AtomicEmperorCassius and Reed Taylor, Lihua Vuhong, Meifeng Vuhong, & Mika Baozai
It took a few moments for Reed to fumble with the NEST agent's body, prying the dead fingers off the grip of his sidearm. It felt wrong, in one way or another - the poor bastard might have even been a cop before he'd joined NEST, once - just like him. But grave robbing was a necessary evil for now, he decided - better to disturb the dead and live than be among them.
Pocketing a few magazines retrieved from the agent's tac vest, he glanced towards Cass as the old man gazed out into the rain, trying to keep as distant as he could from the bodies that lay inside the truck as he regained his bearings. Now armed, he tapped on the old man's shoulder and, after a brief perimeter check, the two ventured out into the rain.
By the looks of things, their truck had hit the storefront of some overpriced Knightdale coffee shop yet the one that had actually exploded was even worse off; Reed could barely make out the smoldering wreck in the distance, debris strewn all over.
'Nobody could've survived that', he thought.
But why the hell could he hear voices?
"Cass, you hear that?" He arched an eyebrow, wiping the rainslick off his brow with his wrist.
"What, the rain? Can barely see shit in this weather, nevermind hear anything." The old man shrugged, still a little disorientated from his earlier tumble.
"Just.." Reed heard it again. "Come on," he gestured with the pistol, before heading towards the wreckage. Better to be safe than sorry.
Then, he saw it - a figure, human enough in shape and clearly armed. Approaching the figure, he was ready to announce his presence when he heard the familiar plod of one of those creatures in the rain-soaked street and saw yet another shape - yet he noticed how disproportionate the arm looked, and remembered how that first creature he'd ever seen had the same..
"VPD, watch it!" He shouted to the armed figure in the distance as the one-armed thing grew closer to it, before readying his sidearm. "Cass, got another one of those things!" He alerted his uncle, before opening fire - 9mm cartridges soon partnered with a spread of 12 gauge.
Lihua was doing the best she could to buy time for Meifeng. She knew that there was only so much time - and she was putting everyone on line here. However... she just couldn't leave Jennifer behind like this. She just couldn't. It was like that small fragment of growing humanity that was preventing her from leaving the Caspin for dead.
That said, she pulled chunks of stone the size of basketballs out of the ground when she raised her hand up into the air. While she cause considerable damage with smaller pieces, she needed to quickly and effectively remove them from the equation. The beasts were running up on her, and the stones were floating in the air. Lihua was unflinching as they approached. She pushed her hands out, and the chunks of stone shot out like rockets. The beasts were immediately launched back, some immediately began to dissolve.
There was a particularly tough one, that was three times Lihua's size, and had massive arms, tipped with enormous claws. The stone hit it in the chest, and it slid backwards, and drove it's claws into the ground. It didn't even scratch it. Which meant Lihua would have to go a little harder.
Peering over her shoulder for a second, she saw that Meifeng was still desperately trying to get Jennifer off.
It wasn't long until Lihua's opponent got his second wind, and charged at her, using all four limbs to run. This was almost trivial as Lihua stood there, narrowing her eyes, and going in focus. When the beast was close enough, she slammed her foot into the ground, and created a wall of spikes that shot out at high speeds. Turning this freak into a living pin cushion. Lihua swiped her leg across the ground, and detached the spikes and sent the beast tumbling over, a dissolving wreck.
She was wondering what was next.
"VPD, watch it!"
Lihua looked over her shoulder, and saw the beast prepping to attack. She could have attacked on her own, but she couldn't take the risk. She drew as much stone as she could and created a shield of stone - which took the full force of the blow, and made Lihua stagger a bit. However, her saviors were also opening fire, which put a couple holes into the beast. Giving Lihua a golden opportunity - she sent the shield flying at it in sharp shards of stone that sliced up the beast. It was sent flying, but not dead yet.
She looked over her shoulder again... VPD officers. She put her hands on her hips as she examined them - actually, she knows one of them. Cassius Taylor. Quentin's uncle that she had a few run ins with while on the job.
"Taylor," Lihua said, looking down at them. "A pleasure to see you."
"Vuhong?" Cass squinted, before he quickly snapped out of it and recognized the Concrete Dragon from her titular ability, having gained an acquaintance with her during previous cases which spanned across both VPD and NEST. "Yeah, yeah - good to see you too." He nodded, fishing out more shells from the small supply in his pockets and popping them into his Ithaca 37's magazine tube. It was good to find someone reliable, at least. "That bomb," he glanced towards the burnt out truck, "Fuckin' explosion threw our truck off the road. We're the only ones who made it out. You?"
Lihua stomped her foot, and pulled a chunk of stone out of the ground, and followed it up with a punch that sent the hunk flying at one of the approaching beasts. Which was enough to slam it against a wall, and cause it to disintegrate. It was hard to maintain a conversation, and fight off a horde of these bastards. She looked up at Cass. "Our APC also was sabotaged... we were heading to another one, when we got sidetracked..." Lihua looked back over her shoulder. "It's that damn Changeling Unit - they're responsible for this." She hissed through her teeth.
Reed's gaze briefly met Lihua as his Uncle greeted her, before it shifted back towards the hazy streets, opening fire yet again. "Did you find anyone in the wreckage?" He finally asked, question clearly pointed at the former of the two.
These two VPD officials could be helpful - Lihua would have been stupid to say otherwise. Right now... Meifeng could use an extra hand to get Ms. Caspin off the shrapnel. Which, if successful, would work out for Lihua, and get them out of here faster.
"Look," Lihua started off, she was nearly cut off by the beast approaching again. She shot a stone at it's feet to impede it's progress. If only to give Lihua an extra second or two. This is a tough one... Lihua said, "Remember that girl Jennifer? She's... pinned down by some shrapnel, and Meifeng is trying her hardest to get her off. Both of them could use some help."
The beast got back up, and continued it's mad charge towards her.
"... Now."
Without hesitation, the two of them rushed over to the wreckage of the vehicle where they met a few familiar faces yet again. "Meifeng, you remember us?" Cass tossed her an upwards nod, before taking a knee to glance under the wreckage where he saw the girl - Jennifer - trapped in the debris.
Meifeng paused for a moment, and looked up at them. "Yeah...." She said, starting off. "It's nice to see you two again, but I kinda wish we'd meet under better circumstances, y'know?" She noted.
"We get that a lot." Reed remarked.
It was bad. Cass knew that much. "Jen? Can you hear me? It's Cass Taylor, and Reed's here too. We're gonna try and get you out, okay? Don't move and just stay calm!" He called to her, trying to make as quick an assessment as he could of the situation, knowing the longer they took the worse it would get.
Jen's sense, other than the pain, was a little dulled after the crash. Her vision was blurry, and her ears were still ringing. She managed to make out two very familiar shapes, and vaguely familiar voices. "I... think..." She said, "Just get.... get me off this... please."
How was she even alive after such explosion? Cass wondered... then remembered how she'd been the last time they saw her, how she was bloody and torn yet has no injuries. Going on gut instinct, he glanced over his shoulder and asked, "What do you know about her? Anything you know, I need to know."
Meifeng was kneeling down, preparing to lift Jen up, when she heard Cass' question. She looked up at him, "She's a regenerator." She simply answered, nodding her head. She didn't care for whether or not Jen wanted to keep her power a secret, or if these two were against Metahumans. "All we have to do is lift her up, and she'll be good as new in no time."
After informing them of that, there was no time to waste. Meifeng grabbed onto Jen, and nodded her head at them. "Look, we gotta get Jen out of here now." She stated. "Come on and just lift her up. It'll hurt her, but she'll be okay"
Hesitantly, Cass affirmed her with a nod and pushed more debris aside, grabbing the upper half of Jen's frame. "Clench your teeth," he warned Jen, before firmly lifting her up with all the strength in him.
Meifeng did the same, and just dead lifted Jen with every ounce of her strength. Jen, clenching her teeth tightly as possible, could only let out hisses of pure pain as she was lifted off the debris. A trail of blood was left behind on it. It felt like it would never end, in fact. Up until she could no longer feel the metal inside of her, and only a hole. Which would normally be pouring out blood if it wasn't for the fact that her regenerative factor handled that quite well. Jen would have sighed in relief - but she barely had the strength to walk. She grit her teeth when she felt the momental pain of her regenerative factor going to work.
Cass took her in both arms, then looked to Meifeng and nodded to the Ithaca 37 resting on the sidewalk. "You know how to use one?"
"No?" Meifeng said, kinda confused.
"Your mom never train you? Ah.." Cass shrugged. "Mind hanging onto it for me? Might be useful later and my hands are kinda tied."
"Yeah, but we gotta go!" Meifeng said as she quickly ran over to the shotgun, and grabbed it by the barrel and jumped back up to her feet, following after Cass and Reed. Praying to God that Jen would be okay.
"Are we done?" Reed quickly asked, glancing over his shoulder as he kept watch.
His uncle gave him a nod and headed back towards Lihua's direction, ready to make an exit. "Vuhong," he called, "My other nephew's place isn't far from here. If you need a ride, you can borrow his."
Lihua finished off the monster by jamming a concrete spear through it's skull. She looked over her shoulder, and saw that Jennifer was being carried by Cass. She almost smiled. Looks like she did her job well. "Good, let's get a move on." Lihua said, "That shouldn't be necessary, there is another APC waiting for us north of here... The Changeling Unit has been removed as a threat, so it should be safe."
Giving her niece an affirming nod, they started running again.
Sonya, Lihua, Meifeng, Mika, Jennifer, Cindy, Trevor, Quentin, Cass, Reed, Haruka, Shizuka, Akemi, & Task Force RAVEN.
With the giant out of the way, the evacuation could go as planned.
It wasn't long before Lihua and the others made it to the designated APC meet up. Lihua almost laughed in relief as she ran in the heavy rain towards safety. There were quite a few of the APCs waiting, and NEST agents were guarding them, fortunately. The backdoor of an APC opened up - revealing Sonya Mayfield and Quentin Taylor as the former of the two gave them a wide smile.
"Made sure they waited for ya'!" Sonya enthusiastically shouted. "Hurry up, move it! We don't have much time!"
Sonya was right, which was why Lihua was the first to hop up on the APC, and pivot halfway to extend a hand to Mika. She helped Mika, and her infant daughter on. Meifeng was helping Cass get Jennifer up into the APC. Jennifer was laid down on the seats, the injuries in her body were rapidly healing - her power being the only thing keeping her alive at this point. Everyone was getting comfy in the APC as Sonya closed the door behind them, and the APC started moving.
"Alright, boys, convoy's giving us a one way ticket out of Verthaven!" Sonya shouted, "Just sit tight."
Lihua let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God, this hell is finally over." She stated, almost too relieved.
"Sorry for not lending you a hand." Sonya said, that oddly jovial smile on her face, and her tongue somewhat sticking out her mouth. She threw a thumb over her shoulder, towards Trevor and Scarlet, sittng in a seat. "Had to pull these out the fire. Heh."
"There is no need for you to apologize." Lihua sternly said to Sonya. "You can't be everywhere - and we're quite capable of handling ourselves."
"That's great!" Sonya said, "Either way, looks like everything's working out."
Quentin gave both his uncle and younger brother an affectionate pat on the shoulder each, remarking, "Second time I've said it, I'm glad you two made it out alright."
"You too, Quent." Reed reaffirmed him.
"All-Seer," Dana spoke into the comms. "Did we get everyone?"
Leon, in another APC, answered, "That's alive, yeah."
"Good.... we can push on after that little.... set back."
"Jen, it's going to be okay." Meifeng said, putting her hand on the side of her injured friend's head.
A loud whistle filled the APC, making Meifeng turn her head, and see that it's Trevor. Gently patting his hands on his knees with his bow and arrow on his legs. "How is she even still alive?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"She's a regenerator." Meifeng said, "She'll get better, just give her some time."
"Hey, y'know I can just give her a little heal." Trevor said.
"Doubt it'd even do anything." Cindy said, not sitting that far away from them. "Trevor's power is a drug, right? I read somewhere that regenerators are immune."
"You kids know better than me," Cass opined, "
"... Looks like she's going have to wait this one out." Meifeng said, she looked down at her stomach, and saw that the gaping hole was a little smaller than she remembered. Which made her smile, Jennifer was getting a little better.
"Eh, we're already nearing the outskirts of Vert." Sonya said, putting her hands on her sides. "Just sit tight, we'll have some immediate support the second we get out of here."
In a different APC, Maximilian was sitting down. Taking a breather since he spent a lot of energy fighting the giant monster...it brought up the question of whether or not they could even beat another one without the help of Shizuka. And how many the Devil had in reserves. That'd be a challenge. On the opposite side, Haruka huddled close to Akemi, who had the still-unconscious Shizuka with his head on her lap. Daphne sat next to the family, fiddling with the assault rifle idly.
Maximilian's phone started loudly ringing, he grabbed it and looked, and the caller ID was High-Command. Briefly wondering what they wanted, he pressed answer, and put the phone against his ear, "Maximilian Cornell speaking."
"Mr. Cornell," A male voice spoke over the phone. "Are you aware of what's going on in other cities?"
"No?"
"NEST is recieving reports that these beasts are reaching as far as San Diego...and the storm is stretching far enough to encompass the entire west coast," the High Command chairman said. "This is getting out of hand, Maximilian."
"Look, I'm doing all I can. I'll handle the situation once the civilians are in the clear."
"You have one shot at this," the Chairman replied. "If you can't handle it, then we are."
Before he even got a chance to answer, the phone call ended.
It's almost like they didn't want them to leave. No matter. Maximilian was going to do the best to get everyone clear of Verthaven fast as possible, and handle the situation from there. Like Helena said, there might not be anything left to save. With a Metahuman that can end the world here.
The ground started shaking, and Maximilian immediately got up and hit the button on his comms piece. Akemi, who had been listening in at Maximilian's phone conversation, held her nephews closer to herself. Though she couldn't hear whatever the person the NEST leader spoke to was saying, she could read from the man's facial expression that it was probably more bad news for them.
"We need intel, where are they coming from?!" Maximilian asked.
Leon immediately used his power to see ahead of the group, and saw the ground breaking behind them, and on the areas around them...but not directly in their path. Monsters began pouring out the holes, and making a mad dash for the outskirts.
"Oh that's not good..." Leon said off the comms. He was scared to even report this, but he had no choice, "We got ourselves an army...but they're not going for us, looks like they're leaving. Putting us in the middle of their little escape."
"What?" Maximilian peeked out the viewing ports of the APC. "We...oh no." This was almost like... Oh no. He knew what the Devil was planning, and they had to get out of here. [i]Now.[/u] He immediately yelled into comms, "We need to get out of here, double time! Go, go, go!"
The convoy kicked into overdrive, going faster than before.
"Hey!" Meifeng shouted as the APC went double it's original speed, and it nearly sent Jen flying off the seat she was lying down on. If Meifeng didn't grab her, she would have flown off.
"Yo, what's going on?" Cindy asked, holding onto a bar.
Lihua narrowed her eyes... It's just one thing after another, isn't it? "...Trouble. Hold steady. They aren't ready to let us out just yet." Lihua said to them.
"Oh, shit." Quentin groaned.
In another city...
"We have no choice." A member of high-command, sitting in a shadowy room with only the large screen to illuminate the few members, and the table they sat on. The screen, however, was showing the situation in Verthaven as a literal army went right out of the city... Which was no good. With all this rain, they couldn't bomb them, and they would go on a massacre. Turning in his chair, the member of High-Command made a tent with his hands. "We have to activate the Shield of Light before they get out."
"But what about the people in there?"
"...We have no choice. There's a high possibility that the Metahuman who created them all is among their ranks. If she gets outside the Shield of Light, it could very well be the end of us all."
On the table, a holographic projector came out of the table, with various options. The member of High Command typed in something.
> Shield of Light System
> Black Fall/New York/Verthaven/Philadelphia/Toronto/Miami
> Verthaven
> /No/ Needs full council permission.
He nodded to the rest of the council members, before they, one at a time, pressed their thumbs on the projection, and got their fingerprints scanned.
> Approved
> Activating Shield of Light.
Inside of Verthaven, technology that was kept a secret from even the highest ranking NEST officials began to activate. Outside of Verthaven, trap doors in the ground opened, and satelie-like devices retracted. They all aimed towards Verthaven, and started glowing a bright blue color as an energy infused them. They fired beams into the city, that quickly formed a blue dome over the city that went over the clouds. Effectively trapping everyone inside. There was no weapon or super power that could break, or bypass, this shield. As it was created by studying the energies of many shield-based Metahumans, and creating an energy out of it. The projectors were glowing with the same energy, implying these were just as invincible.
"...May God help them."
"Almost home free! Just keep at it!" Sonya shouted into the comms from the safety of her APC. It was a little hard to hear because the APCs were firing their turrets, cutting through the hordes, on full auto. Or they were simplying shooting at the beasts out the ports. She looked up ahead, and saw they were leaving Verthaven! Good, good! Won't have to worry about this-
Right when things were looking up, a massive shield appeared in their way. The APCs in front had to come to a skidding stop. Everyone looked up at the shield, awestruck as it was forming. There was nothing but sheer shock.
"They didn't..." Maximilian said. Haruka gripped on his aunt even tighter, a mixture of horror and fury flashed across his pale face. Akemi turned to Daphne with a questioning look, but the chloropath shrugged and shook her head. Shizuka stirred a little from the strong jerk when the APC came to a sudden halt, but he still continued to sleep, completely oblivious to the the trapped scenario unfolding outside.
"Oh my God..." Cindy said, covering her mouth as freedom literally escaped their grasp yet again.
"Oh that's not good." That cheery smile was wiped off Sonya's face.
"Bastards..." Cass of all people could barely contain his disgust at the abandonment of all these people at the hands of someone hiding behind a screen, whilst Reed looked ready to ignite a burning rage and tear off that arm cast, slamming a balled up fist against the APC's interior in his frustration. In contrast, Quentin remained silent - both fists clenched, yet otherwise cool and calm.
"Auntie..." Mika couldn't help but say.
"What? So we're fucking trapped in here now?!" Meifeng slammed her fist on the side of the seat.
"...We're now caged with the beasts." Lihua said, clenching her fists tightly, and furrowing her eyebrows. This isn't fair. She just wanted to get her daughters out of here.
With the exit closed...the beasts turned their attention on the convoy.
The sounds of gunfire nearly filled the area. Powers were getting used left and right to cut waves through the monsters.
"Maximilian!" Leon shouted at Max. "We need a plan, they're everywhere!"
Maximilian was honestly overwhelmed. He...didn't know what to do. There was no escape.
"Maximilian!" Leon grabbed Max by the shoulder, and shook him a bit. "Snap out of it! We need a plan, or we're all dead!"
"All forces..." Maximilian softly spoke into the comms. "...Cut us an exit, and push for it! We don't have much time!"
The APCs turned their fire behind them, and sprayed down the street and cut a path through the monsters. Allowing them to turn around. The substained fire as they pushed away from the shield, with a horde of monsters following behind them.
"All forces, regroup back at Headquarters!"