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What Happened in The Dalles


TwiLyghtSansSparkles

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Reader was still shaking. 

 

He definitely just saw Koschei's death, Autumn thought. She almost pitied him. The tyrant's death had spelled salvation for The Dalles, but it wasn't the sort of thing she liked to relive, even as the observer she had been. Poor Remington had been the one outside, listening to that monster until death relieved him of his company. 

 

Taking advantage of Reader's discomfort, Autumn herded the three Epics out the door, closing it quietly behind her. If she slammed it, Reader would complain of a nonexistent headache later, and a complaining Reader was worse than a gleeful Reader. Of course, the only Reader that had a chance of being somewhat tolerable was a sleeping Reader, and Autumn had never caught him napping. 

 

"All right," she said, wincing inwardly at the false cheer in her voice. "Let's get out of here." 

 

Jordan McKenzie and Bill Waters flanked them as they approached the door. Autumn nearly stopped and asked for additional soldiers—they deserved a break from Reader and forming an armed escort would be the perfect excuse—but the twins had established themselves as non-threats, and the past-seeing Epic, whose name was apparently Backtrack, seemed to have no secondary to speak of. Autumn was certain she could take the small, skinny Epic with her revolver, should the need arise. 

 

Just the thought made her wince. Her, all five-feet-six-inches of her and her loaded weapon, against him? He wouldn't stand a chance. 

 

Point was, Vondra didn't like waste. Requesting four soldiers for an armed escort when only two were needed would be a waste of manpower—a small waste, but waste nonetheless. Resisting the urge to smile apologetically at those she had left behind, Autumn opened the church doors. 

 

Alarms rang. Weapons were drawn. Soldiers hurried back and forth. Autumn drew her revolver and quickly tuned her radio from the Church-only channel to the emergency one. 

 

​"…arrows, homes and businesses in northern sector aflame. All available personnel, report to the nearest command station. Epics move to the front line at city borders. Repeat: This is not a drill. The Dalles is under attack." 

 

Autumn took a moment to compose herself. ​Not since Deathwish…. But if The Dalles was under attack, these new Epics needed to see how the people handled it: with practiced calm. She nodded to Backtrack. 

 

"Let's get that arm fixed up." 

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What will you do now, Stephen? I struck harder than I have in a long time, and there are an abundance of casualties. What's your next move? Will you simply try to crack down on crime, or will you try something more clever?

 

Quicksilver was deep in contemplation, sitting in his massive  high-backed chair. It was beautiful and throne-like, and was made completely out of Platinum. 

He was roused from his thoughts when Surveillance's voice came from a speaker on the wall.

 

"Quicksilver, we've received a transmission from Bus. He says he has a powerful new Epic with him. Orders?"

 

The voice of Fritz chimed in, "I'll take double cheeseburger, hold the tomato."

 

Quicksilver ignored him. A powerful new Epic, right after he had attacked? Could be a plant for Stephen. He pulled a com out of his pocket. 

 

"Mirror, Driver has brought in a new Epic. Possible spy of Vondra's, proceed with caution. 

 

Suddenly Surveillance was on the speaker again.

 

"Sir! A large amount of flaming arrows have hit the city! They were fired from outside the walls."

 

Arrows? Who uses Arrows? Quicksilver answered his own question.  An Epic, that's who. He barked into the com.

 

"Get me eyes outside the walls and monitor Vondra's reaction."

 

There was silence for a few moments then,

 

"Sir, you're not going to believe this, but, um... well, we're under siege by....

 

Pandas."

 

Quicksilver was silent for a moment, then spoke,

 

"Mirror proceed with the meeting. Surveillance, send out some drones. expect heightened senses for the Pandas, so maintain a low profile. If we need to we'll step in, but I want to enjoy the show first."

 

Quicksilver allowed himself a smile.

Attack by Pandas with longbows.

Stephen Vondra was going to love this.

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Mistwraith followed him into the bus, trailed by the sparking mist that seemed to follow her everywhere. Before she sat, she spoke. "Where are we going? I want to know who this Quicksilver is." She sat, a flourish of mist spreading out from her seat.

 

BusDriver started the bus. "To HQ. And you'll see who he is when we get there, capisce?"

 

She seemed subdued, and didn't say any more. BusDriver was content to let the ride continue in silence; the mist inside the bus thickening and slowly obscuring his vision. He finally gave up trying to see through it and opened to door to let some of it flow out; as this was a party bus, the windows were locked shut.

 

I probably should call ahead... BusDriver thought. Quicksilver wouldn't want me just showing up with a brand new powerful Epic. He got out his mobile and spoke into it. "Surveillance, you there?"

 

"Right here," Surveillance's voice affirmed. "Where are you, Driver? Aura and Horizon got here more than a half hour ago."

 

"Ran into some trouble," BusDriver said, making a right turn. "Found a new Epic; she almost crushed me with an entire Calamity-cursed building. Says she wants to join us though."

 

"Right-o. I'll warn Quicksilver." The mobile clicked as Surveillance hung up. BusDriver put his mobile away and continued to drive to HQ.

 

When they were about halfway there, BusDriver heard a loud ping on the roof. Curious, he looked up out of the windshield and saw a thousand little tiny specks of light arching over and falling towards the Dalles. One landed in front of him.

 

A burning arrow.

 

Shocked, BusDriver floored the gas. He looked up at the mirror, where he could see Mistwraith suddenly grip her seat, then look up at him with an arched eyebrow.

 

He answered her unasked question. "We have to get to Quicksilver, and fast. Someone is sparking attacking the Dalles!"

 

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Autumn and Steven left. Reader felt as if he should have said something snide, something to tick Autumn off, but when he finally recovered fully from his flashback, they were already out the door.

 

Yes, Springfield’s alive, but it’s not like he remembers me, right? Reader assured himself. Besides, he’s not here in the Dalles with Steven, otherwise he would’ve come with him, right? Content with his conclusion, Reader reached under his desk to grab yet another empty goblet--his last--and a new bottle of wine. He unstoppered the wine and started to pour himself a gla--

 

Sirens went off. Reader heard bustling around in the hallway outside his office. Fearing the worst, he stood up--taking his now-full goblet with him, of course--and went up to the door. Before he could open it, however, it swung open in front of him, showing an escort of four soldiers.

 

“Reader, come with us,” the lead soldier--it just so happened to be Terry Bloom--said. “We’re taking you to the Bunker.”

 

The Bunker. That could only mean one thing. They were being attacked.

 

And Reader hated it when they were being attacked.

 

He had no defensive or offensive powers to speak of, so the soldiers all took him to the safest spot in town they could, a place they called the Bunker. And Reader had to do everything they said with exactness, because if he was ever in even the slightest of danger of being kidnapped.... He’d never been told this, but he Read it off of every soldier sent to him during times of trouble. Reader, if taken by any opposing force, would be such a huge asset that Vondra had issued an order.

 

“If Reader is ever in a position where he could be taken by an opposing army, I would rather he died than be taken and turned over to the other side.”

 

Well, Reader would rather he not died, and so he followed the soldier’s orders with precision, because if any of the soldiers caught any inkling of a chance that Reader would be kidnapped...well, they’d be more than happy to make sure he wasn’t.

 

Reader stepped out of his office and let the soldiers surround him. “Who is attacking us?” he questioned of the soldiers as they walked out of the church. Unfortunately, they were all thinking about it, so he couldn’t just Read it off of them.

 

Bloom turned around and started walking backwards, looking down at the ground. “Well, you’re not going to believe this, but...”

 

Reader sighed. “Stop it with the drama Bloom. Just tell me. Who is attacking the Dalles?” He took a sip of his wine, letting the flavorful liquid slide down his throat.

 

Bloom looked up at Reader’s face. “Pandas, sir. We’re being attacked by an army of pandas.”

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The room was silent.

 

That in and of itself was kind of a surprise, since Reader should have resumed his taunting by now. Backtrack frowned as he watched the slontze's face.

 

It almost looked as Reader were the one rendered speechless. Which was completely absurd--wasn't it? He didn't remember saying anything that might have offended or horrified him. All he'd said was the name Remington Spring--

 

Reader finally spoke out loud to the only soldier still standing in the room. "Go get Autumn," he said firmly. "Tell her to come in here. I have..." He paused noticeably, seeming to compose himself. "The third Epic is ready."

 

Though immensely curious to know what was getting under Reader's skin so badly, Backtrack kept his mouth shut. He tried looking at Reader at first, but then avoided making eye contact. There was one thing he'd learned since Calamity appeared--when an Epic was annoyed and had a fondness for shooting people, you didn't mess with them. It was a simple enough rule, but it was surprising how many snarky vanillas and overconfident minor Epics there were who still hadn't learned it. Backtrack still wasn't sure that he'd entirely learned it.

 

After a scant minute, the door to the office opened again, and a woman with auburn hair and freckles strode into the office.

 

"Hi there," she said warmly. "Autumn Glass, not an Epic."

 

Backtrack eyed her warily. Was this some sort of good-cop, bad-cop routine? He'd never been arrested before, but he'd seen that sort of thing all the time on TV.

 

Autumn's eyes seemed to float down to his injured arm, and she winced visibly. Too visibly, perhaps?

 

"That looks like it hurts. Why don't you come with me and the twins, and I'll take you to our…healer.

 

Definitely a good-cop, bad-cop routine, Backtrack thought, his mouth once again going dry. He'd ask for a glass of water... but chances were, he'd be having his throat slit in a few minutes. He felt himself cringe involuntarily as he thought of it. The very dim bright side was that the twins weren't here to see him shaking--though that was probably because they'd already been murdered and un-murdered by Koschei the sparking Deathless.

 

Sparks.

 

 "He's the best healer we've ever had," Autumn was continuing emphatically, making air-quotes with her fingers. Sparks. Sparks sparks sparks sparks.

 

Before Backtrack could protest--assuming he could at all, with his mouth as dry as it was--Autumn Glass herded him out of the office. He quickly found himself in the hallways of the church, blessedly away from Reader. Impact and MV were standing sullenly against a wall, eyed by a pair of nervous soldiers.

 

The church seemed more active than it had been when they'd first arrived. Soldiers hurried back and forth, and what sounded like alarms buzzed in the air.

 

Autumn Glass seemed just as startled by the commotion as he was. The woman put a hand to her revolver as she pulled out a military radio, adjusting the channel with a serious expression.

 

Static flared through the device for a moment, before a dry voice crackled through the white noise. ​"…arrows, homes and businesses in northern sector aflame. All available personnel, report to the nearest command station. Epics move to the front line at city borders. Repeat: This is not a drill. The Dalles is under attack." 

 

The freckled woman frowned subtly, but turned to Backtrack with a composed expression. "Let's get that arm fixed up," she said simply.

 

Backtrack gave the momentum twins a helpless look, his feet planted firmly in place. "But.. but..." he tried to think of an excuse a reason to stay behind, but nothing came to mind. With a resigned sigh and a forlorn look to MV, he followed Autumn out of the halls.

 

There was silence as they walked, aside from the screeching alarms and shouting soldiers. Backtrack mustered up the courage to speak.

 

"So, uh," he began nervously. "How... how long have you worked for... for..." Well, not that much courage. He couldn't quite bring himself to say 'Koschei the Deathless.'

 

Instead, he resisted the urge to whimper and tried to keep his voice steady.

 

"How long have you worked for The Dalles?"

 

 

 

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"Hostile forces reported on the city outskirts," Arsenal said through the radio. His voice crackled as dryly as the static. "Hostiles reported to possess an ursine appearance. Reported to be employing the strategic use of burning arrows; homes and businesses in northern sector aflame. All available personnel, report to the nearest command station. Epics move to the front line at city borders. Repeat: This is not a drill. The Dalles is under attack."

 

Ending the transmission, Arsenal turned away from the panicked technicians and walked out of the communications center.

 

The area around The Dalles HQ was in a frenzy. Around him was a wide courtyard-like structure, filled with soldiers rushing about to the sound of blaring sirens. The building was located in the center of the city, specifically chosen to be out of range from sudden attacks. That didn't stop the morons stationed there from panicking.

 

But that was to be expected. They were only human.

 

A small squad of soldiers rushed to Arsenal, their faces deeply concerned. "Orders from high command," one of them began urgently. "The Mayor has ordered the construction of a survey helicopter immediately."

 

"Vondra wants to see for himself, eh?" Arsenal rasped in reply. "Not surprising. You're all worked about this. Like none of you had ever seen an invasion before."

 

"Well, sir," a younger soldier began nervously. "This isn't just an invasion. We're being invaded by--"

 

"By an Epic," Arsenal stressed severely. "Every Epic out there has a theme or a motif. You know that."

 

Without waiting for a reply, Arsenal turned away from the soldiers. They really were idiots; every one of them. Too caught up in the apparent absurdity of the situation to do anything about it. Undoubtedly the mastermind behind this latest invasion was counting on just that.

 

Well, if they planned on taking Daniel Dewhickey by surprise, they were in for a good ol' shocker themselves. No one caught Arsenal unawares, and no one threatened the city he'd chosen to call home.

 

Arsenal raised his hand, and used his Calamity-granted gift.

 

Lines appeared in mid-air in front of him, forming the outline of the desired machine. The lines crossed and intersected, before finally coalescing into a solid aerial vehicle.

 

Arsenal turned back to the soldiers. "There you go. Tell Vondra his helicopter is ready."

 

He had made a sleek black helicopter, equipped with one mounted machine gun. Its side was emblazoned with "The Dalles City Guard," complete with the city flag and crest.

 

The soldiers he'd spoken to ran off to deliver their message, leaving Arsenal alone amidst all the commotion. Feeling somewhat annoyed, Arsenal conjured up another radio in his hand, setting it to the emergency setting.

 

"A reminder from Daniel Dewhickey," he rasped through the speaker. "Being invaded by weaponized pandas is not an excuse for forgetting established protocols. Nor is it an excuse for losing all sense of order and sanity. Thank you."

 

Pocketing the radio, he started to consider heading back to his quarters to wait out the assault when he saw two Epics pushing their way through the crowd.

 

Edgerunner and Glamour made their way to his side, looking confused by the city-wide panic. Edgerunner was silent, while Glamour's headset was steadily emanating what he recognized as R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World."

 

I should have never conjured that headset for him, Arsenal thought grumpily. Suppressing the mild desire the crush Glamour under a Boeing jet, he instead turned to Edgerunner.

 

"I suppose you're wondering what's going on," he said in his gravelly voice. "I want to know what you learned at Outpost Tango. You brief me and I'll brief you."

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Backtrack was far more nervous than he should have been. 

 

He was small as Epics went, and seemed to have just the one power. Nothing that would help him in a fight, unless he happened to relive a few martial arts classes. He might be able to learn one choke escape in the span of a single class, though mastery would take much longer. Still, he was an Epic. He should have pushed Koschei's death to the back of his mind by now. Started up a pompous history lesson. Or a disturbing one. Anything to make her feel weak and insignificant. 

 

Instead, he hesitated. Stood in the church doorway and looked as though he would rather bolt into the recesses of the church than go to the doctor. Stammered "But" a few times before following, looking for all the world like a dog with his tail between his legs. 

 

Why is he so jumpy? She was about to ask what was wrong when the realization struck. 

 

Portland. The turf wars. Backtrack must be working for one of the High Epics laying claim to territory. A resurrection Epic, maybe? That would explain why Koschei's death scared him so badly. Watching the Deathless die had shaken her to her core. How much more for an Epic tasked with carrying out another immortal's orders? 

 

Don't let them get too arrogant. Vondra's orders cut through her growing pity. He was right, of course. An arrogant Epic was a murderous Epic, and the more they were reminded of the town's savior, the less arrogant they could be. Usually, a trip past the Springfield—a club catering to Epics on their off hours—was reminder enough. If it didn't lie in the opposite direction of Dr. Game's office, she would have led him there. It was good for him, she told herself. Good for him to know Epics didn't always win. That even the Deathless was bound to the same law as everyone else.

 

Still, the way Backtrack glanced nervously around as though hoping a soldier would leap from the nearest house and lead him in the opposite direction….she wouldn't admit it to Vondra or any Epic in town, but it made her want to give him a hug. 

 

Before words of encouragement could tumble out of her mouth, Backtrack opened his. "So, uh…how long have you worked for…for…" 

 

Commander Vondra, she nearly supplied, but he covered his lack of knowledge quickly. 

 

"How long have you worked for The Dalles?" 

 

Odd way to put it. "I've been with the City Guard for going on two years now," she said, keeping one ear turned to the radio clipped to her belt. "I used to be a minister, back at the ranger station on Mount Hood. Nothing official, of course, but—you know—my dad was a minister, taught me some of the deeper theology along with the basics, I took it with me when I got hired, and when the other rangers decided to start a church, I guess they kind of looked to me when they needed help finding God." She smiled. "I'd always tell them, 'God's everywhere, all you have to do is look and he'll show up.'" 

 

She stopped, allowing a small group of soldiers to pass before rounding a corner. "We were all different denominations. Don't know how familiar you are with that, but it was kind of a big deal back in the day—Baptist vs. Catholic vs. Lutheran. You get the idea. Since there were maybe three rangers from each one—me and my brother Addison were the only Baptists—we kind of cobbled together a church of our own, and everybody brought their own songs, their own traditions." She smiled again. "I never knew what a beautiful holiday Hanukkah is before I met Rachel, but…" 

 

Autumn trailed off, remembering a menorah in a darkened window, laughter ringing through the main area as a dreidel spun. The pang of homesickness, which left her alone when she thought of her childhood home in Cottage Grove, pricked her. Maybe she could return someday. Rejoin their little church and maybe bring a few others along. 

 

You're needed here, she chided herself. "Well, anyway," she said, ending her foray into the past, "I came here after—" 

 

She had been about to say After Koschei died, but an all-too-familiar voice crackled over her radio. 

 

"A reminder from Daniel Dewhickey. Being invaded by weaponized pandas is not an excuse for forgetting established protocols. Nor is it an excuse for losing all sense of order and sanity. Thank you."

 

Arsenal. Complaining, as usual, about some nonexistent breach in protocol. Everything was a breach in protocol to that man. A pumpkin donut in her hand had once earned Autumn a lecture on the importance of displaying dignity and a "united front" to the troops. 

 

Not surprisingly, he had declined her offer of an extra donut. 

 

He's human, God loves him. Besides, if you could conjure tanks from thin air, would you be any less arrogant? 

 

It was a sobering thought, and enough to keep her from contradicting his orders over the radio. She might challenge them later, when the threat—weapons shaped like pandas, apparently? Epics sure came up with some crazy schemes—was dealt with and the city safe once more. When their competence, yet again, proved him wrong. 

 

With a smile, she returned her attention to Backtrack. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ramble. You're from Portland, correct?" 

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Autumn "Not an Epic" Glass was actually turning out to be quite a pleasant person. Granted, she probably didn't have much of a choice in the matter--unpleasant vanillas were generally weeded out in a "survival of the nicest" sort of manner.

 

Whether Autumn Glass was nice by nature or by natural selection was irrelevant, though. Backtrack savored the company of one of the few non-slontzes he'd met today.

 

They walked past lines of church offices, occasionally pausing to let squads of soldiers pass them in the cramped halls. And as they went, Autumn to her boss and Backtrack to the first of many painful deaths, Autumn described her past life as a minister.

 

It had been a while since Backtrack had seen the past through another's eyes. He listened with rapt interest as Autumn recounted her days at Mount Hood. She talked of parents and theology and denominations and Hanukkah, and Backtrack drank it all in. As a rule he'd never been very religious, but there was something compelling about the mental picture she painted--a warm, tight group of friends sheltering together from Calamity's ravages.

 

He wasn't quite sure why the thought appealed to him so much. Maybe it was because he was so accustomed to getting threatened and pushed around by tougher Epics. In any case, it was comforting to hear the woman's voice drone on about her old life. His own thoughts were too occupied wondering whether Koschei preferred the term "Your Excellency" or "Your Majesty" to offer much solace.

 

Too soon, Autumn's friendly speech was cut off by the crackling of the radio. A curt, dry voice like burning leaves cut through the static: "A reminder from Daniel Dewhickey. Being invaded by weaponized pandas is not an excuse for forgetting established protocols. Nor is it an excuse for losing all sense of order and sanity. Thank you."

 

Weaponized pandas? Backtrack thought blankly. Surely that must be code for something.

 

Before he could dig much deeper into the mystery of Daniel Dewhickey's irritable reminder, Autumn Glass turned back to him with a smile.

 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ramble," she said, her cheeriness in stark contrast to the blaring sirens in the background. "You're from Portland, correct?" 

 

Backtrack shook his head nervously as they walked. "Uh, no. I just came to Portland yesterday. I was kind of unemployed, and you know, an unemployed Epic who can't defend himself is as good as a goner."

 

He gulped, unsure of whether to continue. On the one hand, he wasn't quite comfortable with detailing his life history with a complete stranger. On the other hand... well, the matter of what term of address Koschei would demand before slitting his throat was not a cheery subject.

 

"I grew up in San Francisco," he continued, slightly more boldly. "I didn't do anything of interest. When I was seventeen I started working at a 7-Eleven, and the job sort of stuck until, you know, the apocalypse happened.

 

"I didn't get my powers right away, and when I did... well, they're not really the kind of 'supernatural, god-among-men' kind of powers other Epics got. I can see the past. And mostly, the past is made up of a whole lot of idiots getting themselves killed over the course of history. It's slightly humbling, and all terrifying."

 

He sighed. "I had to skip town after I became an Epic. There were a lot of bigger Epics interested in San Fran, and not all of them were happy with a guy who could see their pasts. A lot of them seemed to think I might find their weaknesses, and they weren't too keen on letting me live long enough to do it. I've sort of spent the last few years drifting around the west coast doing odd jobs for guys tougher than me. A few weeks ago I started following a resurrection Epic named Thomas Cardinal--he prefers you call him Lightwards--and he ended up sending me here to get the dirt on someone. Then those soldiers dragged me here, and Reader shot me... but you know all that."

 

He paused for a moment before giving her a nervous look. "Uh... how far until we get to... 'til we get to your healer?"

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Ranger ran. His moment of hesitation before, shock at seeing a sparking unicorn of all things, had nearly cost him his life. The beast was much too close to try pulling out either of his weapons, and his machete would be laughable before that shining horn. This would have been a good time to have been grateful for keeping up his high-school track conditioning. If, in fact, he had ever done that. The sound of hooves, already too close for comfort, grew even closer.

 

He tripped over an exposed root, tumbling to the ground. Rolling instinctively, he barely managed to make it out of the way before the razor-sharp hooves trampled the turf where he had been. The beast flashed past him, slowing slightly to turn in a wide circle, maneuvering around the scraggly pines with an almost effortless grace. It would only be a matter of seconds before it came back.

 

The air popped next to his ear, and he jumped. Guardian was there, giving him a disapproving scowl. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but she spoke to quickly. "What the Calamity do you think you are doing, nearly getting yourself killed? You have no right to be..." She trailed off, eyes widening in shock. "Is that what I think it is?"

 

Gratified at her reaction, Ranger nodded. "Yep. but whoever described unicorns as nice never met this one. So, if you'd be so kind as to get us out of here before we experience how sharp that horn is first-hand, I'd be much obliged."

 

A moment later, the familiar walls of their appropriated apartment appeared around him. Paladin turned to meet him, his right arm ending in a bloody stump just below the elbow. The countertop was covered with blood. I didn't see that happen. Wonder how he lost it.

 

Quickly he filled both of them in on the car in the forest, and the belligerent man with the little girl that he had met there.

 

"The Dalles." Paladin's voice was thoughtful. "As it seems we are finished here, it might be a viable location for our next target."

 

"But what about Hammer? We're leaving an Epic behind!?" Guardian's voice trembled just a little, as if she were still in shock from the unicorn. Well, it hadn't been that traumatizing. They had both made it out with little trouble. He shook his head.

 

"He must be dead. Ringmaster was controlling the new Epic, the one that called himself Miner. He'd have had to get rid of one of the other Epics he controlled to make room for that, and Hammer is the only one accounted for. Besides, if he still had Hammer available, do you think he wouldn't have been there, waiting for us? No, this town is clean. We shall move on to cleanse the filth out of The Dalles." Paladin's eyes were strangely distant. He turned to Ranger again. "With my...injury, I won't be able to ride on my own. You'll have to carry me."

 

Sparks, I hadn't even thought of that. But it made sense. "Alright. Shall we leave in the morning? Give your arm a chance to heal up a little bit?"

 

"We leave now!" Paladin's voice had grown suddenly angry. "My arm will heal on its own time, and the dark gods move while we wait! get ready. We move out in ten minutes."

 

*  *  *  *  *  *

 

Will watched quietly from his hiding place as the car stopped at the bend in the road in the growing twilight. It was still traversable, but the three miles or so of cracked and broken roadway was not something any driver would want to try in the dark. Which was why he had chosen this place for an ambush.

 

He smiled as he watched the occupants get out of the car, walking a little ways into the forest to set up camp. An older man and a small little girl. This would be fun.

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As Edgerunner and Glamour neared HQ, they heard Arsenal's gruff voice over the radios, "Hostile forces reported on the city outskirts. Hostiles reported to possess an ursine appearance. Reported to be employing the strategic use of burning arrows; homes and businesses in northern sector aflame. All available personnel, report to the nearest command station. Epics move to the front line at city borders. Repeat: This is not a drill. The Dalles is under attack." Ursine? That meant bears, right? They were being attacked by bears? Edgerunner was confused. It had to be some type of Epic. Bears didn't assault cities. She decided to meet Arsenal at HQ before reporting to the front lines.

Soldiers scrambled about like madmen, some going into HQ, some leaving. Sirens blared throughout the city and for once, Edgerunner was jealous of Glamour's headphones. They sure would be nice to drown out the noise. She heard faint sounds of a film's battle score coming from the headset. She rolled her eyes and went into the courtyard.

She arrived right as Daniel created a large helicopter. Beginning with sleek lines in the air, they solidified into the real deal. A sleek helicopter with a machine gun, it even had The Dalles crest on the side. As Edgerunner was about to approach Arsenal, he spoke into the radio again, "A reminder from Daniel Dewhickey. Being invaded by weaponized pandas is not an excuse for forgetting established protocols. Nor is it an excuse for losing all sense of order and sanity. Thank you." Edgerunner couldn't decide whether to smile or scowl. Arsenal had a gruff, direct way of dealing with things that she enjoyed, but, sparks, he was strict. He confiscated anything that had a slight modicum of fun.

She and Glamour pushed past soldiers, heading straight for Daniel. He saw them and addressed them first. "I suppose you're wondering what's going on," he said in his gruff voice. "I want to know what you learned at Command Post Tango. You brief me and I'll brief you." Direct. Brief. Just like Arsenal.

Edgerunner nodded curtly and informed him of the messenger with metal caps for hands. She relayed his message of Quicksilver's anger. "It was a message, he said. Everyone else in the building was slaughtered," she said, her voice wavering slightly. She controlled it and continued, "Now, what's this about pandas?" Daniel watched her as she shared her message, his thick, angry eyebrows wrinkling in distaste for Quicksilver. Glamour had nothing to add and just looked around at the panicked soldiers as she spoke.

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Frequency had found his old apartment in a more rundown part of the Dalles. For the most part, the area was empty when he had arrived. Now it was permanently empty. The rundown environment didn't bother Frequency too much. It gave him his privacy. He did decide to force one of the women in the area to scrub his apartment clean before killing her and her daughter.

He relaxed and listened to the radio frequencies in the area, enjoying a nice rest from attacking soldiers. Suddenly, a gravelly voice burst out on the radio, "Hostile forces reported on the city outskirts. Hostiles reported to possess an ursine appearance. Reported to be employing the strategic use of burning arrows; homes and businesses in northern sector aflame. All available personnel, report to the nearest command station. Epics move to the front line at city borders. Repeat: This is not a drill. The Dalles is under attack." Hmm, the Dalles was being assaulted by bears? Frequency smiled.

He decided to take a look at this attack, when he heard a report of armed pandas. This new Epic certainly did have style. An army of pandas with guns would be sure to confuse any normal soldier. If Frequency wasn't here to reclaim the Deathless One's city, he'd be tempted to work with this Panda Man.

Frequency headed to the roof of the building, ready to whistle any threats to pieces. Nothing happened. Everyone below was rushing to the northern part of the city, which was up in flames. Definitely a stylish Epic they were dealing with here. This Panda could be the key to reclaiming this city. Frequency lacked the numbers to assault the city completely. This Panda had many under his rule. Maybe they could work together.
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Impact trailed behind Backtrack and Autumn with her sister, who had at least stopped glaring death at every passing soldier.

Note to self: Next time Megan won't shut up, get an army to attack the city.

The volley of arrows had been immense, even with Epic abilities Impact had no idea how such an attack could be executed, if it was an army why would they use Arrows? If it was an Epic then either they had some bizzarely specific abilities or else they were working in theme.

Why do they always work in theme? We get it, you read too many comic books as a child, now can you please stop blasting buildings into the shape of the green lantern symbol?

MV seemed to be engrossed in trying to overhear the conversation between Backtrack, she barely noticed when a piece of ash from the distant blazes smeared itself across her cheek, Impact rubbed it off herself while her sister continued to Eavesdrop.
 

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Lucy Lockser bolted upright as she heard the alarms, she'd been sleeping after taking a night shift with the city guard but since the day that Koschei the Deathless had invaded the Dalles she'd been a light sleeper, many was the night that a stray cat making a noise outside had caused Lucy to barricade her bedroom door while holding the knife she'd secreted underneath her bed.

This noise however she instantly recognized for what it was, the city alarms.

She tossed her covers aside and ran to her wardrobe, hastily throwing her uniform on before running to her radio and tuning through the static.

"Epics move to the front line at city borders. Repeat: This is not a drill. The Dalles is under attack." 

Lucy raced down the stairs and waved a quick goodbye to her parents as she grabbed her writing case and bolted through the front door.

The sting of smoke met her eyes immediately, nearby houses ablaze released a torrent of choking smoke throughout the neighborhood, a water chain had already formed to keep it from spreading until the fire department arrived.

Lucy took a look around, half the city was on fire. It seemed that the fire department would have their hands full tonight.

Edited by Voidus
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Autumn had never really considered how little she knew of Epics. She knew how to work with them, sure. How to navigate their moods, how to tell when they were bluffing about a hidden secondary. Most often, they were; Reader made certain no power remained hidden for too long. 

 

But when it came to their personal lives, to who they were before Calamity, Autumn had to admit she was in the dark. Epics never talked about their former lives, and she had taken it as a given that she was not to ask. They had them—Hannah Game and Lucy Lockser disproved the aliens theory—but that subject was as taboo as weaknesses. Epics, even fragile ones like Reader, were above humanity, beyond their pasts, and they insisted upon being seen that way. 

 

So to hear Backtrack speak openly, if hesitantly, about his days working in a 7-11, fleeing town and working odd jobs, was like hearing a cat share his opinions on the difference in taste between sparrows and mice. It was unexpected. Not unwelcome, or uninteresting by any stretch, but certainly unexpected. She listened on two levels. The first picked out any relevant information, dissected it, and filed it away. Can see the past, working for a resurrection Epic named Lightwards, here to find someone's dirty laundry. 

 

The second, deeper level was where she heard the humanity behind his words. Not Backtrack, past-seeing Epic, but whoever he was before Backtrack surfaced. The small, fragile man who knew he wouldn't survive in San Francisco. Who stayed alive through odd jobs. Who was currently an errand boy for a resurrection Epic, one he seemed to fear as much as anyone in town had ever feared Koschei. Who had been dragged into town, shot, and subjected to scenes from a conquest Autumn was glad to have missed. 

 

He didn't sound like an arrogant Epic with the whole of human history at his fingertips. He sounded human.

 

She was about to comment on how he must have seen some terrifying things, if he'd watched Koschei's brief attempt to carve out a kingdom he called New Eden, but he changed the subject again. 

 

 "Uh... how far until we get to... 'til we get to your healer?"

 

Autumn felt her face settle into a mask of disapproval. I'm going to have to speak to Vondra about this "healer" business. It doesn't accomplish anything but scaring away all the visitors. Still, Reader would know if she didn't play along, and if he wanted to make Backtrack think they called their doctor a healer, so be it. "He's not far," she said, opening the double doors to a rush of cool air and muted sunlight. Tanks and UAVs ferried soldiers through the streets. Those not on active duty locked their homes and businesses, drawing thick curtains over the windows and beckoning others inside. Bill and Jordan clutched their weapons, and Autumn quickly checked to ensure her revolver was fully loaded. 

 

"We can walk there," she said, leading him and the twins down the concrete steps. "Just do everything he says. This invasion's bound to make him nervous." A quick glance revealed far more fear on Backtrack's face than a simple visit to the doctor should have warranted. ​A few bad experiences with human doctors, maybe? One with a vendetta against Epics?  "He's not that bad, though. Honestly. He likes kids." 

 

She felt a sharp pang when she remembered Hannah. Remembered the note. I'm sorry, Mom, Dad. I didn't want this. Ever. I know there's no way to fix it, so I'm leaving before I can hurt anyone. Please, please don't follow me. 

 

"Sorry," she said again, knowing a sorrowful cast had shadowed her face but unable to do anything about it. "He…he really likes kids. You'll see." 

Edited by TwiLyghtSansSparkles
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It had been an hour since the Siege began. The city was still responding, with firefighters putting out fires and Epics beginning to gather at the city's edges.  The fires that had been started by the flaming arrows were starting to die down.


 


The Panda stood by himself at the top of the hill. No-one had yet to approach him. A tar-black helicopter began to rise above the city, it's rotors cutting through the air at an increasing pace. The Panda frowned. It seemed like the second part of the Siege had to be ushered forward. That would also provide a perfect cover for the abduction for the Reader he planned. Under the layer of adorably-patterned fur and cuteness all pandas had to hide their emotions, The Panda was quite excited. One of the key things the founding of a safe haven of pandas required, according the Radiant Panda, was a man who could read one's past. Why a man of such powers was needed was a mystery, but the Radiant Panda worked in mysterious ways.


 


The Panda took a deep breath, filling his lungs, and released an immense roar. Pandas, while quiet most of the time, could be exceptionally loud if they wanted to.


 


Pandas began rushing to positions in their siege forts, throwing open doors cut into their forts. Each fort was an organic structure, grown (at enhanced speeds during the night) out of oak. As a result, The Panda was exhausted by the morning, which was why he wasn't partaking in the siege. The forts appeared to be unnaturally immense trees - so wide that a 50 pandas linking their paws could barely encircle the tree, so tall that they rivaled the tallest buildings in The Dalles - except they were hollow on the inside, allowing its defenders to hide inside. It also allowed the Panda to hide a few surprises inside.


 


The Panda still retained a sense of human humor. Maybe that was why, when he was choosing which animal to gift wings to (other than to some of his pandas), he chose a certain chubby little animal.


 


The hewn in doors slid open slowly, progress slightly slowed by the tree sap. There was a great disturbance of air, and the most unlikely animal to ever take flight took flight. From every tree-fort emerged hordes of winged pigs, tubby pink bodies graced with an angelic white set of dove wings.


 


It had taken quite a lot of trial and error for The Panda to create the flying pigs. He had to lower the density of the pig's bodies, change their skeletal structure, and find an appropriate length for the wings. At last, however, his joke could be revealed.


 


Hundreds of flying pigs covered the sky above The Dalles, oinking and squealing in delight as they stretched their wings. At a mental command, however, they snapped into a tight formation, and began to fly towards the east side of The Dalles in a (piggily) menacing bombing formation. Under each pig was strapped a basket. Inside each basket were a dozen angry flying squirrels, with razor sharp claws. As the Flying pigs reached the east side of the town, the pigs began tipping the contents of their baskets out with their trotters, spilling out thousands of chittering and snarling squirrels. The squirrels, realizing that their ride had gone, immediately started to glide. Infuriated by their rather uncomfortable ride in the baskets, the squirrels wanted to take their revenge out on anything that so much as breathed and lived.


 


As the pigs continued their bombing run along the city of The Dalles, a detachment of about 50 pigs quietly made their way towards a Bunker at the center of the city. Strung between the pigs was a basket, and inside the basket were an elite squad of spec ops Pandas. These were the much-feared Shadow Pandas. They were like the wind: Fast and out of nowhere. You never noticed them coming until they slit your throat. So devote were they to their task, they painted the white side of their fur black.


 


When the pigs were directly above the bunker, the Shadow Pandas jumped off, plummeting towards the Bunker. Despite falling hundreds of feet, the pandas survived the fall without a scratch, thanks to their specially enhanced bodies. The guards of the Bunker, too awed and stunned by the sight of the flying pigs, barely had time to reach for their weapons or an alarm before they were brutally executed. As the last guard gurgled out his final breath, the Shadow Pandas began to infiltrate the Bunker proper. Using key cards stolen off corpses - or brute force when needed - the Shadow Pandas reached the room of the Reader very quickly.


 


The Reader spat out his drink in surprise when the blood-stained Shadow Panda entered his room.


 


"Wha...Wha" stammered Reader


 


A panda stepped out of the Shadow Pandas. In gruff and low voice, the panda growled "You know why we are here, Reader. Our Informant has told us about you. I a Captain Alexpanda. You are either coming with us willingly, or in a sack".


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Arvin looked up from setting up camp. For just a moment, he had thought that he had heard...something. Some sort of music, maybe. He tried to remember what it sounded like, but it slipped away from his mind. Pity, he thought. That was quite the melody. I don't think I'd ever heard anything like it. Or at least I remember not having heard anything like it. That line of reasoning was beginning to make his head hurt. As he was about to return to his work, he heard Ari call out.

 

"Ooh! Look! It's so pretty!"

 

He turned to see her dashing off into the undergrowth, following what looked to be a floating ball of light. That was sparking dangerous. She should know better! Wishing again that he hadn't lost his gun, he dashed after her.

 

For a little girl, she was certainly speedy. It was all that Arvin could do to keep her barely in sight as they dashed through trees and around bushes, following the elusive light. As his muscles began to protest, he finally lost sight of her. He dashed on for a few more moments, then slowed, worried about missing a sign of her trail. Fortunately, it was still obvious, even if he had lost sight of her.

 

He walked quickly, trying to keep up speed while catching his breath from the headlong run. Sparking girl! He thought. She should at least have some consideration for those of us who are too old and fat to keep up with her!

 

Suddenly, out of the stand of trees in front of him, he heard a chilling scream. Rushing through the tangled brush, he cursed himself for not being faster. He broke free, to face a scene that could have been pulled out of a nightmare.

 

A gigantic lizard, well over 10 feet long and almost as tall as a German Shepherd, faced Ari, who was cowering on the ground. The floating light seemed to have disappeared, and the ground had grown marshy. He recognized the beast from a trip to the zoo, back when there had been such things. It was a Komodo dragon, one of the last in the world, from what he remembered.

 

Dashing forward, he placed himself in between it and the girl. "You want her?" His voice was iron. "You have to go through me first."

 

*  *  *  *  *  *

 

Ranger pulled the white plastic tarp off, revealing a sleek, beautiful machine. The motorcycle was built by Knighthawk Foundries, and was one of the most technologically advanced vehicles on the open market. The gravitonics system was smoother than any he'd ever before ridder, and the electronic systems were near perfectly tuned.

 

He could almost describe his feeling as love. Just, not while Ariel was around. She wouldn't understand.

 

There were three of them, one for each member of the team. Ariel had already mounted, her light bags stuffed in the carrying compartment. Ranger quickly mounted his cycle, then turned to help Paladin on. They'd been forced to abandon a lot of their equipment, since Paladin would take up most of the space, and they were leaving behind a cycle, which almost broke Ranger's heart. Still, it had to be done.

 

They wheeled slowly out of the garage, Ranger looking mournfully at the lonely vehicle, sitting empty behind them. Paladin fidgeted impatiently behind him. "Now!" With a sigh, Ranger depressed a button on the remote he carried.

 

With a roar, the garage erupted into flames, which would destroy every trace that they had once been here. The apartment building would not last much longer.

 

In a moment more, the gravitonics engaged, and they were speeding off into the distance, heading north.

 

Toward The Dalles.

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They left the church, entering the open air of The Dalles. For the first time Backtrack was getting a good look at the city--this time he wasn't in the back of an armored car.

 

It didn't look like a half bad place to live, all things considered. There was a liveliness to the town that was missing in Portland, and it wasn't just because of the invasion. Though there were tanks on the street and civilians rushing into their homes, there were signs of habitation everywhere.

 

Several times they passed notices plastered on the walls of buildings, detailing instructions from the City Guard. Occasionally they passed recruitment posters, and once or twice he even saw advertisements for various sales from local businesses.

 

The powers that ruled The Dalles did so with some degree of benevolence, it seemed. He hadn't been in Portland long, but Backtrack had very definitely gotten the impression of a city crammed with terrified people there. The Dalles was strict and rigidly organized, to be certain... but at least the people got to live somewhat normal lives.

 

That was a thought way more comforting than Autumn's expression. The woman's face had contorted into a tight, unhappy kind of look when he'd asked how much further Koschei lived, though whether her face bespoke anger or fear was difficult to tell. She explained that he wasn't far, easily within walking distance.

 

"Just do everything he says," Autumn instructed as they walked. "This invasion's bound to make him nervous."

 

Backtrack gulped at the thought of a nervous Koschei the Deathless. He wondered--would Koschei be more or less inclined to slit random throats when he was nervous? If he followed the pattern of most Epics, he'd be a very definite more kind of person.

 

Sparks.

 

He felt his steps dragging slightly, though he knew he had no choice but to accompany Autumn and her soldiers. The ginger woman seemed to notice his discomfort, and spoke with the apparent intention of soothing him.

 

 "He's not that bad, though," she explained. "Honestly. He likes kids." 

 

Images of Koschei with a knife to a little girl's throat sprung to mind unbidden. Backtrack shuddered, only barely noticing the sad expression that flickered across Autumn's face.

 

 "Sorry," she repeated softly. "He…he really likes kids. You'll see." 

 

I bet I will, Backtrack thought glumly. His feet dragging like iron weights, he marched behind Autumn to the sound of blaring sirens.

 

And... something else, perhaps. There was another high-pitched squeal in the air, one that irritated his ears worse than the sirens. Like a thousand screams all at once, all intent on bursting his eardrums.

 

Backtrack paused in his steps for a moment, putting his fingers into his ears. "You've got the most annoying sirens ever," he complained, glaring at the nearest guards. The guards, oddly enough, were staring at the sky with looks of shock and dismay. Backtrack frowned--not only were the guards acting weird, but the sunlight had suddenly gotten a lot dimmer.

 

He looked into the sky just as it started raining squirrels.

 

 

 

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Arsenal felt his eyebrows raising in disgust as Emma Runes told her story. Quicksilver's gotten bolder, he thought furiously. If Vondra let me organize those door-to-door searches, we'd have caught and executed him by now. We won't have an army left by the time we get him in front of the firing squad.
 
Though his blood pressure rose rapidly throughout Edgerunner's explanation, he remained quiet and collected until she finished. "Now, what's this about pandas?" she asked.
 
"It started just twenty minutes ago," Arsenal explained gruffly. With some difficulty he refrained from adding "And it would have ended twenty minutes ago, if I were in charge."
 
"We started getting calls from the soldiers around the city limits," he went on dryly. "They reported animals coming out of the countryside and approaching the city. All instances of the threat were described as giant pandas, standing on their hind legs and carrying wooden weapons. There wasn't any time to respond to the threat before they started launching flaming arrows."
 
He decided to allow himself a scowl and a small tirade. "The invaders have stationed themselves all around the town, like they expect to besiege us. They've established wooden structures to camp out in--which our patrols should have found, if they weren't caught up in the sloth and complacency that plagues this town."
 
Shaking his head with a grimace, Arsenal continued. "Sloth and complacency," he hissed scathingly. That's what plagues this town, and that's what'll finish it. Mark my words."
 
"What the sparks?"
 
Arsenal shot his head towards the sound. All around the three Epics, soldiers scurried around the HQ's courtyard, shouting orders and surprised exclamations.
 
He opened his mouth to shout a few reprimands of his own, but stopped when the sky darkened.
 
The sky darkened as if a cloud had drifted over the sun. The sound of sirens began to clash with another louder, more high-pitched sound. A sound which took Daniel Dewhickey back in time; back to his boyhood on the family farm.
 
It was the sound of squealing pigs. Hundreds of them, born by white feathered wings over The Dalles' sky.
 
Arsenal continued staring at the invading swarm, as the sounds of squealing swine mixed with the droning of anti-aircraft guns from around the HQ. Anti-aircraft guns which he himself had installed. Shaking himself from his momentary confusion, he turned to Edgedancer and Glamour with a glare.
 
"Do you hear that?" he demanded furiously. "That sound you hear, of the town going to hell in a handbasket? That's the sound of you two slacking off. Battle stations, both of you!"
 
He turned away from them brusquely, summoning an umbrella into his hand as the first flying squirrels dropped from the sky.
Edited by Kobold King
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Terry Richard Bloom was definitely pleased to be assigned to Reader today. 

 

A trip to the Bunker was always fun--he'd never experienced it himself, but had been told about it. His friends that had been assigned to Reader on those days told him of the awesome feeling it was to see Reader in full supplication mode, forced to obey anything they told him to do. More than once, he'd been tempted to order him to hop up and down on one leg, or do the chicken dance, but had restrained himself. That would most definitely earn him a list of secrets paraded about the entire HQ as soon as they left the Bunker.

 

After they'd gotten Reader put in his room, Terry received a transmission on his radio. "Terry, report to the front lines with one of Reader's other guards. We'll send a few more in to cover for you." 

 

Terry responded with an affirmative, and grabbed Eugine by the shoulder and told him to come along. They left the Bunker and headed towards the panda army.

 

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At least the Bunker is comfortable, Reader thought, sipping from his goblet of wine. 

 

The Bunker was in the north side of town, almost right up against the river. It used to be the post office, but had since been converted into a fortified safe spot for all Epics who couldn't fight--which turned out to be pretty much just Reader. He reclined in what used to be the postmaster's office, his outward appearance giving off none of the worry he felt inside. 

 

If they come for me, he thought, then I’m as good as dead

 

He leaned back and put his glass up to his mouth, and suddenly the door burst open and a crowd of black pandas stormed into the room. Completely startled by the entrance, he spit out the wine in his mouth and stuttered “Wha....Wha...” a few times before he composed himself.

 

One of them--Reader instantly Read him as the leader of the band--stepped out of the crowd. “You know why we are here, Reader,” he said in a gruff voice. “Our Informant has told us about you. I am Captain Alexpanda. You are either coming with us willingly, or in a sack.”

 

Reader swallowed. He Read all of the pandas, and realized that Alexpanda was telling him the truth. And, he knew, they could do it. They’d managed to get past every single sparking one of his guards, and Reader was just Reader. 

 

He calmly set his goblet down in the desk and stood up. “I will come. But don’t even think--” He stopped as he read something about these sentient pandas. Or, he had once thought they were pandas.

 

These pandas used to be human. And, somewhere, still inside of them, the human part of them was still screaming for freedom, trapped in their panda bodies. 

 

Reader leaned down toward the lead panda and looked into his eyes. He already knew the answer, but he asked anyway. “What did the Epic do to you?” 

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BusDriver had just pulled up to the outpost at the store when it started raining squirrels. 

 

The squeals from above attacked his eardrums as soon as he stepped out of the bus. The sky was clouded over with pink, and he realized that it was a sparking army of Calamity-cursed flying pigs that was dropping the squirrels. He ran for the entrance, shouting behind him. “Get inside! It’s raining squirrels!” 

 

Not checking to make sure Mistwraith was following, BusDriver ran into the HQ and waited for her there. She came in through the door with the ever-present, ever-annoying mist, and, before she could say anything, BusDriver spoke. “Follow me.” 

 

And with that, he started to guide her through the building.

 

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Miner watched as the family of vanillas fell the short distance into the labyrinth he created. “Exit is that way,” he said, pointing to the left. He left them there, to tread around uselessly in the maze until they starved to death. There was no exit--that would've been no fun. 

 

Miner was finally in Goldendale, Washington, the city where Ironmonger had set up shop. Before dropping them into the maze, he’d asked the family where he could find Ironmonger’s residence. They’d described a building to him, then told him directions of how to get there.

 

Of course, he thanked them by dropping them into a maze with no exit, no food, and no way to survive. 

 

He trekked around town for a little bit, following the vague directions he’d been given, until he found what he thought was the building they’d described as the old City Hall. He smiled madly as he got up to the doors. Finally, he thought. My chance at revenge.

 

He pushed open the doors. 

Edited by mail-mi
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(Note: I'm changing Mirror's name to reflection, for writing purposes. He's not a new character.)

 

Reflection walked briskly down the street. He could have taken a tunnel to the rendezvous, but he had wanted to survey the city briefly. Guards were all heading towards the city limits, towards the new Epic that was attacking. It seemed all was going according to Vondra's protocol. They would have this Epic dealt with shortly. Say what you will about Vondra, but the man ran a tight ship. 

 

Then the pigs came.  Reflection stared at the sky as a porcine air force dropped flying rodents to wreak havoc on the world. This was obnoxious! It was one thing to have a theme, it was another to have flying pigs drop baskets of squirrels. The was a fine line between flair and absurdity, and this epic had crossed it miles ago.

 

He snapped back to the present when a group of squirrels dove towards him, chattering madly. From the look of their claws, petting them wasn't an option. Reflection studied them till they were nearly upon him, then created a Mirror. what appeared to be a large mirror as thin as paper materialized instantly between him and the rodents. They hit it and bounced off, shooting into walls and each other. several had broken their necks and the remaining ones were quickly shot in the head. Reflection looked for a moment at the strange creatures. they looked like normal flying squirrels, but with teeth and claws like razors. So, the Epic could alter animals then. That would explain alot. He made a mental note to tell Quicksilver. He proceeded on down the street, pausing now and then to deal with more squirrels and once to shoot a lone guard and take his side arm because He was running low on ammo. Finally he arrived at the outpost. It was in the back of an old store. The store owners payed a premium to make sure their property was mostly safe from raids. He nodded to the mna behind the counter and entered the back room.

 

Inside Busdriver sat with a teenage girl. Inwardly Reflection frowned. Teenage epics had all of the unstable and annoying qualities of human teenagers, but with abilities that could level parking structures. They lacked discipline and experience that older individuals brought to the table. That said, young people could be more inventive with their abilities. Provided they kept their hormones in check, they could actually be useful.

 

He addressed the waiting Epics.

 

"Driver, you are to return to HQ with the new recruit once this meeting is over. Find Cannon Fodder, he will  brief you on your new mission. And you are to give me your name, a short explanation of your abilities, and a small, controlled display. Keep in mind stealth and speed are necessary as there are an abundance of guards active throughout the city right now."

 

His harsh black eyes bore into hers.

 

"If you give me reason to suspect anything is amiss, I will put you down on the spot." 

 

He pulled out his pistol and cocked it.

 

"Now you may begin."

Edited by Fatebreaker
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"Uh. I'm Mistwraith. I just discovered my powers this morning, but it seems like I can control the mist and become it. The small, controlled display might have to be put on hold as I do not have the control. Should I give you my gun? It seems to me that you'd probably want my gun, although I don't think I'd need it." Mistwraith shifted her weight from foot to foot. "Should I give you a display now, or wait until I have it more under control? I think I should wait until I have it under control, right?" Mistwraith emptied her pockets, her gun falling onto the floor. She looked at the gun. "Anything else? I don't really know anything about the city, besides a few names." Mistwraith waited to be shot, although she was pretty sure that her powers would activate and she could stop it if she was shot. That would be an interesting test. Perhaps one Mistwraith didn't want to preform. Maybe she wouldn't need to wait on that...

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Lucy Lockser had nearly reached her assigned battle station when a shadow fell over the Dalles, she looked up to see what was quite possibly the last thing she expected.

"Literally? They've literally made pigs fly?" She exclaimed to the empty street.

Dozens of the creatures flew over the Dalles, the shadow of their passing sweeping across the city. It was hard to make out at this distance but the flying pigs seemed to be carrying some kind of cargo with them, which even as Lucy watched was released.

Smaller specks dropped from the sky throughout the street, as they drew closer Lucy could make out their shapes more clearly and recognized them as squirrels of some kind.

Very angry squirrels of some kind.

The second the hit the streets the creatures were off, finding the nearest people and attacking them as they led their burning homes.

One jumped straight for her and latched onto her arm, it's teeth biting into her skin and drawing blood that slowly dripped down her arm. She manipulated one of her many tattoos, the black ink crawling from her back down her arm until it was pressed against the creature when she used her second gift, she actualized the writing, the word REPULSE shining briefly underneath the rabid squirrel and then vanishing as the beast was thrown from her arm.

It scampered off in search of easier prey as Lucy opened her writing kit, pulled out a scroll of parchment and one of her brushes. With quick strokes she wrote several repetitions of the word FIRE which she maneuvered onto several nearby squirrels attacking the soldiers stationed nearby, setting the furry creatures alight with a squeal. Having gained some breathing time she created some small terriers which set about chasing the squirrels down.

She walked up to the soldiers who gave a small nod of thanks and saluted their sergeant.

"Lucy Lockser, reporting in for the defense of the city." She said briskly. "What the hell are we up against?"


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Some distance away MV and her twin sister were both looking up at the sky, similarly bemused by the oddities that continued to assault the Dalles.

"Seriously?" MV asked as the shapes became clear "Flying pigs? First a flying museum with dinosaurs now pandas and flying pigs? Is there anywhere normal anymore?"

Reflexively the twins grasped hands, their abilities achieved their maximum effectiveness when used together, and judging by the size of the force currently attacking the Dalles they were going to need maximum effectiveness.

A small spot in the sky gradually grew larger, resolving into a small mammal of some kind. The twins wasted no time, Impact gave a great shove to MVs hand which she instantly transferred to the falling creature, sending it plummeting into the ground at far greater speeds than gravity had intended, ending in a sickening crunch as it finally hit.

"So." Impact said to Autumn Glass "This sort of thing happen here often?"

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Backtrack's increasing glumness did not escape Autumn's notice. She frowned, trying to think of a way to phrase All right, tell me what's wrong that would draw an honest answer rather than a glare and a snide remark about being escorted through a military garrison ruled by vanillas. Then again, Backtrack seemed surprisingly forthright; the right amount of compassion might lead him to honesty. Just as she was about to ask, a high-pitched squeal joined the sirens.

"You have the most annoying alarms ever," Backtrack complained.

Those aren't alarms, Autumn nearly said. She knew those alarms like she knew that squeal. Mount Hood had been isolated, a somewhat remote pit stop for Oregonians on their way to different regions of the state. Visiting a grocery store was out of the question. Whatever meat they wanted had to be raised and butchered there, at the station, or done without. Those squeals—Autumn would know them anywhere. But what kind of invader sent pigs to attack?

Her question was answered when a squadron of winged pigs shadowed the sky, raining projectiles that immediately skittered across the street, chittering and squeaking.

Arsenal. "He is not going to like this," Autumn said, seeking and finding the nearest door. A white sign emblazoned with a cow diagrammed to show various cuts announced a butcher's shop, but there was no time to savor the irony. Bill and Jordan hurried forward, guns drawn, as the twins linked hands and sent one of the pigs to the ground with a far greater crunch than its weight would warrant.

"This sort of thing happen often?"

"Flying pigs, no. Attacks, yes." Squirrels were beginning to congregate in the middle of the street, swirling like a furry, chattering vortex that made Autumn immediately think of tornadoes and hurricanes. "Get inside. Now."

Once the six of them were safely behind the door, with a storm of squirrels on one side of the curtains and a darkened butcher's counter on the other, Autumn pushed the call button on her radio. "Glass to—" She reconsidered her use of his given name. If flying pigs were raining what appeared to be murderous squirrels, he would be more likely to take being addressed by his actual name as an insult. She stifled a sigh and continued. "Glass to Arsenal. In Bentley Avenue butcher shop with three unregistered Epics. Two have momentum-based powers demonstrably capable of bringing down the pigs." She winced, imagining his face when he puzzled out how their capability was demonstrated—through non-sanctioned power use. "Sir, what do you advise? Remain in shop until danger has passed, or send momentum Epics to assist?" Edited by TwiLyghtSansSparkles
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Baxter wanted to go out there and search for people that needed his help. That was sadly not the wisest desire; a doctor was no use if his patients couldn´t find him. Some people did in fact already arrive at his clinic, mostly scratches and bites by the squirrels, no major injuries but it wouldn´t be surprising, if these animals are even more likely to cause infections than normal.

 

Nothing of those worries reached his current patient of course, his job was to treat and calm them not making them more nervous. He finished by disinfecting the boys cut and gave a reassuring smile as the young one flinched. “Alright, now that that is over Henri, do you drink your hot chocolate with or without cream?”

“With please.” The boy answered, while rubbing the scratch on his arm.

 

Giving the boy a nod Baxter stood up, poured him a drink out of his trusty thermos, added the cream and handed the mug over. “Be so nice and send me the next one in,” he dismissed the boy with an encouraging pat on the back, “and don´t play around with that scratch on your arm.”
 

As Henri exited the room, he was greeted by Neko pouring and snuggling against his legs. Somehow the cat managed to properly lead each patient to and from the treatment room, to the point that her picking out the next patient was a common joke in times without heavy injuries. Baxter hoped she could continue her nurse work for the rest of the day.

 

The people that gathered in his clinic were mostly from the neighborhood. Getting into shelter was currently more important than treatment for some squirrel caused wounds. Still, it was a sizable crowd.

 

A couple of the people stationed here were soldiers and the ones not heavily injured decided to take point at places someone could break in, yet again not something Baxter was fond of but the situation didn´t leave him with much of a choice. At least they got proper equipment to use, thanks to Arsenal. The man certainly was grumpy and no-nonsense but he also did his job and kept the city safe, maybe not a good man but not a bad one either. That´s something, right?

 

The attacking Epic was probably the opposite. Attacking with animals and flight wasn´t the strangest thing he heard about by far but the way he used them was definitely insane. Even then his MO was strange. Somehow, the pigs were trained enough to fly in formation, while the squirrels just acted feral, one even smashed itself into his window. Worst off all ultimately was his complete disregard for infrastructure and civilians. Most Epics that bothered with taking on a whole city at least wanted it and its inhabitants to be left to rule over.

 

Then there were also the “ursine attackers” that, if the reports were to be believed showed proper intelligence.  Three different kinds of animal servants and the only think they and how they were used had in common were the audacity behind it.

 

Thinking about the Epics behavior wasn´t a smart move either, one old habit raised the other one and going out there to search people was still a bad idea. It was one think to jump into danger, if people didn´t know where to find you anyway but now that he settled down that wasn´t the case anymore, never thought that would come with disadvantages. Naturally, his wife and daughter were still around, when they made the decision…

 

A loud meow at his door made him snap out of his thoughts, time to help the next patient.

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Arsenal's eyebrows always betrayed his emotions. Currently, they were sliding up in surprise and anger. Edgerunner had always found his thick eyebrows funny, but had never voiced that opinion near Arsenal himself. If she ever had, it would've led to a long lecture about "being an example" and "inappropriate remarks" all the while, his emotional eyebrows would be making it harder and harder for Emma to hold in her laughter.

Arsenal's voice brought her back to reality, lIt started just twenty minutes ago. We started getting calls from the soldiers around the city limits. They reported animals coming out of the countryside and approaching the city. All instances of the threat were described as giant pandas, standing on their hind legs and carrying wooden weapons. There wasn't any time to respond to the threat before they started launching flaming arrows." Edgerunner giggled inside. They really were being attacked by pandas. Unsurprisingly, Arsenal didn't seem to like the large, fluffy animals. He would probably rather pet a tree trunk.

Arsenal scowled and began one of his regular rants about laziness, "The invaders have stationed themselves all around the town, like they expect to besiege us. They've established wooden structures to camp out in--which our patrols should have found, if they weren't caught up in the sloth and complacency that plagues this town. Sloth and complacency." Arsenal hissed. Emma had predicted it. Standard rant.

He continued, "That's what plagues this town, and that's what'll finish it. Mark my words." Arsenal stopped and then immediately started talking again. "What the sparks?" Arsenal shot his head towards the sound. Emma looked too. The sky darkened and a high pitched squeal had begun. She couldn't quite place the sound. It was something familiar, but not something she had much experience with. As the darkness came closer, Edgerunner recognized it. Pigs. That's what they were. Flying pigs. She laughed at the sight. The anti-aircraft guns began shooting in the sky. Pigs dropped to the ground. Arsenal turned to Edgedancer and Glamour with a glare. "Do you hear that?" he demanded. "That sound you hear, of the town going to hell in a handbasket? That's the sound of you two slacking off. Battle stations, both of you!" He turned and left.

Squirrels began dropping out of the sky as well. The pigs had them in baskets. They'd dump out the squirrels and they glided down, furious and biting. Edgerunner left Glamour and hurried off, increasing her gravity in the direction she was running, to her battle station. Lucy should be there. That gave Emma a smile. Lucy was one of the better Epics in town. Glamour was useless, Arsenal was too strict, and Deathwish was scary. Lucy didn't like other Epics' company too much, but Emma enjoyed her most of all the Epics in town.

Edgerunner switched her gravity, throwing herself into the air, and whipped out her knives. She began slicing and stabbing the pigs as they came near. She became angry at them for bothering her town. Her annoyance with Glamour burned in her. Edgerunner increased the pigs' baskets' friction, causing the pigs near her to be held back as the baskets dragged through the air. She killed those and they flew snout-first towards the ground, eyes closed. After killing the pigs who impeded her on her way to her station, she finally arrived and dropped down to the ground lightly, landing right next to Scribbler.
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Readers: this post does not actually take place in The Dalles. These Epics are in Washington and will be making their way to Astoria. For now, their tales will be posted here.
 

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Most gyms didn't have weights heavy enough for Jag's strength. Therefore, he usually modified the weights he found in gyms after he had conquered a town by combing weights from multiple machines. Working out was something he did everyday. Sometimes Smasher joined him too. Jag's strength was triple his regular abilities, so working out increased his overall strength. Turn the pain into power. That had been a motto of his during his life. His childhood had had much pain and he had turned it into power. Now, he had risen past that.

Black Jaguar knew that he had been born to rise. Calamity had blessed him with powers to aid him. All of his fellow high Epics were supposed to rise too. Jag had decided long ago that he would use Calamity's gifts to become greater. He would rise above his past. Black Jaguar dropped the modified dumbbell he was lifting at the thought of his past. He cursed and lifted it back up and put it back on his "shelf", which was just a bunch of barbell weights stacked up. He was done for the day.

It was time to move on. Fircrest had been good to the Destructors, after they had conquered it, of course, but it was time to move on. Jaguar had decided that Connell was going to be their next hit. It was smaller than Fircrest, but would get them closer to Oregon, Jag's next state he had planned.
 

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Jaguar was driving the Ford Lighting with his five Commandos. One next to him, two in the back seat, and two in the bed of the truck. Each of the Epics in Black Jaguar's crew had five humans in their employ. All were killers. In each set of five, there were two heavy weapons specialists, a close-combat expert, an assassin, and a sniper. They were all proficient in each area, but had one speciality. The Lightning had been outfitted with two machine guns in the back of the bed and a grenade launcher on each side of the truck. They were for the Commandos to use or for Metalmech's purposes.

Metalmech was able to control mechanisms close to him. Each of the Destructors' vehicles was customized with weapons to be controlled by Metalmech. Hawkwing drove a former Government Escalade, complete with armor plates and added guns. Smasher had a large Jeep Rubicon Unlimited and Metalmech's commandos drove him in the tank. He focused on the mechanisms of all the weaponry to be able to take command of them in case of attack. To allow him to remotely drive all of the vehicles if necessary, the four drove in a diamond formation; Jag at point, Hawkwing and War Smasher on the wings, and Metalmech in the back. They stayed within Mech's range so that he could take over.

Connell was in view when Black Jaguar told Hawkwing to scout above. Hawkwing tossed his white-and-gold suit coat onto the backseat, jumped out of the Escalade, and took to the skies, using his back wings to fly. His two MP7A1s were in his hands, ready to rain bullets on anyone who attacked. The personal machine guns were very effective, Jag had to admit. But he preferred his skills and machete to the bullet-spitting guns Hawk used.
 

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"Guards in positions scattered along the border, no gates or wall. There appears to be concrete poured around the border, but it's no more than a couple inches tall. I can't see why they'd make such a small wall. Epic powers?" Hawkwing reported over the secure mobile connection to the other three Epics. He made sure that he was in front of the sun so that any of the guards that happened to look up would see only a bright light and if they saw anymore, would assume that it was an afterimage. He was used to scouting out locations and had become pretty skilled at it.

Jag responded, "Concrete powers? Possible. Don't discount it."

War Smasher responded as well, having learned strategy from his time playing and coaching football, "No one lays out two-inch high concrete around their territory unless they can use it. Count on there being a secret to it, either traps or powers."

Hawkwing replied, "Affirmative. Center of power is an old steel factory in the southeast part of town, couple hundred meters from the border. Not many soldiers on the streets. Concrete is used excessively." He figured there must be an Epic with some type of concrete powers. Traps wouldn't work as the concrete was spread across town, even in civilian and headquarter areas.

Jag said, "Begin assault. Beta formation attack at southeast corner. Wings, plow and sweep to Power Center. Mech and I will drive straight through." Hawkwing interpreted the orders instantly. After so many assaults, the jargon became natural. Jag had ordered Beta formation, which meant that he, Smasher, and Hawkwing's squads would line up and hit the border, Jag's squad slightly to the left of center so that Mech's tank could fire through the gap, but not be targeted exceedingly. Plow and sweep meant that the wings, Hawk and Smasher's groups, would circle around from their starting attack point and drive directly to the steel factory, hitting it from opposite sides. Metalmech and Jag would drive straight through town after distracting the border police to meet at the steel factory.

"Roger that," Hawkwing replied to the orders. War Smasher and Metalmech did likewise. Hawk would leave his Head Commando in charge of his squad down below and would cover them from up here. He watched as the vehicles below arranged themselves in beta formation and approached the border. Hawk flew lower and began shooting at the guards who had noticed the invaders. He took out the ones in the way of his squad's Escalade. They would be the first to sweep around to the factory.

Edited by Mailliw73
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The motorcycle purred quietly beneath Ranger as the miles slid by behind them. The night air was cooling, as autumn wore on, and the leaves were just starting to turn. It was rather beautiful, and a little surreal. The group drove in silence, Guardian leading while Ranger and Paladin, blood still oozing from his severed arm, followed.

 

The incredible speed offered by gravitonics made the commute from Madras towards The Dalles much shorter than it would have been in the old days, before Calamity. Even so, Ranger felt himself slowly drifting towards sleep as the road blurred beneath their vehicles. He started, noticing that Guardian had slowed down, and he braked rapidly to come to a halt next to her. Up ahead, about a quarter of a mile, the road was broken, fragments jutting straight out of the ground while others lay askew at every angle conceivable. There looked like there was a straight path through, but Ranger couldn't be certain. Then, a familiar profile caught his eye. A car, fancy but not extravagant, sitting off of the road near the woods. Guardian seemed about to speak, but he cut her off.

 

"It looks like we have some old friends here." The others looked at him blankly.

 

"That's the same car I found in Madras. Looks like they were on their way to The Dalles after all. I think I'd like to find an explanation of what happened back there."

 

Paladin nodded his assent silently, and they pushed off again, picking up speed as they approached the scene.

 

*  *  *  *  *  *

 

Will O'the Wisp jerked from his blissful contemplation of the savage confrontation between man and beast to the sound of gravitonics. His wisps, left near the car, alerted him instantly that someone was approaching. There was only one reason he could think of for such an interruption. He was already certain that this was the vehicle he'd been ordered to intercept. That was Arvin Weeks facing down the giant lizard, one of Vondra's most trusted agents. And that meant that anyone following him had to know what he carried. They must be looking to take it back.

 

Well, Will wasn't about to let that happen. Besides, he hadn't had fun with folks on motorcycles in ages. He deserved a little bit of down time, right?

 

He watched through his wisps as the motorcycles approached. They were nearly to the car, now, and they were likely to be slowing down any moment. It was time to strike.

 

The little balls of light darted like lightning. One struck the lead motorcycle directly in the engine. It sputtered, shook, and then flipped end over end as the gravitonics failed unevenly. The rider was thrown headfirst into the trees, tumbling as much as the motorcycle. It didn't look like she was wearing a helmet.

 

Tsk. Tsk. He thought. What would your mother say? The second motorcycle had swerved to avoid the first, and so his wisp had only caught the edge of the engine. The rapidly slowing vehicle started smoking as the electronics caused a fire at the back. Right next to the fuel tank. Oh, this is going to be beautiful. The two riders dived clear just as the fuel tank exploded, sending shrapnel spinning across the clearing.

 

Will jumped gleefully and stepped out into the clearing to inspect the carnage. Out of the smoke, a figure charged towards him, bellowing in anger and waving a sword. Will did the only logical thing under the circumstances. He ran.

Edited by Seonid
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Lucy Lockser watched yet another shadow grow larger as it fell from the sky, she prepared to light this one on fire too only to stop when she realized it was too large to be a squirrel, the shadow slowed as it hit the ground, revealing Edgerunner.

"Emma" Lucy greeted with a terse nod.

Lucy had been amazed the first time she heard Vondra calling an Epic by name, experience had taught her that anyone foolish enough to do so did not live long enough to take pride in the rebellious action. But since that vile power had seeped into Lucy as well she'd began to emulate him, doing what she could to discover the names of all the Epics in the Dalles, well everything other than consult with Reader, useful the man might be but his company was definitely... undesirable.
 

She readied some of her tattoos, ready to protect the nearby soldiers from Edgerunner if need be. Emma was one of the better Epics, but you could never be sure, one moment they were all smiles and charm, the next someones throat had been torn open, the blood gushing to the floor.

Lucy's hand drifted briefly to her breast, touching the tattoo that lay there for comfort. Her ultimate fail safe should she ever feel that the tainted power had taken too strong a hold on her. But no, it was not time for that yet, she still kept to her goal, she still protected the innocent from the atrocities that her fellows had committed.

"Do you know what we're up against?" She asked Edgerunner. "It seems to be some kind of animal manipulating Epic but the noise has been too much for me to hear the radio. Has anyone discovered who it is?"

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There was something in the sky above The Dalles. Hard to tell what exactly it was just by looking out of her window but the entire sky was swarmed. Shiny Sparkle took of her sunglasses and squinted but still couldn´t make out proper details, which is still enough to figure out that it´s an attack by an Epic.

 

Thinking about it, there haven´t really been any new from The Dalles since the refuges trying to flee from that Koschei guy and there were no attempts to expand so no one in Dallesport bothered enough to check on them, at least not to her knowledge.

 

Given the apparent turf war started by a more ambitious upstart right now seems as good a time to change that as any other, nothing against a little excursion to spice up one´s everyday life.

 

After putting her glasses back on she jumped from her couch and grabbed a pouch filled with small metal balls. Any reason not to leave immediately? No, not really, even her nail polish was perfect. She blinked away.

 

A colorful explosion erupted in the sky, even above the unidentified flying objects. She managed to orientate herself rather quickly but that did not stop her from raising an eyebrow at the sparking flying pigs and that´s what you get for assuming that a golem made out of chunky salsa juggling acid filled water melons makes you immune to weirdness. This still only takes spot number two, though. What it was however is a clear violation against sensibility… and kinda pathetic, time to put up a show.

 

Regaining her composure she relocated herself on top of one of the baskets the pigs were carrying. The burst of shiny startled a group of squirrels inside the basket, judging from their screams a very angry group of squirrels. With a bang the basket erupted into a sparks of red and green light, creating a shockwave that knocked out the squirrels, sending them plummeting towards the ground.

 

Grabbing the rope connected to the pig kept her from falling as well but apparently it couldn´t take her weight, sending them into a slow descent. Letting the pig act as a parachute she looked at the sky and caused basket after basked to explode, filling the sky with enough bright colors to make New Year´s eve jealous and littering the ground with dead squirrels or whatever remained of them.

 

Shortly before Shiny Sparkle landed on the ground she teleported herself down to it and a little distance away, making sure the pig didn´t fall on her. She spun out of the shower of colors created by her teleportation and came to a stop while putting a hand above her eyes to block out the sun, while watching the air glitter with the remains of her power, she herself emitting a faint glow of colors out of satisfaction. “That lightshow should suffice as an introduction.”

Edited by Edgedancer
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Captain Alexpanda face contorted in emotion for a second at Reader's words, before resuming its impassive appearance again. If Reader had blinked, he would have missed the change entirely.

"The bag it is, then,' stated Alexpanda calmly.

Reader had barely drawn the breath to protest before a Shadow Panda procured a canvas sack, grabbed him and stuffed him firmly into the bag with the assistance of his fellows. Once their objective was, literally, in the bag, the Shadow Pandas took off for the roof of the Bunker for extraction.

The extraction was almost perfect, with Lieutenant Porkchop and his squadron of flying porkers arriving on the second, and the Shadow Pandas were air-lifted away in a basket. Back at the Bunker, a man with a fedora slipped quietly out of the compound. It had been a long and tiring day for him, but it had yet to finish.

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Earlier in the morning

Guardsman Vincent scratched his head in confusion as he stood at the entrance to the Headquarters of Arsenal. He was sure he was here for a reason. Perhaps it had been a report. Yes, a report about some giant trees. But where were the giant trees? Vincent couldn't seem to remember where the trees were. He could feel the queer feeling one gets when they forget something. Now that he thought about it, his report did sound quite bizarre. Who would want to grow giant trees? Maybe it was an excessively tree-loving Epic. Who knew.

Struggling to remember what he was reporting for, Vincent shuffled off to a nearby bench to think it out. Little did he know that a man in a fedora was watching him through a telescope. The man in the fedora had many names, although few remembered even one of them. Right now, he was going by the name of Informant.

His task had turned out far simpler than he had thought. Earlier today, an acquaintance of his had jammed the devices of the Guards of The Dalles. When the guards spotted the giant trees the Panda had grown, they would attempt to report back to their commander, and when they noticed that their devices weren't working, most of them would run back to their headquarters to report. Just before the guards would reach the headquarters, however, Informant would make them forget about the giant trees and what they were meant to be doing. Because of that, most of the guards in The Dalles abandoned their posts in a forgetful stupor.

Informant replaced the telescope back onto the holster attached to the guard tower he was standing on. Turning to leave the tower, Informant stepped around a guard slumped in a spreading pool of crimson. Of course, the partners of the guards that were sent to report had to be dealt with. Poor man. He had forgotten that Informant was right behind him.

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Present day

The Panda watched the pigs finish dropping their loads on The Dalles. The soldiers in The Dalles had responded quite promptly, and already some of the pigs were hurtling out of the sky from anti-artillery fire and various Epic abilities.

As the last basket was emptied of chittering and rabid squirrels, the pigs wheeled around en masse, flying back towards the monolithic tree forts. A single albino pig remained, however, and began flying towards the helicopter that was hovering above the city. If his Informant was correct, the leader of the city, Stephen Vondra, should be in the helicopter. The albino pig bore a message demanding the surrender of the city. Hopefully, Vondra would do the reasonable thing and surrender the city. Most likely, however, Vondra would ignore the message. Nevertheless, it was worth a try.

The Panda leaned back on the chair he had brought to him, and drifted off into a panda snooze. The dream that greeted him was a familiar one.

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Sebastian Ling slapped himself. He had to be lucid dreaming. Currently, he was standing in the middle of an immense bamboo forest. Scattered around him were pagodas and other types of Oriental buildings. While the dream was remarkably realistic and detailed, he couldn't afford to dream right now. He was supposed to be working. If his boss checked on him...

A panda, walking on two hind legs, walked pass him. The panda nodded at Sebastian in greeting and said, in perfect and fluent English, "Hello."

Sebastian slapped himself again. He wasn't just dreaming. He had to be tripping hard. The panda continued on his path, plucking a bamboo and chewing it nonchalantly.

As Sebastian began pinching himself to wake up, and glowing, ethereal light lit up the forest from behind him. Turning around, Sebastian beheld the most glorious sight he had ever beheld. Before him hovered a Panda, glowing - no, Radiating golden light.

Edited by Lightsworn Panda
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