[center] [h3][color=4863c0] Lethal Developments Part 1: A New Protagonist Is Born [/color] [/h3][/center]

[center][i]A collaboration post between [@Gardevoiran], [@Old Amsterdam], [@Spiffy], and [b]Myself[/b][/i][/center]

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The throbbing, dulling pain bounced about in Allison’s skull with each step she took, the ache in her body almost nonexistent in comparison. Classes had been canceled for the day, at least, though had they not been the pain would be too much for her to make it to English anyways. The party of last night had been wild, chaotic, sexy, and most importantly someone had brought the good cheap booze to the “secret party at the trainyard” that had been held. Perhaps somewhat illegal, but it was a thing and she’d gone without a care. 

Funny how those words had managed to fit together like that. “Good cheap booze”. Usually it was a lack of taste and triny g to down enough of someone’s watery swill to get drunk enough to not care, but there was a local brewing company that made some fine, affordable stuff for parties at least. However, as her lack of waking up will about midday had shown, the stuff was potent enough to knock her out pretty good. 

Though waking up had been another one of “those” mornings where she had to take time to put together the prior night. Bra missing and disappeared, hair tousled, body recalling the warm embrace of a cute girl in some position or another. Haha. Allison would have laughed if she hadn’t been in this level of pain. But if naught else, her purse had been still there in the train car they had goofed off in, right next to her even, and a bottle of painkillers right there with a bottle of half-drunk and now very warm purified water to down it with. 

A few ibuprofen later, with some added cursing at the choice of location as her back was a bit sore, and she was finally on her feet once more at least. The shame of walking back to the car, and then getting back to the dorm like this at that, would be there for many….but not her. She was rather used to this type of incident, and usually her phone had the pics to fill in the blackout drunk memories that filled the gaps in her recollection of last night. 

[color=pink]“Oi, Brent needs to bring one less keg next week, this shit had me plastered…,”[/color] the 25 year old Allison muttered to herself as she moved out of the train car and stood in the midday sun, using a hand to cover her sensitive eyes as she walked into the nearest source of shade next to the following train car, squinting hazily the entire time, [color=pink]“Wait….was i...was i not wearing socks when i came here last night? Crap.”[/color]

At least she wasn’t dead or captured by some gang, right? 

After everyone was set, Mantis pulled his mask down and drove off. As he was driving he dialed for Whipstitch. He knew she wasn't a fan of his, but he had to get in touch of her. The phone rang for a few moments...

Meanwhile across town Whip was sitting on top of a roof several blocks away from the villain meeting, glaring daggers towards the bar. How dare they manipulate her? How dare they try to strip her off what was hers? Angrily she stabbed a pointed, hardened piece of string into the tarmac that covered the roof.

With a jerk she nearly threw her phone as it went off.

“What?” She snapped irritably.

She sounded quite annoyed. Judah spoke calmly and a little slower than usual so that Whip heard him correctly, [color=green]”Hey Whip. We have the location of one of Patriarch's lieutenants. We need you to meet us at the abandoned train yard outside of town. Can you get there without a ride?”[/color]

“Yeah, sure, whatever,” Whip huffed before hanging up the phone and standing up. She could make it there in like 15 minutes if she tried. A chance to beat down the men….

Farce was sitting with her knees in her lap, the front seat being her residence for the time being. Mantis had gotten this incredible info, and she wasn’t annoyed by it (hell, it’s the best news to arise from today), but she just wished it was on a better day. Sparce had shut himself up. It wasn’t the first time it had happened, but this time felt different to her. Why did it feel so different to her? Was it the drink she had earlier? She didn’t know, but it alarmed her.

Looking to pass the time, she looked over at Mantis. [color=fff200]”I’m betting you have questions…”[/color]

Judah looked ahead as he drove on and replied, [color=green]”Actually..you both did well explaining most of the meeting,”[/color] he paused and quickly glanced at Farce. She felt confused. There was something going on in that double persona brain of theirs, [color=green]”What's on your mind?”[/color]

[color=fff200]”Sparce. He’s not talking. Normally, he’d be going over everything I did wrong in that situation, but now he’s just silent.”[/color] Farce looked out the window. [color=fff200]”I dunno, maybe it’s my nerves and the drinks. I’m just a bit paranoid is all.”[/color] 

[color=green]”I hope you didn't drink too much, we need you at the top of your game for this. I really don't know what we are up against. Though it is encouraging that The Community's most powerful Lieutenant has been taken down already.”[/color]. 

[color=fff200]”I mean okay. I can still think straight, but the silence in my head is scary. It’s only wanted when I’m trying to sleep.”[/color] Farce tilted her head and returned to looking at Mantis. [color=fff200]”I’m probably just paranoid. Let’s get this over with.”[/color] 

They drove for a few more minutes before making it nearer to the outskirts of Denver. They collected their thoughts and spotted someone stumbling about on the sidewalk. [color=green][i]”Drunk at this time of day?”[/i][/color] Judah shook his head. 

Then the thought hit him... Lethal Force had a single vial of power, but no one to give it to. Perhaps Judah could interrogate this individual with his ability and discern whether she would use it for good or not. They didn't have a whole lot of time, but Judah was good at finding someone's motivations and character. It sounded really asinine, [color=green]”Should we pull over and talk to this person. We do have that vial.”[/color] 

Whip touched down beside the car, running a hand along it's top, as she looked inside. “Vial? Missing someone, too.” Her voice dripped with suspicion.

As it had turned out for Allison, more than her socks had been missing. In particular, she had eventually noticed the feeling of jeans rubbing in a way they shouldn’t normally do if she had been….actually wearing something down there right now. Scowling at the thought as her hangover flared up again, she’d begun to scroll through her phone only to find a few pics of...oh. So that’s where “those” had disappeared to last night. Oh. OH. Ok, that was enough looking at the phone for the time being!

Putting her phone in her pocket hastily, Allison stopped walking for a minute, running a hand down her face and lightly slapping each of her cheeks to try to wake herself up more. The parking lot had to be closer by now. They all couldn’t have parked “that” far away after all….right? Regardless, as she looked to her left...the hungover college student noticed something peculiar as a car stopped near her. 

[color=pink]”Is...is that a car….no. Did that lady just land next to a car from the sky?”[/color] she mumbled to herself, an eyebrow raised as she looked over at the Lethal Force members. 

Allison rubbed her eyes, wondering if someone had spiked the drinks. That or she had just seen some parahuman land down….ah. That’d actually make more sense than some kind of incoherent “hangover hallucinations”. She’d been drunk enough times to know the difference by now, actually, though she had no idea if these were just parahumans or a pair-a-thugs. 

Farce stared at the girl before she tilted her head at her. [color=fff200]”... I think she might need some help.”[/color] Farce opened up the car door and stepped out, drawing her mask as she approached. [color=fff200]”Ma’am? Is everything okay?”[/color] She was alone with her own intuition this time. Sparce would just be an asshole to her and reprimand her for being drunk this early… wait a second…

Farce turned around. [color=fff200]”Is she who we were looking for?”[/color]

Judah implanted a thought into Farce, [color=green][i]”She is as good as any.”[/i][/color] Then he got out of the car. His boots thudded against the pavement as he walked forward, vial in hand. He wore his uniform and to any civilian Judah could easily be mistaken for law enforcement. He began to sense the girl's feelings for any abnormalities. It was apparent she was drunk, but the last thing they needed was someone who was psychotic as well. Then he spoke up, [color=green]”Have you been drinking miss?”[/color] He looked her over, sensing for anything strange in her response, [color=green]”You do realize it is only a little after noon don't you?”[/color] 

Whip growled, flinging herself between the girl and her ‘team’.

“Fuck off, Mantis. Either I get answers and you treat her with respect or I'll rip your fucking head off.”

There was one thing the hungover college student knew. These people were not cops. As much as the one guy looked like it, the others, what was being said, she was coherent enough to pick up on that and internalize it. Wait….that one had been flying, yeah? And this group looked dressed for a fight, now that she was getting a closer look at em’. But what was this about ‘the one we were looking for’ that one chick said, and that one guy has...what was in that vial thing? A hangover cure? 

[color=pink]”Ey, its called a ‘hangover’, the after-effects of havin’ been drunk as hell at a party my sorority had in the trainyard last night….and one of em’ stole my socks too...,”[/color] Allison said, giving one last small slap to her cheeks to make her more alert again, as the pain mo the dull the throbbing headache and backache she had flared up again, [color=pink]”Ugh….Ah, any of you happen to have a superpower that could dull headache more than painkillers? And what this business with that vial that guy’s got?”[/color]

Judah glared at Whip for a few seconds before the college girl spoke her piece. Nothing she said contradicted her emotions and body language. She appeared to be telling the truth. Now..would she be useful for their team? Judah responded to her, [color=green]”This vial has the ability to grant parahuman powers. As you've probably noticed already, we are not normal..”[/color] As Judah spoke, he released a calming aura into the surrounding area. It would potentially relieve her headache for the duration of the ability. Then he continued, [color=green]”The question is, are you worth giving it to?”[/color]

“More worth than you,” Whip snorted, an inch thick thread coiling around her arms almost idly. “Though this was a great place to swing around in. Those big cranes make nice anchors.” Her attention refocused on the girl suddenly. “Name.” The words weren't exactly a command, but neither were they exactly a question.

Allison stood there for a silent moment, blinking in surprise at the sudden request for her name. More than that, she was rather surprised by the sudden admission of what the vial was, and the asking if she was “worthy” to….drink it or something? What?! What was going on here, why was she being selected for this potential experiment, and why this this all happening today? Though at least she felt the hangover and back pains backing down a bit, somewhat strangely even, but that bit at least was not unwelcome. 

[color=pink]”Name’s Allison. But beyond that, lemme’ get this all straight. You have a vial, filled with strange, unknown stuff, that is supposed to give powers? And you want me to drink it is a test of what it does or something?”[/color] Allison said, scratching her head a little as she spoke, trying to internalize what she was hearing and seeing here. 

Judah shook his head as Whip mentioned swinging around on cranes. She had to be the hardest person to read out of anyone Judah had come into contact with. One moment she was calm and the next she was threatening to kill. He would have to be careful around her.

Judah replied to Allison, [color=green]”We want you to explain why it is you think you can handle it. Powers are nothing to give away so easily.”[/color] As Judah spoke he looked into her eyes and implanted a thought in her mind, [color=green][i]”I should be honest about myself. What do I have to hide?”[/i][/color]

[color=fff200]”Allison, right?”[/color] Farce spoke up again in the conversation. [color=fff200]”I’m going to suggest you say the first thing that comes to your mind.”[/color] Farce shot a nasty glare at Mantis. [color=fff200]”Our resident negotiator{ here can mess with your emotions and implant thoughts in your head.”[/color] Farce turned to Mantis directly. [color=fff200]”We don’t need you meddling in her answers, Mantis, no offense.”[/color]

[color=00a99d]... good.[/color]

[color=fff200][i]”Where the hell have you been?”[/i][/color]

[color=00a99d]Thinking. Just make sure Mantis isn’t screwing with Allison’s mind.[/color]

[color=pink]”I should be honest about myself, What do i have to hide?”[/color] Allison said as she followed Farce’s advice, afterwards pausing and blinking in surprise as the thought occurred to that...she hadn’t been on a train of thought like that a moment ago. 

Wait, was the guy messing with her head? Maybe, because no hangover had done this type of thing to her so far. Or could that thought be a suggestion from the other girl? Hmm….personally, she only had two things she knew for certain. One, what she had just said, the first thing that had entered her mind, was not the type of thing she’d been thinking about just before. Two, these people were parahumans, and at least two of them seemed to be in vote of not manipulating her. Neat. 

[color=pink]”Ok, seriously, you coulda’ just asked, man. I am just a college student, working on a Parahuman Studies degree, and wanna go into law to work to help the Parahuman community. And at that i just woke up after a drunk party held by my sorority had here last night. 

I don’t know what this business is about a vial that gives powers, but if you want someone who isn’t gonna go on a murder spree with em’ then i think i’d be good for that. 

But if there is anything else, then for the love of Manton may i be told what is going on here properly please?”[/color]

Judah raised an eyebrow as Alison replied to his original questions. He was not pleased with Farce giving away his abilities without a thought. Alas, it was too late now. 

Interestingly, the girl was not lying as far as Judah could tell. She was either delusional or she was in fact working on a Parahuman Studies degree. [color=green][i]”Very nice,”[/i][/color] Judah thought. Just a college kid who was trying to make her way in life. She seemed like as good a candidate as any.

[color=green]”You would be a good fit for the parahuman community. With this vial you will be granted supernatural abilities without the horrible experiences we all had to go through. However, with powers you will be held to a higher standard and we will do our best to hold you accountable. Like you said, murder sprees are a no no.”[/color]

Judah spoke passionately and the others could feel the energy emanating from him. It was obvious he believed what he was saying. Judah took the vial and extended his arm to the girl. What would Allison do with the choice in front of her now?

Free powers? No trigger event or ultimately scarring experience? And this was all being presented to her, now, as she dealt with a hangover after a party? What could she say? She had dreamed of a moment like this happening as a kid, like something outta fictional stories about superheroes. But as an adult she had given up on the idea for the most part, though right now….it was a “yes” or “no” answer. “Do or do not, there is no try”, as one of her favorite movie characters would say…

Without a second thought, Allison grabbed up the vial, popped off the top, and chugged the entire bitter, odd-tasting vial without a second thought. If she died, she at least got to cross this off of her bucket list! If not, then hell this could be an interesting ride she was going to go on! 

In a panic at seeing the vial chugged so fast, the twins had switched places as Sparce came into the world once again, his arm raised and him running straight for Allison before tripping and knocking his glasses off. [color=00a99d]”Shit!”[/color]

Whip swung her thread out, stopping before actually catching Sparce while giving him a glare. “Stay back.”

Suddenly everyone present blacked into the void, an unfathomably large [I]thing[/I], growing and firing something upon another thing just as large.

And then it was gone.

Behind them nothing had seemed to change, Allison looked no different and emotionally felt no different. But inside? She [i]knew[/i] she was different. She'd just gained powers, and she could feel the itch to test them.

And she already knew how, didn't she? Not that she needed to show off, but the option existed.

The others should recognize what this meant, anyways.

Whip was the first back on her feet, swaying slightly as her eyes focused and unfocused, a slight twitch active under her left eye.

Her body felt...different. Strange, yet even more “whole” than it had been before for some odd reason. Like another layer had been added to her being, and her brain picked up this as naturally as one might breathe. New information existed in her mind, but it didn’t freak her out. It was as normal to her, as average as walking to class or flirting with the cuties on campus….the latter being odd, but still it was something. Reaching over she rubbed her neck, then her wrists, checking to see if anything off had occured with “that”. 

….She really felt like trying this new thing out, though. It wouldn’t hurt anyone if she did that, right? Or maybe it might make them jump. Er, she wasn’t too sure. 

One way to find out, just like any scientific experiment. Besides, whatever had happened her hangover felt a lot better than it should now. 

She held out one arm, palm down, like Buzz  Lightyear in Toy Story using his laser. She was aiming at a nearby train car sitting in the yard. Its rusted exterior was not much, and perhaps it was ready to be decommissioned or such soon. Regardless, Allison took a calming breath...and acted with her new power as naturally as any other Parahuman could.  

At the speed of a machine gun pushing out bullets, metal blades fired from the back of her wrist and impaled the side of the train car. In many cases, they punched through its wall and went deeper in. Such speed and firing power, it would have been strange to her “old” self….but now felt as calm and easy as getting to sleep. 

After a few seconds of high-rate fire, Allison stopped, looking down at her right wrist as she thought about things. Wait, could she do “that” too? Like in a video game? Maybe. It felt very much possible considering the information her body and brain had now that they didn’t before. Though maybe she had to imagine it? Hmm...

After a moment, the college student extended another blade, this time just one from her right wrist, but this time it was created without firing it from her wrist. 

[color=pink]”Oh wow, this is pretty…...COOL!!!”[/color] Allison said, the excitement finally hitting her brain after a moment of pause once he had begun speaking, her tone going from a more basic and monotone ‘oh, this is a thing now’ to ‘excited giant child in a candy shop’ in virtually a moment’s notice, though the ‘parahuman studies’ student within her began to surface soon after, [color=pink]”Ah….ah….whew. This is pretty interesting, actually. I wonder how the body has been altered to handle this new aspect? Hmm….”[/color]

Sparce came to during the power demonstration, where he quickly jumped behind Mantis’ car and watched from peeking over the hood. He was starstruck at the capabilities of that power, no doubt. It made him a fair bit jealous, too. It was so cool!

[color=fff200]Was it worth the 10k?[/color]

[color=00a99d]”Hell yeah!”[/color] Sparce spoke aloud, responding to both Farce’s question and leaving a comment on Allison’s new power. [color=00a99d]”What are the blades made of? Looks really fucking sturdy.”[/color]

As Judah sat up he watched the display Alison gave. The power was extraordinary. He was grateful they weren't the first subjects of her abilities. He grinned wildly as she fired blade after blade at fantastic speeds. [color=green][i]”She's perfect. Couldn't have picked a better power if I'd tried.”[/i][/color] Their team strength went up massively with Allison’s inclusion. But what would she call herself as an official cape? Judah stood and addressed her in a calm tone, [color=green]”Tell us, what's your [i]real[/i] name?”[/color]

“We can do much with you…” Whip muttered, staring at the blades.

Name? Wait...wait just a second!!! She had just inadvertently been recruited by this group. And wiat...how did they get this vial? Did it cost money, and if so was it a lot? It almost made her faint at the prospect of thinking of what sum of money could have been thrown around even for something granting superpowers. Didn’t this also put her into debt-....ah shit. More debt. If the student loans hadn’t already been enough so far….but there was one positive. 

She was like the Terminator version of Spiderman! Or maybe that one guy from this anime her roommate had tried to show her. Regardless, this was a-maz,ing!!! It almost had had jumping for joy, save for the fact there were others around her at this time. Ah. 

[color=pink]”Eh, name? Like, hero name or something? Hmm…..,”[/color] Allison said, her face taking on a musing appearance as her mind raced over the potential names and ideas for things. This could define her life, make her a legend! Or….maybe even make her a big idiot when the name was called out, so with that in mind, she-, [color=pink]”Excaliblast!”[/color]

And with that a new [s]weeb-tastic[/s] hero name was chosen, given birth into this world of parahumans. 

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