinkraft before.” Julia objects, and, while you’re pretty sure that’s a lie (because what kid of your generation hasn’t played Meinkraft?), it’s far easier to explain than the amnesia. You can’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy at that.

“You don’t need to know– I got a diamond you can look at.” Ralph grins, tossing the diamond out of his hand.

“Pretty G.O.A.T., isn’t it?” He says, watching as Julia inspects the digitized diamond. “This is probably going to be a bit of trial-and-error, but I think we can get it– I’m not going home without a new diamond pickaxe.”

>(2/4)
>>
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>>5317202

“I’ll take it from here.” Julia tells you, which you take as your cue to leave. You’re pretty sure she and Ralph got the whole thing covered.

You later find out that your escapade to the Miller-Ford Building got a lot of attention. The news had spun it as a three-way battle between you, Maranzano’s men, and the newly-crowned X-Force.

Of course, nothing positive was said about you or your efforts and you'd never expect anything less. But, come on! You saved a freaking school bus worth of mutants!

NooooOOOoooo, they just have to be in prison cells for anyone to be happy.

Consequently, the star of the show had ended up being Zeus–the guy with the shockwave powers, you recall. It’d make sense they chose that guy to be the face for the morning news, as opposed to any of the other members who barely took the spotlight.

Well, you certainly don't care who takes the spotlight so long as you win-- they can laud the X-Force all they want, but, at the end of the day, they were still on the losing end of the game!

>(3/4)
>>
>>5317212

Other than that, you haven’t talked to Matt since you fought with him, which has basically been throughout the whole morning and afternoon, but as soon as night falls you’ll be moving the former-captives out of Konigsburg and to Jenna’s farm.

>Who’s going to Jenna’s/Nova’s farm with Matt (Bernard notwithstanding)? (Pick one/multiple)
>You!
>Valjean!
>Julia!
>None of you (except Bernard, of course)-- Matt and B totally got it covered!

>(4/4)
>>
>>5317227
>Julia!
do her good to get out more
>>
>>5317227
>>You!
>>Valjean!
>>
Gonna leave the vote open for tonight-- not sure if I'll be updating tomorrow since I'm feeling a bit under the weather.

See you all next time, kings!
>>
>>5317227
>Julia!
>>
>>5317227
>Julia!
Stop being a shut-in, glass girl
>>
>>5317227
>>Julia!
>>
>>5317245
>>5317441
>>5317447
>>5317470
>Julia!

>>5317247
>You!
>Valjean!

Looks like our favorite diamond woman is going on a road-trip, whether she likes it or not! Writing!
>>
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>>5318208

Sorry for the delay-- got suckered into watching the new Top Gun. Was gucci af.

Later in the afternoon, after you’ve fed and taken care of the captives, the five of you reconvene to discuss the finer details of Matt’s plan atop your newly-built platform.

It’s a simple plan: one that requires Bernard to teleport the kids somewhere outside Konigsburg, and, once all of the kids are out of the city, Matt will take them straight to the farm via a sizable moving truck.

You don’t think anyone will look twice at a moving truck rental, though you’re positive Matt would never rent one under his real name. FutureLabs is all-too-used to you operating within city limits, as opposed to outside of them.

“Jewel,” Matt addresses the crystal woman, breaking you from your thoughts. “Wanna come with us?”

“Me?!” Julia all-but sputters– an odd deviation from her usual, stony demeanor. “Why me?”

“We’d like a muscle with us in case things go sour.” Matt states, leaning on his bat. “They likely won’t, but you never know; so we’d rather play it safe than sorry.”

While you can tell that Julia’s trying not to let it show, you watch as her eyes flit back to Valjean multiple times, the discomfort at the idea of leaving plainly written across her face.

“I’m guessing I’ll be on house arrest for this one?” Valjean remarks, even though he knows the answer to that question.

“Pretty much.” Matt confirms, not really looking too repentant about that.

“Well, at least one of us will be getting some fresh air…” The former Crux leader grouses, rolling his eyes at the younger male.

>(1/4)
>>
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>>5318561

“Hey– you got your fair share of fresh air last night,” Bernard cuts in, and, leaning down to your ear, he then whispers to you, “Sure you don’t wanna tag along, fish?”

“I’m good.” You wave him off, lowering your voice in kind. “You guys got it handled.”

“Somethin’ goin’ on with you and stick?” He questions lowly, eyes flitting to Matt before settling back on you. “You guys haven’t said a word to each other all day.”

“We’re… kind of mad at each other.” You admit, and Bernard looks a little surprised at that.

“Over what?” Bernard raises an eyebrow, clearly curious as to what caused the two of you to give each other the silent treatment.

“John.” You answer simply, and, although there’s a look on the blonde’s face that clearly indicates the need for more details, you’re thankful that he doesn’t press any further. You’d rather get back into that topic if you really don’t have to.

“Jewel will be fine.” You return your voice to a somewhat-normal volume. “I think she’s just nervous about being on her own.”

“Yeah, she and jerkface have been like peas and carrots lately.” Bernard grins. “Kinda funny cause I never would’ve expected that outta him– he was pretty good at keepin’ his personal life out of his Crux life. Lookin’ back on it though, the signs were always there.”

Fair enough, you think, because you wouldn’t have expected Matt to develop a thing for Jenna either.

“You guys can stop whispering about us any time now,” Valjean interrupts. “You realize we’re what? Two feet away from you?”

>(2/4)
>>
>>5318563

“Yeahyeahyeah, big deal– it’s not like we’re sayin’ anythin’ you guys don’t already know.”

“Before or after the part where you spooned the local cannibal?” The former Crux leader sports a predatory grin, your face growing hot at his words.

“Come again?” There’s a murderous glint in Matt’s eyes, one that wasn’t present before. His hands tighten slightly around his bat. Angry at you or not, you suppose that brothers will always be brothers.

“Kidding.” Valjean backtracks, putting his hands up in a show of faux-geniality. “I’m just messing with you guys– get going now. I’ll gather the kids.”

With that, Valjean and Julia take their leave, but not before Julia tells you, “I’ll have the swords ready by the time we get back.” Then they’re off.

>(3/4)
>>
>>5318565

“See ya, fish!” Bernard throws an arm around your shoulder, taking you by surprise, but he disappears before you can say anything back. You’re surprised he could even look you in the eyes after the embarrassing morning you had.

That leaves you with Matt who, instead of making to climb down the rafters, pulls a familiar, maroon box from his suit– the one containing the Aurum Impulsum.

“Here.” He says, shoving the box into your arms. Still, Matt isn’t quite looking at you, clearly still frustrated at either you or the whole situation. “Take it home for now. We’ll figure out what to do with it later– maybe we’ll keep it, use it, I dunno… this is all just freaking bullshit.”

>Wat do?
>Ask Matt if he’s still mad at you, because he’s clearly still *mad*
>Ask why you would ever need to use the Aurum Impulsum? Isn’t it dangerous?
>Leave him be. He’ll get over his funk– seek out someone else instead (Who?)
>Write-in

>(4/4)
>>
>>5318574
>Leave him be. He’ll get over his funk– seek out someone else instead (Who?)
help wrangle kids
>>
>>5318565
>“Kidding.” Valjean backtracks
Julia and her big mouth
>>5318578
>+1
>>
>>5318574
>Ask Matt if he’s still mad at you, because he’s clearly still *mad*
>>
>>5318574
>>5318578
+1 this. I feel like trying to talk to Matt right now is pointless... maybe when we've both cooled down?
>>
>>5318574
>>5318578
Kid wrangling is exhausting and terrible, so we should probably do our fair share of work. Supporting.
>>
>>5318578
+1
>>
>>5318578
>>5318583
>>5318603
>>5318592
>>5318621
>Mutant wrangling time!

>>5318587
>Uh, we square or not?

Damn, that's some unanimity there! Writing!
>>
>>5318628

Looking down at the box in your hands and back to Matt, you realize it won’t do either of you any good if you try to talk to him. Right now, both of you are equally as frustrated over this whole thing, and both of you know that things are only going to get harder from here on out.

“Oh, I forgot to give this back.” Matt mutters, pulling your suit from the backpack he’d been wearing. “See you later.” He says, leaving you alone on the platform.

Though you could spend the rest of your time for the night standing around and doing nothing, the entire main area of the warehouse is occupied by a bunch of rowdy mutant youths– youths who’ve been hopped up on the taste of freedom and copious amounts of fast food– and, in a warehouse with dubious lighting, who’s better-suited to wrangle them than you?

That darkness also plays in your favor; while you might get questions about the box that’s tucked in your arm, there’s really no one else around with night-vision to notice it.

Why Matt decided to pawn the Aurum Impulsum off on you instead of Bernard is beyond you when the teleporter could’ve easily brought it back to your apartment. Still, you keep it wrapped in your costume just for good measure because there’s no such thing as being too paranoid.

Wrangling the kids, on the other hand, is no laughing matter. You have runners, flyers, climbers, and all sorts of mutants who are more than eager to stretch their legs after days or even weeks in cages.

Briefly, you wonder if this is some sort of karmic retribution being such a rowdy kid yourself when you were growing up-- you certainly weren't a walk in the park for either John or your parents (or so you'd been told).

However, none of the captives are a match for your proprioception, and, between that and Valjean’s Les Misérables, you make steady work in gathering them.

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5318821

Now it’s a matter of finding the final stragglers, as you have the bulk of them where you can have Bernard teleport them to the next rendezvous-point outside the city. You feel bad that he has to overexert himself for two nights in a row, but you’re hoping that the blonde will get plenty of rest once he’s at the farm.

“Hi Kelpie!” A familiar voice pipes up, and emerging from behind a crate is none-other than Simon. Following beside him is another, pale boy with button eyes and woolen hair.

“Making friends?” You ask the young mindbender, glad Simon’s not making trouble for anyone anymore.

“Mhmm.” Simon nods excitedly. “I’ve been watching their stories all day, but we were just playing hide-and-seek right now.” Button-eyes nods along with him.

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5318828

“Well, now it’s time to go, you two– you’ll be able to play plenty of hide-and-seek when you get there.” You tell the two young mutants.

“Take her word for it, kid. Wherever you’re going is way better than this place, I’ll tell you that.” Valjean cuts in.

“You sure you guys don’t want to see any of your stories though?” Simon tilts his head. “It’ll only take a minute.”

“Not at all,” The former Crux leader refuses. “And, if my powers don’t work on you, I’m pretty sure yours don’t work on me either,” He points out, though Simon doesn’t look as downtrodden as you thought he would be.

>What about you? Do you take Simon’s offer?
>No. You’ve been over this already, you got your identity to think of. Plus, you have the Aurum Impulsum on hand– you’re not letting it out of sight for even a second until it’s somewhere safe.
>Eh, why not? Simon said he wouldn’t look at your identity– maybe you’ll see something cool.

While the others are gone, you’ll have a whole load of nothing to do as well.
>For now, where will you place your focus?
>You’ll get in contact with ERMAC, see if he’s any closer to finishing that program already-- maybe there's some extra information he can give you for your upcoming plan.
>Start planning the bare bones of your Conduit extraction plan with Valjean.
>Keep monitoring the news on the X-Force– any information you can get on them/their movements is invaluable.
>On nothing. Absolutely nothing– while the guys are away, you’re going to relax like there's no tomorrow.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
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That's it for the night. Time to sleep-- OP needs zzz's and stuff.

Should update tomorrow, unless I feel shittier (of course). On another note, here's a very shitty pic that didn't make the cut for the updates-- Julia definitely needs to touch more grass!

See you next time, kings, and thanks for playing!
>>
>>5318834
>>Eh, why not? Simon said he wouldn’t look at your identity– maybe you’ll see something cool.
>You’ll get in contact with ERMAC, see if he’s any closer to finishing that program already-- maybe there's some extra information he can give you for your upcoming plan.
We haven't talked with Eddie in a while, you'd think he has something to say about the whole John dillema
>>
>>5318834
>No. You’ve been over this already, you got your identity to think of. Plus, you have the Aurum Impulsum on hand– you’re not letting it out of sight for even a second until it’s somewhere safe.
Maybe later on

>You’ll get in contact with ERMAC, see if he’s any closer to finishing that program already-- maybe there's some extra information he can give you for your upcoming plan.
>>
>>5318834
>>5318951
+1 this--we make our own destiny, damn it!
>>
>>5318834
>>No. You’ve been over this already, you got your identity to think of. Plus, you have the Aurum Impulsum on hand– you’re not letting it out of sight for even a second until it’s somewhere safe.

>Start planning the bare bones of your Conduit extraction plan with Valjean.
>>
>>5318951
+1
>>
What would this quest's ERMAC/Eddie think of this Ermac?
https://mortalkombat.fandom.com/wiki/Ermac
>>
>>5318834
>No. You’ve been over this already, you got your identity to think of. Plus, you have the Aurum Impulsum on hand– you’re not letting it out of sight for even a second until it’s somewhere safe.

>Keep monitoring the news on the X-Force– any information you can get on them/their movements is invaluable.

any planning should probably wait until big brain matt is back
>>
>>5319340
>>5319156
>>5319112
>>5318951
>I make my own destiny!

>>5318845
>See your own 'story.'

>>5318845
>>5318951
>>5318959
>>5319156
>Are you finished with those errands-- er, I mean, program?

>>5319112
>What matters is our plan...

>>5319340
>Know thy enemy!

Looks like we're being the masters of our own destiny and getting in contact with Ermac again. Writing in a bit!

>>5319159
Didn't actually know who Ermac was myself until thread 6.5, wherein I had to do a web-search of who he was (the amount of gaming I've done since I started uni has been admittedly very dismal).

Unlike Mortal Kombat Ermac, Eddie is one individual inhabiting a computer (although he is very much capable of replicating his own consciousness infinitely across many different devices/programs). In addition, there are some things computer-bound Eddie can do that human Eddie can't and vice-versa-- transmitting/sensing electronic signals and handlessly tampering with devices are both a couple of examples that we saw in the prior threads.
Like Ermac, he has and can become adept at hand-to-hand combat scarily fast-- both via electronics and his increased intelligence. However, we *did* see Matt overpower him physically in thread 6.5... so he definitely has some ways to go in physical training.
This was a pretty quick, shorthand explanation I made by glossing over OG Ermac's wiki-- hope it's sufficient!
>>
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>>5319541

Apologies for the wait-- had errands to run, and you all know how it goes...

“Nah, I think I’m good,” You tell Simon, once again denying his request to peek into your mind.

For a good, long moment, the young mutant is eerily silent, red eyes boring into you as if trying to unlock your stories with his mind.

“Okay,” He smiles genially, his face reverting back to a cheerful expression like the flip of a switch. “Bye, Kelpie!” And then he’s off, the button-eyed mutant following along with him.

One-by-one, the captives are spirited away from the warehouse, and it’s not long before they’re all gone.

Valjean, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to mind being left on his lonesome (and you know he won’t be going anywhere with all of Konigsburg out for his arrest). Though it seems like he’ll be missing Julia, you’re sure he’s glad to have the other mutant getting some fresh air for once.

As soon as you get home, you make a beeline for Matt’s room. His desk is far messier than it had been two days ago, a maze of wires and old computers all bound together, and the manner in which the screens pulsate with light, casting the ceiling aglow in blue, almost reminds you of a heartbeat of sorts. It makes you wonder what all of this stuff is for.

“Hello Elise,” Ermac greets in his digital voice. “We’ve been expecting you.”

The strange form of greeting makes you stop in your tracks. “What do you mean ‘we?’” You return, and, at that, the computer where the voice is coming from glows brighter than the rest.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5319856

“I replicated my consciousness using as much memory as I could afford so that I could work faster– not just on the program, but anything I want as it exists within these devices. They will all eventually self-terminate when their directives are completed.” He explains after a beat, and you realize those devices on Matt’s desk weren’t just for show.

“As of now… we are, indeed, many…” As Eddie says that, the rest of the screens flare to life.

Which begs the question…

“Then which one of you am I talking to now?” You can’t help but wonder as you take a seat at Matt’s desk.

“The real one. Which else?” Eddie responds, the computer letting out a fizzle that’s oddly akin to a huff. “I don’t give them more autonomy than they need unless it’s strictly necessary, like with the program. If I did, they would try to find a way to survive– either that, or they would eventually learn how to terminate me given enough time and effort.”

That sounds… dangerous. You sure hope Eddie seems to know what he’s doing.

“The odds of that are minimal. They will never have the same memories as I do. Not completely, anyways.” He continues, as if sensing the question you had, and that dispels a bit of your worries somewhat.

“Anyways… back to business…” The digitized mutant switches topic. “I’m assuming this is about the program?”

“Yeah.” You nod, and, if computers could glare, you’re certain Eddie would be glaring straight at you.

“You know I said I’d call you when it was ready, didn’t I?” He reminds you, tone almost rebuking. “But I’m well aware of the newest elephant in the room… or should I say reptile?

>(2/?)
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>>5319867

“Do you know what the odds of John being a mutant were?” Eddie trails off, and, even before you stepped into Matt’s room, you knew that Eddie already knew about John revealing his mutation.

“Point zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-one with a standard deviation of a tenth of that.” Uh… you blink. Come again? All those zeros were said too fast for you to count.

“That’s essentially zero.” He states in simpler terms. Now why couldn’t he just say that in the first place?

You think that whatever means of calculation Eddie’s using is obviously wrong, but what is obvious is that Eddie’s supposed death was the tipping point for John. You’re positive that Eddie knows this as well.

>(3/4)
>>
>>5319884

“Now, you’ll likely have to take John and the rest of the X-Force into account when you extract Ernst.” Eddie drones, voice not betraying any semblance of emotion. “They seem to be gunning after Maranzano next, and you might not even face them at all if you time it correctly– but do the mission as if you were facing the whole X-Force anyways.”

>Pick one/multiple:
>So wait a sec… Does Eddie have the program done or not?
>Can’t you just tell John Eddie’s alive? Even though you want nothing to do with your brother, that’d pretty much solve everything.
>Anything particularly dangerous you should look out for this time around? That, or anything else that's notable.
>Write-in

>(4/4)
>>
>>5319903
>Can’t you just tell John Eddie’s alive? Even though you want nothing to do with your brother, that’d pretty much solve everything.
>Anything particularly dangerous you should look out for this time around? That, or anything else that's notable.
>>
That's likely the only update I got in me for the night-- gotta wake up early and stuff.

Should be able to grind an update or two out tomorrow sometime at like 7-8 EST if I'm not completely dead.

So, as always, thanks for playing and see you all next time!
>>
>>5319903
>Can’t you just tell John Eddie’s alive? Even though you want nothing to do with your brother, that’d pretty much solve everything.
We could even do it all 'secret hackery'-like to avoid him getting angry. Maybe via a text or some other overt means of communication?

>Anything particularly dangerous you should look out for this time around? That, or anything else that's notable.
Knowing is half the battle, or so I've read.
>>
>>5319903
>Can’t you just tell John Eddie’s alive? Even though you want nothing to do with your brother, that’d pretty much solve everything.
>Anything particularly dangerous you should look out for this time around? That, or anything else that's notable.
>>
>>5319903
>So wait a sec… Does Eddie have the program done or not?
>>Can’t you just tell John Eddie’s alive? Even though you want nothing to do with your brother, that’d pretty much solve everything.
>>Anything particularly dangerous you should look out for this time around? That, or anything else that's notable.
>>
>>5319904
+1
>>
>>5319904
>>5319930
>>5319940
>>5320164
>Fix your situation with this one simple trick!
>Achtung!

>>5319981
>Everything else in the above + program pestering

What's better than daytime television? Daytime updates, of course! And guess who got the damn meme flu again? :C Sucks cause I really liked my job.

Anyhow, might work the part about the program into the update, if only to save my coof-addled brain a little stress. Writing!
>>
>>5320545
Damn, the curse is strong in you. At least it can't be as bad the second time, maybe, I dunno, never had it.
>>
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>>5320545

I know I said 'Daytime.' My coof-riddled brain had other plans-- pardon the wait.

It really hadn’t been something you were considering with how mad you’ve been at John, but, mulling over Eddie’s words… if John’s willingness to work with FutureLabs hinges on whether or not Eddie’s alive, then the answer to this whole situation is simple!

“Ermac,” You address the other mutant, drawing his attention once more. “What if we told John you’re alive?” While you wholly intend to have Eddie back to his body sooner rather than later, perhaps the knowledge that Eddie is actually safe would be enough to have John on your side. Because even if John continued to work for FutureLabs for the foreseeable future, that could mean the difference between life and death.

“You’re being too naive about this whole thing– it’s not as easy as you think, Elise.” Eddie shoots down your idea without a moment’s thought. “If it were, I would’ve reached out to him myself.”

“Because you can’t, or because you don’t want to?” You frown at the screen, wondering if it’s a matter of ability.

“As of now, I am completely capable of reaching out to John. Most of the limitations I had upon first transferring my consciousness are no longer an issue for me.” Eddie clarifies. “I have far more freedom here than I would have ever had in my physical body. I just choose not to reach out to John for my own reasons.”

“But you could’ve stopped him before he turned himself in.” You argue to the screen before you. “Why didn’t you just do that?”

“Because telling him now would only increase the risk of Doctor Charles catching wind of my survival.” With the way the screen flickers, you think he’s growing a tad impatient. “If there were even the slightest chance that the doctor could find out, both Ernst and my physical body would be at risk, and then everything that we’ve done up until this point would be for nothing.”

You sort of knew Eddie would put Ernst before John, at least in this case. Because John can fend for himself to an extent– Ernst cannot.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5320769

“And who’s to say John hasn’t been overcome by his own powers?” Eddie then adds. “You heard for yourself what he said at the conference.”

As much as you don’t want to admit Eddie is right, John had not been stable– not when you last talked to him and not in the weeks leading up to the conference either. Especially with the way John reacted after you confronted him, you have to wonder if there’s at least a hint of truth to what Eddie’s saying.

“Are you saying he’s too far gone?” The question falls from your lips without much thought.

“It all depends…” The screen gives a faint whirr as Eddie leaves the cryptic statement in the air. “How far has he let himself go?”

And that’s not a question you can answer. The only information you have was what you had gotten from that fight.

“However–” Eddie’s electronic voice cuts off your train of thought. “There is a very miniscule chance he will listen to reason and not succumb to his inner lizard. I’m not saying you should contact him ASAP, but, once we recover Ernst, that option will be possible.”

“Okay, so what about when we actually get to FutureLabs?” While you’re still on the topic of Conduit, you should definitely address that matter. “Anything in-particular we should watch out for when we’re there?”

As your question hangs in the air, what you think is Eddie’s main monitor flashes a few times before he finally responds.

>(2/4)
>>
>>5320777

“First and foremost, you’ll need to install my program at the data center– it’s in a separate facility from the main one, but that’s basically going to be the easy part.” The technopath seems confident about that.

“Those assholes have really beefed up their security since you broke in.” He continues, not missing a beat. “More armed guards patrolling the halls, extra arms training for staff members, more Ferro-Flex doors everywhere, new weapons and weapons systems designs, etcetera…” And it’s not like you didn’t see this coming from a mile away– you reap what you sow for breaking in the first time around.

Worth it.

>(3/4)
>>
>>5320786

“Ernst is in the containment center, so you won’t encounter any of these things if you’re teleporting straight in. But you should be made aware of them in case things go south, which they won’t unless you’re purposefully being stupid, reckless, or impulsive, of course.” Something about the way he said those last words feels like a personal attack, and, while you’re no thin-skin, your lips end up pursing around a mouthful of sharpened teeth. Since when are you impulsive?

Whatever, you think. Eddie's just being overly-pragmatic. You guess it can't be helped since he's basically a human computer, and computers aren't always meant to be nice-- they're meant to be efficient.

While you got most of the information you needed out of Eddie and then some, you still feel like you have something else to say to him.

>Wat say?
>Wait a sec, Eddie still hasn’t told you if the program’s done dammit!
>Once you get Conduit, FutureLabs will probably try to kill Eddie, won’t they? Of course, you'll try to prevent that from happening, but isn’t he a little worried?
>So what if the whole thing *does* go sour for any reason? What's Eddie going to do then?
>Write-in

>(4/4)
>>
>>5320802
>So what if the whole thing *does* go sour for any reason? What's Eddie going to do then?
Once he's installed what can he do?

also don't ask if the program is done yet, it isn't. he said he'd contact us when it was. trap option
>>
>>5320802
>>Once you get Conduit, FutureLabs will probably try to kill Eddie, won’t they? Of course, you'll try to prevent that from happening, but isn’t he a little worried?
>>
>>5320764

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping-- last time I was symptomatic for a whole month (think I was running thread #10 the whole time)-- but it basically feels like your body is one, giant ache.
Then again, it hits different for everyone.

Congrats on never getting it anyhow.
>>
>>5320802
>Once you get Conduit, FutureLabs will probably try to kill Eddie, won’t they? Of course, you'll try to prevent that from happening, but isn’t he a little worried?
>So what if the whole thing *does* go sour for any reason? What's Eddie going to do then?

Feel better, man! Sucks that you picked up the COOF again, but I wish you a speedy recovery!
>>
>>5320802
>Once you get Conduit, FutureLabs will probably try to kill Eddie, won’t they? Of course, you'll try to prevent that from happening, but isn’t he a little worried?
>>
>>5320814
>>5320820
>Murphy's Lab

>>5320815
>>5320820
>>5320841
>About that body...

Called! Writing!
>>
>>5320874

Gonna be a slow-ish, piecewise-y update again cause formatting Ermac-speak is a bitch.

“Won’t FutureLabs know it’s you once your program infects their system?” He might as well have made a program that broadcasted “I’m alive, assholes!” onto each and every screen in the facility.

Because FutureLabs will definitely know, and, boy, will they be pissed once the dust settles…

“They will know. They just won’t be able to do anything about it unless they shut the whole thing down– even if they reboot it, most of their computing systems will end up getting either fried or deleted.” He reminds you of the secondary purpose of that mission, which is essentially to stick it to Atticus Charles.

“Aren’t you worried they’ll try to kill your real body?” The fact that you’ll try to stop that need not be said, because that’s a given.

“No. I don’t feel worried at all.” If Eddie had a head, you’re sure he’d be shaking it at you. “Maybe if I were in a human body with human-type responses, I would be, but you need to remember that this whole situation is a Catch 22, essentially: if I return to my body, Ernst will suffer greatly. If Ernst escapes, then I will be killed immediately.”

“Like I said before, you just have to time it correctly.” He reminds you. “Estimated time of program completion is up to seventy-two hours.” The way Eddie says that reminds you of an actual machine, but you can’t stop the small smile that forms on your face because that’s not much time at all!

“Damn… taking care of a body sucks, but I can’t wait to have a cold one again. Or five…” Eddie's emotionless facade breaks for the briefest moment, and the screen flashes a few times again in what you think might be slight embarrassment.

>(1/3)
>>
>>5321105
>pic
what if futurelabs uses linux as default OS?
>>
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>>5321105

In spite of all of the positives you’ve been given for this upcoming mission, there’s one question that’s been on your mind throughout this whole conversation: just how sure is he that Atticus Charles kept his promise to him in sparing Conduit?

The traitorous thought crosses your mind for the briefest fraction of a second, and, while that had been a lingering doubt in the back of your mind, Eddie is a human probability machine– the guy’s gotta know what he’s doing, otherwise he wouldn’t be setting you up for this.

Still, the last thing the technopath says before the screen dims again is, “Be ready for the extraction,” before he retreats back into the recesses of his code.

By now, you’re sure Matt made it to the farm or is at least close to it– from what you recall the farm was pretty close to the Delaware side of things. In any case, you’re sure he’ll be back in a day or two, depending on how much time he wants to spend with Jenna (and you know he’s going to be doing a lot of that).

>(2/3)
>>
>>5321110

Again, you’re hit with the fact that you’re going to be doing a whole load of nothing while you wait for Matt and the rest of the crew to get back because there’s no way you’re going to get any planning done without the main brains of your operation.

Plopping yourself on the couch, you flip on the TV to your most-trusted news station (or as trustworthy as a news station can get in these times).

You feel your eyes droop on their own accord, and you have to wonder just how much rest you’ve gotten in these past few days.

>Wat do?
>Continue to watch the news– though there's nothing here that you *can't* already get on your cell phone, nothing's better than some mind-numbing television.
>Call up Matt or Bernard– sure, you’ll actually have to get up for that, but you should see that they made it.
>Screw it. You will do nothing and relax for once. If anyone deserves some rest and relaxation, it’s *you.* Cause, you know, all work and no play makes a dull fishgirl…
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5321108
SIKE it's TempleOS! pic kinda related.


>>5320820
Missed this before-- thanks for the well-wishes!


Not sure if last update for the night. If there is, I'll let you guys know.
>>
>>5321153
>>Continue to watch the news– though there's nothing here that you *can't* already get on your cell phone, nothing's better than some mind-numbing television.
>>
>>5321153
>Continue to watch the news– though there's nothing here that you *can't* already get on your cell phone, nothing's better than some mind-numbing television.
We literally just got caught sleeping with Bernard, we can't sleep again
ever
>>
>>5321169
>+1
>>
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>>5321250
>>5321193
>>5321169

That sounds like a positive challenge, anons!

And, since I over-estimated my ability to stay cognizant, I'm gonna need some 1d100s-- STAT! Best of three, of course!

Will Elise manage to stay awake? Or will she succumb to the sweet song of slumber? Find out next time on Mutant!Quest!
>>
Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>5321296
Maybe it'd be better if we fail... We haven't talked to Conduit in a while
>>
Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>5321296
Watch THIS
>>
Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>5321296
>tfw too comfy to stay awake
>>
>>5321299
>>5321309
>>5321425

>Highest roll: 87!!
Writing!
>>
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>>5322110

You don’t put up much resistance against the exhaustion, letting your eyes continue to drift shut. In fact, you welcome the prospect of a good night’s rest, burrowing yourself deeper into the side of the couch.

And, with the firm back of the couch pressing into you, encompassing your back so comfortingly, it almost reminds you of the sensation of another body… right… next to you…

Instantly, your eyes snap open, face burning like a hot cinder. All at once, the desire to sleep disappears from your very being much like air rushes out of a balloon as the mortification from earlier this morning rears its ugly head once more.

Because with the thought of a body next to you, comes visions of a certain blonde as well.

Much to your dismay, said mortification doesn’t just go away for good– every time you shut your eyes for more than a blink, you see that exact, same scene from before, playing out beneath your eyelids against your will.

Son of a bitch. You grab another one of the couch pillows from next to you, clutching it to your chest as some of your fishlike features bloom across your face. You don’t know if it’s from the embarrassment, but you can hear your pulse thumping wildly in your ear. You can never sleep again, can you?

Now you actually have no choice but to pay attention to the news unless you want to keep reliving that same, compromising memory that you will likely never live down.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5322258

Taking hold of the remote, you louder the volume a tad, enough so that the television is no longer on mute.

“--funny you say that, Officer Meyers, because the M-Guard really did run like the dogs they are.” A cocky voice drawls, one that belongs to a familiar, suited-up mutant with black hair.

Ah, rats. Not this guy again, you think, frowning at the figure of Zeus that’s plastered on the screen (though you vaguely recognize that officer from… somewhere).

“If they really were as strong as they make themselves out to be, don’t you think they would’ve confronted us already? It’s clear that they’re scared of us, honestly…” When he says this, his eyes are centered on the camera in such a way that you know it’s a provocation to you and the rest of the M-Guard– one that you’ll never fall for. “Too bad they have that teleporter with them; really makes our jobs harder.”

A few people crowd around Zeus, all clamoring in to get a word from him, and then the screen goes back to the reporters who’d been running the channel.

Aside from Zeus and a few other, less-notable people spewing hot air about the Miller-Ford incident, like Matt had said, it seems like the X-Force is gunning after Maranzano next.

With you having taken down Maranzano’s strongest mutants like Gregor and Antonella, you see this upcoming fight being rather one-sided. Still, it baffles you that they’d waste all of that time and effort going all the way to New York, but if you put it in perspective the two parties are essentially fighting over the same thing, which is mutants.

>(2/?)
>>
>>5322268

Speaking of mutants, you thought that the advent of the X-Force would only serve to make the mutants of Konigsburg more fearful.

However, in light of the blatant divide that has overcome the city, you note they have become more bold as the hammer comes crashing down upon them– perhaps it’s from the remaining inertia from all of that stuff you’ve done in the time leading up to the conference, but, all the same, it still surprises you that they have yet to back down.

Several different footages play from all across the city, each of them showing both mutants and humans alike going head-to-head with goons, and, while the fact of the matter is that most of those protesters will likely end up in a cell, you’d kind of been disillusioned for the longest while (even though you’d been quite the coward yourself at the beginning of your mutation).

What really catches your attention is the flash of green on one grainy video– so quick that the average viewer would’ve missed it, your eyes barely catch a winged silhouette passing over a small squad of goons.

Is that Boleski? You find yourself wondering. The only thing that comes to mind is that he’s returned to Konigsburg for more treatment from the healer mutant (or perhaps more medication if he ditched Maranzano Jr. for good).

Though the headline says ‘MUTANT ATTACK’ in big, bold letters, even a dimwit could see the two other people trying to duck for cover. People who are probably mutants themselves.

It’s not long before the remaining goons fall to the ground, and you can’t help the smile that spreads across your face. You don’t think Boleski will stick around Konigsburg for longer than he has to– not with FutureLabs still wanting him back in their hands– but good for him, you think.

>(3/4)
>>
>>5322296

You don’t even realize what’s happening, but, sooner rather than later, the weight of your exhaustion becomes too much to bear.

You feel oddly… floaty… as your eyes slide shut, the insides of your eyelids tinged with gold.

“...e…lp…” The sound is a whisper, so faint that it barely catches on your ears.

“...elp…” Again, it repeats itself, this time a little louder. When you don’t hear the noise for a while, you let yourself relax and settle deeper into the silence.

If you could, you would sta…y like t..his

...f…orever…

...What?

>Roll 1d20… for absolutely no reason.

>(4/4)
>>
Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5322330
>>
Welp. No choice but to delete the reformatted post. Formatting errors are balls.
>>
Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>5322330
Alright that didn't happen.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5322330
>>
>>5322330
what was the first roll for ? how long we could stay awake ?
>>5322341
was it the last post ?
>>5322337
>>5322390
good rolls as almost always, neat
>>
>>5322337
>>5322390
>>5322395

>Highest Roll: 19!!

Save some rolls for the real bad guys, why don't ya?
Writing!

>>5322420
That first roll last night... honestly my head couldn't take it anymore and I had to stop there. Sorry if that sounds like some lazy QM'ing but this bout of COVID's making my head feel like positive shit.

However, had we not stayed awake for that first roll, we wouldn't have caught the news of Boleski being back in town...
>>
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>>5322429

Between the sensations of floatiness and shades of gold that are all-encompassing, your body feels like a syrupy, viscous mess– as if it were globs of honey drizzling straight down from the comb.

..b…ee… c.. omb… The way those words are said sounds more akin to ’be calm,’ as an unseen force attempts to pull you further down into the golden abyss.

Except you are not calm, not one bit– because the voice in your head isn’t yours, and these thoughts are not your own.

You’d realized this from the second you’d gotten here.

Snapping your eyes open, you yank your arm hard, feeling satisfaction well up in you when it feels like something severs, and do the same with the other one as well.

It takes a few, forceful kicks for your legs to be freed, and, when the invisible binds snap, you’re not rushing upwards like you expected– instead, you’re suddenly in free fall.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5322533

Imaginary wind rushes through your hair and face, and with no ending in sight you spend so much time in the air that you don’t expect to land.

Your body hits a springy, prickly ground that bounces up and down a bit when you finally make impact. Though it doesn’t hurt as bad as you thought it would, the force from it still ends up knocking the wind out of you.

Nonetheless, you don’t even have to look down to know you’re in your fish form– you can feel it across your whole body.

Why that is, you don’t know; but you don’t particularly care in light of the situation, because this whole situation screams mutant.

Sitting up to take a look at the odd-feeling ground, you find that the surface beneath you is a colorful tangle of wires like the kind you used for high school science projects. The way they’re woven together reminds you of fabric upon a loom, and, every so often, you see bits of metal and odd, looking devices poking out of it, which– again– also are vaguely reminiscent of your days back in high school.

Just… what the flying hell? For the moment, that's your most intelligent thought.

Because, as far as you can see, there's no ending in sight.

>Wat do?
>Shout something into this shithole, loudly!
>Get up and take a look around; there’s always gotta be a way out of these trippy mazes– like in Matt’s TV shows!
>Try to wake up! (Requires roll. Very high DC.)
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5322557
>>Get up and take a look around; there’s always gotta be a way out of these trippy mazes– like in Matt’s TV shows!
>>
>>5322557
>>Get up and take a look around; there’s always gotta be a way out of these trippy mazes– like in Matt’s TV shows!
>>
>>5322557
>>Get up and take a look around; there’s always gotta be a way out of these trippy mazes– like in Matt’s TV shows!
>>
>>5322557
>Get up and take a look around; there’s always gotta be a way out of these trippy mazes– like in Matt’s TV shows!
That's one hell of a dream
>>
>>5322602
>>5322595
>>5322568
>>5322563

Time to, like, write n' sheeit.
Last update of the night!
>>
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>>5322618

Track below works with 4chan X. Also works if you like opening new tabs :-)
https://soundcloud.com/zankyou-no-terror/ioloi

Rising to your feet, you’re hit with a wave of deja vu– not only from the fact that you’ve had more than one mutant impose their weird dream-powers on you, but there’s something about this whole thing that reminds you of a show you watched with Matt a while back.

A show of magical girls in frilly dresses and strange, bunny-cat-like creatures, from what you recall of it, the only way to get out was to defeat the wizard–strange creatures that spread despair and darkness– or at least that’s what happened in the show.

Unfortunately for you, there’s no wizard around– just a weird mutant with an even weirder way of trying to get your attention– but, in spite of the lack of wizards around, you have a feeling that the only way out is to go deeper into this trippy maze.

Surging forwards across the wiring, you take to it like one would a trampoline, picking the direction where it feels less empty.

The voice, still yet, rings faintly in your mind, harsh and indecipherable, but a voice nonetheless. Each time it speaks, there's a weighted feeling in your chest, one that makes your muscles tense and throat feel increasingly tighter.

These feelings aren’t yours, not whatsoever. You have to remind yourself more than once, and their presence makes you lose focus as you try to avoid catching your feet on the coppery wires.

It’s why you end up falling into the colorful mess more than once and, face pressed right into the wires, you’re not able to see nor feel anything beneath them. You sincerely hope you won’t find out what happens if you fall through those– because if it’s a dream it’s one thing, but mutant dreams are a whole different ball-game.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5322664

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qib9vl2WJM

The beep-beep-beeping doesn’t help either. A constant presence in the background, it punctuates every few steps you make, and you try to focus on that rather than this mutant’s out-of-control empathy.

Further up ahead in your fumbling, stumbling mad-dash, the wires thin out a bit, and, while you have to watch your step even more, what’s more disconcerting are the squarish gizmos sharing the space with you. And they’re moving. You gulp.

Fairly large in nature, they skitter across the multi-hued wires like futuristic spiders, while a few of them don't seem to pay you any mind, the ones that realize your presence do are right on your tail, eyes glowing a menacing red as trail you across the wiry labyrinth.

You pump your legs faster, trying to lose the growing horde of spider-gizmos that don't seem to want to relent.

>Wat do?
>Double back and fight these things! There are a lot of them, but you can manage!
>Keep running! You can lose them if you really book it!
>Throw some stuff at them-- there are a lot of components lying around in the wires, all ripe for the taking!
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5322675
>Throw some stuff at them-- there are a lot of components lying around in the wires, all ripe for the taking!
>>
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That's it for the night. I will now proceed to fall on my face.

Also here's puella magica Elise-- cause, if I draw Matt as Kyubey, you know damn well I'm gonna post Elise as a magical girl. It was meant to be way more elaborate, but there's only so much you can do on that tegaki thingyThose are gauntlets she's wearing FYI.
>>
>>5322675
>Throw some stuff at them-- there are a lot of components lying around in the wires, all ripe for the taking!
Is someone else having problems with opening images on 4chan today ? now's the second time it shows 'file doesn't exist' out of nowhere
>>
>>5322693
nope.
>>
>>5322693

Yes. Here, I'll post the two in a quick imgur thing I made so the pics can be seen there until the spoilered stuff works again.


https://imgur.com/a/YWDS0Ju
>>
>>5322699
Thanks bro
>>
>>5322675
>Throw some stuff at them-- there are a lot of components lying around in the wires, all ripe for the taking!

Oh shit, we become meguka
>>
>>5322675
>>Throw some stuff at them-- there are a lot of components lying around in the wires, all ripe for the taking!
>>
>>5322693
I thought I was the only one. Lately on mobile, I've immediately got a File Not Found popup when I try to open images the first time, but when I try to open them a second time they open properly. Some refuse to open, and when I try to open them in a new tab directly, I get a "your IP is banned from using 4chan" or something to that effect. Its strange. I never had this happen before on any mobile browser.
>>
>>5322679
>>5322693
>>5322755
>>5322949

Alright! Let’s give these spider doo-dads the shock of their lives— I’ll need three 1d100+-5s (-5 for mindfugged), on the double! Best of three, as always!

Don’t forget to write in any particular method you want to use against the gizmo horde— I’ll be back to write the update in a few hours!
>>
Rolled 35 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>5323114
>>
Rolled 57 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>5323114
>>
>>5323114
Throw wires first, blunt objects second
>>
Rolled 14 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>5323114
>>
>>5323116
>>5323146
>>5323170

>Highest Roll: 52
Writing!

>>5322755
Being meguka is suffering.
>>
>>5323343

Wracking your brain for a viable way to outrun your pursuers, you know that they’re not going to stop anytime soon. Or ever.

As you watch the ground up ahead, wires springing beneath your feet, an idea quickly forms in your mind. Grabbing hold of a bunch of stray wires, they tear just like paper from the rest of the mess from your pull. Testing it in your hand for a split-second, you find that your brand-new rope of wires feels like a bola in your hold, and, whipping around to face the gizmo-spiders, you fling the wires with the utter intent to destroy…

…only to find that your improvised weapon bounces harmlessly off of them, and, thus, the cluster crawls right over it, your bola ultimately forgotten beneath skittering metal feet.

Shit. You grit your teeth, and the split-second you’d spent throwing your wire-bola is enough for a couple of the gizmo-spiders to jump right at you. You barely block the first one with your arm, flinging it down into the dark abyss. The second, meanwhile, tries to sink its legs directly into the flesh of your back, but only manages to scrape you, taking some of your shirt fabric with it.

You’re not sure what kind of point the owner of this place was trying to make with all of these things chasing after you, but you resolve to give that mutant a piece of your mind once you get to the bottom of this.

Again, you grab something sticking forth from the mess of wires– a colorfully-striped, cylindrical-looking thing– chucking it at the thick of the cluster and grinning in satisfaction when a whole bunch of them get knocked off of the wires.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5323478

While you’d gotten rid of quite a few of them, ultimately, the majority of the gizmo-cluster still rushes at you.

Though you think you could take the rest of them on and are tempted to do so here and now, you see a clear shift in environment up ahead. At first, you thought it was your eyes playing tricks on you, but you soon see the wires rising up into the air, almost as if they were vines on a trellis.

And the thing that happens to be holding those wires in place is some sort of towering, white wall– one with large perforations and even larger gizmos sticking out of it.

What further catches your surprise are the groups of colorful sprite-like things whizzing around the structure, and, if they’re anything like the spiders, you don’t want to catch their eye at all. But still, you can’t afford to slow down– not when there’s still a good number of spiders still on your tail.

>Wat do?
>Take out the rest of the cluster here and now– these spiders won’t give up unless you take them out for good!
>Rush the wall– you’re faster than the rest of those spiders! You can totally make it over!
>Try to lose the spiders somehow– get them off your trail for good!
>Shout something at the guy running this show– maybe you’ll get an answer this time…
>Write-in

>(1/2)
>>
>>5323492

That's >(2/2). Don't mind the typo.
>>
>>5323492
>Rush the wall– you’re faster than the rest of those spiders! You can totally make it over!
>>
>>5323492
>Rush the wall– you’re faster than the rest of those spiders! You can totally make it over!
sped
>>
>>5323492
>Rush the wall– you’re faster than the rest of those spiders! You can totally make it over!
*Eurobeat Intensifies*
>>
>>5323549
>>5323564
>>5323565

>Chaaaaaaarrrrgggeeeeee!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY58inWev0E

Guess what time it is-- time to roll more dice, that's what!
On that note, I'll need three 1d100+-5s!! (-5 for mindfugged)
>>
Rolled 9 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>5323617
>>
Rolled 50 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>5323617
>>
Rolled 87 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>5323617
>>
>>5323675
>>5323676
>>5323729

>Highest Roll: 82!!!
Writing!
>>
>>5323798

You may or may not be trapped in this gold-tinged hellhole, but you’re still smarter and faster than the average minion that lurks here.

And while you’d been erring on the side of caution somewhat so as to keep yourself from plunging into the nothingness below, you’ve spent so much time scaling city buildings that the wall before you is a piece of cake.

Sprinting forwards with renewed energy, you push all thoughts other thoughts from your mind, forgetting the spiders and ambient beeping and focusing on the towering wall ahead.

Wires bend and shift beneath your feet as delicate copper gives way to each footfall.

When you’re finally close enough to the white monolith, you jump.

Arm extended towards the nearest gadget, a clawed hand takes grasp of a particularly large, red wire, which you try to use to pull yourself further up the wall.

Without warning, however, part of it comes undone from the wall, gravity taking its merciless hold. But just as quickly as you were sent falling, you suddenly stop, dangling in midair with only a singular arm separating you from doom.

(You still don’t know if you can truly die in this place).

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5323859

Stealing a glance to the ground below, the electro-spiders have barely started their own hike up the wall, a good number of spiders coming out of the perforations to join the rest of their comrades.

That’s why you’re not planning to linger, and, using the wire like a rope-swing, you kick your feet until you can grab one of the perforations as a foothold. Each hole is big enough for a single, electro-spider to fit through– or you, if you wanted– but, with the number of spiders lurking about, you don’t want to put yourself into any sort of tight or enclosed spaces.

Without further pause, you continue your mad-scramble upwards, hoping that wherever you’re going is better than where you started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wig-2jn5gtM


Many more of those sprites from before continue to whizz past you, diving straight for your head in formation.

Now that you’re up-close and can see them properly, you find that they look like something pulled straight from one of those old Space Invaders games.

As if to add insult to injury, a similarly-sized spaceship joins the fray, centering its lasers straight onto you.

“...ware…

..ardian…”


>(2/3)
>>
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>>5323864

The sudden return of the voice in your head throws you off for a split second, long enough for a laser beam to graze you, to which you retaliate by chucking a stray component at it.

You don’t know if it hit– and you don’t look back to check– but, as you continue your own, upwards scurry you can hear another swarm of sprites chittering and beeping overhead as they gather for yet another divebomb.

"...g...ardian..." The mental voice echoes again, this time more insistently, and, just with how aggravated you are at the owner, you're more inclined to ignore it.

>Wat do?
>Tell that voice to shut its mouth– ignore that guy and keep climbing!
>What’s a g…ardian, and why should you even care?
>Duck in one of the perforations until the sprites go away
>Keep chucking random components at these things-- they can't go on forever, can they?
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5323875
>>What’s a g…ardian, and why should you even care?
>>
>>5323875
>What’s a g…ardian, and why should you even care?
>>
>>5323875
>What’s a g…ardian, and why should you even care?
Stupid prophetic dreams... they're never clear enough!
>>
>>5323875
>Keep chucking random components at these things-- they can't go on forever, can they?

Telling us to beware of the guardian(s)?
>>
>>5323878
>>5323885
>>5323913
>Beware of the whatnow?

>>5323930
>Fore!

Looks like we're interrogating this guy!
In the meantime, I'll need some dice to see how bad we don't get bugged by these bugs... cause, you know, they're still chasing us...

[bSo gimme some 1d100+-5!! Best of three! Go!![/b]
>>
Rolled 75 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>5323977
nice formatting
>>
Hate to leave on a roll, but I'm not feeling too hot... we'll pick up tomorrow, probably in the afternoon.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!

>>5323983
The one time I don't check! picrel
>>
Rolled 62 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>5323977
rolling
>>5324016
sleep tight
>>
Rolled 65 - 5 (1d100 - 5)

>>5323977
Don't let those bed bugs bite, QM.
>>
>>5323983
>>5324041
>>5324043

>Highest Roll: 70
Psyche! I got a case of the wild-fingers and started typing out the next update!! Gonna pay for it in the morning...

Choo-choo, you sickos! Writing!
>>
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>>5324126

This is the clearest that this guy’s been all night, and, even with the sprites hot on your tail, you want answers.

The word g…rdian, though, is something you don’t have to spend guessing about, and you feel confident when you shout into the open air, “Did you mean ‘guardian?’”

Nigh-instantly, you feel an affirmation in your mind.

“Then what are these things you sent after me?” You inquire as you clamber atop a ridiculously-sized LED. “Are they guardians too?”

Though, what is it they’re guarding? Is it the mutant who made this electric-themed dreamworld? Their psyche? Or is it none of those things at all?

“F…r…agments...o … f… me…mor…ies…” The words are slow and stilted.

“What’s the point of all of this?” Your voice raises tersely as another squadron of space-bugs attempts a divebomb on your head. “Couldn’t you just show your face instead of hiding behind all this bullshit?!”

A sensation akin to shame permeates your chest, but, as quickly as it came, it disappears.

“...mem…ories…” The intruder repeats, emphasizing the word, and it’s at that moment that one of the bugs splits from the party to launch a colorful wave at you.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5324132

Leaping upwards to dodge it, the attack doesn’t end up hurting your body– not at all– but, when it rushes past your head, it feels like someone had taken it and stuffed it in a blender.

By the skin of your teeth, you find purchase in one of the holes, but, much to your chagrin, the one above it is home to yet another electro-spider. You thought you’d left those back on the ground below, but somehow, amid the rolling waves of nausea, you’re lucky enough to swat the spider off of you when it tries to sink its legs into your skin. Good riddance.

Absently, you realize that, while you’d been given a vague-ish sort of answer as to what this place is, you hadn’t gotten a true answer about the guardian.

“You!” You address the intruder without further ado, your instinct thrumming in tune with both your ire and dizziness. “Tell me what the guardian is!”

There’s a good, long moment that you don’t get a response as the intruder mulls over your question for far longer than needed.

Eventually, however, you do end up with an answer.

>(2/?)
>>
>>5324134

“...b…locks…m…e…” The words are transmitted at a snail’s pace. “...ca…nt…c…on…tact…well…”

Oh. You start, coming to the realization that this must be why this mutant’s mental voice has been considerably weaker the whole you’ve been in here. Looking back on your first time with the intruder, in spite of their mental state, the mutant had been far more talkative.

Then, by that logic… was there someone else who did this to the mutant?

“Do you remember who did this to you?” You fire off your next question to the intruder. “FutureLabs? Another mutant?” Perhaps it was even Valjean in his Crux days.

However, what the intruder finally says to you ends up throwing you for a loop, so much that your not even sure if you should believe them.

“...I…did.”

From that point on, the voice leaves you in complete silence.

Still dizzied from that one sprite’s sound attack, you resume your upward journey with a pounding ache in your head, one that you sure hope disappears by the time you reach this guardian.

In due time and several dozens of electro-bugs later, you end up at the precipice of the convoluted wall. You’d be grateful for the feeling of terra-firma beneath your finned feet, but the ground of the precipice is no larger than half your foot, meaning that you’ll have to shuffle if you want to find an exit to this place.

>(3/?)
>>
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>>5324137

Although it feels like you really haven’t climbed that high at all, somehow the wired ground has all-but disappeared from your sights, encompassed by a foggy, gold miasma.

Though, you do see tiny sprites flitting to-and-fro further down. Perhaps the concept of distance doesn’t follow any real rules in this place; you think that would explain it.

Refocusing your mind on the present, you spot an exit to your left– a large, white door covered in stickers of all sorts: retro games, KIT sports’ fan paraphernalia, and various other things that are utterly and undeniably male, which leads you to believe that the owner of this place is probably a guy who’s no older than you (if not a little older).

You waste no time scooting yourself towards it, and the handle creaks ominously when you turn it.

There’s an expectation for the room to be filled with some other, trippy theme or horror.

And yet… flicking on the lightswitch, you find it’s just a bedroom– a normal guy’s bedroom, if not a bit messy, plastic bottles rolling across the floor as you kick them.

The smell of stale chicken hits your nose as well, and, just like back in the circuit maze, the floor and desk are also riddled with stray electronic parts that, while far tinier than the ones in the labyrinth, end up digging into your feet.

Meanwhile, a tack board is perched above a desk, whose contents you can’t decipher from where you stand. You’re certain it’s not your own vision, but, yet again, it feels like another trick of this place’s depth perception.

From the left, the smell of cooking hits your nose– chicken and potatoes, to be precise. So strong, you can even smell the spices and dressings intertwined with it.

For whatever reason, the dream world has made it so that such a wholly normal meal actually appeals to you, as opposed to the usual repulsion you feel upon smelling it.

Again, you’re sure it's this mutant’s feelings being superimposed onto you, but you’re not one to argue if it smells that good. Without your permission, you feel your mouth water, but quickly you shake your head. Focus on the mission, dammit!

>(4/5)
>>
>>5324143

While there's nothing else to the room, as it is a typical messy, male's room, the only thing left that you take note of is the television flickering on and off in the background.

Last is a door that's a mirror image of the one in which you entered. However, unlike the first one that felt almost homey in a way, the door has an ominous aura emanating forth from it… and yet, it calls out to you at the same time.

>Wat do?
>Examine the desk/area around it– maybe it will give you some insight into this guy.
>Check the door on the left. Maybe you’ll find something deeper in this place. (Also…food.)
>Proceed to the ominous door– could the guardian be in there?
>Check something else in the room (Write-in)
>Write-in

>(5/5)
>>
Time to sleep no cap fr.

Hope I'm not dead in the morning-- until next time!
>>
>>5324148
>>Check something else in the room (Write-in)
the tv, find a better channel
>>
>>5324148
>Examine the desk/area around it– maybe it will give you some insight into this guy.
Now my brain reminded me that we've had psychic thoughts imposed into us for a brief time, dunno which thread it was. Now it's time to solve this stray thread.
>>
>>5324148
>Check the door on the left. Maybe you’ll find something deeper in this place. (Also…food.)
finally we can eat normal again
however briefly
>>
>>5324148
>Examine the desk/area around it– maybe it will give you some insight into this guy.
This guy is
>big into /g/ and /vr/
>lives on a cheap budget, or prefers comfort food (former based on plastic bottles?)
>is a mutant
>has psychic dream powers
>fucked himself up to this extent somehow
>is protected negatively or kept captive or something by a "guardian"
>what are the contents of that tack board? more clues?
>what is the bad tv connection meant to be?
>door leading to the rest of the apartment with a negative aura instead
CHECK THE WINDOW
WHAT DOES HE SEE?
THE EYES ARE WINDOWS TO THE SOUL
WHAT ARE WINDOWS TO THE MIND?
>>
>>5324152
>Check the television

>>5324164
>>5324427
>Examine the desk

>>5324167
>Examine the left door

Writing!


>>5324427
Just to reclarify, there are three doors in total. Left door leads to the rest of the apartment, while the right door leads to something ominous. Last door was the entrance.


>>5324164
That was thread #8.
>>
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>>5324595

It’s wholly tempting to dive headlong through that door and face whatever is inside of it right here and now, but perhaps within this room is something that can tell you more about the mutant you’re dealing with.

Prying your focus away from the door, you set your sights on the desk that had caught your interest for a brief moment– not because of the sheer amount of clutter strewn across it, but because you can tell a lot about a person by what they have on or around their desk.

The tackboard is the first thing you try to look at that, like the rest of this room, is utterly disarranged.

It must be another trick of the depth perception in this place when you can’t see some of the faces in the photos, but, upon closer inspection, it looks as if someone deliberately took a smudge-tool to a few, particular faces within the photo collage.

Almost always, it’s always one or two guys and a woman, and you conclude they must mean something to the intruder; or, eyeing a photo with a bunch of students crouched around a robot with only one of the faces blurred, you’re sure that of them is likely to be the intruder himself.

What a letdown…You can’t help but frown at the lack of information on the tackboard. However, there’s still a desk full of books that you still haven’t checked, which is what you do after giving up on the tackboard.

Complete Microelectronic Theory, Introduction to the C Programming Language… Okay, so you know this guy likes electronics– a lot– as if that wasn’t completely obvious from the start, enough that he had to build a whole, freaking dream-trap out of them.

>(1/?)
>>
>>5324815

You can’t help but huff at the sheer mountain of textbooks that, in spite of their size, each one is left completely blank, so you throw them off to the wayside.

In the mix of things, you also end up finding some graphic novels– the kind of stuff that you’ve caught Matt with a good handful of times (to which he still vehemently denies)-- and, like the textbooks, the comics are also left blank.

That’s why your attention is grabbed by the only thing that’s not a textbook nor a Japanese manga.

Picking up the brown, moleskine notebook, you know before you open this that this is probably your intruder’s journal, or a mental reconstruction of it, judging by how worn it is.

Opening it confirms your suspicions, as it is the only book that’s not left with empty pages, and, flipping to a random entry, you begin to read the journal of the intruder.

Graduated college today. Am pretty proud of myself. Got deadass drunk for the first time in my life too. Don’t remember one bit of it, but everyone thought it was hilarious.

Checking the date, you find that the entry was about a few weeks before the explosion. Again, you flip a few more pages until the dates are about a month later.

Found out __ can’t stand looking at my face. Not like it wasn’t obvious from the start, but it hurts like hell to keep thinking about. Well newsflash– I can’t either.

You wonder if this is what the other mutant’s fixation on blurring faces is all about. While mutants like you and Bernard had been lucky with your mutations, it seems that the intruder had been one of the mutants who got stuck with a new or unsettling sort of appearance, and one of his close peers didn’t take it all that well.

>(2/?)
>>
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>>5324816

No matter, you turn another few pages, stopping at yet another random point, and the entry you stop on catches your eyes.

Met another mutant today who ended up catching me on the roof– said I’m not the only one who ended up like this. I guess not everyone gets the cool powers, but at least I got to talk to someone else besides ____ and ____ for once.

Well, at least the guy got to made some friends before he got captured...

But the next entry you read, which is set about a couple of weeks later, has you quickly regretting your words.

I will destroy this city and everyone in it until the day mutantkind is freed.

All of the entries after that are of similar rhetoric scrawled in red ink, and at one point the words on them begin to blur until nothing on the pages makes sense. No, you think, watching as the red ink spreads across the pages like flowing water until there’s ink all over your hands. (Or is that blood? You’re not quite sure.) By the time you’ve dropped the book, the red liquid had been all-but gushing from the page.

The intruder, evidently, had been yet another victim of the Crux. In that regard, you think Valjean should’ve been the one sent to this place instead of you.

Because he deserved a trip through this electronic hellhole– not you.

Behind you, the TV continues to static, and, though you weren’t paying attention before, every so often the static clears up, enough that you can make out a few of the words.

>(3/4)
>>
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>>5324821

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0I4mTEdAf8

“--d-d-d–stroyed… d–est–t-t-troyed…”

“Many buildings— d-d-d-d-estroyed…”

“--d-d-d–stroyed–”


Over and over, the same words repeat in various pitches and voices, like a broken record playing on loop.

Whipping your head to the screen, you find the television playing snapshots of decimated buildings– places that had likely been destroyed by the Crux– just as you feel some force pull upon your body, right towards the door with the chilling aura.

Moreover, the feelings that the intruder had imposed upon you, which had been a mere whisper only seconds ago, are now amplified tenfold as the full weight of his grief threatens to bring you to your knees.

“--g-g-g-g-guilty–”

“--g-g-g-g-guilty–”

“--g-g-g-g-guilty–”


There are pins in your head. Your skin feels like weak rubber around your bones. All of the sudden, you want to scream, but no sound comes from your lips.

These–these aren’t your feelings. You know they aren’t.

But, the longer you stand here, the more they threaten to overwhelm you. Your body begins to drag towards the final door.

>Resist the pull– you’re not playing slave to this guy’s mind palace, no matter how hard he’s messing with your brain!
>Don’t resist– just be ready to deal with whatever lies on the other side of the door.
>Write-in

>(4/4)
>>
>>5324828
>Don’t resist– just be ready to deal with whatever lies on the other side of the door.
let's get this over with
>>
>>5324828
>Don’t resist– just be ready to deal with whatever lies on the other side of the door.
>>
>>5324828
>Resist the pull– you’re not playing slave to this guy’s mind palace, no matter how hard he’s messing with your brain!
>>
>>5324595
>That was thread #8.
Re-read it and while speeding through it, I found Otto, the scp 682 of this universe and also that's when you art began developing more, since it was after an hiatus that you picked drawing as a hobby and would later lead to the notebook incident, kek. Nostalgia is fun.
>>
>>5324843
>>5324857
>Go with the flow!

>>5324884
>#resist

Writing!

>>5324897
That was a long while ago-- time definitely flies, anon...
Trying to get used to that darn tablet again as well, which is nowhere near as fun as a sketchbook, but I have whole (non-sketchy) notebooks desecrated with mutant fishes. Kek.
>>
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>>5324910

The weight of your own sins, the all-consuming guilt, the needles being pushed into your very skull– it’s all too much to bear, and, without warning, one of your legs ends up giving beneath you.

“STOP IT!” Your shout is directed at the intruder, and you can’t stop the slight waver in your voice. “Freaking stop it already!”

Again, you feel your body lurch sideways, and you wonder if maybe… maybe you should just forget. Forget what you’ve done, forget everything that’s happened to you. Is happening to you.

Not your thoughts. You mentally chant, barely hearing your own thoughts over those of the intruders, which is why you bring your teeth down on your inner lip, and it’s hard enough that blood begins to dribble out of the sides of your mouth.

For what it’s worth, the pain is able to drive away the mental onslaught from your mind– enough that you can distinguish your own thoughts once more. Because with the way they’d slithered into your mind, everything you’ve been feeling and hearing from the intruder really and truly felt like your own.

In the back of your mind, you know there’s only one way out. Letting your body go lax, you stop trying to fight the force that’s dragging you, allowing it to take you in its hold.

All at once, the ominous door flings open, and you’re thrown unceremoniously onto a flat ground, the white door slamming shut behind you.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5324998

Again, you’re back in a space tinged with gold– gold sky, gold floor, but no electronics or minions about.

The feelings that had threatened to overcome you in the other room are now a low whisper in your chest. So, with nothing harassing you anymore for the moment, you lay there just long enough for your breath to even out.

That is, until a very large, shining thing looms just overhead, overshadowing you completely with its mass. For a few moments, the giant stays where it is as if to regard you, and, somewhere in your gut, you know that this is definitely the guardian.

Just as quickly as it appeared does the monolith bring down its fist with a roar.

>Roll 1d100 to dodge!!

>(2/2)
>>
Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>5325010
Guard THIS
>>
Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>5325010
>>
Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>5325010
fug
>>
>>5325012
>>5325023
>>5325033

>Highest Roll: 76!
Writing!
>>
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>>5325057

Rolling out of the way of the giant fist, the impact shatters the grounds you were laying on as you become airborne from the sheer force of it.

Shards of the golden platform fly in all directions, cutting right into your skin the moment you land, and, quickly scrambling back to your feet, you sprint far enough away that you’re able to see the guardian in its full glory.

The only words that come to mind are giant and robot, one that’s tall as a small apartment building (if not larger) and more than large enough to turn you into a bloody pulp.

One of its arms is a large, blocky fist, one that’s disproportionate to its frame, yet somehow it manages to stay on its feet in spite of this fact. The other arm, meanwhile, is a long, serrated spear whose blade reflects the gold that encompasses this whole domain. Lastly, right in the center of its chest is a glassy, multifaceted orb that, quite befittingly, glows a pulsing gold.

It’s a sleek, imposing figure, impossible to exist in your lifetime but completely and utterly plausible in this mind palace, and it lumbers towards you far faster than you thought it would be at its height and proportions, driving its spear at you with lethal intent.

There’s a rush of wind where the guardian throws his arm forwards, your hair flying backwards as you leap away from the giant.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5325084

Wracking your mind for strategies, it’s hard to spot a visible weakness on the beast, and, while you could spend your whole time dodging the guardian, you’re pretty sure it can last far longer than you.

>Wat do?
>Who cares where you charge it– just charge it, claw it, slice it! Any problem can be solved with your fists!
>Find a weak point and aim for that! (where?)
>Try to talk to it– maybe it can be reasoned with/messed with (What do you say?)
>Keep dodging and try to ask the intruder for guidance– he made this thing, didn’t he?
>Write-in
>>
>>5325085
>Find a weak point and aim for that! (where?)

Joints are usually a good place to start
>>
>>5325086
>+1
this
>>
>>5325086
+1, though we might have to DESTROY THE CORE eventually
>>
>>5325085
>>5325086
+1 to this... Joints or the large, glowing open spot are usually a good bet.
>>
>>5325086
>>5325101
>Destroy the joints!

>>5325133
>>5325135
Destroy the joints AND the core!

Guess what? We're a free fish, so we can do both!

Looks like it's time to turn this guardian into scrap. I'll need some 2d100s-- one for the joints and one for the core. Don't forget to write-in a good strategy if you have one!

NOW BEST OF 3!!! GO!
>>
Rolled 75, 35 = 110 (2d100)

>>5325143
Star Fox 64 trained me for this...
>>
>>5325143

Sorry boys, can't seem to keep my eyes open-- we'll continue this showdown in the afternoon (unless anything else comes up). Until then!
>>
Rolled 24, 24 = 48 (2d100)

>>5325143
Fish is fresh
>>
Rolled 59, 87 = 146 (2d100)

>>5325143
>>
>>5325148
>>5325188
>>5325223
>Highest rolls: 75, 87!!!
Writing!
>>
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>>5325718

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP9DGmkI-gw

Stomping towards you once more, you don’t give the guardian an opportunity to gain on you. Instead, you sprint headlong towards one of the groups of pillars that surround this place, allowing the robot to follow suit.

You don’t even have to look behind you, the pounding of the guardian’s heavy footsteps being enough to tell you that it’s gaining on you quickly. Taking a large, bounding leap, you bounce from pillar-to-pillar, setting your sights on the highest point.

You don’t stop until you reach the summit, swiveling around in midair and jumping onto the guardian right as it jabs its spear into the last spot you’d been clinging to.

Even on the arm, you’re an ant atop the giant, but, in the split-second the guardian takes to thrust its arm, you’re charging down the limb far too fast for it to keep track. And, once you reach the elbow, you’re driving both of your fins downwards to slash at the joint.

The metal easily gives way, as do a thick plethora of wires, but it’s not enough to sever the arm completely.

The guardian attempts to retaliate with its blocky, crushing fist, and, as you make for its shoulder plate, the strike misses you by the skin of your teeth.

In the midst of your escape, your eyes catch that orb again that, unlike the rest of the guardian, looks far more delicate than the rest of it.

You don’t spend long thinking on that, however, as your body is jerked harshly when the guardian dislodges his spear from the pillar, forcing you to cling to the plate. But, stealing a glance at the spear-arm, it’s visible that it’s far more dangly than it was before, the spear hanging almost limply from the elbow.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5325864

Still, as the robot gears up for another strike, you can’t help but think back on that orb. It hadn’t crossed your mind before, but, looking at it again, there’s something about it that makes you think it’s more important than you had initially thought.

Could that be the battery? Or the core?

Like anything that’s breakable or punchable, there’s only one way to find out.

Letting go of the shoulder plate, your sparks fly from your claws as they scrape the plates leading down to the chest.

Unlike your fight with Gregor, where the roach-man had no qualms about hitting himself, the guardian seems to have some reserve about trying to hit itself; it’s why any attempts to squish you are few and careful, if at all.

Skreeeeeeeeee– You’re sliding backwards and downwards, and you know you’re going to end up on the ground.

But, if you time it right, you can land a good hit on the core at least once.

One… You’re nearly vertical as you steel yourself for the hit.

Two… The gold shines into your eyes, bright and hot in your face.

Three! You drive a fist right into the core, feeling it crack beneath the strike, and, as a result, you end up letting go of your handhold.

All-too-quickly, you’re plummeting towards the ground, and there’s a you-shaped indent in the ground from where you landed, the ground splintering and cracking in all directions from the point of impact.

Backing yourself right out of the guardian’s kill-zone, you’re not surprised that it’s still standing. While you got a good hit on the core, you didn’t break it, so you assume that’s why it’s still “alive.”

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5325865

Though, instead of trying once more to crush you with its fist, the gears on its block-hand move and shift until it’s transferred into a more cylindrical shape. It’s then that the newly-transformed hand begins to whir and glow a shade of fiery red.

You’ve seen enough sci-fi movies to know where this is going, the distinctive whirring-up noise making your hackles raise, and, darting to the side, you dodge the white-hot laser blast that turns the golden ground black.

The whirring begins anew, as the guardian revs up its laser-canon for another shot, baring its half-functioning spear as it renews its pursuit.

The cracked core, from its perch in the center of the guardian’s chest, glints at you mockingly.

>How do you plan to destroy it?
>From below– try to get it on your level, and then jump!
>From above– you can get another good jump on this guy!
>Try to communicate with it– maybe you can distract it!
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5325876
>From below– try to get it on your level, and then jump!
>>
>>5325876
>From below– try to get it on your level, and then jump!
the dark souls strat
>>
>>5325876
>>From below– try to get it on your level, and then jump!
>>
>>5325918
>>5325917
>>5325906

Time to roll, boys!
Roll me some 1d100s to kick this tin can to the curb! Best of 3 as always! GO GO GO!!!
>>
Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>5325930
>>
Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>5325930
>>
Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>5325930
>>
>>5325932
>>5325933
>>5325944

HIGHEST ROLL: 96!!!
WRiting!
>>
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>>5325953

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4uY_R2cSwA

Not even for a second do you let yourself stay still at the prospect of being incinerated by the canon. Your heart thuds in your ear as you skid to the side, instinct buzzing like a hive of hornets.

Even as the guardian tries to aim a shot on you, several, long seconds pass before the cannon finally fires, the searing heat fully palpable on your back.

The giant takes a step forwards, the ground quaking and rumbling with each hulking stride as the cannon charges once more, lunging forth with a swipe of the spear. However, it miscalculates just how low it needed to be to slash you, the colossal blade sailing just overhead.

Another, fiery blast decimates the ground you were standing on, and, again, the colossus lowers itself for a swipe of the blade.

Blast, swipe, blast and swipe… It doesn’t take long before you notice the pattern. That’s why, the next time the guardian blasts his laser cannon, you’re rushing towards it rather than away.

With the core in your sights, you wait for the behemoth to lunge to charge in as close as you possibly can.

Tensing your muscles and shooting upwards like a bullet, you launch yourself at the guardian’s core with fist outstretched, teeth bared in a feral grin when a sound like breaking glass resounds from the point of impact, bits of crystal flying outwards.

This time around as you fall, you’re more prepared to hit the ground and land in a crouch. Taking an upwards glance, while the core has been broken through, the fractals inside are still moving and pulsing, still slightly aglow.

While you haven’t let your guard down, you half-expected the guardian to become more desperate after breaking through its core, but its efforts to turn you into filet have seemingly halted, the giant standing stock-still.

What a better time for you to end this fight for good…

>ROLL 1D100 TO FINISH IT OFF!
>>
Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>5326030
Fish is Fresh and it's enviromental laws time
>>
Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>5326030
>>
Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>5326030
>>
>>5326048
>>5326055
>>5326105
>Highest roll: 52 Status: *Juuuuuuust* made it...
Writing!
>>
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>>5326134

Gearing up for another jump, you make to destroy the last bits of the core for good, the same moment a loud and blaring alarm emits from the guardian itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBQn3up61Qo

The noise, loud enough to split a normal person’s eardrums, has you seeing stars for a split-second, though there’s no choice at the moment but for you to endure the pain.

Launching yourself up into the air for what you hope is the last time, you can’t help but feel your heart leap into your throat the moment you hear a robotic voice blare out:

TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE

SELF DESTRUCT SEQUENCE: ACTIVATED


Then, the robot begins to glow red-hot, similar to that of the laser beams it fired at you before.

Even before you’re level with the core, there’s an intense heat radiating onto your skin that melts away patches of scaly flesh faster than your body can knit them back together.

Unlike the facade of the core, your fist passes through the inside of the chassis like butter, and you can’t help the surge of triumph that wells up within you amid the pain and melting flesh.

You don’t want to look at your hand– and deep down you know this all isn’t real– but you’re very aware of the sensation of subcutaneous tissue being exposed to the air.

You’re plummeting back towards the earth for what feels like the thousandth time, and the guardian glows so brightly you have to block it out with an arm.

You’re tumbling, rolling, and stumbling as chunks of gigantic metal rain all around you, some of them missing you by a hair’s breadth. But the resulting flash completely blinds you, its heat throwing you off of your feet and flinging you backwards with the metallic debris.

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5326407

The world around you ripples and twists as you lay there on the ground, and, the next time you open your eyes, you’re staring into a starry night sky as opposed to a foggy gold.

Ah, did you… did you die?

The sound of your heartbeat in your ear confirms that you are, indeed, still alive.

Does that mean you won? You blearily wonder. Even the ground feels softer and more welcoming– more natural– beneath your body than it did before the guardian exploded.

But you beat the guardian…so now what?

You don’t spend long wondering as you feel a beckoning sort of sensation within your mind that’s pulling you in a single direction.

Begrudgingly, you rise to your feet, and, though you still feel some residual dizziness from the flash of light, the burns have mostly healed.

You hope that this leg of the journey won’t be long– you defeated the guardian, so what else could this intruder possibly throw at you?

Eventually, your proprioception catches the heartbeat of someone else, and, before long, you see the silhouette of another sitting on the soft, sandy ground with his back turned to you.

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5326409

Clad in a FutureLabs prisoner uniform, the shirt he’s wearing is far-too-large for his frame, wiry arms clasped around his legs.

You can’t see the rest of his face, but there’s something about the head of bedraggled hair that rings a bell in your mind.

“Hello, Kelpie…” The intruder doesn’t move his mouth when he turns to face you, and, when he tilts his head to look up at you, you see fractals dance in his eyes– eyes that are attached to a face with sunken-in cheeks. Though he looked far healthier the first time you met him, you recognize the mutant sitting before you.

“Conduit?!” You exclaim, beholding the familiar face of your intruder. The whole time you’d been here, you wholly expected someone else– anyone but the Crux’s former bombmaker.

Now, you have far more questions than answers.

>What do you say? (Pick one/multiple)
>He’s the one that’s been trying to contact you this whole time? Is he the one who’s been sending you all those painful, weird dreams?
>Now that you beat the guardian, he’ll send you back, right? Why’d he make that guardian anyhow?
>Last time you checked, his power only had a range of a couple of floors. What gives?
>He kept saying lots of stuff about memories and forgetting stuff before. Is... FutureLabs making him lose his memory?
>Write-in
>>
That's it for the night, boys!
We continue tomorrow in the afternoon as usual! See you all!
>>
>>5326414
>He’s the one that’s been trying to contact you this whole time? Is he the one who’s been sending you all those painful, weird dreams?>Last time you checked, his power only had a range of a couple of floors. What gives?
PA boosted my boy, it seems. And dude still refuses to it, I imagine it got worse after his brother's coma
>>
>>5326414
>>He’s the one that’s been trying to contact you this whole time? Is he the one who’s been sending you all those painful, weird dreams?
>>He kept saying lots of stuff about memories and forgetting stuff before. Is... FutureLabs making him lose his memory?

Everything else aside, he's probably trying ot contact us for a reason, so I want to focus our atttention on that.
>>
>>5326414
>He kept saying lots of stuff about memories and forgetting stuff before. Is... FutureLabs making him lose his memory?
>>
>>5326414
Oh SHIIIIIIIT!

>He’s the one that’s been trying to contact you this whole time? Is he the one who’s been sending you all those painful, weird dreams?
>He kept saying lots of stuff about memories and forgetting stuff before. Is... FutureLabs making him lose his memory?

Thanks for running, by the way.
>>
>>5326414
>He’s the one that’s been trying to contact you this whole time? Is he the one who’s been sending you all those painful, weird dreams?
>He kept saying lots of stuff about memories and forgetting stuff before. Is... FutureLabs making him lose his memory?
>>
>>5326462
>1st

>>5326463
>>5326527
>>5326777
>1st and 4th

>>5326514
>4th

Looks like the 1st and 4th option win out!
Writing!
>>
Experiencing slight technical difficulties, so update will be lightly postponed. Internet sucks. You know the drill :{
>>
>>5327336
seesh, good luck bro
>>
>>5327134

“It’s you?” You can’t stop the surprise that coats your voice, because Conduit had been the one responsible for all of those odd, painful dreams.”You’re the one that’s been trying to contact us this whole time?!”

“Yeah… it was me.” He nods, the hand in your mind almost apologetic for whatever reason. “You can sit, by the way. I don’t think the connection’s going to sever anytime soon.”

You don’t need any further prompting to plop yourself down on the sand in front of him, and, while you thought you were wearing a tank and shorts, now you’re garbed in a loose, flowing robe that’s almost luminescent beneath the glow of the stars.

Pulling your focus from the sudden shift in clothes, you regard the haggard-looking empath in front of you as worry worms its way into your gut.

Obviously, there’s a reason Conduit’s been trying to contact you, and, with just how realistic the dreams he’s sent you so far have been, the implications are far from good.

Thinking about what exactly you want to say to him, the sensation of dozens of tiny needles pressed into your skull comes to mind. “They’ve been hurting you, haven’t they?”

You don’t even have to say who it is. You felt and saw exactly what he saw when he contacted you the first couple of times.

“What was your first guess?” Conduit’s tone is sardonic, but, at the same time, the hand in your mind is almost apologetic for whatever reason. “It’s hard to control what you transmit when you’re being treated like a damn science experiment.”

His words confirm what you already guessed, yet you can’t stop the flash of concern that wells up in you for the other mutant. However, there’s something about his mental presence that tells you that there’s more to this than meets the eye.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5327417

“You and Blink were the only ones I could think to contact.” Conduit continues, pulling his legs closer to his chest. “My mom… I don’t even remember her name anymore, not that she wanted anything to do with me, and my brother might as well be dead.” As he says that last part, the fractals in his eyes spin faster.

“My brother said the doctor would never touch me, but, as soon as he dropped, it was game over for me.” Conduit mentally hisses, contempt for the doctor clear within your mind.

You don’t need to be a genius to know that Atticus Charles would’ve never kept his promise to Eddie– it would’ve been naive of you to think otherwise. Eddie’s supposed death just happened to be the perfect opportunity for the doctor to get his hands on Conduit.

While you want to object that Eddie is definitely alive (and you do plan on telling Conduit sooner rather than later), in the present moment, there’s something else Conduit had said that niggles at your mind.

“Is… FutureLabs making you lose your memory?” For a good, long moment, Conduit doesn’t answer, the shame and self-loathing palpable within your mind.

“This place is my last-ditch attempt at preserving what’s left of it– not this part, but the rest of it is.” His eyes are drawn to the stars above. “They got me hopped up on enough Aurum Impulsum that I can’t even think straight half the time, and, while I can do a lot more than I ever could before, I don’t know how much longer I can hold out. But I know they need me for something, otherwise they would’ve just let me die already…”

Again, sympathy wells up in you for the empath, to which Conduit glares at you, but there’s no anger or malice in his eyes– none whatsoever. “You don’t have to feel bad for me, you know. It’s not like you can turn it all back– funny thing is I can do far more than I ever could’ve…”

“Like what?” You tilt your head at the other mutant.

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5327423

“My range, for one.” Is Conduit’s succinct response. “Pretty sure you know that by now.”

That much was obvious, as you recall his range being just meters when you invaded FutureLabs.

“And see those stars up there?” Conduit raises an arm to point to the stars overhead. “Each one is a mind within my range– I can tell which ones are mutants if I focus hard enough, latent mutants as well…” He says with a faint upturn of his lips, though the term ‘latent mutant’ leaves you slightly puzzled.

“Even if I lose all of my memories, at least this place will always be here…” Conduit trails off, and, even without the invisible hand in your mind, the resignation in his eyes is clear as day.

>(Pick one/multiple:)
>So what does Atticus Charles think he’s going to achieve by putting you through all that torture? It’s obvious that there’s something more to it if he’s going through the extra trouble to keep him alive.
>What’s a “latent mutant?” You’ve never heard of that term before, so what’s the big deal about them?
>Oh hey, that sounds like he’s kind of giving up there–pretty sure this is as good a time as any to tell the guy Eddie’s alive and well.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
Pardon the long wait...
>>
>>5327439
>>So what does Atticus Charles think he’s going to achieve by putting you through all that torture? It’s obvious that there’s something more to it if he’s going through the extra trouble to keep him alive.
>>What’s a “latent mutant?” You’ve never heard of that term before, so what’s the big deal about them?
>>Oh hey, that sounds like he’s kind of giving up there–pretty sure this is as good a time as any to tell the guy Eddie’s alive and well.
>>
>>5327439
>>5327443
+1 to this. No need to apologize!
>>
>>5327439
>So what does Atticus Charles think he’s going to achieve by putting you through all that torture? It’s obvious that there’s something more to it if he’s going through the extra trouble to keep him alive.
>What’s a “latent mutant?” You’ve never heard of that term before, so what’s the big deal about them?
>>
>>5327439
>What’s a “latent mutant?” You’ve never heard of that term before, so what’s the big deal about them?
>Oh hey, that sounds like he’s kind of giving up there–pretty sure this is as good a time as any to tell the guy Eddie’s alive and well.
>>
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I don't think I can force another update tonight, so I'll leave the vote open for now.

Luckily, for you folks, American or otherwise, I'll probably be able to squeeze out an update or two tomorrow, and hopefully my energy will be a little more replenished by then. Until next time!

MURICA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtJJC0nWs9s
>>
>>5327439
>>Write-in
If they're removing your memories and your range is improving... Are... are they trying to turn you into a mindless long-range mutant detector?
>>
>>5327534
+1, this man is becoming a living version of that one thing Professor X uses
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5327443
>>5327465
>ALL THE THINGS!

>>5327529
>All the things minus one thing!

>>5327529
>Also all the things minus one thing 2: Electric Boogaloo!

>>5327825
>>5327534
>Le write-in

For the sake of fairness, I'm going to do coin flip, and for whatever wins I'll start writing:
>1 = All the things
>2 = Write-in
>>
>>5327439

I should've voted earlier to back >>5327534
>>
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>>5328168

“What does Atticus Charles think he’s going to do with you by keeping you alive?” You segue the conversation to a topic that’s been weighing on your mind the most.

Briefly, you considered the idea of Conduit’s torture being some sort of retaliation against Eddie himself. However, because not even Atticus Charles knew of Eddie’s consciousness transferral abilities, you ended up discarding that idea.

That’s why it’s plain to see that there’s something more to this whole thing if Atticus Charles is going through all the extra trouble to keep Conduit alive.

As Conduit had been paying more attention to the stars in the sky than you, he takes a good, long moment to consider your question. “I’ve got a theory…” He says after a beat, fidgeting in the sand.

“Shoot.” You prompt him, because you’re sure that Conduit– being at the center of this whole operation– will have some better insight on this than you.

Still, there's an odd mixture of discomfort and fear emanating from the other mutant that’s making him hold his tongue. However, since you went through all of the trouble to get here, whatever he’s not telling you is likely something you’ll need to know. Conduit knows this as well.

His shoulders slump, and there’s a look in his eyes that you can’t quite discern. “I’m probably going to become a glorified mutant-tracker for FutureLabs, once I’m fully gone.” He tells you, and you know he doesn’t mean dead.

But once the implications of Conduit’s words finally register, you can’t help the inkling of dread that makes its way down your throat. Nonetheless, you let him continue.

“The doctor doesn’t know about this place yet, but I know he’ll find out. And trust me when I say he wants every mutant, including the latent ones.” Conduit informs you. “Bet that one asshole would’ve loved to know that half of Konigsburg is latent mutants…” He says offhandedly.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5328387

“Pharos.” You remind Conduit, the fact that the other mutant had missed that name not escaping your notice, and, once more, the shame of his forgetfulness hits you in full.

However, you pay no attention to those feelings, opting to sate another object of your curiosity: “What are latent mutants?” You fire off the question.

“People with high amounts of hyperfrequency particles in their bloodstream. Latent hyperfrequency particles.” Conduit clarifies, and, while the term ‘hyperfrequency particles’ ring a vague bell in your mind, you find yourself thoroughly and utterly confused.

“So, you know how mutations only happen when there’s a particle resonance?” Conduit tries again, speaking a little slower for your sake. Even though you don’t really understand, you nod for him to continue. “Basically, latent mutants are people who’ve got hyperfrequency particles in their bodies but without particle resonance…”

At that, you frown, still confused for the most part. John had tried to explain to you the concept of particle resonance at one point in time, but most of it flew over your head.

“What’s an easier way to put this… damn it all…” He mutters out a curse. “It’s like normal people who can become mutants but aren’t actually mutants yet. That make sense?”

At that, you nod, and this time you actually do understand-- not the quantum-physics mumbo-jumbo, but you think you got the gist of it.

Yet again, the space between the two of you settles into silence as Conduit’s eyes are drawn back to the stars above.

What he sees in those stars is likely something that will only ever be known to him, but, even without the emotional transfer, you can see the complacency written on his face– like Conduit is waiting to become nothing more than a mindless husk.

It makes you frustrated– frustrated that you went through all of this just for him to give up and let himself become nothing more than a tool in the hands of the mad doctor, not to mention everything you’ll have to go through for Conduit's sake soon enough.

“Hey–Hey Conduit!” The other mutant doesn’t answer you, and you’d think he was a statue if not for his breathing. Even when you grab a small handful of dreamsand to throw harmessly at his feet, Conduit still doesn’t respond.

>(2/?)
>>
>>5328390

Finally, you’ve had enough, and only one more idea comes to mind to snap Conduit out of his fugue-like state.

This time, you shout again, “Ernst!” And it’s much louder than the first couple of times.

The use of his real name has Conduit suddenly scrambling, eyes widening like saucers.

All-too-quickly, the mental hand that you’d hardly been paying attention to becomes vice-like while his face, which had been calm and detached not even two seconds before, shifts into something fierce.

“How did you get that name?!” Conduit vociferates, air hissing through his teeth as the mental hand squeezes and prods with all the care of an iron maiden.

“Tell me!” The vice squeezes harder, more insistently, when you don’t answer fast enough, and you try to push it out to no avail.

“Eddie,” You manage to choke out, clawed hands grasping onto your head. Stars dance across your vision, sparkling and gleaming like the ones overhead.

The vice stops squeezing, but you can still feel its hold around your mind, ready to squash you again at a moment’s notice. “Where is he?!”

>(3/?)
>>
>>5328398

While you don’t answer, you’re not sure if you should answer, because what are the odds the information gets out to Atticus Charles somehow? It’s not something you want to risk, even at the cost of getting shunted from Conduit’s mind here and now.

“Where is my damn brother?” Conduit repeats, his face becoming more hysterical rather than angry.

“Alive.” You respond through a mouth of gritted teeth, giving him nothing more than that simple word, and, though you half-expect the vice to begin anew, instead, the sensation recedes enough for you to regain your bearings.

Sparing a glance at the now-distressed Conduit, the look in his eyes isn’t one of anger– like a stray child searching for their parents, he looks more distraught than anything else. Lost is a better word, you think, and, in clothes that are far too big for him, Conduit looks incredibly small in this vast, lonesome domain.

“Why–why isn’t he the one I had to tell all of this?! He should’ve been here, not– not anyone else,” His voice hitches, and you can see his eyes become glassy as he stammers out his words.

Somehow, you feel like you screwed up big time as you watch Conduit’s mental walls break down.

>(4/5)
>>
>>5328406

>Wat do?
>Tell him the truth.
>Tell him you can’t tell him everything, but, at least for Eddie, tell Conduit not to give up just yet. Tell him to hold out a little longer-- remember what he wants to live for.
>There’s no way you can tell Conduit anything. Don’t say anything. Just let him let it out.
>Write-in

>(5/5)
>>
>>5328410
>He's...kinda in a similar situation to you right now. Similar, but not the same- can't talk to anyone without some special equipment. We've got him safe and taken care of for now, though; he's not going anywhere bad. In fact, if it weren't for his help, I wouldn't be here now.

>So trust me, he's still kicking and he still loves you beyond all comprehension. But if I'm gonna pay him back, you need to hold out so I can reunite you both.

Thoughts? Not quite the whole truth, but it gets the major points across- he's alive, he's active, he's safe.
>>
>>5328410
>>Tell him you can’t tell him everything, but, at least for Eddie, tell Conduit not to give up just yet. Tell him to hold out a little longer-- remember what he wants to live for.
>>
>>5328410
>Tell him you can’t tell him everything, but, at least for Eddie, tell Conduit not to give up just yet. Tell him to hold out a little longer-- remember what he wants to live for.

maybe tell him he's being kept in a coma by Pharos so Atticus Charles can't exploit him, but we have every intention of waking him up once all this is over
>>
Closing the vote in about 10-15 minutes btw cause I got work tomorrow.
>>
>>5328416
>Alive, active, safe

>>5328454
>>5328449
>A vague-ish truth

I can work with both of these--that, and I like rewarding creativity.
Writing!
>>
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>>5328508

It’s a wholly uncomfortable thing to watch the man before you scream and call for his brother– a brother that he can’t even talk to if he wanted to.

Fractaled eyes center themselves onto you in desperation, and, with the emotional transfer, your own guilt is amplified tenfold.

“Why won’t you tell me where Eddie is?!” Conduit cries out, the sound of his mental voice raw. His shoulders wrack as his physical body makes rough, raspy sobs, and you try not to let yourself be overcome by the other mutant’s emotions.

It takes a good couple of minutes for him to quiet himself and calm down, but now you think you can get in a couple of words edgewise.

“Conduit–” You start, taking a breath to center yourself.

“Ernst,” He corrects you, wiping his face with a bony arm.

“Ernst,” You try again, this time with his actual name. Then, you take a long moment to think on just how carefully you say your next words, as you don’t want to give away the more important cards you have yet to play.

“I can’t tell you everything just yet, but Eddie’s… kind of in a similar situation to you right now.” While still distraught, there’s an inquiring look in those unique eyes of his, the mental hand probing for more. “It’s similar, but not the same– can’t talk to us without some special equipment.”

“Is that why I can’t sense him?” Ernst questions, eyes widening in realization.

“Yes.” You nod. “That’s exactly it– but we've got him safe and taken care of for now, though; he's not going anywhere bad. In fact, if it weren't for his help, I wouldn't be here now.”

“So trust me,” You continue, spurred on by the faintest glimmer of hope you feel from Ernst’s mental presence. “Eddie’s still kicking and he still loves you beyond all comprehension. But if I'm gonna pay him back, you need to hold out so I can reunite you both.”

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5328577

When you finish your spiel, the fractals in his eyes slow down to a calmer, more languid rhythm, the other mutant’s emaciated features softening.

“For a while I really thought Eddie did die…” Ernst confesses, brushing some of his overgrown bangs out of his face. “I couldn’t find him for so long that I thought Atticus Charles was telling the truth. Didn’t believe him for a second…” He trails off, contempt for the doctor prominent in his voice.

“Well, he’s not.” You say calmly, placidly. “He would’ve never let himself die so long as you’re alive.”

“Heh…” He huffs out, lowly and breathlessly– like he hadn’t laughed in ages. “You’re not wrong, Kelpie… Eddie’s the only one who’s ever believed in me, for whatever that was worth. Guess it’s my turn to believe in him…”

It’s then that Ernst rises to his feet to stand at his full height, multifaceted eyes on the stars once more. Your gaze, too, is drawn to the heavens above, such a fantastical sight only possible within a dream.

>So, you suppose guess this is goodbye for now?
>Wait-- you got something else to say/ask (Write-in)
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
Welp, hope everyone American and non-American alike had a happy and awesome 4th!

Hopefully I'll squeeze an update or two out tomorrow, so until then!
>>
>>5328582
>So, you suppose guess this is goodbye for now?
>>5328583
Happy independence day, QM
>>
>>5328582
>So, you suppose guess this is goodbye for now?
Happy Independence Day! Watch out for those M-80's!
>>
>>5328582
>>So, you suppose guess this is goodbye for now?
>>
>>5328582

>So, you suppose guess this is goodbye for now?
hopefully we can save him quick
>>
>>5328600
>>5328661
>>5328769
>>5328954

Yeet yeet work ended early... so early update time.
Writing!
>>
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>>5329093

You don’t know how much time in the real world has passed since you entered Ernst’s domain, and, while you feel like you could spend eons watching the stars above, you know that your time here has just about drawn to a close.

Sensing your intentions, Ernst turns his head back to you as you stand up from your seat in the sand, wondering how and where you’ll exit from this place. Even without the emotional transfer, you can see that lost expression has returned to his eyes.

“We’re not leaving you.” You remind him.

“Yeah,” Ernst’s mental voice breathes, his shoulders slumping. “I know.”

But there’s nothing you can do for him in this realm of dreams, nothing you can accomplish that would free him. Ernst knows this just as well as you do.

“You ready?” Ernst speaks up, and you don’t even have to respond, the emotional transfer being enough of an affirmation.

Wordlessly, he lifts a hand in your direction, and your limbs begin to feel heavy. With the weight of your own body becoming too much for you to bear, you’re no longer in control of it. However, you don’t struggle, welcoming the sensation that fills you all the way down to your core.

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5329224

The stars grow distant– the souls of mutants and nonmutants alike glimmering in the skies above. Ernst’s thoughts and emotions turn to little more than a faint echo in your mind, the last thing you hear being his own bittersweet farewell.

You can’t find it in you to cry out, even when you wish to return the goodbye, and your body falls to the ground. There was not even any sound, because of the sand.

“Wake up, Kelpie–” The voice is barely an echo.

--e up, Kelpie–
—---

It’s late into the afternoon when you come to.

With what little motivation you have left (as you had come to find that fighting metaphysical things leaves you just as exhausted as fighting things in reality), you roll yourself unceremoniously off of the couch, unsurprised that everything is still the way you left it, TV and all.

Now you’re back in your normal, everyday clothes, not that ethereal chiton you wore in Ernst’s dream realm (you kind of wish you could’ve brought that back with you).

Picking up your phone from the coffee table– as is the ingrained reflex of your generation– your eyes bug a bit when you see the line of missed calls on your phone.

Matt: 12 Missed Calls

Bernard: 4 Missed Calls


Somebody better be dying, you think, your fingers suddenly itching to punch something...

>(2/3)
>>
>>5329229

>Return one of the calls (Who?)
>Be petty. Don’t return any calls.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5329229
>Return one of the calls (Who?)
Matt
12 seems more urgent than 4
>>
>>5329229
>>5329236
I'll agree with the sentiment. 12 missed calls feels pretty desperate.
>>
>>5329231
>Return one of the calls (Matt)
Jesus Christ, Matt, leave a frigin' voice mail
>>
>>5329231
>Return one of the calls (Matt)
>>
>>5329236
>>5329254
>>5329263
>>5329299

>Someone's gonna get his teeth knocked in...
Writing!
>>
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>>5329320

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-MZ9XDK1Us&list=PLWgJlwnblLH-gqq4VnKPKmVnVOAe_JMGS&index=4

Begrudgingly, you unlock the accursed device with one hand, thinking that something is very, very wrong; and, with your free hand, you run it down the side of your face, wishing you could be poofed back to the dreamworld.

Four calls from Bernard is one thing, but Matt…

…Matt better be dying, dammit.

Your hand clenches tighter around your cell phone, a small pit of worry forming in your gut.

One ring… You’re pacing around the living room madly.

...Two rings… With still no answers, your throat tightens. Already, you’re mentally ready to run to whatever middle-of-nowhere town Jenna’s farm’s at.

Right before the third ring, the ringing stops, and no sooner does it stop are you saying, “Hello?”

“Ellie!” Matt’s voice is all-but a bellow that makes your sensitive ears ring from the aftershock.

“What’s wrong?” Your concern for Matt outweighs your own.

“--Didyouseewe’regettingdiamondswordsfuckingdiamondswordsohshitohwowitssoepicI’mgonnadieofcompleteandutterjoyit’slikeadreamcometrue–”

For a good couple of seconds, you just stand there in silence, concern giving way to rage as your brother doesn’t even pause to breathe.

You were just ready to run all the way to Jenna’s farm… for this?!

Two seconds away from destroying your phone, you have to take a nice, long moment to breathe in… and breathe out…

You swear you feel steam coming from your nostrils. All the while, Matt is still blathering away, far too excited about those stupid diamond swords to realize the mortal danger he’s in.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5329366

“Slow down!” You snap, effectively shutting him up. “What the hell did you need to call me twelve times for? Twelve times!” You emphasize.

“Diamond. SWORDS. What don’t you understand about that?”

“I know! I know about the stupid diamond swords! It was my idea, you ass! You weren’t supposed to know about those until they were done.” Even though you knew he was going to find out about them regardless, you kind of did want those to be a surprise for everyone.

“Well, too bad,” He taunts. “They’re mine now.”

“Yours?!” You growl. “I’m gonna kill you when you get back!”

“No you won’t.” Matt sing-songs, and you can hear the cheshire smile in his voice.

“A-ny–ways…” He drawls, cutting off your thoughts of extremely petty revenge. “You wanna know how many we got or what?”

It’s not like you have a choice in the matter.

>ROLL ME 1d5! Result x 2 = swordcount!!! GO!

>(2/2)
>>
Rolled 4 (1d5)

>>5329382
Sure why not.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d5)

>>5329382
>>
Rolled 5 (1d5)

>>5329382
>>
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>>5329383
>>5329385
>>5329383

Oh-- forgot to mention this was Bo1, so only >>5329395 counts. Had to delete the 2nd post the first time cause of formatting, so forgot to add that teensy detail there-- my bad on that part...

Anyways, the grand total:
8 swords!!!

Everyone else who rolled gets picrel!
Writing!
>>
>>5329406
damn how we gonna use 8 swords
even the king bradley style only goes up to 5
>>
>>5329436
Easy, we'll stick Aurum Impulsum directly into our veins to acquire a Squid form, upping our arm number to eight
>>
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>>5329406

“Did you say eight swords?” You can hardly believe your ears. “As in ‘eight’ eight?”

“Am I speaking Chinese?” Is Matt’s deadpan response. “Of course I said eight swords–Julia’s been working like crazy all day on them–in Meinkraft, of course.” He adds that last part for paranoia’s sake.

“Is that it?” While you’re pleasantly surprised at just how many swords you got, that doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten your current aggravation with Matt. “You’re kind of at the top of my shitlist right now.”

”Well, do you or do you not want to know what kind of enchantments we got for our swords?”

Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of a response, you don’t say a word– he already knows you do.

>Roll a 1d8 for how many swords get enchanted– again, Bo1!!!
>>
Rolled 5 (1d8)

>>5329513
Let's goooooooooooooooooooooo
>>
Rolled 74, 25, 15, 13, 52 = 179 (5d100)

>>5329529

Aight. We got a fiver!
Now it's time for me to do my job and roll like a boss!

>95-100: Sharpness II
>90-95: Knockback II
>80-89: Fire Aspect II
>70-79: Sharpness I
>60-69: Knockback I
>50-59: Fire Aspect I
>40-49: Curse of Vanishing
>26-39: Smite
>0-25: Insert super shitty enchantment here (I.e. Bane of arthropods, etc.)

One enchantment per sword, and, as far as I refreshed my memory of Minecraft, I'm using the most common, lower-level enchantments.

Gonna take a bit of a break before I write the next update, so stay tuned, kings!

>>5329494
>Tentacled Elise
L-Lewd!!!
>>
>>5329536
Well this sucks. At least we can combine the sharpness and fire aspect into one decent sword.
>>
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>>5329536

>Those rolls...
>picrel

Sorry to blueball you folks, but I don't think I have enough energy for another update; and I'd rather not give you guys a half-assed update while I'm dead-tired.

As always, thanks for playing, and see you kings next time!

>>5329546
https://youtu.be/Eoy9PUR--E4?t=19
>>
>>5329662

Time to write...again!
Writing!
>>
>>5330401
Boy am I glad we don't have Bane of Arthropods anywhere near that cockroach guy
>>
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>>5330401
>>5329536

“...Bane of Arthropods, Sharpness I, and Fire Aspect I…” Matt finishes listing off all of your enchantments– most of which pretty much suck!

On top of that, only five of your swords ended up getting enchanted, and, while you shouldn’t be counting on Ralph to enchant all your swords, you were kind of expecting something slightly…better.

“Eh, we’ll fuse the good swords.” Matt says offhandedly. “We got enough of them to last. I got dibs on this bad boy– V can suck it if he thinks he’s getting the good gear.”

“How’s the farm?” Now, you’re more curious about that rather than the swords.

“Big, spacious, out of the way– basically everything you would want in this place.” Matt tells you. “Kids like it so far.”

“So how long until you think you’ll be able to get them back to where they need?” You don’t expect all those kids home in a day, but you end up asking anyways.

“Yeahh… about that…” For a good few moments, your brother doesn’t answer, the only noise being his breathing on the other end of the line.

It’s that kind of behavior that gives you the feeling that there is some sort of problem, and what Matt says next confirms it for you: “Some of them don’t exactly have places to go back to…”

“Come again?” You sputter, not quite believing your ears.

“I mean some of them don’t actually have homes, family, next-of-kin… that kind of shit.” So you’ve picked up a good number of orphans basically, which you think is unfortunate for those captives, but anything is better than being stuck in the whitewashed prison that is FutureLabs.

“How many are some?” You inquire anyways.

“Just about half, if you can believe that,” Matt factually returns. “Hate to say it, but we might have no choice but to keep them here until the situation’s fully over, if not longer.” And who knows how long that would be because, even with everything you’re doing for the sake of other mutants, you don’t really know what life for them will be like once FutureLabs is truly gone.

“I got Jenna already agreeing to it; the aunt and uncle are more than happy to have the extra farmhands as well. I’m giving them a good bit of compensation anyhow.”

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5330572

You’re pretty sure that compensation’s coming straight out of a certain someone’s bank account– a bank account that’s getting filled handsomely for being a corporate pawn.

>Now that you’ve learned that you’ll be playing host to a slew of young mutants for the foreseeable future, is there anything else you want to ask or tell Matt before you hang up?

>Nah, just tell Matt you’re still going to kick his ass for spam-calling you and hang up.
>Ask how someone (Julia/Bernard/Jenna/Write-in) is doing? Any news on them?
>Ask him when he's coming back to Konigsburg? He doesn't need to know that the situation with Conduit's changed *yet,* but you need to get planning/prepping for the extraction sooner rather than later.
>Does he have any better living arrangements for the captives, besides (presumably) a barn for the forseeable future? Who the heck is watching them all day?
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
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>>5330503
We needed a diamond sword in thread #9 kek
>>
>>5330595
>>Ask how someone (Julia) is doing? Any news on them?
>Does he have any better living arrangements for the captives, besides (presumably) a barn for the forseeable future? Who the heck is watching them all day?
>>
>>5330595
>Ask how someone (Julia) is doing? Any news on them?
>Ask him when he's coming back to Konigsburg? He doesn't need to know that the situation with Conduit's changed *yet,* but you need to get planning/prepping for the extraction sooner rather than later.
>>
>>5330613
+1
>>
>>5330613
>>5330788
>Julia and captives

>>5330640
>Julia and hurry tf back

>Writing!
>>
>>5330828

Before you hang up with Matt, you do have questions for him, the first one coming to mind regarding a certain gemstone mutant.

“How’s Julia doing?” You wonder how she’s faring in the great outdoors.

“Her? She’s definitely enjoying the farm– I don’t think she knew what to do without V for the first night, but she’s been hanging around with Jenna for most of the time. She was pretty standoffish at first, but I think she likes having some real female interaction for once.”

“And I don’t count?” You take offense to Matt’s words.

“Eeehhhhh…” He hesitates, and you know he’s just busting your chops at this point; but then his voice becomes more serious as he tells you bluntly, “Let’s just face it, Ellie, you and I both know that Julia’s never going to be one hundred percent fully comfortable with you. Ever.”

“I’m aware,” You sigh, and you’d never expect her to be.

“But who knows? Maybe she’ll come around. Or not.” Matt adds, and you know he’s just trying to make you feel better with that last part.

“Oh– hey, I just remembered something!” You shout a little too loudly, eager to talk about anything other than what you did to Julia. “Who’s gonna watch the kids when you go?”

“Jenna,” Matt says as if that were obvious, and who else around there would be capable of watching a schoolbus worth of mutants? “She lives at home most of the time, so she’s going to help plan stuff to keep them busy all day… farmwork, busywork, you name it…”

“That sounds neat, but do you just have them in like a barn or something or what?” You don’t expect a five-star arrangement for any of the captives, but you do think they would appreciate not sleeping in a place that smells rank.

>(1/?)
>>
>>5331027

“Oh, they’re going to build a brand new barn after we leave, and, if you have like thirty of them working on a single building, it can be finished in no time.” You don’t disagree with that. There were a lot of strong or handy mutants that you rescued. “Everything but the extra screws, bolts, and some extra lumber is basically free, so John’s credit card is gonna take a nice trip to the Domicile Depot…”

“Don’t spend a fortune…” You chide, as you’d rather not get caught.

“Hey, are you talking to fish?” Bernard’s voice interrupts your call. “Tell her I said hi!”

“Yep,” Matt answers the other male. “Bernard says ‘hi.’ She can hear everything, you know…”

“Oh, you’re right!” Bernard is reminded of your enhanced senses, and his goofiness makes you grin. “Hi Ellie!”

“Hey B–” You call out, forgetting that you’re not on speaker-phone.

“She says ‘hi’ too.” Matt deadpans. “We’ll be back soon, probably tomorrow or the day after depending on how things go.”

“I thought you had everything taken care of,” You object, wondering what else Matt needs to possibly stick around for.

“I-um… I do…” Matt’s tone is oddly, oddly shifty.

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5331033

“Hey stick did you tell her what ~else~ you’re up to–” Bernard’s voice is teasing, and you suddenly realize his slight reluctance in coming back.

“Do you want me to break your other leg?!” Matt puts down the phone to shout. “Cause I will, B, and I really mean it!”

“Just like all the other times you broke my leg, didn’t you?” Bernard retorts, and you can hear the smirk in his voice.

“I gotta go.” Matt tells you, trying to play off his shouting by trying to sound more calm than he actually is. You sure hope Bernard has the sense to book it.

After hanging up with Matt, though your worries about the captives are quelled for the time being, you’re still hung up about Ernst’s situation. You’re not sure how Eddie will take the news, something uncomfortable rising within you at the thought of telling him, and you don’t even think you should tell him when he’s so close to finishing the program.

Perhaps, while the guys are still gone, you can be more proactive about this whole thing...

>What do you do?
>Seek out Boleski and/or the Healer-- see if either one or the other would be willing to participate in your upcoming plans, either for the extraction or Eddie-retrieval.
>Even though you told yourself you wouldn’t plan without Matt, perhaps a little extra criminal insight would be useful to your upcoming operation... Head over to the warehouse.
>Underhanded move, but try to get in contact with John... you don't think he'll answer, but, on the off-chance he does, perhaps he'll let something slip about the X-Force's next move.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
That was the last update for the night. See you folks next time, hopefully tomorrow in the afternoon!
>>
>>5331048
>Seek out Boleski and/or the Healer-- see if either one or the other would be willing to participate in your upcoming plans, either for the extraction or Eddie-retrieval.
>>
>>5331048
>>Seek out Boleski and/or the Healer-- see if either one or the other would be willing to participate in your upcoming plans, either for the extraction or Eddie-retrieval.
>>
>>5331048
>>Seek out Boleski and/or the Healer-- see if either one or the other would be willing to participate in your upcoming plans, either for the extraction or Eddie-retrieval.
>>
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>>5331071
>>5331081
>>5331266

>Acquire wingman and healer class!
Writing!

Also did a thing cause I can since I rewatched the Tarzan movie recently. Picrel.
>>
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>>5331623

While you’re thinking of how exactly you can increase your odds of success, your mind wanders to two of the mutants you’d recently made acquaintance with: one Dominik Boleski and the Healer.

Either of their powers would be invaluable for what you’re going to do, between the Healer’s abilities and Boleski’s acid. You’re pretty sure that, even after your first brush against the Maranzanos, the Healer is likely still in operation (if her love of money was anything to go by). Moreover, you have a feeling that, if you find one of them, the other won’t be far behind.

Yet again, though, you’ll be taking a field trip to one of Konigsburg’s more scenic areas like Downtown or Rottsville; you don’t think the Healer would dare step foot in Nacht Haven ever again– not after you practically decimated it!

As you’re making your way out the door, suit tucked away in a backpack you had donned, it dawns on you that you haven’t once checked up on Valjean while the others had been gone.

Sure, you’d been asleep all night and through the afternoon (and Eddie would certainly alert you if something out of the ordinary happened at the warehouse), but, aside from forgetting to feed the guy (whoops), he’s basically been kind of rotting in that warehouse all day. All the while, you deliberate on whether or not you should bring him along.

>Should you take Valjean with you?
>Go solo– this is a one-fish job, and you can do it on your own.
>Take Valjean. You never know if you need his powers…
>Write-in
>>
>>5331677
>>Take Valjean. You never know if you need his powers…
>>
>>5331677
>Take Valjean. You never know if you need his powers…
It's always a one-fish job until it ISN'T...
>>
>>5331677
>Take Valjean. You never know if you need his powers…
>>
>>5331677
>>Take Valjean. You never know if you need his powers…
>>
>>5331681
>>5331683
>>5331701

>Bringing along Valjean
Writing!
>>
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Hey guys, something came up that can't be ignored, so I'm probably going to have to check out for the night.

Unless otherwise noted, we continue tomorrow in the afternoon, so take this pic of savaged-up Elise as an apology-- until next time!
>>
>>5331897

Writing (again)-- hopefully the QM-cancel won't come calling my name this time!
>>
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>>5332546
>>5331808

Okay, maybe it is a good idea to bring the guy who can brainwash people– safety in numbers and all that. On that logic, you really can’t deny how useful Les Misérables truly is. Guess you’re bringing Valjean…

You know you’ve gotten too spoiled from teleports when it feels like the trek to the warehouse lasts forever. However, between the thrill of jumping and falling and the feeling of the cool, night air in your face, there’s something about running across the city’s rooftops that never gets old.

You just hope you don’t get too much lip from Valjean for forgetting to feed him, otherwise it’s going to be one of those days again.

“You still alive?” You call out once you enter the warehouse, more to announce your presence more than anything else.

“Yes, and, dare I say, it is a nice night to starve, isn’t it?” Sarcasm coats Valjean’s voice from where he’d been sitting, still poring over that physics textbook you gave him ages ago.

“Yes, yes… I’ll buy you food, so shut up and get dressed.” You don’t have the patience to deal with Valjean’s mouth.

“Well, unlike you, some of us can’t go forever without eating…”Valjean remarks, already pulling his bulletproof out of nowhere. “Where to?”

“Recruitment mission,” You tell him succinctly. “Probably Rottsville and Downtown.”

“Does this recruitment mission involve that Healer woman?” Valjean seems to have an idea of where this is headed. “But recruitment… now that’s something I am good at.” As always, he looks positively pleased at the idea of brainwashing more mutants.

“You better still buy that food by the way…”

>(1/2)
>>
>>5332683

One pizza later…

—--

“That was good, but next time hold off on the green peppers. For the life of me, I don’t get why people still even put those things on their pizzas…”

The two of you are now on a rooftop, high enough that no one else can see or hear you while you wait for Valjean to finish his meal; because, as the saying goes, an army runs on its stomach.

“A thanks would suffice.” You glare, and you had to go a good distance out of the way to get to it (not to mention you had to carry Valjean the whole way).

“Thank you for everything but the green peppers.” Valjean intones, brushing some of the stray crumbs off of his lap. “But I don’t really get it… you guys really haven’t been open to new membership. What’s changed now?”

“The X-Force.” You tell him.

“Besides the X-Force.” He huffs, not quite believing that that’s all there is to it.

FutureLabs turning Ernst into a mindless, long-ranged mutant tracker? The fact that keeping you and the rest of the M-Guard alive is no longer on the table for them?

While you’re more than confident in your own strength and that of the rest of your team, FutureLabs will only continue to get more aggressive, which is why you and your comrades must respond in kind.

>Still, what do you say to Valjean?

>”Safety in numbers. That’s pretty much it.” Be short, be succinct.
>”I fought one of the X-Force members when we were escaping…” Tell him you fought a very powerful mutant.
>”I met Conduit in a dream…” Skip over the deets and give him the TLDR.
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5332690
>>”I met Conduit in a dream…” Skip over the deets and give him the TLDR.
>>
>>5332690
>”I met Conduit in a dream…” Skip over the deets and give him the TLDR.
>>
>>5332690
>”I met Conduit in a dream…” Skip over the deets and give him the TLDR.
>>
>>5332690
>>”I met Conduit in a dream…” Skip over the deets and give him the TLDR.
>>
>>5332692
>>5332695
>>5332707
>>5332712

TLDR time!
Writing!
>>
>>5332690
>”I fought one of the X-Force members when we were escaping…” Tell him you fought a very powerful mutant.

Very important to have a healer on hand with such a rival
>>
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>>5332789

You know Valjean isn’t just going to let this go when it’s written clearly on his face, grey eyes looking to you as they await an answer.

Steeling yourself with a deep breath, you take a moment to prepare your next words.

“I met Conduit in a dream.” You begin, and, upon saying those first few words, your mouth runs dry on its own volition. “He’s already been altered by FutureLabs; that’s how he was able to contact me.”

You don’t look back to Valjean, your own eyes trained on the rough ground beneath your feet. So soon after you had seen him, there’s something about the mention of Ernst that stirs up something uncomfortable in your gut.

“Aurum Impulsum, correct?” Valjean assumes the most obvious guess.

“Yeah.” You nod, affirming the other mutant’s guess. “He’s not completely gone, but he’s already lost a big chunk of his memory.”

Stealing a glance back to Valjean, you can see he’s trying to do his best to keep his expression neutral, his face cold and stone-like. However, you know that there’s a fury burning viciously within him.

“What else did he say?” There’s no inflection in Valjean’s voice as he probes for more information.

“He thinks they’re trying to increase his range enough that he can detect every mutant in the city. They’re basically turning him into a mindless, living mutant-detector.”

“Well damn…” Valjean says after a beat. “We’re in big trouble if that happens.” It’s all the more reason why you need to retrieve Conduit– and quickly!

For a good couple of minutes, neither of you know what to say. While you had enough time in the dreamworld for everything to register, there’s a look on the former Crux leader’s face that tells you that the gravity of the situation is hitting him here and now.

You don’t know how much further they can bring Ernst’s powers, but what you do know is that the only thing standing between FutureLabs and every mutant’s identity is Ernst’s own autonomy and cognizance.

It’s only a matter of time before they take that from him as well.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5332856

Aside from that, there’s also the fact that you want an edge over the X-Force by bringing in Boleski and the Healer, but, not wanting to go over your fight with John more times than you have to, you hold your tongue for the time being.

“Let’s get going.” You break the silence, standing up from your seat and pushing any thoughts about John far, far out of your mind; the night’s still young, and there’s no better time than hunting down some stray mutants than here and now.

>Who to hunt?
>Boleski– he seems to be getting into some part-time vigilantism lately; might be easier to find him than the healer.
>The Healer– she’s always in a pharmacy or small clinic, and there are only so many of those in each ghetto.
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5332862

>Where to?
>Rottsville– Konigsburg’s capitol for drugs, homicide, and murder. Fun stuff there…
>Downtown– lots of burglaries and property crime. Expect your car to get stolen, not that you have one...

Sorry folks-- this set of choices didn't copy/paste!!
>(2/2)
>>
That's it for the night! I'm pretty much pooped.
On that note, I hope the updates haven't been going along too, too slowly-- just that the COVID seems to be lingering, so most of my energy's gone down the toilet lately.

Otherwise (unless noted), we continue tomorrow in the afternoon EST; so thanks for playing, and see you then!
>>
>>5332869
>>Boleski– he seems to be getting into some part-time vigilantism lately; might be easier to find him than the healer.
>Rottsville– Konigsburg’s capitol for drugs, homicide, and murder. Fun stuff there…
>>
>>5332862
>The Healer– she’s always in a pharmacy or small clinic, and there are only so many of those in each ghetto.

>Rottsville– Konigsburg’s capitol for drugs, homicide, and murder. Fun stuff there…
>>
>>5332862
>Boleski– he seems to be getting into some part-time vigilantism lately; might be easier to find him than the healer.
>>
and the second option 'coz I missed it
>>5332869
>Rottsville– Konigsburg’s capitol for drugs, homicide, and murder. Fun stuff there…
>>
>>5332874
+1
>>
>>5333061
>>5332893
>>5332892
>>5332874
>Boleski
>Rottsville

>>5332876
>Healer
>Rottsville

Writing!
>>
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>>5333532

Leaping down from your building, you surge headlong in the direction of Rottsville. If his part-time vigilantism is anything to go by, you have a higher chance of finding Boleski where there’s more violent crime about, as opposed to Downtown where there’s considerably less.

When the smell of urine in the alleyways hits your nostrils and the buildings start to look more worn and decrepit, you know you’ve more-or-less arrived in one of Konigsburg’s most sordid slums.

“Man, I forgot how much of a shithole this place is…” Valjean scrunches his nose at the sight of the decrepit buildings. “Makes the warehouse look like a five-star resort.”

Like Nacht Haven or Pliningen, Rottsville is the very definition of project, half-finished apartments dotting the streetsides and a few clusters of homeless tents scattered here and there. It’s a wonder the place is still standing for how the ghetto is in complete shambles, and why anyone would ever want to stay here is beyond you.

“Any reason we’re not headed to the pharmacy?” Valjean’s piercing gaze on your back, as you bypass one of the pharmacies.

“We’re not looking for the Healer yet.” You shoot back to him. “Do me a favor and turn on your police scanner.”

“Affirmative, cannibal.” You hear the fizzle of the handheld starting up. “MutantWatch station or regular patrols?”

“MutantWatch.” You have to take a split-second to think about that. While Valjean monitors the radio, you keep your eyes and ears focused on your surroundings for anything out of the ordinary. Even your proprioception is tuned to the skies above in case Boleski might be soaring overhead.

You don’t expect to find any crime in your first few minutes of being in Rottsville, but, after fighting both non-mutants and mutants for long enough, you get a good idea on where and what to look for.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5333745

Bounding to the next building, you suddenly veer a hard left, eliciting a noise of protest from your passenger.

“Hey!” Valjean is none-too-pleased at being jerked so suddenly, but you ignore him in lieu of pressing forwards.

True to your intuition, you hear signs of a scuffle up-ahead, and, whether or not it’s mutant-related, you opt to check it out anyways since you haven't seen any other crime as of yet.

Racing towards the source of the noise, you skid to a halt on the building just above your destination. Peering downwards, you find that it's a chase between a couple of goons and a sole mutant.

From first glance, the mutant doesn't look like much, dressed like your everyday, run-of-the-mill street thug, the goons struggling to keep up with him as he books it down the dimly-lit streets.

Firing their tranq rounds at him, their shots end up missing through the darkness, and, with the other mutant's speed, you wonder if you really need to intervene here...

>Wat do?
>Keep watching for now, and see how this plays out. The mutant doesn't seem to be in too much trouble.
>Stop the goons-- you can have them both down in less than thirty seconds, if not less.
>Grab the mutant and haul him up to the roof.
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5333758
>>Stop the goons-- you can have them both down in less than thirty seconds, if not less.

Don't be an asshole watching from the roof tops. Helping out gets us a foot in the door.
>>
>>5333758
>>Stop the goons-- you can have them both down in less than thirty seconds, if not less.
>>
>>5333758
>Stop the goons-- you can have them both down in less than thirty seconds, if not less.
>>
>>5333762
yes, +1 this
>>
>>5333762
>>5333782
>>5333883

Alright! Let's have a roll just in case things manage to go awry on our end!
NOW GIMME SOME 1D100S BO3 STAT!
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>5333901
>>
Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>5333901
>>
Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>5333901
>>
>>5333903
>>5333907
>>5333957

>HIGHEST ROLL: 96!!!
Writing!
>>
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>>5334009

It’s not even a choice for you, because you didn’t become a superhero to just watch other mutants run from FutureLabs’ forces. Actually, you’d be one of the more shitty superheroes if you did leave this guy to the wolves.

Dropping Valjean to the ground, you ignore his protests as you poise yourself to intervene. With a sole step off of the building’s edge, you make the short fall from the roof to ground, your landing splitting the asphalt beneath your feet.

The resulting crackle is more than enough to grab the goons’ attention, and there’s not even enough time for either of them to train their guns on you, as you knock the first one to the ground with a knee, hearing the distinctive crack of bones shattering.

The second one fares no better. Grabbing the arm with the gun, you throw him down to the ground to join the first goon, alive, unconscious, but with more than a few broken bones to spare.

Valjean, now having caught up with you, wastes no time in looting either of the goons for their armaments.

With both of the troops down for the count, there’s only one more problem at hand.

Turning your head to where the other mutant had last been, you would’ve thought the guy would be at least a little thankful. Instead, the other mutant looks pissed, like someone went and poured lemon juice straight into his bowl of corn flakes.

“Yo, lady,” The guy shouts, and, when he throws his arms out, a gust of wind follows suit. “I had it under control!”

“No you didn’t, Tornado Boy!” A male voice jeers from afar. “You were about to take a nice, long trip to mutant-Gitmo!”

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5334090

No longer fighting the goons, you’re fully aware of the two extra heartbeats within your periphery, both of which are hidden right behind either of the nearby trashcans.

“Yeah, you should have let Romulus be the bait– at least he can use his powers right.” A second voice chimes in, this one female. “Maybe it’s for the best if they get him, amirite?” A chorus of laughter follows suit.

“Shut your asses up, both of you! And it’s Tornado MAN! How many times do I have to tell you guys it’s Tornado Man?!” The thug seems really uptight about his codename. “For fuck’s sake, get it right.”

“What’s going on here?” You interrupt "Tornado Man’s" rant.

"Ah. We was-- " Tornado man raises a finger, not quite looking you in the eye. "We was runnin,' of course, from the coppers."

That much was obvious, but hearing the stuff about bait and whatnot tells you he's only giving you a half truth at best.

"Uh, I know I yelled at you before, but we's square now, right lady?" The thug is singing a different tune after having watched you kick the living crap out of those two goons.

"Kelpie." You say curtly, not buying his act.

"You're Kelpie?!" Surprise-- along with a slight layer of fear-- coats his voice. "Sweet shit-- I'm messin' with the wrong mutant here, ain't I?!"

Just from your first impression of this guy alone, you can't tell if he's for real or if this is some sort of act. Regardless, you refuse to let your guard down.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5334118

As if on cue, Valjean steps up to join you, taking stock of the mutant before you. All-in-all, he doesn’t look too impressed.

“Who’s this guy?” Tornado Man looks between you and Valjean.

“I don’t think it matters,” Is Valjean’s response, his tone laced with that honey-like smoothness. While it’s only a matter of time before backup arrives, you need to figure out what their business is.

>What should Valjean ask this very nice group of mutants?
>You guys see a guy with wings around here? Really green, acid-powers, and can barely speak a word of English?
>Are you guys trying to beat up cops or something? The whole ‘bait’ thing was a dead giveaway.
>You guys got friends– friends who do the same kind of stuff you’re doing? It’s not everyday you see other mutants trying to beat up the cops…
>Don’t ask anything. Just make these guys gtfo– you got places to go, things to see, etc.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5334136
>You guys see a guy with wings around here? Really green, acid-powers, and can barely speak a word of English?
>Are you guys trying to beat up cops or something? The whole ‘bait’ thing was a dead giveaway.
>>
>>5334136
>You guys see a guy with wings around here? Really green, acid-powers, and can barely speak a word of English?
>Are you guys trying to beat up cops or something? The whole ‘bait’ thing was a dead giveaway.
>>
>>5334136
>>You guys see a guy with wings around here? Really green, acid-powers, and can barely speak a word of English?
>>Are you guys trying to beat up cops or something? The whole ‘bait’ thing was a dead giveaway.
>>
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That was the last update for the night, frens!

Now it's late, so I snooze-- I shall proceed to bless this thread with moar doodles. Cause why not?
Actually that's a total lie I've gone stark-raving mad and spent 2.5 hours on the linework for this crap lmao. So technically not a doodle. Not hard to guess the inspo
>>
>>5334136
>You guys see a guy with wings around here? Really green, acid-powers, and can barely speak a word of English?
>Are you guys trying to beat up cops or something? The whole ‘bait’ thing was a dead giveaway.
>>
>>5334140
>>5334153
>>5334155
>>5334517

Alright folks-- it's unanimous here!
Writing!
>>
>>5335029

“Hey, you two,” Valjean calls to the direction of the other mutants hiding behind the dumpster. “Come join us for a chat.”

Obediently, the two step out from behind the garbage pail.

One of them is a dark-skinned girl whose face is covered by a medical mask; her eyes are painted over with theater makeup, making her look like some weird cross between a nurse and a clown. The other guy, presumably Ramulus, has most of his face and visible skin covered in thick, black fur, reminding you of a wolfman.

Both of them look older than you, their outfits screaming delinquent.

“And you guys are?” The former Crux leader addresses the two mutants.

“DeeDee.”

“Ramulus.”

“Psst–” You make the noise to get Valjean’s attention, lowering your voice to a whisper. “Wanna ask them if they’ve seen a mutant who’s got green wings, has acid-powers, and can barely speak a word of English?”

“You guys happen to see a guy with wings and acid around here…” Valjean relays your question, face looking visibly dubious from your description. “...and can barely speak English?”

“Aw snap– that guy?!” DeeDee positively shrieks, the sound echoing throughout the whole street. “I’ll knock his lights out when I get my hands on him!”

“Yeah, Dee, we’ll beat that guy blue,” Ramulus adds, canines showing a bit at the mention of Boleski.

“Where’d you see him, huh? Huh?!” DeeDee’s focus returns to Valjean, hands akimbo as she presses him further for Boleski’s whereabouts. “What business do you have with that kinda mutant anyhow?”

>(1/?)
>>
>>5335153

“Ah-ah-ah~” Valjean wags a finger at the two of them. “I’m the one who’s asking the questions here, not you guys.”

In sync, Ramulus and DeeDee instantly become silent, their bodies going ramrod straight.

So they have seen Boleski, but, based on these guys’ attitudes towards him, you’re pretty sure any amity between either of the parties is nonexistent.

“Now, what I’d really like to know is if you guys are trying to beat up cops or something? Cause all that stuff you were saying before seemed very interesting…”

“Nah.” DeeDee shakes her head.

What she says next leaves you thunderstruck.

“We’re tryna kill them,” she says flippantly, much in the same tone one would use to describe the weather.

“Is that so?” Valjean hums, the smirk on his face growing ever-wider at the new information.

Tornado Boy (Tornado Man?), who’d been largely ignored for the past few minutes of conversation, nods eagerly. “Yeah and we was gonna do it until you guys showed up.”

“Unless that asshole crashed our party again.” Ramulus crosses his arms, lamenting the lack of dead goons, but his words tell you this isn’t the first time that Boleski has meddled in these goon-killers’ affairs.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5335154

“Alright. So you guys like killing cops in your spare time? That’s great– excellent. Nice to see so many of our city’s youths into murder and executions…” Valjean croons, stepping forwards towards the gaggle of thugs. “Now none of you seem smart enough to carry this out on your own, so tell me: are you three working alone, or is there someone–”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HziZ3yZDJY

The former Crux leader doesn’t get the chance to finish his question as the ever-familiar sound of the police siren has everyone’s heads whipping in the same direction.

“Oh– Oh shit! It’s the cops!” DeeDee roars, fear of the cops snapping her out of her trance. Thinking quickly, Tornado Man shoots himself into the sky with a spinning motion of his arms, body flying away with the wind.

Ramulus, on the other hand, wastes no time in getting on all fours and speeding off– but not before DeeDee bounces over to wrap her arms around his neck, the pair looking like the world’s weirdest horse-jockey team.

Shoving Valjean into a fireman’s carry, you also proceed to make your quick escape to the rooftop.

>(3/4)
>>
>>5335180

It’s easy to conclude that this group of cop-killers is relatively new, seeing as Konigsburg’s news stations would never shut up about it if they knew about such a group.

However, there was nothing in that conversation that sat right with you whatsoever; all three of those thugs hadn’t batted an eyelash when they’d talked about killing goons, and, from how they were talking, this wasn’t the first time they’d done such a thing.

And if Valjean’s hunch is correct– which you don’t doubt yourself– then there's a chance there could be more of these cop-killers lurking about.

>Wat do?
>Follow the thugs– if Boleski’s in pursuit, maybe you’ll find him on the way.
>Don’t follow the thugs– murderers though they may be, you don’t have time to deal with a bunch of small-timers!

>Who to follow?
>Follow Tornado Boy– erm… I mean, ‘Tornado Man!’
>Follow Ramulus and DeeDee!
>Write-in

>(4/4)
>>
>>5335185
>>Follow the thugs– if Boleski’s in pursuit, maybe you’ll find him on the way.
>Follow Tornado Boy– erm… I mean, ‘Tornado Man!’
>>
That's probably the first and last update for the night, since I'm not feeling so hot, and I don't want to try and force out another update...

We'll continue tomorrow in the afternoon (unless otherwise stated), so until then!
>>
>>5335186
+1
>>
>>5335185
>Follow the thugs– if Boleski’s in pursuit, maybe you’ll find him on the way.

>Follow Ramulus and DeeDee!
>>
>>5335186
>+1
>>
>>5335185
>>5335186
+1 to this!
>>
>>5335186
>>5335195
>>5335198
>>5335265
>>5335270

Okay, time to see some dice rolls! Roll me some 1d100s to run like the wind!!! BEST OF 3! GO!!!
>>
Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>5335843
>>
Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>5335843
>>
Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>5335843
>>
>>5335854
>>5335868
>>5335874

>Highest roll: 80!!

Not sure how many updates I'll be able to crank out tonight-- didn't mean to put out the rolls until this late, but we shall see...
Writing!
>>
>>5335909
Highest was 82, my dude
>>
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>>5335923

Oh shit!!
I think someone here's gonna need those glasses John lost...
Pardon the error!

Highest roll: 82!!!
>>
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>>5335942
>>5335909

When you land on the roof, you don’t stop for pause.

Up ahead of you, Tornado Man’s airborne silhouette flies helter-skelter on the wind, as if it were being tossed back-and-forth in an invisible game of ping-pong.

It’s not even a thought for you, and you spring forwards to give chase.

True to his name, the wind that surrounds Tornado Man picks up more than the thug himself– you see small antennas, clotheslines, and lawnchairs get dragged into the unnatural wind as he passes right over them.

While the majority of the debris gets thrown straight to the ground, the closer you get to him, the more you feel your body getting sucked into the pull of his wind, which is why you have to keep your distance more often than not.

Valjean’s body is mercilessly jerked and jolted in your hold, but, for the time being, he has no choice but to hold his tongue.

When the gale before you noticeably weakens, you take that as your cue to pick up the pace. All the while, the wind-bearing thug is completely unaware that you’ve been trailing behind him the whole time.

Anticipation boils in your gut as you near the end of the chase. Your body itches to end it here and now, instinct lowly buzzing in the back of your mind.

But you can’t; it’s more important to see just where exactly this trail will end…

>Roll 1d100 for… reasons!!! Nothing but reasons!!
>>
Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>5335988
ready to be caught on his tail
>>
Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>5335988
>>
Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>5335988
such a shame he can't exactly control the gale
>>
>>5336002
>>5336013
>>5336036

>Highest Roll: 54!
Kidding! Really kidding!
It's 53...
Writing the last update of the night!
>>
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>>5336039

It’s not long before the wind stops completely. When it does, Tornado Man skids unceremoniously to a stop across the roof’s edge, his landing looking as if it would leave him with more than a few broken bones.

Strangely enough, he springs up from the ground as if absolutely nothing happened. It’s easy to conclude that Tornado Man has some extra durability added into the mix of his powers (you suppose he needs it to withstand the conditions of riding a vortex).

Stopping on the rooftop next to him, you drop Valjean from your hold, just in time for you to notice another heartbeat in your nearby periphery.

It’s in that same second that a long, dark something grabs hold of your arms, throwing you into the sky and flinging you back onto the rooftop. Hard.

The impact leaves you slightly dazed, but now you feel quite a few more heartbeats both on the roof and lurking on the ground below, all of which are on the move.

That same something, which hasn’t ceased to let go lifts you upwards and back to your feet– slowly, almost-mockingly, might you add.

Then, you’re turned around to face your assailant, a woman in gothic-style makeup striding up to you. She’s a good ten years older than you, if not more.

If only to be petty, you’d like to tell her that those fishnet stockings don’t work (and really, they don’t. Not on someone her age).

But there’s more pressing concerns, like the other tendrils slithering about her like the serpents of Medusa.

Serpents, however, they are not, as they have no scales nor eyes nor fangs, and all of them lead right back to her head.

Is this… hair? You come to the realization very quickly.

“Hey ‘Nado, this isn’t Dee and Ramulus. Did you know you had a tail?” She purrs, lifting up your masked chin with a hand.

Tornado Man doesn’t answer, likely ashamed of getting caught off-guard.

“Is the word ‘careful’ even in your dictionary?” Again, silence from the thuggish male.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5336073

“Nado can’t even count to a hundred. Think he’s gonna realize when anyone comes running up behind him?” You hear a jeering voice shout from the ground.

“But, my-oh-my, what do we have here?” Her made-up eyes are back on you. “Some kind of river monster? A siren, perhaps?” Her fake nails play with the fabric of your mask.

“Are you the leader?” You spit out, voice betraying absolutely nothing.

“Maybe~ Maybe not?” She dances around the question. “It all depends on what you mean, sweetheart.”

“Are you making these guys kill cops?” You try again, narrowing your eyes at the woman.

The woman doesn’t respond. Instead, she stands on her toes to match your height, and, when she says her next words, her hot breath reeks of tobacco. “Who says I’m going to tell you?”

Frustration boils hotly within you, as you’re tiring of this woman’s games, and you don’t think she’s going to answer any of your questions– at least not on her own accord.

Speaking of which, you’re glad Valjean had the sense to duck and cover once the hair came right for you; you’d think it’s a miracle she or any of the other mutants lurking nearby didn’t spot or detect him, but, then again, you haven’t found anyone else on this roof who can see in the dark.

>What do?
>ELISE:
>Try take hold of her hair and swing her around like a bola!
>Duck in and punch her!
>Just rip as much hair as you can! Rip and tear!!!
>Write-in

>VALJEAN:
>Tranq them!
>Kneecap them!
>Sing them to sleep!
>Brainwash them into doing something (What?)!
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5336084
>Try take hold of her hair and swing her around like a bola!

>Sing them to sleep!

they'll all heem sleepy except maybe medusa here, being swung around by the hair should keep her awake
>>
>>5336080
gonna tag this since I managed to see before deletion
>>5336084
Elise
>Try take hold of her hair and swing her around like a bola!
Val
>Sing them to sleep!
>>
Now it's time to sleep so I can wage!

As always, thanks for playing, and see you all next time, folks!
>>
>>5336087
+1
>>
>>5336084
>>Try take hold of her hair and swing her around like a bola!
>Sing them to sleep!
>>
>>5336332
>>5336291
>>5336089
>>5336087

Roll time— I’ll need some 2d100s!! Best of three!!!
I got plans for the evening so not sure when I’ll be back to write the update.

Now GO GO GO!!!!
>>
Rolled 40, 12 = 52 (2d100)

>>5336682
>>
Rolled 13, 3 = 16 (2d100)

>>5336682
>>
Rolled 49, 72 = 121 (2d100)

>>5336682
let's goooooooo. Piranhastorm
>>
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Sorry guys, no update today-- didn't sleep much last night and mental battery's kinda drained. We'll continue tomorrow in the afternoon.

Take this hot new content as an apology!!
>>
>>5336693
>>5336749
>>5336752

>11 hours of sleep later...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5TqIdff_DQ

>HIGHEST ROLLS:
>Elise: 49
>Valjean: 72

Writing!
>>
>>5337795

Coils of hair wrapped tightly around your hand, with the woman being so close to you, she doesn’t notice you slowly turning your hands around to grab onto her hair. Either that, or she mistakes your squirming for discomfort, which only serves to make the gothic woman smile a wider, more catlike smile.

From your comm, when you start to hear Valjean humming one of his tunes, you know he’s on the move, attempting to put the rest of the cronies to sleep.

Now it’s your turn to move as well– a devious, sharped-tooth smirk forming under your own mask as an equally-devious idea forms in your own mind– because soon enough that grin will be wiped clean off of her face.

Far too confident in herself, the woman had completely forgotten to bind your feet. That’s how you kick her in the chest without so much as a warning.

The goth flies backwards, and you make to swing her around like a bola. Much to your dismay, right at the same time you swing your arms around, she catches herself by latching herself on whatever her leftover coils of hair can latch onto.

“That was kind of cute… for a trollop,” She laughs from midair, failing to see the irony in her words. If that kick hurt in any way, the woman refuses to show it.

Instead, the hair that’s already around your wrists coils tighter like a pair of boa constrictors, attempting to pull you right back into the air, but, digging your heels into the rooftop, you’re able to hold your ground.

>(1/2)
>>
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>>5337937

“I assume you’re having a blast up there.” Valjean’s voice rings in your ear, breaking from his singing. “Got a few down. Don’t know how many more to go…”

You hadn’t been paying attention before, but it sounds pretty noisy on the ground. While you don’t know if the noisiness will stop his power from transmitting, you know that Valjean can definitely hold his own, so you’re not too worried about him.

You’re more worried about this whole fight attracting a shitton of cops if you don’t end this sooner rather than later.

“Ignoring me, are you?” The goth-woman coos, interrupting your train-of-thought, and it's then that she sends several, whipping coils of her hair right at you with the full intention to harm.

>Slice-and-dice!
>Dodge the hair!
>Bear the pain and dive in for the critical hit!!!
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5337943
>Dodge the hair!
>>
>>5337937
>“That was kind of cute… for a trollop”
had to google it and I dunno why she went with a dated word for slut
>>5337943
>Slice-and-dice!
She'll be getting the gangster gf treatment
>>
>>5337943
btw, seeing that pic for the 1st time, I thought the line for the mask was her smile, like that effect where you remove someone's nose
>>
Flipping a coin in 30 mins or so if there's no consensus on the vote.
>>
>>5337943
>>Slice-and-dice!
>>
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>>5338167
>>5337958
>Slice!

>>5337955
>Dodge!

Wew!! Glad I was late to the party cause now the tie is broken-- now to do some sweet rolls!!

Gimme some 1d100+5s (+5 for CLAWS/FINS) so we can show this emo-Rapunzel who's boss!!! Best of 3!! GO!!

>>5337958
Wasn't my intention to confuse, but goth-mama is older herself and I thought that fit her vibe.

>>5337959
Pic rel. Thanks for putting that idea in my head. Kinda looks like a florkofcows Elise.
>>
Rolled 97 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5338187
>>
Rolled 38 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5338187
>>
Rolled 43 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5338187
>>
>>5338192
>>5338217
>>5338237

>HIGHEST ROLL: 102!!!
Writing!!!
>>
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>>5338271

With little forethought, the goth woman continues to tighten the bonds around your wrists, unaware that a good portion of the hair is sliding right down your wrists and right onto your sharp fins.

Like thin strands of thread, the hair that meets your fin slices on instant. Harmlessly, it falls to the ground, and it takes little more than a pull to snap the rest apart. As soon as you’re free, you launch yourself right into the air, the whip-hairs cracking right at the spot you’d just been standing in.

Then you’re diving at the strands of hair with your arms outstretched, the woman sending more hair forth to parry.

Madly, savagely, you’re slashing your arms in all directions, the hum of your instinct pulsing in your ear.The funny thing is that it’s not as tough as you initially thought because it’s just hair! There just happens to be a lot of it, which keeps growing back as soon as you cut it off.

In a game between your lightning-fast speed and her whip-like tendrils of hair, the goth’s ability to keep up with you begins to falter. The goth woman does end up getting a few hits on you, but, with how hyperfocused you are on your own goal– to winwInfiGhT– any pain you might have felt is positively absent.

An opening in her defense, and you pounce right in to end it, a calculated strike to the torso bringing her right down to the ground.

“Auugghh!” There’s a shriek from the older woman, her face contorting in pain as vibrant, purple eyes look around for an escape.

“T-Tornado Boy, get your ass up here!” The goth screams, forcing the anger into her voice, and the only response she gets for her troubles is the noise from the ongoing scuffle on the ground.

>(1/?)
>>
>>5338344

“Ghengis?! Corbeau?” She tries again, this time more desperately. Like you expected, there’s no answer. “Anyone?”

After all of that false bravado, her begging and pleading honestly looks pathetic. It’s enough to make that secondary part of you quiet down, and you heave a sigh of relief as the buzzing subsides.

But man, this is getting old.

“Stay awake.” You command, shutting her right up, because you’ll need Valjean to fish any info she might have out of her when he’s done on the ground.

Still, she continues to glare daggers at you, and, if you tug her hair a little harder, that’s neither here nor there.

“Got something I can call you…” You start none-too-kindly. “Otherwise, I can make something up if you like.” And, boy, you have a whole laundry-list of stuff you could call her.

“J-Jezebel,” She croaks out. “I’m not the leader– I swear!”

“Well guess what, Jezebel, you’re not getting out of this scot-free,” You tell her, getting out the handcuffs. “You’re going to sit tight until my friend comes back.”

Along with the handcuffs, as if to add insult to injury, you tie her up with her hair as well. In her current state, Jezebel dares not to try anything, black makeup running down the sides of her face.

“Hey Pharos, how are things going on the ground?” You put your finger to your comm, and you see her eyes bulge at the mention of his name. Guess there are some perks to hauling a former terrorist around.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5338345

“Absolutely peachy,” He mutters, likely trying to stay quiet. “Where did all of these bastards come from anyhow?”

“I have the ringleader,” You inform him without missing a beat.

“Great. Wonderful!” He growls beneath his breath, somehow able to be sarcastic even in the midst of a fight. “How’s that going to help me against a guy with an IQ of twenty and a pair of fists as tall and wide as I am?”

“Can’t you sing?” You're confused as to why he’s not using his power.

“As far as I know this guy needs a brain to go to sleep, cannibal. Guess what this guy probably doesn’t have…”

A series of loud, metallic crashes ensue, followed by the blaring alarm of a car. While you thought Valjean had this in the bag, you know he can’t fare in a fight against a brute-strength mutant.

>Wat do?
>Ditch Jezebel and help Valjean out– she won’t move. Probably.
>Take Jezebel on your shoulders and run distraction-- just long enough for Valjean to take down the other mutant.
>Tell Valjean to kneecap/tranq the guy-- sounds shifty down there but he'll probably come through.
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
Fun fact: Jezebel is a play-on for the same thing as 'trollop.'
I had to-- the opportunity to make a pun out of her was way too strong!

Anyways, I'm falling asleep here, so we'll continue with more mutant mayhem tomorrow!

As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, kings!
>>
>>5338347
>Take Jezebel on your shoulders and run distraction-- just long enough for Valjean to take down the other mutant.
The guy isn't smart, Val has a tranq so we just need to do some acrobatics.
>>
>>5338347
>>Take Jezebel on your shoulders and run distraction-- just long enough for Valjean to take down the other mutant.
>>
>>5338347
>>Take Jezebel on your shoulders and run distraction-- just long enough for Valjean to take down the other mutant.
>>
>>5338347
>Take Jezebel on your shoulders and run distraction-- just long enough for Valjean to take down the other mutant.
>>
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>>5338357
>>5338362
>>5338824
>>5338698

Alright! It's roll time, you nutjobs!!
Gimme some 1d100s to distract!!!
I'll be back later to tally the rolls-- NOW BEST OF 3 GO!!!
>>
Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>5338841
Watch THIS
>>
Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>5338841
>>
Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>5338841>>5338883
Nice job, anon. Fish remains fresh.
>>
>>5338901
>>5338868
>>5338883

>We proteccc
>We attacccc
>But, most of all, we distraccccc

>HIGHEST ROLL: 90!!!
Writing!
>>
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>>5339111

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZCX1HYx0YA

Mind made up, you grab Jezebel’s bound form and haul her up onto your shoulders, the woman squirming desperately in your hold. “W-What do you think you’re doing?!”

Whatever other complaints she has are lost on your ears as you tune the rest of Jezebel’s panicking right out, charging towards the source of the commotion.

Though, you don’t even need to follow the noise to figure out where the epicenter of the battle is; the trail of dented and crushed cars is more than enough of a crumb trail for you.

Valjean’s given up singing completely, opting to shout nothing but insults at the giant-fisted mutant in hopes that something he says will get through to him.

“GHENGIS CRUSH!” The booming roar fills the street, followed by another series of crashes.

Ghengis’ fists are disproportionately large to his body, forcing him to walk around like an ape, yet, somehow, he manages to give Valjean a run for his money in terms of speed, the former Crux leader dodging a pounding strike by a hair’s breadth.

The simple act of bouncing off of Ghengis’ back like a springboard is more than enough to make the hamfisted mutant stop in his tracks.

“Hey!” You shout for good measure, a broad face with a thick beard and beady eyes whipping itself towards you. “Over here!”

At that, Ghengis proceeds to charge towards you with all the fury of a raging bull, and, while you could outpace him easily, you stay close enough to Ghengis so that he’ll keep his focus on you for the time being.

“Glad you could finally make it…” Valjean’s gratefulness is palpable from the other end of the line.

“A thanks would be nice,” You retort.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5339150

“Before or after I get turned into pâté?” Valjean snarks. “No wait, don’t answer that.”

“Just shut up and tranquilize him,” You huff, not amused with his comment.

“On it.” Valjean, being Valjean, has to get the last word.

Craning your head back, you see Valjean pop up from behind one of the totaled cars to aim his tranq gun in your direction.

’Pew–’ The dart makes its mark. However, the only thing it does is make Ghengis stop in his tracks for a split second before charging towards you again.

“It’s going to take more than a single tranquilizer dart to take Ghengis down, honey. He loses most of his ability to feel things or reason when he uses his powers,” Jezebel purrs from your shoulders. “Oh, and don’t take this as any sort of kindness on my part. You’re still a bitch– I just don’t want to die tonight.”

You figured as much, which is why you don’t don’t dignify her words with a response. Instead, you opt to shout into your comm, “More fire, Pharos!”

‘Pewpewpewpew–’ Several more darts fire from the tranq, all in rapid succession.

It’s not long before Ghengis is wobbling on his legs, dragging his feet across the asphalt to keep up with you.

Eventually, his fight against the tranquilizer becomes a losing battle, and gravity takes hold of Ghengis, the mutant falling face first onto the street.

Now unconscious, his fists shrink back to their normal size, and, aside from the torn sleeves, everything else about the man remains the same.

It kind of reminds you of the guy from the Invincible Behemoth comics in a way, if his powers were just in his fists– either that, or a weaker, less-cognizant version of Gregor (and Gregor was naturally dimwitted by-and-large).

And because you’re not a complete savage, you drag the unconscious Ghengis out of the streets and nestle him behind some bags of trash. While Ghengis likely has been part of the same cop-killing practice that every other thug you met tonight has, captivity in FutureLabs goes way beyond the scope of punishment.

Plus, with just how badly you beat up Jezebel, you doubt this group of thugs is going to get back together anytime soon.

You hear Valjean jogging up behind you, stopping right before the heap of trash and scrunching his face at both the sight and smell of it.

>(2/?)
>>
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>>5339154

“That’s disgusting,'' he remarks at the sight of Ghengis half-covered in bags of trash, some of the trash bags having fallen on top of him. “Let’s just scram...”

It’s right as Valjean finishes his sentence that red and blue light fills the street outside of your alley.

What the hell? Do these cops seriously have nothing better to do? And just when you thought the fight was over for the night.

“Can’t these guys just give it a rest?” Valjean echoes your thoughts. “Drop the woman and help me out,” He says, loading up both of his guns and stealing a peek outside the alleyway. “It’s only one van, so let’s just get rid of them quickly…”

Reluctant to let go of Jezebel, you stand in the filthy alleyway wondering just what you should do.

As if your prayers had been heard, your answer comes in the form of a viscous, glowing green burst firing from up above, the goons on the road collapsing to the ground marionettes whose strings had been suddenly severed.

>(3/4)
>>
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>>5339156

There! You spot him on one of the lower rooftops, and it’s none other than Dominic Boleski.

Perched upon the edge like an angel of death, hawklike, green eyes survey their handiwork–handiwork that had been delivered without one shred of mercy.

You hear him mutter something under his breath, something indecipherable to your ears, as he looks around for something that he can’t seem to find.

Not sparing another second’s thought, you pass Jezebel off to Valjean without a word, leaping up to the rooftops to catch up to him and ignoring the noise of protest from behind you.

“Hey!” You shout from a couple of buildings away to get his attention, but Boleski doesn’t seem to hear you. Instead, he seems to be gearing up to fly away.

>Roll 1d100+5 to catch up!!!

>(4/4)
>>
Rolled 52 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5339164
>>
Rolled 42 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5339164
DEJA VU
>>
Rolled 77 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5339164
>>
Rolled 84 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>5339164
missed my cue, but just for the sake of it
>>
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>>5339166
>>5339167
>>5339170

>Highest roll: 82!
Writing!

>>5339246
Picrel fren
>>
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>>5339334

Again, you shout to grab Boleski’s attention, your voice echoing through the night air.

Through the darkness, you see a head of shaggy hair whip in your direction, green gaze landing straight on you. His wings flare out in alarm, glowing acid gathering across the length of them as he prepares for an attack. In the back of your mind, it dawns on you that Boleski might not be in his right frame of mind ever since he ditched Maranzano Jr.– moreso than usual without access to his medication.

If that’s the case, then you’re in for a world of trouble, and you brace yourself for the hailstorm of Boleski’s acidic wrath by throwing your arms in front of your face.

It’s by some miracle that you see a flash of recognition in Boleski’s eyes at the last possible second, to which his shoulders relax as he no longer looks ready to fight.

“Boleski.” You greet once you land on the roof adjacent to him, heaving a sigh of relief as you brush the dust off of your legs.

A quick glance at Boleski shows wounds both old and new, the smell of scabby, old blood intermingling with his acid. In fact, most of the injuries seem to have been inflicted by his own acid, rather than anyone he might have fought. While it tells you that he’s been going strong with the nighttime vigilantism, it also tells you that he’s long overdue for a trip to the Healer’s.

“Kelpie,” Boleski returns cordially, heavy accent coating his voice. “What doing on this side of town?”

“Fighting some cop-killing mutants,” You tell him in hopes that might ring a bell for him; and it does, as you see his eyes light up in interest.

“What happen?” He asks, shaking the excess acid from himself with a couple of rapid flaps from his wings.

“We beat them up and took their ringleader.” You inform him. “We plan on interrogating her soon.”

“Naprawdę?!” He exclaims before clearing his throat, abashed at forgetting what language he’s supposed to be speaking. “Sorry. English still not good.”

“Don’t worry about it.” You wave him off, because you know what he’s been through. You’re not one to judge about those kinds of things.“Follow me.” You tell him with a gesture of your arm, hoping that Boleski will follow.

>(1/?)
>>
>>5339575

When you make it back to where you left Valjean and Jezebel, you find him waiting with her with a tranq trained right on her– a necessary precaution. Though, when Valjean notices Boleski. “I assume this is the guy we’re looking for?”

“Yep.” You affirm.

“Who this guy?” Boleski narrows his eyes at Pharos. “Wygląda trochę jak dupa…” He mutters beneath his breath. “Where’s your green chłopak?”

“My green what?” Belatedly, you realize Boleski’s referring to Bernard.

“Ah, forget– just tell who is this guy.” If he recognizes the distinctive Crux symbol on Valjean’s mask, he doesn’t comment on it.

“Pharos.” Valjean deadpans, as if daring the other man to challenge that. “And you are?”

“Boleski,” Boleski introduces himself to Valjean.

“You!” Jezebel’s hiss draws the attention of everyone else present. “You’re the guy who maimed and scarred half of my comrades!”

“Yes.” Boleski confirms, not at all bothered at his own admission. “But you kill, and you don’t know who you kill.”

“But they’re FutureLabs– and they’re cops!” Jezebel objects, her voice rising in pitch. “Do you have no clue who you’re dealing with?” She hisses, nothing but contempt in her eyes for Boleski.

“Don’t care.” Boleski shrugs, ignoring Jezebel’s tantrum. “Odpierprz się.”

“You know what?” Valjean mutters to you, a wry smirk forming on his features. “I think this guy isn’t so bad after all.”

“Let’s get somewhere else before miss-mouthy over here blows our location.” With all of Jezebel’s screeching, you’re surprised a whole squadron hasn’t come running. “Better yet, I’ll shut you up myself…” When those words are said, purple eyes lock onto Valjean in fear, but they’re not open for much longer.

“Shut~the~hell~up~” Valjean hums, and Jezebel falls limply to the ground.

“Dziękuję.” Boleski sounds relieved at the resulting silence.

“You’re welcome,” Valjean responds, equally glad for the peace and quiet.

“You speak Polish?” You ask Valjean, slightly hopeful that he actually does speak Polish. Not that you have too much trouble talking to Boleski, but it’d definitely clear any remaining gaps in communication.

>(2/?)
>>
>>5339579

“Nah.” Valjean shakes his head, and you’re not all-that-surprised that he doesn’t speak the language. “Why would I bother learning Polish of all things?” He looks at you as if you said something ridiculous.

“I know ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ That’s basically it,” He tells you, and you assume he’s been to Mieszko enough times to pick up at least those words.

“Come on.” Boleski interrupts your conversation, reminding you that you should high-tail it out of here. “Grab woman and let’s go.”

Hauling Jezebel onto your shoulders, Boleski doesn’t wait for you and launches himself up into the air, either unaware or completely forgetting that you’d also need to carry Valjean as well.

Not that either of them are heavy for you, but you have to scramble a little bit to fit both of them on your shoulders, Valjean’s elbows smashing into your face more than once as you sprint across roofs to keep up with Boleski.

That is, until you’re led to a particularly-decrepit building– one that looks like it’d be filled to the brim with nighttime addicts looking for a nice, secluded place to get their high– and yet, there’s no heartbeat to be found.

With a few possessions scattered across the floor as well as an old mattress that's seen its fair-share of dumpsters, you know before you even step foot in the place that this is where Boleski’s been camping out for the past while, at least since he left Marazano.

>Wat do?
>Wake up the woman and interrogate her.
>Ask Boleski what he’s been up to lately.
>Write-in

>(3/?)
>>
>>5339586
>>Ask Boleski what he’s been up to lately.
>>
>>5339586
That was (3/3). My bad. Not deleting cause I don't feel like it. Simple as.


Anyway, that was the last update for the night!! We'll continue in the afternoon (unless otherwise specified).

As always, thanks for playing, and see you all next time!
>>
>>5339586
>Ask Boleski what he’s been up to lately.
>>
>>5339586
>Ask Boleski what he’s been up to lately.
Aside from beating up Jezebel's gang
>>
>>5339588
>>5339615
>>5339805

>How goes, birdman?
Writing!
>>
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>>5340119

Curiously, you scan the floor for a place to set Jezebel, patches of emptiness giving way to humid wind from the acid that had burnt through it, that acid leaving a greenish residue in its wake.

The places that aren’t burnt through are either coated with half-burnt clothes or rubble, several of which demonstrate Boleski’s attempts at trying to fashion a shirt he could fit his wings into.

You don’t really see the point if his acid will burn right through it anyways, but it doesn’t seem like there’s a better way to pass the time in this dingy, musty-smelling apartment.

“What have you been up to lately?” You ask, shoving aside some rubble through one of the holes with your foot, and, although you know he’s ditched Maranzano Jr. for good, you’re sure he’s been up to more than just that.

The question hangs in the air, and Boleski takes a moment to think that over, bushy eyebrows furrowing in consideration as he mulls over your question.

"I leave Maranzano. Tell him to fahk you and run.” He finally tells you, and there’s a ghost of a smile on his face when he says this. “Life hard. Not getting food, not getting pill. But I am free man, so life is better.”

From beneath your mask, sharp teeth worry against your lip as the dilemma here becomes glaringly obvious; because Boleski had told you himself that he couldn’t even function without his pills.

Mentally searching for a way to phrase your question, your concern must have shown on your face as Boleski seems to take notice of your slight dismay, realizing just what his words entailed.

“Ah, kurwa, everything okay.” He clarifies, pointing to his head with a finger. “I find Heal-woman to get what I need. Sometimes around, sometimes not. Not sto procent…” He dips back into Polish. “But everything good. Not too much problem, okay?”

Better still, Boleski’s been in contact with the Healer, making it all-the-more easy to find her when the time comes. However, as much as you want to jump right into asking about the Healer and her whereabouts, your mind flits to another question you’ve had.

>(1/2)
>>
>>5340221

“You know anything about Jezebel’s gang?” You make a motion with your head towards the unconscious goth.

“They go together and kill,” Boleski spits, lip curling at the mention of the cop killers. “Sometimes I stop them. Sometimes I stop cop if they go after other mutants. If I find Maranzano’s men, I kill them,” He says, and, although the idea of killing doesn’t sit quite right with you, you know that his own resentment towards the Maranzano gang is justified.

Aside from the killing, it tells you that while Boleski has been on the cop-killers’ trails since he’s returned to Konigsburg he hasn’t really bothered to do anything beyond stopping them in the act.

Anything’s better than nothing, you think, and, with Valjean’s ability, you have a whole treasure trove of information lying right on Boleski’s floor.

“What about you?” He turns the conversation onto you. “How you feel about this…this X-Force?”

>Wat say?
>”Haven’t fought them enough to be sure.” Avoid the question, skip right to interrogating Jezebel.
>”You know anything about any of them?” Boleski was FutureLabs– even with his mind as it is, perhaps he remembers something.
>”Pretty confident.” A blatant lie, even for yourself, but fake it until you make it, right?
>Write-in

>(2/2)
>>
>>5340227
>>Write-in
You can't help but feel it's the start of an all out war, instead of the usual guerilla/rebellion stuff.
>>
>>5340227
>"There's two that seem strong and the rest not so much, but I haven't seen them that much really..."
>"This brings me to what I wanted to talk about, how do you feel about working with us?"
>>
>>5340227
>”You know anything about any of them?” Boleski was FutureLabs– even with his mind as it is, perhaps he remembers something.
>>
>>5340227
>”Pretty confident.” A blatant lie, even for yourself, but fake it until you make it, right?

john's only had his powers for what, a day?

we can take him
>>
Gonna stop it here for the night since I'm feeling kinda wonky. Leaving the vote open for now.

We'll continue tomorrow in the afternoon.
As always, thanks for playing, and see you next time, folks!
>>
>>5340258
>>5340291
>Write-in

>>5340306
>Got info?

>>5340310
>Lie like a rug!

Looks like the write-in option wins out, and, even though they're kind of composite, I'll consider them in the same category of vote and combine them.

Gonna run some errands before I start writing, but voting's closed!
>>
Writing now!
>>
>>5341039

How do you feel about the X-Force? Boleski’s question catches you off-guard, enough that you have to take a couple of moments to turn the question over in your mind, and, the more you think about it, the more you find that it doesn’t boil down to just a single answer.

Atticus Charles had given the X-Force their debut right when Konigsburg’s trust in FutureLabs was well and truly shaken. That, and, up until that point, FutureLabs treated the M-Guard more like a ragtag, guerilla bunch as opposed to an organization that could truly go toe-to-toe with them.

“Honestly, I feel like the X-Force is FutureLabs declaration of war– on us, or on anyone who opposes them.” You respond to Boleski, mind flitting to Maranzano’s gang, the pro-mutant citizens of Konigsburg, and even Phillip Huber– all of whom had opposed the titan that is FutureLabs and ultimately paid the price.

There’s that, and there’s also the fact that their goon-squads had transitioned from tranqs to bullets. With that in mind, it’s plain to see that the only thing FutureLabs wants from the M-Guard is a fresh set of cadavers.

“Pretty sure this is how Atticus Charles wants to get rid of us once and for all,” you add, and, when the words leave your mouth, the room is overcome with a heavier atmosphere.

Though dying has been a possibility for as long as you’ve been doing what you have, when you actually have to acknowledge it, the reality of it hits you that much harder.

And it’s not yourself who you think about when you think of dying– not once– even if you weren’t as strong as you are, it’s always, always anyone else but you.

“Tak,” Boleski nods, rough voice breaking the tense silence. “You def…definitely right.” He stumbles over the word.

“Let them give it their best shot. See how it ends for them.” Valjean, who’d been largely quiet for the whole of your conversation, speaks up. His tone is defiant, a challenge to the members of the X-Force, and you know Valjean will be the least forgiving of your bunch when the time actually comes.

>(1/?)
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>>5341483

“But there’s only two that seem strong. The rest… not so much.” You continue, because John and Zeus seemed to be the only ones that could only hold their own. “But I haven’t really seen that much of them to be sure.” You have yet to see what those last two guys were capable of (Anna and Otto, if you recall); you suppose you’ll have no choice but to find out when you cross paths again.

“You fight them?” Boleski inquires, and, for as reclusive as he is, you’re more than sure he’s heard of the Miller-Ford incident by now.

Aside from your fight with John and having Zeus blast one face of the building, you basically got out of there scot-free, having barely had any direct contact with any of the X-Force members. And, while you make to answer, Valjean beats you to the punch.

“They tried to engage, but we took the captives and ran,” Valjean answers Boleski. “Wasn’t going to fight trash if we didn’t have to.”

“Dobrze, bardzo dobrze…” Though you don’t understand his words, Boleski’s tone is one of approval, and, while you’re taking in what you think might be praise, you’re suddenly reminded of why you came here in the first place.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5341485

“That brings me what I wanted to talk about…” You speak again, and, upon hearing the seriousness in your tone, his gaze centers on you like a bird of prey. “How would you feel about working with us?”

At that, Boleski looks positively shellshocked, like he didn’t see that question coming whatsoever. Even his wings scrunch up around him to match with the befuddled expression on his face, but all he can manage to say is, “What you planning to do?”

>“We found out FutureLabs is turning another mutant into a living mutant detector.” Boleski, being a former Epsilon subject himself, will understand. You can trust him with the info.
>”We found out FutureLabs is planning something that will put every mutant in danger.” Or, at least all mutants in Konigsburg, but who knows how much more powerful they could make Conduit by the time you get there?
>”We’re planning to break into FutureLabs to steal something that’s very valuable to them.” Sure, it might not sound the most heroic, but, if there’s anyone Boleski has a bigger grudge against than Maranzano it’s FutureLabs.
>Write-in
>>
>>5341488
>“We found out FutureLabs is turning another mutant into a living mutant detector.” Boleski, being a former Epsilon subject himself, will understand. You can trust him with the info.
>>
>>5341488
>“We found out FutureLabs is turning another mutant into a living mutant detector.” Boleski, being a former Epsilon subject himself, will understand. You can trust him with the info.
>>
>>5341488
>>“We found out FutureLabs is turning another mutant into a living mutant detector.” Boleski, being a former Epsilon subject himself, will understand. You can trust him with the info.
>>
>>5341488
>“We found out FutureLabs is turning another mutant into a living mutant detector.” Boleski, being a former Epsilon subject himself, will understand. You can trust him with the info.

I don't see why we couldn't trust anyone with this info

even if futurelabs finds out we know they're gonna chase an imaginary leak
>>
>>5341544
Oh yeah, they must still think we got an insider in their ranks don't they? That's pretty funny
>>
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>>5341512
>>5341530
>>5341532
>>5341544
>So here's the scoop--the real scoop!
Writing!

>>5341595
An insider... or should you say an impostor?!
https://youtu.be/grd-K33tOSM
>>
>>5341488
>“We found out FutureLabs is turning another mutant into a living mutant detector.” Boleski, being a former Epsilon subject himself, will understand. You can trust him with the info.
>>
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>>5341624

“We found out FutureLabs is turning another mutant into a living mutant detector.” You explain, seeing no reason why you shouldn’t trust Boleski with this information. If anything, it’d be a greater incentive for him to agree to what you’re doing, seeing as he was an Epsilon Trial subject himself.

Also, if FutureLabs did somehow find out that you managed to catch wind of their plans, their suspicions would immediately be cast onto the nonexistent insider that somehow managed to slip past their ranks. You wonder if they’d end up suspecting John like last time…

But whatever! He has powers now– he can take care of himself!

“So you want… going into FutureLabs?” Boleski asks, still trying to process the gravity of the situation. Behind his back, his wings have bunched up so much that the feathers have become as disheveled as his hair.

“Did it before and made it out,” You tell him, and, slowly, longsufferingly, he runs a hand down his bedraggled face, apparently still in disbelief.

However, amid the disbelief, you see visible disgust play across Boleski’s features. It’s a fully-justified disgust, all things considered, and, if there’s anyone Boleski resents moreso than the young Maranzano, it’s Atticus Charles.

“Okay,” Boleski grunts, eyes hardening with determined resolve. “I will help."

“What I have…” He stops himself, struggling with his words, and he has to take pause to think of how to say his next words. “What do I have to do?”

“We’re working on that,” You tell him, since you haven’t really planned on any details besides the obvious ones. “But we’re also planning a large-scale sabotage when we go in.” A multitask, if you will, because who says you can’t kill two birds with one stone?

“Wait.” Valjean interrupts, a tad more intrigued in the conversation than he previously was. “How large-scale are we talking here?”

>(1/3)
>>
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>>5341939

“Large enough to destroy all of FutureLabs’ major computing systems,” you state factually.

“No kidding…” Valjean breathes.

“O kurwa.” Boleski mutters, equally surprised.

“So, what do you say?” You speak up after a beat, wanting an actual answer from Boleski. “We got a deal?”

“Tak– okay. I will help you,” Boleski replies. “But I need also help.”

You’re not quite sure what a guy like Boleski could possibly need help with, but, whatever it is, it’s probably leagues easier than breaking and entering into FutureLabs.

“Alright.” You nod, ready to hear what he has to say and urging him to continue, but, as opposed to speaking, Boleski turns around, shuffling to the other side of the room without so much as a word.

When he returns, he proffers a thick, moleskine journal that, when you grab it to examine it, has visible singe marks across the cover. Moreover, the edges of the pages are covered in a fine dusting of pencil lead, telling you that Boleski filled every last page to the brim. Od taty. Otwórz dla pomoc. The words are written in a near-unintelligible scrawl.

“What do you want me to do with this?” You don’t know why he gave you a book you can’t even read.

“Turn around,” He instructs, and, doing as told, you find an address written in equally-terrible handwriting– an address that isn’t that far away, you come to find as you give it a once-over.

“Oh,” You breathe, realizing what Boleski probably wants from this. “You want me to bring the book to there."

“Yes, give to address.” Boleski repeats with a nod. Dobrze?”

“Uh, yeah.” You affirm, and again you get baffled everytime the man dips back into his mother-tongue.

>(2/3)
>>
>>5341966

“You and the skeleton can take care of that,” Valjean says, far more interested in the whole destroy-FutureLabs side of things.

“Sounds good,” You shrug, not really bothered by that at all. With the former Crux leader being the only one with the foresight to bring a backpack, you hand the book off to him for safekeeping.

Boleski’s allegiance acquired, you still have things to do… what those are, they’re completely up to you.

>Interrogation time!
>Ask about the Healer’s whereabouts.
>Ask Boleski something else. (What?)
>Write-in

>(3/3)
>>
>>5341973
>>Interrogation time!
>>
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That's it for the night, guys-- can barely keep my eyes open due to an unprecedented invasion of cockroaches. On my face :-) More mutant madness continues tomorrow in the afternoon (unless otherwise specified).

As always, thanks for playing and see you all next time!
>>
>>5341973
>Interrogation time!
>>
>>5341991
Nooo siren don't look at the rgbroaches
>>
>>5341973
>Interrogation time!
>>5341991
were they the flying type ? seems like gregor got his revenge
>>
>>5341980
>>5341996
>>5342086
>Wake up, bitch!
Writing!

>>5342000
Ohhh no, it's already too late! I'm-- I'm beginning to morb!!

Nice trips senpai.

>>5342086
Not the flying type-- the hard-to-kill type is more like it! Rule of thumb is that if it doesn't crunch it's not dead. Gregor's still probably salty about what happened in Thread #9...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeKjN-tdMkc
>>
>>5342840

Looking briefly to your sleeping hostage, you realize that Jezebel had been largely forgotten, mostly because she had been unconscious the whole time you’d been talking with Boleski.

“You ready to make Jezebel talk?” You address the room, wanting to get right into it now that the matter of getting Boleski on your team has been mostly settled.

“She’ll talk alright.” Valjean hums, looking just as ready to get this interrogation going. “Wake up,” he commands the unconscious goth, to which she blearily opens her eyes.

“Nggghhh. Shit…” She groans, purple eyes scanning Boleski’s rubble-filled room and looking utterly confused. However, when those eyes land on you and Boleski, her bleariness shifts right into anger. “You guys are the ones who kidnapped me!”

Wow. No shit, Sherlock. You mentally commend her for her exemplary deduction skills.

“Where’d you take me?” Jezebel tries again, angrier, and, when no one gives her an answer, she begins to struggle against her bonds. While she can’t break the handcuffs, she tries to grow out enough of her hair to break out of that.

“Cut that out,” Valjean commands, and, at that, purple eyes glaze over as Jezebel’s mind bends to the former Crux leader’s ability. . “You’ll forget everything that happened later. Now you’re going to answer my questions without argument. Got that?” The hair-bound goth gives a few, sluggish bobs of the head.

“What do you guys want to ask her?” Valjean asks, turning back to you and Boleski.

“Where rest of gang?” Boleski suggests practically.

"Maybe..." You mutter, placing a hand on your chin, and, no matter what any of you might ask, Jezebel will have no choice but to answer.

>Wat ask?
>So how long have you guys been doing this cop-killing thing?
>Where’s the rest of your gang hiding?
>Are you *really* the leader here?
>Are there other groups like yours?
>Write-in
>>
>>5343011
>So how long have you guys been doing this cop-killing thing ?
>Are you *really* the leader here ?
>>
>>5343011
>>Where’s the rest of your gang hiding?
>>Are you *really* the leader here?
>>
>>5343011
>So how long have you guys been doing this cop-killing thing?
>Where’s the rest of your gang hiding?
>Are you *really* the leader here?
>>
>>5343011
>>5343021
+1 TELL US EVERYTHIIIIIING
>>
>>5343023
>>5343021
>Tell us everything!

>>>5343017
>Tell us less things!

>>5343016
>Tell us less things but in orange!

Called! Writing!
>>
>>5343132

“How long have you guys been killing cops?” You ask Jezebel, thinking that’s a good question to start off with as any. Even if it turns out that these guys are just a bunch of small-timers after all, FutureLabs wouldn’t ever let such a gang last that long.

Jezebel doesn’t answer, and, if you didn’t know any better, you’d say drool was running from the side of her mouth.

“Answer her.” Valjean prompts the goth, slightly impatient with the older woman, but, at his words, you see some semblance of awareness reenter her eyes.

“Since after the coma patients were awakened.” She informs you. “Not the normal sheriffs or deputies unless they get in our way, of course. We don’t like witnesses, and we take care not to make any.”

“Some of us were even at the pro-mutant protests,” Jezebel adds, not wanting to forgo any details.

“Were you guys still killing then?” Valjean fires off his next question, though you have a feeling the answer won’t be a good one.

“Yes.” Jezebel confirms what the two of you already guessed, lips curling up in vicious glee. “It’s the only way we can make change, of course.”

As the goth’s words hang in the air, you’re awfully reminded of the Crux. Except the Crux was far more direct, going so far as to kill public figures and whatnot.

“Impressive that you managed to stay under the radar for as long as you have.” Valjean whistles. “Reminds me of my own organization– it’s long-gone now, but I’m sure you’ve heard of it…” He stops for a moment’s pause. “Have you or anyone else in your rag-tag, little group ever been part of the Crux?”

“Not that I know of.” She answers immediately.

“Well you sure sounded like you were.” Valjean seems a little surprised that she wasn’t former Crux, but at least you can sleep soundly knowing that some remnants of the Crux won’t ever come back to haunt you.

Now, more pressingly, you know that, if these guys have some sort of organization within their ranks, then they must have a hideout.

>(1/?)
>>
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>>5343353

Where’s your base of operations?” You give Jezebel her next question.

“Which one?”

“Your main base of operations…” Valjean presses.

“Why? It’s in the sewers, where else?” When she says those words, you feel a mixture of fear and relief because, just a couple of nights ago, you were about to send all the captives down into those exact, same sewers. And, while your city’s sewers are large, who knows if this group would have somehow happened across the captives.

Had it not been for Matt’s own suggestion, you would’ve put each and every last mutant in your care in danger. You dodged a bullet, that’s for sure!

“You could’ve said anywhere else but the sewers and made my day, miss emo-barbie.” Valjean crosses his arms.

“What?” You tilt your head, wondering what he finds wrong with the sewers.

“Unlike you, I am a normal person. I don’t like stepping where over four million people’s crap has potentially floated.” Valjean explains, as if it were plainly obvious.

“Właśnie,” Boleski agrees very seriously.

“Let’s not waste our time here– the sewers suck, end of story.” Valjean is deadset on winning his argument. “Now, where exactly in the sewers is your base?”

Oddly, Jezebel doesn’t answer right away until, finally, she says, “I don’t know.”

This only serves to further aggravate Valjean. “How can you not know?”

“Ramulus usually guides the members because not everyone can see in the dark.” The goth easily returns. The wolf man, you recall– the very one that ran away with that clownish girl atop his back.

At that Valjean clenches his teeth, clearly having expected an exact location, but at least you have a lead.

Pacing around what’s left of the floor, you can’t help but feel something’s off about Jezebel being in charge of this whole thing. While she’s clearly the leader of her own little group of thugs, she honestly doesn’t give you the impression of someone who’s seriously in charge or wants to be in charge for that matter.

Something’s not adding up here…

>(2/3)
>>
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>>5343354

https://youtu.be/RrirVkPHNdM?t=131
“Are you the real leader of your organization?” The words fly from your mouth, and, for all you know, the goth will say yes and the case will be closed.

“No.” That is the answer you get instead.

“Then who is?” Valjean prompts for a real answer, to which a wide, unnerving smile spreads across Jezebel’s face.

“There’s several.” Again, you see Valjean get aggravated at Jezebel’s lack of clear answer, but, under the influence of Les Misérables, every answer she gives you is as honest as she can possibly make it. Unaware of everyone else’s frustration, the goth nonetheless continues.]

“Separately, each mutant is weak. Together, we’re stronger, more powerful than any human weapon could ever possibly be.”

“Bravo.” Valjean claps in sarcastic applause. “Thank you for basically coming to the same conclusion as every other radicalized mutant.”

>(3/4)
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>>5343384

“Yes. That’s why humanity fears us.” Jezebel continues, unfazed by Valjean’s words. “They will never have what we do, and we will only continue to get stronger. It’s why FutureLabs is trying so hard to control us.”

“So what? Is your group some cheap, Crux knockoff? Is that what you guys are?” How none of you caught wind of such a group tells you that whoever’s in charge had taken extra care to keep their existence under wraps.

Jezebel shakes our head. "We--" She announces grandly from her place on the floor. “We are a fraternity…”

“The Fraternity of the Atom…”

>END OF THREAD #11


>(4/4)
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>>5343387
I bet whoever created this group was former crux. Now I'm tied in either he was captivated a bit too much with Val's ideals or if he thinks he's a fake who couldn't bring the dream into reality. can be both, tough
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That's it for thread #11!!!!!

Since we were on page #9 I thought we might as well end it here. QM-cancel really tried hard to bring me down this thread, but they'll never take me alive!!!

ANYWAYS, here's the archive link!!!
>https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=mutant%21quest

I'm gonna take a couple of days-- maybe a few days break-- before I start up the next thread so I can get my notes together. This week's also my last week of work, so there'll be less worrying about that as well once it's over and done with.

Just as a heads up, thread #12 will be the last thread before I have to start school up again-- gotta get that piece of paper and all that.

ALSO lastly, some awesome anon from the artsy side of 4chan had their own interpretation of Elise, colorwise, so enjoy the picrel!!!

>Got questions, comments, concerns? Or do you just wanna shoot the shit about mutants and stuff? Fire them away, and I'll be around to answer!
>>
>>5343394
first of all, do you have the contact of this artanon ? he did a nice work

now about the quest itself, how have Jewel scars been doing ? How's Bernard dad doing after prison ?
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>>5343394
pog thread OP

how is bern's dad?
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>>5343394
Thanks for running, dude! Looking forward to the next one.

Can't think of any questions or anything off the top of my head, but if I have any I guess I'll pop them into the next one.
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>>5343410

Fun fact, this was the same guy who did that one super-awesome pic of John in picrel-- literally one of the best things in my mutant-folders right now!

Unfortunately, the guy doesn't have any twitter or IG (you don't know how many times I asked myself kek)-- he just hangs out on the artsy 4chan parts from time-to-time; but yeah, the guy who does those drawings has some seriously mad skills!

>>5343410
>>5343849
>Bernard's dad
At this point, he's in jail for whatever BS charges FutureLabs could stack against him. Of course, being extremely well-connected and intelligent himself, he'd made the whole trial as humanely difficult for FutureLabs as possible.

>Jewel's scars
They were definitely more prominent when she first got them-- now they're a little bit thicker than a hairline (as wide as a small scratch if I had to say).

Still visible to the average eye though, and they certainly don't look like a natural sort-of injury. It'd definitely have people's heads turning if she were out in public more often, but, if she did go out in public more, Julia would definitely cover them up just out of her own self-consciousness (in her previous life, Julia had always been one for vanity, appearances, and whatnot).

>>5343849
Yeah man! Hopefully we'll get into some real good stuff next thread! Took everything in me not to rush and skip straight to the fight scenes. Can't help it-- just like writing em.'
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>>5343962
>Took everything in me not to rush and skip straight to the fight scenes.
Don't we all love then ? Speaking of which, can't wait to discover about the other 2 members of X force. My guess is either they're support focused, since Zeus got the flashy one and it's their long-ranged weapon and John was the one to come to us (although it was on water) so at the very least they can't fly.
>>
>>>5346371
New thread, everyone!



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