What Happened in Corvallis

[Mestiv he/him]

Corvallis - the city filled with sunshine and happiness, at least according to rumors. It certainly didn't look like it.
 
Argon hiked to the top of a hill north-west from the city and was rewarded with an underwhelming view. The city lying before him was covered with dark, rainy clouds, despite everywhere around it the weather being decent. That was the exact opposite of what he had heard about this place. I hope that at least some of the other rumors are true and this trip won’t be a waste of time. From where he stood he was able to see an outline of the huge shield that protected the city from unwelcomed guests. Impressive, there aren't many epics able to create a shield of this size. 
 
He decided to approach the city on foot, to lay low and not reveal anything about himself. Also, he just enjoyed nature and long, lonely walks. Perfect way to avoid those irritating Lower Epics and presumptuous High Epics that think they can do what they want. For most of the time, they would left him alone, but sometimes one of those idiots, that didn't know him, thought that it would be a good idea to test Argons patience.
 
Demons run when a good man goes to war - Argon thought while recalling his recent contact with a gang of weak Epics who thought that he is just another puny human seeking shelter in the woods. Of course they were the demons, and he was the good man. After all, due to the nature of his weakness, he tried really hard to maintain positive relations with everyone who knew him. Unfortunately for that gang, even Argon had limits to his patience and destroying his tent was way beyond those limits. Bodies and pieces of the attackers could now be found all around the forest.

The sun had risen some time ago and there still were about two hours of hiking before him. The last two peaceful and lonely hours he was about to enjoy before approaching the shield and finding his way into the city... Edited July 30, 2015 by Mestiv

[Blackhoof]

 

Iconoclast went out the back door and ripped off an arm, throwing it into the woods. Within seconds it had healed with an uncomfortable tingling sensation. He moved to the cellar doors, strengthening his muscles as he ripped them open. The ghouls were free.

 

A bestial hissing rose from the dark cellar, and soon shapes began moving in the shadows, climbing the short stairway to freedom. 

 

Iconoclast stepped back, grinning as the dirty, ragged, blood-stained former humans emerged from the cellar. One by one they stalked out of the darkness, blinking at sudden brightness, hunched over like animals. Their teeth were bared, and their eyes filled with a dark madness. The creatures, 11 in all, gathered around Iconoclast. They were facing outwards, eyes darting on the look-out for prey. With the dawn so young, they saw none. Many of these houses were not occupied, regardless.

 

 Iconoclast smiled as they assembled, and as if addressing loyal followers he said, "Lets give these Epics a rude awakening, shall we?" He pointed down the road at a random house to the left. With nothing but a mental suggestion, half the ghouls growled and began loping towards the target. He directed the other half down the road to a house on his right, and they too obliged. Turning towards the house directly across the road, a rather larger and nicer one than Firefly's, Iconoclast drew a deep breath. The morning light bathed his blood-covered talons as he ripped off his shirt, revealing thick, corded muscles and a powerful, wide chest. "Let the games begin!"

 

...............

 

Pyrotouch frowned as her door creaked. Her eyes opened as her sleep was interrupted. Groaning, she rolled over to face the intruder. One of her servants stood in the doorway, features concealed in the shadows. "Why..." Pyrotouch snarled, "Have you woken me up?" The servant did not reply, but instead slowly walked forward, slouching over. "What in Calamity is wrong with you?" Pyrotouch yelled as she sat up. Light fell upon the servant's face, and Pyrotouch gasped as she took in the wild eyes, the battered featured, and the bared teeth. Before she could react, the woman who had served her breakfast nearly every morning for a year roared and charged towards her. Pyrotouch yelled and pointed at the servant, using her power to light the woman's clothes on fire.

 

Any normal human would have screamed in agony and fallen to the floor, or at least stalled in their attack. But the woman was anything but normal. As a ghoul, she was impervious to pain, and her attack did not falter even as her body was wreathed in flame. Pyrotouch barely had time to scream before the ghoul was on her, fingers clawing at her face and chest. Pyrotouch tried to fend off her crazed assailant, but she was not immune to her own flames and could only create them, not control them, and her dressing gown quickly caught alight. Pyrotouch screamed as she was burned by her own flames and overpowered by her own servant. And she kept screaming until the ghoul's teeth clamped down hard on her throat and ripped it out in a spray of blood.

 

...........................

 

Blackthorn awoke to screams. "What on... earth is going on here?" He mumbled as he rubbed his eyes. The screaming continued, and he quickly realised that whatever was happening was very serious. Jumping out of bed, Blackthorn willed his power into action, and curved black spikes rose out of his hands and head. Storming out of his room into the central hallway, Blackthorn was greeted with the sight of one of his servants dead on the ground. Standing over him was a hunched, ragged figure, wielding a knife. The intruder turned towards Blackthorn and roared like an animal. Blackthorn's eyes widened and he almost reflexively threw a thorn from each hand towards the creature as it leapt at him. The twin impacts caused it to stagger, but it recovered with shocking speed and ran towards him, knife held high. 

 

Blackthorn staggered back in fear and missed his next throw, but the crazed human was already on him, stabbing him in the shoulder with its knife. He cried out in pain. Blackthorn grew long spikes from his palms and rammed them into the human's side and neck, neither attack apparently registering in the creature's enraged expression. "What, is this thing on some sort of drug?" Blackthorn thought as he stabbed it again twice. Blood poured from its wounds, especially the neck, and it hissed as it raised the knife for another blow. With a quick throw, Blackthorn knocked the knife from its hand, and followed up with a stab in the temple. Its brain pierced, the crazed human finally died. Blackthorn gasped for breath, clutching his shoulder and shoving the body off of him. 

 

Blackthorn sagged, breath ragged. "What on earth is going on here!? Servants! Attend me! I killed the attacker!" Blackthorn staggered towards the end of the hallway. "Ring someone! I want an explanation and a personal apology from-" The Epic stopped as he exited the hallway, and saw two more wild-eyed strangers kneeling over the dead bodies of his staff. The crazed humans were hunched close over their bodies, gorging themselves on their entrails. They looked up as Blackthorn froze, horrified, blood dripping from their mouths. Shuddering in fear and no small amount of anger, Blackthorn grew more thorns and prepared to impale the ghouls, when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. 

 

Before he could register the third ghoul, it had already leapt towards him, its ambush perfectly executed. Blackthorn screamed as it sank a kitchen knife into him, and the other two ghouls charged forward to share in the kill.

 

....................

 

A servant clutched her Epic's phone, as ghouls tore apart the other servants. Hiding in a closet, she frantically dialled Corvallis Security. As soon as the call connected, she whispered into the receiver without waiting for an answer. "Please send help, people are attacking us, this is Stonefinger's house! Please please send someone they are killing everyone just please-"

 

The door opened, and the thing that opened it snarled.

 

"Hurry please no DON'T-"

 

.....................

 

Iconoclast smiled, as he often did. Looking around, he heard the glorious sounds of anarchy all around him, as his ghouls, some newly turned, rampaged from house to house. "It won't take long for Rainmaker to send reinforcements." He mused, as he watched ghouls down the road chase after and bring down a human who had escaped from their house. "Better get going. I'm not ready to meet with Rainmaker myself.... yet." He put on the shirt he had taken from a servant who no longer needed it, and began running. Once he was a few blocks away, he would stop running, duck into a corner, change his appearance, and act like he was just out for a morning stroll.

 

They would never suspect him, and never catch him.

 

Until it was too late.

[Mestiv he/him]

 

Argon decided to find a place where he would be able to enter the shield by walking east, parallel to its edge. While travelling through the McDonald-Dunn Forest, he enjoyed the warmth of the sun, preparing himself for the rainy weather inside the city. He didn't mind the rain. Water falling from the sky, no matter if it was just a drizzle or a storm, always made him a little calmer and happier. It was the effect the rains had on other people that he’d want to prepare for. Almost everyone got grumpier and more irritating while it was raining. That always made it harder to make a good first impression and first impressions were very important for him.
 
Sunken deep in his thoughts, Argon finally found himself walking a road that lead perpendicularly to the border of the shield. From a sign he could read that he was approaching Adair Village. Below the nameplate there was another, newer sign: “CORVALLIS BORDER CHECKPOINT”. The village itself however was inside the enormous shield and only a couple of tents were erected on the outside. Looking around, Argon could see that there were many men dressed in police uniforms, walking along the shield, trying to create an illusion of tight, patrolled border.
 
There was a small crowd gathered in front of the tents, visibly divided in two groups. Ah, the Epics, Argon thought looking on the smaller group of five, they probably feel insulted that they have to wait in line to enter. I wonder how…
 
“The shield will be dropped in twenty minutes!”, someone announced through a megaphone.
 
Argon hasten his steps toward the checkpoint. When he was closer, he could see that almost everyone stood in line to one of three desks. Citizens, Vanillas, Epics said the cards hanged above them. Inside the tents there was a dozen of beefy looking men in uniforms different from those worn by police outside. Probably some Epic security, making sure there are no unpleasant incidents… Well, there is still twenty minutes left, if the lady behind the epic desk is fast enough I should be able to enter soon. Argon leaned on a fence near the Epics queue and snapped his fingers. A piece of delicious apple pie appeared in the air with a pop before him and landed in his hand. Chewing on his snack Argon watched carefully as the epics before him tried to look as impressive as they could. Like a bunch of baboons during mating season showing off their butts.
 
“The shield will be dropped in fifteen minutes!”
 
damnation it, only one epic got through in five minutes! That’s not good, I don’t want to wait another day here but I also don’t want to enter illegally! Can’t those idiots answer their questions faster?! And who’s this moron, jumping the queue before me?!
 
“Hey! I’m the last one in line! How about you come sit here with me and have some apple pie?” Argon shouted to the skinny Epic that was now standing just behind a huge lumberjack with an axe resting on his shoulder. Argon tried to be nice, resisting the urge to launch this guy into the moon. After all it was all about good, civilized first impression and he hoped to maintain good relations with local authorities. However, all he got in response was a very rude gesture and a provocative smirk.
 
So that’s how you want to play it? Alright then… Argon quickly analyzed the situation. There were four Epics close to each other in front of him. One just passed the check at the desk. Too many to be processed in fifteen minutes. Time to make the line shorter.
 
The line shifted forward as the next Epic approached the desk. Argon focused on legs of the queue etiquette offender, using telekinesis to hold down one of his feet as he tried to walk forward. As expected, the skinny Epic lost his balance. A slight telekinetic push to his back and another one to the back of the lumberjack before him made his fall much more serious than it would normally be. Back before Calamity, such an incident would cause some ruckus, some swear words and that would be it but now the world was a much more brutal place.

Lumberjack, after restoring his balance turned around to look at the smaller Epic laying on the ground behind him. Just as their eyes met, hands of the fallen Epic started to glow with green light and the lumberjacks axe started to fall. Two things got cut simultaneously. Skinny guy managed to raise his hand and form a beam of light that cut through his adversaries shoulder, however it didn't stop the falling axe from cutting his neck. Two fountains of blood appeared momentarily after that, both hitting the third, female Epic, all dressed in white. 
 
I wish I could conjure some popcorn. Argon thought as the lumberjack fell to his knees, screaming of pain and trying to stop blood squirting from his wound. The lady Epic turned around and (with a little bit of Argons telekinesis help) got blood on the front of her attire as well. A very loud screech filled the air as she began to scream. Vanillas standing near her dropped unconscious on the ground, others curled up covering their ears with pain visible on their faces. Even Epics had to cover their ears. The huge lumberjack Epic, missing one arm couldn't stop the sound, he fell to the ground with blood dripping from his earholes. The noise stopped as suddenly as it has started. One of the guards managed to get close to sonic Epic and with a simple touch to her neck knocked her out. The brawl was over. Two Epics dead, one unconscious, some casualties among normals… Not bad, not bad at all. Argon congratulated himself, while the security forces disposed the bodies and took the surviving Epic somewhere to let her regain consciousness. Everyone worked quickly, without any sign of confusion. Similar accidents had to be common on the checkpoints.
 
With only one Epic before him, Argon came closer to the desc, and soon it was his turn to take a sit in front of a young, formally dressed woman. There wasn't much on the desk before him. Two piles of papers, one with empty forms and another with filled ones, a glass of water for the clerk and a dictaphone.
 
“Do you mind being recorded while we proceed with the citizenship application?” The woman asked with her hand on the recorder.
 
“No, not at all.” Argon replied with his best smile. [/size]
 
“Sorry for the first question, but I have to ask. Are you an Epic? Yes or no.”
 
“Yes I am.”
 
“Name?”
 
“Argon”
 
“Pre-Calamity name?”
 
“Matthew Archerfish”. He didn't say his real name. He was born in Poland, and hardly any American could pronounce his real surname Strzelczyk, let alone write it down.
 
“What kind of powers do you have?”
 
“I can make cake appear before me whenever I want. I can also fly, but that is much less impressive, since many Epics can do that… Oh, by the way, what if I don’t want to answer some of your questions?” He asked, while wondering how much about his other powers should he reveal.
 
“That’s all right if you don’t want to talk about something, but let me inform you, that the privileges you’ll receive in the city are dependent on how powerful your abilities are. We have no way to force you to tell us what you can do, but it’s in your interest to do so.” She explained patiently. It was obvious that many Epics have asked this question before.
 
“I see… So I confess that I’m also partially resistant to other Epics powers.” He lied, as his real powers were much stronger than that.
 
“Very good.” She wrote down what he said in the proper frame on the form and sighted. “Now, my favorite question. What is your weakness?”
 
Argon laughed. “Are you seriously expecting someone is going to answer this?”
 
“Hey, it wasn't my idea to put it in the [/size]questionnaire. Now what should I write?” She replied with a smile.
 
“Beautiful women, just like the one sitting in front of me” Argon used the first thing that came to his mind. It was obviously a white lie, no one sane would expect honest answers for such question. But the woman in front of him was indeed good looking.
 
“Oh please, I hear that every other day.” She wrote a big “N/A” below the question, but looked a bit flattered anyway.
 
Other questions were much less interesting. Other skills, servant preferences, where he’d like to live etc.
 
“Well then, one more question and you’re free to go. Would you be willing to work for the government?”
 
“I don’t know, but if I feel like it, I’d like to work with the government not for them.”
 
“All right! That is all. Please proceed to the edge of the shield and wait for it to disappear, that shouldn't take long. Once you’re in, please go to the designated area in the Adair Village where you’ll be able to watch a welcome video made by our ruler, Queen Rainmaker, explaining some of the rules. There you will also receive keys to your assigned new home and directions on how to get there. Your Vanilla servants will be delivered to you shortly. Do you have any questions?” She recited the whole formula quickly, almost on one breath.

“I don’t think so, thank you and goodbye!” Argon stood up and walked to the place where others were waiting to enter the city. After few minutes the shield disappeared with a shimmer and he was free to enter Corvallis.
 

***

 

Private Rick sat bored in front of his computer screen and stared numbly at the recorded video feed from Adair Checkpoint. His job was to watch hours of footage and look for any suspicious behavior from people coming into Corvallis. It was a very boring day until something picked his interest.
 
“Lieutenant! I think you may want to watch this!” He called to summon his superior officer. “Please, take a look. It’s from an hour ago.” He said as he played the video again.
 
“It’s just a fight between Epics, kid. Nothing to be excited about, our troops handled it quite well.” The older officer said after seeing the material.
 
“Yes, yes, I know, sir. But look closer at that guy leaning on the fence.” He replayed the video.
 
The interesting part was only about thirty seconds long. They watched it again silently, older policeman now paying attention to the person pointed by his younger colleague. He watched as a young man calmly eats some sort of pie, while three Epics fought in front of him. He didn't stop eating, he didn't even flinch while the female Epic started to shout, killing Vanillas and causing every Epic around her to cringe in pain…
 
“Sir, according to this form, this man is called Argon. He mentioned that he has, and that is a quote: partial resistance to other Epics powers. But I don’t think that's the whole truth about him. Even with partial immunity to that scream, he should have at least some reaction to this bloodbath that took place in front of him…”

“Well kid, I think you may be up for promotion. If I’m right, and usually I am in this sort of things, you've just spotted a High Epic entering our town. I have seen many Epics fight, and only those calling themselves High Epics could be so indifferent in such a situation. Only someone who is sure he can’t be harmed could be so calm… Go get me a phone, queen Buttercup should know about it.”

Edited July 30, 2015 by Mestiv

[Edgedancer he/him]

 

All things considered getting rid of that placid look on the face of her servants was worth the unrests currently haunting the city, Kenshin thought while drinking japanese tea to clear her mind after her night being tormented by nightmares. In her speech yesterday Rainmaker effectively claimed Euphoria stopped placating the population because she was scarred they would lash out at her. Of course it was possible that this Euphoria was simply an overemotional idiot but this claimed course of action didn’t make much sense to her. Whatever the actual reason for her inactivity was, Kenshin wouldn’t exactly mind, should she end up dead or otherwise useless. That would just leave the city more natural.

 

Her contemplation was interrupted by a scream from the next room. Kenshin, still holding her tea cup in one hand, rushed towards the scream. She found her serving girl attacked by a bestial looking human. She was down on the ground and only managed to hold of the attacker by impaling him with a spear that was one of the weapons she decorated her home with. The attacker however, didn’t really seem to care about his injury and continued the push himself towards her, slowly driving the spear further into his body and furiously screaming at her. Replacing that girl would probably be more trouble than it's worth.

 

Kenshin quickly covered the distance between them and swung an arm forward. Mid swing she created a sword in her hand and cleanly cut through the man’s waist, scratching neither the spear nor her servant. A familiar sensation prickled in her neck and Kenshin casually turned around, while taking another swallow from her tea. Behind her she found another man trying to sneak up on her, his face drawn into an animal like rage just like the first, her danger sense warned her about. Her sword passed through him with barely any resistance in one smooth fast motion.

 

Noticing no other immediate threats she took one last sip from her cup and handed it to the still shocked servant. “It seems you’ll have to clean up another set of bodies,” Kenshin told her.

 

Those things were different from simple commoners rampaging through the streets, because they were too stupid to realize their position. No, these two were more like attack animals than anything. It appears that control over the city was slipping more and more from Rainmaker.

 

Following more noise coming from the outside, Kenshin stepped out on the street and found even more of those animals rampaging.

 

It seems the time for her morning exercise had arrived.

[Tyson]

 

 

Malevolence woke. Before his eyelids had fully flicked open, he was considering breakfast.

 

A helping of chocolate covered cereal swimming in a bowl of chilled milk. A pastry or two, croissants with six different sorts of jam. Four freshly fried sausages, three rashers of smoked bacon and a neatly folded omelette, all reclining on a mound of baked beans. He could picture the early morning feast so vividly that it was a surprise to roll out of bed and find his favourite mug empty. The scent of freshly ground coffee still lingered on the edge of his memory.

 

He swung his feet from under his covers and slapped them down onto the floor. An echo made a short tour of the darkness, bare flesh against cold stone. Beneath his single bed was a basket. A stockpile. A war chest. Malevolence pulled it out and threw the lid open.

 

A week old bagel and half a tub of marshmallow fluff.

 

Scratching his head, he idly wondered where his secret stash had gone. Had he eaten it already? That would have to be first on his day’s tasks, before he even thought about visiting Cornucopia. The devil don’t work on an empty stomach. He shrugged his shoulders and ate the fluff, shovelling it into his mouth with half the bagel. The combination was strange, but it served his purposes.

 

Once finished he had enough energy to get dressed. Ripped jeans, baggy shirt and a headband for his tangle of hair. Today didn’t feel like a hat day. He didn’t know if the outfit looked the least bit fashionable. Despite mirrors dotting the darkness like stars, not one held his reflection. He walked amongst the mirrors on his current island. Each one showed a rainy, miserable glimpse of Corvallis.

 

Rainmaker remained in a horrid mood.

 

He would visit her soon enough. Things were not progressing in Corvallis as quickly as he liked. The Queens ran a tighter ship than Altermind and that horribly civil human up in The Dalles. Corvallis was stable. Organised. A house with everything in its place and any mess quickly swept up. That’s what happens when women run a city. Everything is just too…tidy.

 

Malevolence paused beside a large rectangular mirror that formed a portal to Gunsmoke’s candle lit church. The old man had left a tray of fruit at the foot of his arm chair, just out of Malevolence’s reach. Slontze. Now Malevolence had to decide whether it was worth leaving the protective darkness of the ‘otherside’ for a colourful plate of fruit salad.

 

The small room remained still. The door looked firmly locked. A collection of candles shed their meagre light across the stone floor, but shadows still lingered in the corners. Solid shade. Not the gentle swirl of black smoke. Malevolence took a few more moments to make sure. Those apples did look good, and the cherries sparkled with a sweet coating. He touched the glass of the mirror, it held firm for half a heartbeat before a ripple spread from his fingertip, as if he had touched the surface of a still pond.

 

Malevolence took a breath and stepped through the mirror into the real world.

 

Here he was powerless. Here he was vulnerable. His eyes were quick and paranoid, scrutinising every shadow for some sign of deceit. He moved slowly, testing every step before he advanced. It was ridiculous. Malevolence was an Epic. He shouldn’t be scurrying around like a timid mouse.

 

He reached the plate and popped a grape into his mouth, before retreating back through the mirror with his prize.

 

Once finished and with a belly full of fruit, he turned his attention to Gunsmoke’s request. The old man thought Malevolence could turn Cornucopia against the Queens. He was fool for thinking such a thing. He was a fool for thinking Malevolence had took a side.

 

 

 

 

 

Gunsmoke pushed the last bullet into his revolvers magazine, he spun it until it clicked shut, took aim and put a bullet through St Mary’s left eye. No thunder, no lightening sent from the heaven to strike him down for his blasphemy. Maybe there were no gods left in heaven. They were all down here, fighting each other for the crumbs of civilisation.

 

The stone statue of St Mary watched him from her place in the pulpit. Her gaze was cold and accusing. Black smoke leaked from her left eye socket, from where the bullet had struck and turned stone to smoke. 

 

He raised the revolver once more and emptied the remainder of the bullets into Mary’s head. Smoke rose from what remained of the statue, as if her soul searched for heaven but instead found itself trapped in the rafters of Gunsmoke’s church. 

 

Two servants rushed to remove the smoking statue and replace it with another. They struggled with the weight of the statues but Gunsmoke didn’t care. If they weren’t finished by the time he had reloaded the revolver, he would shoot regardless. It had happened before and it would happen again. Humans burst into clouds of black smoke so much better than stone statues.

 

“Sir.”

 

Gunsmoke paused. A single bullet in his palm. He turned to regard a short man with a sweaty brow and nervous eyes.

 

“I’m sorry to disturb your meditation, sir,” the servant continued, wringing his puny hands and watching Gunsmoke’s revolver as if it were some sort of demon. “It’s just that you told me to inform you of any events out in the city.”

 

“Yes?” Gunsmoke asked. The man nodded and swallowed and stuttered. What was the point of leaving a few servants their tongues if they struggled to use them?

 

“Well..it’s just that..”

 

“Spit it out or I’ll have you standing in the pulpit,” he said, pointing to the new statue of Jesus that the other servants had finally struggled into the firing line.

 

Was this human mocking him? Was the man stuttering on purpose, finding amusement in Gunsmoke’s impatience? Was Gunsmoke the laughing stock of the church? All the servants laughing at his back with silent tongues.

 

Rage boiled inside his head and wisps of smoke rose from his cheeks. He pushed the bullet into the revolver.

 

The human noticed Gunsmoke’s anger and quickly found words. “There is trouble in the city, sir. A riot or a rebellion. There are foul things running the streets, biting and eating and ripping flesh.” A tear rolled down the man’s face. “I was keeping an eye on other Epic’s in the city as you asked, sir, with my son. He’s… he’s…”

 

The story was incoherent, but Gunsmoke got the jist. He put a bullet through the man’s head.

 

Smoke leaked from the wound. A trail rising heavenward. The man’s eye glazed over and he began to fall backward. Before the servant’s body hit the floor, it had disintegrated into thick, black smoke.

Gunsmoke inhaled, breathing in the aroma of a recent kill. Smoke filled his lungs, flowing through his open mouth and nostrils. It made him feel powerful. It made him feel like God.

 

He smiled.

 

Just as he expected, Corvallis was descending into chaos. Better still, he was yet to make his move.

 

The Arboretum would soon become the focal point of power. As Malevolence said, food is the thing which wins wars, whoever runs out first loses. If Gunsmoke wanted to be King of Corvallis, Cornucopia would be vital. But that was a job for Malevolence. Gunsmoke had other tasks planned.

 

Today was the day he finally stood against the Queens.

 

He turned towards the large wooden doors of the church. They stood closed, protecting the world from his wrath. He took one step and burst into a cloud of black smoke. It made one swirling circuit of the church hall - sweeping over fleeing servants and darkening the stained windows, which shone with morning sunshine – before breaking out of doors and into the streets of Corvallis.

 

He landed lightly in the centre of the street, smoke reforming into flesh and clothes and a revovler in his hand. A group of humans watched him warily from behind a parked car. He took aim and shot the mini-van, inducing the bullet with all his power. It exploded in black smoke.

 

Humans ran, screaming before his bullets took them their backs. Puff. More smoke.

 

A thrill ran through Gunsmoke's whole body. He hadn't unleashed his full might since his first, terrible night as a High Epic. He walked through the streets, emptying his revolver into everything that caught his eye. A tree. A truck. A desterted pushchair. Each time one of his bullets hit an object, torrents of smoke began to pour from the bullet hole. Soon he had blanketed four blocks with a thick, black smog, obsuring all vision in the streets and muffling the panic of terrified humans.

 

Gunsmoke allowed himself a chuckle. His body once again disintergrated into smoke, to drift and mingle with the black cloud that now covered the streets around his church. Citizens coughed and choked. They cried and crawled. A gnetle breeze sent a whisper through the shroud of smoke.

 

Come my Queens. 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2015 by Tyson

[18th Shard he/him]

Three years ago
Alex opened the door as quietly as possible. His mom probably wasn't home - she should be at work for another three hours at least, and his dad wouldn't remember him being home even if he did see Alex. He turned past the stairs, cringing as the door creaked, and breathed a sigh of relief as no one came out. He walked toward his room carefully, pausing as he saw a light on his dad's room. Probably forgot to turn the light off. He opened the door quietly, stopping as he saw his dad sitting straight up in bed, staring at a photo album, a piece of paper in his lap. His dad turned, "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?!" Reaching to the bed next to him, his dad pulled up the pistol his mom always kept at her bedside, hand shaking. "What do you want? I don't have any money. Get out of my house!" Alex started backing out the door slowly, but his dad stood up, following him with the gun. "Where do you think you're going? The police aren't here yet." The front door creaked open behind Alex, his mom coming in from work. She froze, looking between her husband and her son. "David, put the gun down. You don't want to shoot your own son." "He's not my son! What are you, his accomplice! Stay back both of you," his dad shouted, gun switching to point at his wife. "David, please put the gun down," she said, taking a step toward him. "No," screamed Alex's father, pulling the trigger, gun still pointed at his wife. Alex watched, eyes wide, horror screaming inside his heart, but no words escaping his mouth, as his mother stumbled back, a dark stain spreading across her green blouse. It seemed like time was moving slower, Alex's mind taking in everything, the photographic memory he had had since birth recording this moment in exact detail. His mind numb, he sank to his knees as the couple in the house next door raced in. He sat there, staring at his mother's blood pooling on the floor as they called the police, as his father realized what he'd done, as police carefully helped his father back to his room. He sat there, that horrible scene playing over and over and over in his mind, like someone had hit repeat and he couldn't seem to turn it off.

Present Day
Jumpdrive tossed in his sleep, his mother's death playing in his mind over and over again. Each time, he tried to warn her, jump in the way, push his dad, something, before that moment, each time failing as the bullet embedded itself in her chest. Only this time it was different, this time the gun was pointed at her face, bullet changing to small wooden stakes, plunging into her eyeballs, killing his mother, ruining her life, with a figure half his dad and half ghost staring with sightless eyes at the woman spilling her lifeblood on the ground - Jumpdrive started awake, gasping, grabbing for the comfort of his control panel, something solid, real. He waited for his racing heart to calm down. "Jumpdrive, Rainmaker wants you to look over the following items. Also, the beast-people that attacked earlier are slaughtering Epics all over." Locator's calm voice cut through the chaos of his nightmares. Jumpdrive wondered if it was a subconscious desire for his mom to be alive that had given Locator his mother's features. Looking over the files Rainmaker had sent, he smiled, amused that he'd already seen it. Rainmaker had probably known just how much he tracked the Queens, and sent him the message just to say he was allowed to look into it. Probably. Turning to the other matter, the bestial berserkers [had a nice alliterative quality, should put that in the Archives], Jumpdrive tallied dead Epics. Pyrotouch, Blackthorn, Sidestep: all in all too many. He'd had his suspicions about the Epic that was causing this; Jumpdrive assumed he could manipulate flesh or use mind control, perhaps influence neural receptors of his targets. Any of those ways was practically impossible to track: the Epic could either change himself to avoid facial scans, or be acting completely invisiblely on any spectra Jumpdrive could detect. He frowned, and sent a helicopter camera toward where the attackers had started coming from. Probably a useless gesture, but it felt better than doing nothing.

Edited August 3, 2015 by 18th Shard

[Mestiv he/him]

Summer woke up in her bed and smiled. She dreamed of her holiday trip to the ocean when she was ten and her biggest problems in life were to choose between chocolate and strawberry ice creams for dessert. It was such a peaceful and pleasant dream… She stretched and suddenly felt all the good emotions from her dream gone as she remembered where she was. What she was supposed to do today, tomorrow and who knows how many days more.

 

She came to Corvallis few month ago. Like very other refuge, looking for a safe place where she would finally find some peace. Until yesterday, she fought she have found it. Until yesterday she was happy like she haven’t been before, but then her blissful life vanished just like the dream she had. The city has been cut off from Euphorias happiness and suddenly she saw her life as a nightmare it was. Like almost every other Vanilla in Corvallis, she was assigned as a servant to one of the Epics. In her case it was Drainer, a lower Epic, who compensated his lack in power with tormenting his servants. He had a power far more frightening than energy beams or fireballs. He was able to take away someones youth, leaving teenager in a body of eighty years old. He could also give the youth back, but that didn't happen too often.

 

Summer got out of bed and started to prepare to work. She didn't live in Drainers house, because he wasn't important enough to have one big enough to hold him and his servants, so she had to live in a shared quarters with other servants to lesser Epics. Her preparations weren't complicated, she brushed her teeth, took a shower and got dressed. She had to apply make-up, her owner required it. After eating a simple breakfast in common kitchen she left the quarters.

 

It was still early, the air was crisp and made her wake up completely. She was halfway through her way to Drainers house, passing through a park, when she heard a horrific scream coming from between houses nearby. It sounded inhuman, though she was certain it was human screaming. Looking around for a place to hide, all she could find were some dense trees nearby. More and more screams could be heard while Summer was climbing. When she was safe on the biggest tree, she managed to take a look around. At first, she didn't notice anything, but then a big window broke when a man jumped through it. Even from the distance, Summer saw that he was bleeding heavily. Two others followed him through the window, while he got up and started to run towards Summers tree. The two followers were faster, they brought him down right beneath Summers shelter. With horror she watched as those beasts in human bodies killed a man by biting off a piece of his neck. The attackers howled wildly, savoring in their violence then run off to find another prey. Summer felt sick, she wanted to vomit, scream, cry and run at the same time. What was wrong with those people?! There were riots yesterday, people were unhappy and more prone to violence, but this? There was something wrong going on…

 

She stayed on the tree for some time, hearing screams move away from her. She didn't see much, surrounding buildings ware close to each other and the blocked all view. With shaking hands she climbed down, doing her best not to make any sound. She had to get to Drainer fast or she’ll regret that she wasn't caught by one of those monsters. Fortunately, the rest of her way was in different direction than the screams she could still hear.

 

***

 

“You’re late! How dare you be late to serve me?!” Drainers voice boomed as soon as Summer entered his house. “You think you can come here whenever you want?! You think just because you have pretty face and a nice body that I will let it slide?!”. He walked angrily toward her and grabbed her face. “How do you think, how many years should I take from you, till first wrinkles and grey hair start to appear, huh?”

 

“I’m so sorry sir, please don’t hurt me! I was on my way to serve you when something happened in the neighborhood. I saw two rabid men chase and kill someone… I had to hide or they would kill me too… Please don’t punish me…” Summer begged with tears in her eyes. She was really scared. Just yesterday, when his servants started to show some resistance to his wicked commands, he made an example of one of the serving girls. In front of all his staff, he made her age slowly, changing her from a young, strong girl into a withered old woman in a matter of minutes. He sucked her life away till she died. Summer had never seen anything more terrifying than the look in this girls eyes. Even the events she witnessed just minutes ago didn't affect her as much.

 

“How lucky of you that I have contacts in the city security that confirm your story. There was indeed an incident this morning…” 

 

Oh right, your ‘contacts’. More like a blackmailed poor fellow working for city security that sends you everything he can so you won’t kill him. Summer thought, relieved that she won’t be punished.

 

“However, the fact that you were late hasn't changed. You will be punished, just not as severely.” Summer tried to get away from him, but it was too late, he was still holding her. She felt his hand turn cold like ice and strange pain, like she has never felt before, spread through her body. And then it was gone. “I took one year from you, so you can still server like other girls. I don’t want to watch cellulite or wrinkles on my maids. Behave nicely and maybe I’ll give this year back. Now undress and get to work!” Drainer let her go and started to leave the corridor.

 

Summer fell to her knees breathing heavily.  She looked on her hands but couldn't see any difference. One year, he took one year from me… Her thoughts were racing as she was looking for signs of lost youth on her body. “Get! To! Work!” she heard Drainers shout from the door. Somehow recovered from shock she went to the toilet to change. Her job was to be a maid, in a house that didn't need any cleaning. Drainer had many maids in his home, all wearing lingerie of his choosing. He liked to watch them with lustful eyes as they pretend to dust.

 

Edited July 30, 2015 by Mestiv

[Edgedancer he/him]

The beasts rampaging through the streets quickly focused on Kenshin, after she started cutting them down. Not that fools mindlessly charging at her posed much of a threat. They charged at her and, with a deliberate grace that lacked any unnecessary motion, she stepped to the side. Then she flicked her sword forward, cutting through them with chirurgical precision.

 

Kenshin weaved herself through the Ragers, dodging the hands trying to grab her and putting them down in a bloodied dance. Still they continued to throw themselves at her. Severed head. Not a single shred of self-perseverance guided their actions, two impaled through the chest, neither did they show the discipline needed to sacrifice their life for something. Cleaved from the shoulder to the hip. The only real option left was that an Epic pulling the strings on this rampage.

 

Continuing to analyze the situation Kenshin mechanically cut the remaining Ragers down. One perfectly executed motion after another. Every swing of the sword, every placement of her feet, every turn of the body, all of it controlled the flow of the battle. It- She- carried grace, carried dominance.

 

Killing all of them didn’t take much effort. In a way it didn’t take enough effort. Their corpses littered the ground before she could taste the fight. All in all it left her rather unsatisfied. Satisfied or not, Kenshin created a sheath for her sword to put it away. After she finished the almost ritual process she made both disappear. Turning she found a group of security personnel rushing to the scene.

 

Leaving them to investigate the scene Kenshin began walking back to her house. One of the soldiers however stepped in her way, “Excuse me ma’am but from what we heard that a group of people were rampaging in this area.”

“I’d imagine that was them,” Kenshin said while casually motioning towards the corpses.

“I see,” for a moment he seemed nervous and then caught himself, “Good work. I have to ask you to accompany me, so we can take your testimony on what happened.”

Kenshin meet his eyes, causing him to flinch away, “Lead the way then.”

[Voidus]

Stretching as she opened the blinds to greet the new day, Cornucopia was met with a distastefully grey sky.

I may have to speak to our dear leader about that, showing the little ones our displeasure isn't a bad idea but if we're being attacked I'd rather have a little more sunlight around.

The door to her bedroom opened, a young man in a full butlers uniform carrying her breakfast arrived, gloved hands setting her food out carefully before bowing his way out.

Nothing less than a full formal staff of butlers and maids would do for Cornucopia, all of them had been trained extensively to avoid making a sound as much as possible so she could enjoy the sounds of the beautiful Arboretum, finishing her morning meal and coffee she rang the small bell at her bedside. The butler entered immediately, taking the finished dishes out as a team of maids entered, guiding her to her bath before laying out her clothes for the day.

"Shall I do the honors milady?" Cecilia, her head maid asked, holding up soap and brush.

Nodding gently, Cornucopia watched with more interest than usual as she was cleaned. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, her servants displaying no hints of rebellion so far. But then there were no mobs nearby to inspire courage or rally anger, they were in a small house surrounded on every side by Cornucopias plants, the servants likely knew just how suicidal a show of disobedience would be here in her place of power.

After she'd been washed, dried, dressed and groomed she dismissed all the maids other than Cecilia and began her walk around the grounds.

Kneeling to fix a spot of rot that had started taking root among her flowerbeds she addressed Cecilia quietly.

"Do you miss it? The euphoria?"

A sharp intake of breath was quickly covered. Cecilia had been around the longest, long enough to understand that though Cornucopia shunned humans and conversations there was still a part of her that needed human interaction, but even she seemed surprised by a show of actual concern.

"Yes and no milady, it clouds everything but it also makes it brighter. When I had it I wouldn't have given it up for anything but now that it's gone I'm not sure if I want it back."

Cornucopia nodded and rose to look Cecilia directly in the eyes, another rarity.

It took some time of silently watching but eventually she was satisfied.

"Good then." She said simply before gliding to the next patch of plants.


A door slamming jarred Cornucopia from her enjoyment of her gardens as one of the male servants rushed out of the building towards her.

"An attack in town, more people going insane and attacking Epics." He blurted out as he hastily bowed.

Enraged by the broken silence, Cornucopia very nearly ordered a nearby oak to drag the mans body into the ground for fertilizer. Instead she dismissed him with a gesture before heading back into the house. The servants would need to be handled carefully for now, she'd be very annoyed if she had to train new ones. If things got too bad she might even have to use that, a situation that definitely needed to be avoided.

Reviewing the list of gardens that needed attention she decided to see wait until she'd heard from Rainmaker, she never liked leaving the Arboretum even to attend to the other gardens in the city, if someone was attacking Epics there'd likely need to be discussions among the Queens about security needs.

Sighing, Cornucopia settled into a chair by the window, folding her legs underneath her she watched the rain drip gently down the leaves of a nearby palm.

[Blaze1616 he/him]

 

The walls were moist. No, not the walls, her hands. I'm sweating. Why am I sweating? Bubbles closed her eyes and clutched her head. Her head was throbbing, but why? She couldn't remember why. She couldn't remember where she was either, for that matter.  She opened here eyes to look around. Shelves of boxes were around her. They all had labels, but no matter how hard she tried to focus on them the words remained fuzzy and unreadable. 

 

She was up against a wall in what seemed to be a warehouse, or a storage room of some store, but she couldn't be certain. She looked down at her clothing, and it seemed to be a uniform. Did that mean she worked here, wherever here was? She also noticed her hands; they weren't wet with sweat, they were wet with blood. The sight startled her, and she held in a squeal. She reached back up to her head, and found that she herself was bleeding. I have to get out of here.  She began moving towards the opening into the hallway-like area she was in, between two shelves. Halfway there, though, the lights went out.

 

She jumped, startled. What the hell? She reached her arm out to steady herself against a shelving unit. "Hey, someone's back here!" she cried out, "Turn the lights back on!" The shouting caused her head to throb some more, and the lights didn't return. She heard a door close somewhere else in the room, which apparently had no windows, either.

 

"Are you kidding me?! Don't leave without turning the lights on! This isn't funny! I'm bleeding!" No one answered. She felt despair creep into her chest. She didn't have any medical training, she had no idea how serious her wound was. Was she going to bleed out and die here in some God forsaken storage room? Panic began to set in, and she forced herself to move forward. I have to find that door.

 

The room was pitch black, she couldn't see a thing. She kept one hand on the shelf to her left, the other she swept through the air in front of her. She moved slowly, afraid of injuring herself further by tripping or running into an object of some kind. The panic began to subside as she felt she was making good progress.

 

The hand held in front of her hit something undeniably human. Bubbles screamed.

 

 

Buttercup's flight was going well despite the rain. She had picked clothes that would repel the water, so only her hair and face were really getting wet, which she didn't mind much since she couldn't catch a cold. She flew at a leisurely speed, there was no reason to rush. She had not received word regarding the energy Epic's escape, and Bubble's was no doubt fast asleep. the Sports Fields were coming into view when her mobile rang.

 

"This is Queen Buttercup."

 

"Ma'am, we have a situation here near 13th and Walnut."

 

She paused her flight, hanging in the air. "What kind of situation?"

 

"Well ma'am, some of the humans in the area seem to have gone insane. They began attacking and killing others in the area, both humans and Epics. They broke into various homes, and murdered various people. They also," the man on the other line audibly gulped, stuttering slightly, "they also ate some of their victims."

 

Buttercup felt a chill run down her spine. This all sounded awfully familiar. "Is the situation under control? Are there any witnesses?"

 

"Yes ma'am. The insane humans seem to have all been exterminated. There are a couple of witnesses, but one Epic in particular that you might want to speak to. Her name is Kenshin, ma'am."

 

"I'm on my way," Buttercup replied, terminating the call. She began moving in the direction of the incident, but quickly dialed her sister before reaching fast speeds.

 

"This is Queen Blossom." Her sister's voice chimed through the receiver.

 

"It's Buttercup. Listen, I probably won't be able to make it to my daily check up on Bubbles. Could you do it for me? I just need you to make sure she's alright, and help GasMask and SparkPlug escort her to the campus for the bubble drop." 

 

Her sister was silent for a long moment, likely checking that planner of hers. "I think I can do it. I'm just helping Rainmaker with her speech this morning, and I can head over to get her after I'm done doing that."

 

"Thanks," Buttercup replied before terminating her second call of the morning, She blasted away, reaching 13th and Walnut before bothering to descend, the security presence showing her exactly where to land in the nearby neighborhood.

 

The sight that greeted her was somewhat gruesome. Bodies littered the ground, most of the corpses laying alone, far from the others. There was, however, a grouped pile of bodies. Approaching the pile, Buttercup noticed that all of them had been sliced up, various limbs completely disconnected from their bodies. It was like a jigsaw puzzle of human flesh.

 

She turned towards a security officer and, gesturing to the pile, asked, "Who did this?"

 

The officer looked from her to the pile, and then pointed at a woman standing off to the side. "Kenshin, ma'am."

 

Buttercup approached the woman, her black hair shimmering in the rain. "I hear you're the one who stopped these creatures?"

 

 

Bubbles screamed, her body shooting upright in her bed. She frantically grasped around her, feeling the familiar blankets and bed. Her breathing slowly calmed, the pounding in her chest fading as she gained composure. About to fall back into her pillows, the door to her room busted down as GasMask and SparkPlug burst into the room, eyes darting around to look for danger. "I'm fine!" she said, waving her hand at them. "Just a dream."

 

The two Epics slowly backed out of the room, closing the door to give her privacy once more. She placed a hand over her heart, the pace still faster than she'd have liked. It was just a dream. Don't think about it. She moved out of bed, and began to get ready for the day.

 

An hour later, and she lay on a lawn chair with her sketchpad in front of her. She was watching the vanillas work, doing their chores like obedient little slaves. Not a one complained about the weather, which Bubbles herself was protected from thanks to a canopy tent planted in the ground. 

 

Her eyes drifted from the workers to the pavement. The water flowed down the road like a river, forming small pools inside holes in the road. Needing to calm her nerves, she decided to draw that, and set to work. She started with the main lines of the water flow, as well as the curb. She then set to detailing, adding cracks in the road and the small weeds growing within, as well as the small bubbles trapped in the water stream. The picture looked done, but she didn't feel satisfied. Where was the off-putting, staunchly out of place feature? She loved art with startling features, and she needed on here too, but what?

 

She thought on it a few moments, bits of her nightmare floating to the surface of her mind. Blood, covering her hands, that wet feeling of her hair. She shivered involuntarily. The less you think about that the better, she scolded herself. But it was a good idea. She tried to imagine blood mixing with the water, but she didn't like her mental image. She needed to better picture the mixing, wisps of blood joining the water flow.

 

She looked up from her mini river, eyeing the vanillas once more. Waving one over, she spoke sweetly, "Hello, I was wondering what your job is?"

 

The vanilla looked a bit confused, as well as slightly concerned. "I, uh, I carry items from the old IBEW building to the automotive place just up the road."

 

Bubbles nodded thoughtfully. "And how many others do this job with you?"

 

A small bit of panic seemed to splay across his face. "Uh, maybe thirty? We, uh, carry objects back and forth, all day."

 

She nodded once again. "Good, then they won't miss you for about five minutes, will they? I need you to stand over there." She pointed to the spot she wanted, waving her hand to tell him to move.

 

"Uh, I guess not, if it's only five minutes." He moved to the spot she wanted, and adjusted himself a bit at her beckoning. 

 

"Excellent," she smiled, pulling her pad out again. She then turned her head to GasMask, standing under the canopy with her. "Please, GasMask, do the honors?" The Epic nodded, reaching behind his back, pulling a revolver out and planting a bullet between the vanilla's eyes. 

 

The body dropped backwards. "Oh, shoot. I need him laying to the side, make sure the blood flows into the water please." She watched as GasMask sauntered over and positioned the body perfectly. "Oh, thank you so much."

 

She pulled her pencil out once more, watching closely as the blood lithely mixed into the water stream. "Mm, exactly how I thought it would look. it's always good to have confirmation." She began humming pleasantly to herself as she set to finishing the masterpiece.

[Edgedancer he/him]

Kenshin stood in the rain, getting slightly wet and looked over her work, while waiting for Buttercup to arrive. There were enough large wounds for the blood to flow out on the street and the rain carried it even further, slowly painting the street in a faint pink. There wasn't much art to the dead bodies alone but the scene had a sublime air to it.

 

The soldiers were trampling through the scene, making sure no one came to close, investigating the damaged houses and looking all to uncomfortable with the corpses, instead of being reverent of their surroundings.

 

One would think that proper soldiers would have the stomach to deal with a couple of dead bodies. Then again, as far as Kenshin could tell the entirety of this city was soft. Even the idea that a little trickle like this was supposed to be a punishment was an insult to both this town’s attitude and Rainmaker’s idea of hardship at once.

 

Then, trailed by a green streak of light, a woman landed near then, Queen Buttercup. After looking over the scene and a short talk with one of her subordinates, Buttercup walked over to Kenshin. She wore practical clothes that resisted the rain and didn’t seem to pay much mind to it anyway. A reassuring sight, considering she’s the person in charge of keeping the town safe.   

"I hear you're the one who stopped these creatures?" Buttercup asked her.

 

Kenshin gave her a polite nod in greeting, “Indeed I did. One could say they disturbed my morning.”

[Blackhoof]

 

 

Iconoclast scampered down the road, doing his best to imitate a vanilla servant on an errand for their master. As the morning progressed, more and more people filled the streets, almost all vanillas. He noticed some groups of vanillas were being herded into several large police vans by what looked like security officials, bearing cudgels and shock-batons. "Hmmm.... curious." He thought aloud to himself. Approaching one of these overseers, Iconoclast asked in his most naive and innocent-sounding voice, "Excuse me, sir, but where are those people going? Shouldn't they be off to serve their Epics?"

 

The overseer grimaced. "Imbecile. Who do you think picks all the stuff that Cornucopia grows? Now skat off, slontze! Or I'll draft you into the work gangs for the day and you can explain to your Epic yourself why you weren't there!" The overseer raised his cudgel threateningly and Iconoclast feigned fear, backing off and holding his hands out to protect himself. "Yeah, that's what I thought...."

"Uh wait, sir! I had one more question-"

"That's it!" The overseer snarled and brought the cudgel down on Iconcolast's outstretched arm, and then batted him in the face. Neither were hard enough blows to do serious damage, so he held back his healing. The overseer grabbed the Epic by the arm and dragged him over to one of the vans. "Here, have a day of picking for yer cheek! Hope your Epic is one of the forgivin' types, haha!" With that, he threw Iconoclast into the van, and another overseer closed the doors.

 

Iconoclast found himself in a crowded compartment with seven other vanillas. They ll looked forlorn and despondent, most not even looking up to see this strange new arrival. One did, however, and the muscular young man asked him, "Get drafted, huh?"

 

The Epic smiled, and grabbed the shoulder of the speaker and another worker. "Yes, I'm afraid so.... but so have you."

 

The vans got moving towards the fields surrounding the town, and Iconoclast expanded his army.

[Blaze1616 he/him]

 

Buttercup nodded in appreciation. Looking back at the scattered bodies on the street, it seemed there would be more hidden within the homes. "Its seems that quite a few mornings have been disturbed. Corvallis thanks you for lending a hand, and I personally apologize for the inconvenience this has no doubt caused you. If it wouldn't be too much trouble though, I'd appreciate it if you could answer a few questions."

 

The rain continued to patter , and Buttercup noticed how many homes had been broken into. The thought of an Epic running around, capable of turning vanillas into mindless monsters was discomforting, particularly given the level of ignorance about the powers. Could this Epic affect vanillas at a distance, or did he or she require physical contact? Was the savage nature of the shifted humans a mandatory result of the shift, or was it optional, and, if optional, could the Epic allow the shifted humans to in turn shift others? There were too many questions that she didn't have the answers to, and that made her uncomfortable, but first she needed confirmation that these humans showed the same signs as the ones from the Sports Fields.

[18th Shard he/him]

                                                                                             
Jumpdrive pulled up the feeds from all over the city of the creatures that had attacked, then added them to the file. It already contained accounts and video of the incident at the Sports Field, notes from tests on the subject's tissues and other anatomical changes that occurred in their ... changing. He downloaded it all to his phone, sending the file to Buttercup's mobile as requested. He turned back to the video of this Insight, watching as he materialized, leaving a lotus and then again, killing the Ogress. He can hide in plain sight. He froze it and played it back frame-by-frame. Unfortunately, the copter had been to far away to get a good shot. Jumpdrive smirked as he remembered all the movies 'enlarging and enhancing' pictures. You can't do that - one pixel will only show one pixel, regardless of how much you zoom in. However, he did get a few measurements on Insight - a rough height and probable weight, a few very basic descriptors. He began running it through his mental dossier, comparing it to citizen records. He also began running through records of incorporeal Epics, though most like Nightwielder in Newcago turned into something when incorporeal - very few were completely invisible and intangible. Of those, even fewer could carry objects while that way. Insight had a very unique power set, but there wasn't any record of him. He texted a picture of Insight, as best a picture as he could manage, as well as several notes about similar power sets he'd found in other records, to Rainmaker. Then he called Knighthawk. He needed more cameras, lots more. He'd find these Epics. He just needed special cameras. A couple in infrared and ultraviolet, a few of the super tiny ones he'd wanted for a while, and maybe he could get a deal if he sent over some of Ogress's tissue. Then he sat back in his swiveling chair and ordered a pizza. Then he texted one of the training sergeants. Maybe he should learn to use the pistol he was supposed to carry around. He had a feeling that his firewall wouldn't stop him from being kidnapped like Euphoria.

[Comatose he/him]

 

Rainmaker floated into her office through a window that had been redesigned specifically for the purpose.  A servant pulled it closed behind her and moved to pour some tea.  Rainmaker had spent the night at her central Corvallis residence, worried that her sleep might be disturbed by yet another epic attack.  Thankfully, her rest had been undisturbed.  Her servants had even seen fit to let her sleep in, a gesture she grudgingly appreciated, even if it meant she was one of the last to hear about the attacks.  

 

"Tell Buttercup I'll expect a report from her once the situation is in hand, and that she is to do whatever it takes to locate whoever is turning our servants into monsters."  Rainmaker shivered, thinking of the feral humans from the night before.  She and Buttercup had managed to kill them easy enough, but they couldn't be everywhere.  The humans needed extra supervision as is without Euphoria's power to keep them in check, and Rainmaker's forces were already stretched thin.  "And tell Jumpdrive to keep an eye on things."  Jumpdrive was likely already doing just that, but it paid to remind people who was in charge sometimes.  

 

Speak of the Devil.  Rainmaker noticed a text on her mobile from Jumpdrive, containing pictures of Insight, and some notes on similar powersets.  That one certainly knows how to make himself useful.  None of the information got her any closer to finding and destroying their elusive foe, but Jumpdrive certainly knew how to ensure everyone knew he was on the job.    

 

"Now," Rainmaker sat down had her ornate desk and began flipping through some papers.  Normally she left the administration of the city to others, but with Euphoria gone and the city in crisis, she had been forced to take a more active hand in things.  "Is Skinsaver here yet?"

 

The attendant nodded.  "He's been waiting a half hour, majesty."  

 

Rainmaker nodded thoughtfully, forcing herself to overlook the likely unintentional insinuation that she had arrived late.  "Send him in at once."  She continued to peruse the various papers on her desk until Skinsaver shuffled into the room a moment later.  As always, he wore scrubs and a lab coat, proclaiming his post to all who could see him.  

 

"You requested my presence, Majesty?"  Rainmaker could tell from his tone that the fool was annoyed at being called away from his work.  Thankfully, Skinsaver understood who had the power in their relationship, and knew better than to test things.  

 

"Yes.  I trust the patients from last night are recovering?"  

 

Skinsaver seemed to relax slightly, happy to discuss his work.  "The vital ones are, mighty one.  The others...  Well, the others will prove very useful to me in the future, I think."

 

Rainmaker smiled.  "Excellent, I'm glad to hear of your success."

 

Skinsaver hesitated, seeming uncertain of whether he should stay or go.  Rainmaker could practically hear the thoughts running through his head.  Is that all?  Why call me in if a simple text would suffice?  Does she think I have endless amounts of time to be running around?

 

"Ah yes," Rainmaker continued after letting Skinsaver stew for a bit.  "There was one other thing."  Skinsaver stiffened, no doubt sensing her trap.  "I'd like you take over some of Euphoria's duties, until we can return her safely."  

 

To his credit, Skinsaver kept his composure, though years of working with him had taught Rainmaker to see the stress beneath the surface.  "With all due respect, mother of storms, I think that would be a colossal mistake, and a misuse of my talents."  

 

"With all due respect, of course."  Rainmaker smiled, forcing Skinsaver to meet her gaze.  "With all due respect,  Doctor, I'm not giving you a choice.  I have a city to save.  I don't have time to be answering texts and coordinating personnel every moment of every day.   Euphoria's underlings can shoulder most of work, but I still need someone I trust to oversee things.  You can operate out of your little clinic if you must, but in between patients you will be helping me to stop this city from falling into chaos.  Do I make myself clear?"  Some of the other queens, especially Blossom, might feel insulted that Rainmaker had passed them over in favour of Skinsaver, but she needed someone she could push aside when Euphoria returned, and Skinsaver fit the bill perfectly.  

 

Skinsaver, his cold eyes filled with rage, seemed like he was preparing to say something he might regret.  

 

"Oh, and one more thing," Rainmaker took out a sealed envelope with Skinsaver's name on it out of her desk drawer.  "This arrived in the mail for you today.  Would you like to open it?"  

 

Skinsaver's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the letter.  Shaking his head, he bowed respectfully and then started to leave the room.  

 

"I'll just keep it for you then.  Thank-you so much for your cooperation, Skinsaver dear.  I don't know what I would do without you."  

[Mestiv he/him]

 

Summer slipped out of the bathroom, wearing only a Victoria’s Secret underwear set and high heels, uniform chosen for her by Drainer. She hopped to avoid her Epic master for the rest of the day. It would be hard, but not impossible, since the house was big enough. She took her feather duster and proceeded to clean a nearby corner table (which was so clean, she could see her reflection), trying to forget she was now one year older than she was five minutes ago. She just began to calm down, when she heard a scream from the upper floor. Immediately her thoughts raced to the events she witnessed this morning of people savagely killing other people. While everyone else ran upstairs to check what happened she waited and listened, ready to run outside. No other disturbing sound came from the upper floor, so she carefully climbed the stairs.

 

When she squeezed through a small, half-naked crowd of other maids she was struck with a view almost as shocking as what she saw before that day. Alice, one of the maids, was hanging by the neck inside Drainers study. She used a leather belt to commit suicide when no one was watching. Suddenly Summer realized things that she obliviously ignored for weeks when she was under the influence of Euphoria’s happiness. Alice was head maid and as such Drainer paid special attention to her. He frequently summoned her to his study, where they would stay behind locked door for some time. Summer sometimes heard some noises coming from the room during such times, but she always ignored them, dusting happily and humming to herself. After that Alice was always sent to Euphoria for extra dose of happiness… 

 

Summer felt dizzy. Realization of what Alice had to suffer for months, while she was drugged by Euphoria, made her feel sick. She crouched besides a wall and sobbed quietly. Overwhelmed by the horrors that Epics brought to her world, she missed the bliss of Euphoria’s narcotic-like happiness. She couldn't run away, so she at least wished to stop feeling, to become numb with delight again. Absorbed by her thought and grief, she didn't notice that Drainer came upstairs and was standing right next to her, looking inside his study.

 

“Everyone listen up!” Drainer raised his voice to be heard despite surrounding chatter. “It seems that our head maid has resigned from her job. That’s a shame, but we cannot let this ruin the order that is to be maintained in this house! You all know your duties and you will continue to fulfill them! As the position of head maid is now vacant, I will summon you one by one for auditions to decide which one of you will take this job. Now move along, there is nothing to stare at!”

 

“Kate, Gloria, you two take her down and get rid of her. And I don’t want to hear that you don’t know how, that is your problem now.” He added with clenched teeth, when most of the  crowd dissipated. Then he walk away, heading downstairs to finish his breakfast…

 

Following hours were like a torture for Summer and for every other girl in Drainer’s house. Soon after breakfast he started to call them to his room for his so called auditions. Girls that left the room were all visibly shocked and didn't want to talk about what he did to them. That only caused more terror among those still waiting. Summer felt like if the time was moving terribly slow and terribly fast at the same time. Not for a first time she thought about running away from Drainer. That would be certain death however. No Vanilla could resign from work for his Epic and there was no way to run away after you've been tagged by Chase. Once in a while someone tried, no one succeeded.

 

It was about 2 PM and Summer was cleaning the same book shelf for the fourth time. She didn't even notice when one of the other girls approached her. “Summer, the sucker wants to see you next. Good luck.” She said with absent voice. Summer felt as if her heart got dumped into a bucket of ice…

 

 

Argon took a khaki rain cape out of his tracking backpack. The clouds were heavy over Corvallis and the rain wasn't about to stop pouring down. He was still determined to keep a low profile for as long as he could. He visited many different town after he became an Epic, and keeping to himself always helped to avoid trouble.

 

After crossing the town border, Argon and everyone else new to Corvallis went to a parking lot next to a concrete building with a huge screen installed on it’s wall. They were to watch a video of Rainmaker greeting everyone and explaining the city rules. Epics were obliged to listen to the Queens, Vanillas were obliged to obey every order given to them by an Epic, unless it would contradict an order given by another, more important Epic, and so on. Argon listed only with one ear, the rest of his attention channeled to observation of everyone around him. Most of the people were obviously Vanillas, dirty, tired and visibly happy about the prospect of food and shelter. The few Epics among the crowd seemed pleased too, they were about to get a new house, a couple of servants. He was told that he would receive the address of his assigned house and directions on how to get there by a text message on his mobile and the whole video watching was a waste of time, so he went on to the city.

 

Argon didn't go far when he was approached by a young man carrying a heavy backpack.

“Those Epics have a knack for coming up with useless tasks, don’t you think?” He said freely. “For instance, I’m supposed to bring all the documents about our new citizens to the Rainmaker’s office. Someone might take them there by car, but who cares! Better let me carry these twenty pounds of paper on foot! Anyway, that’s my job. What did Epics come up with to make your life miserable my friend?”

 

Argon looked at him amused, but not surprised. He knew, that in his rain cape, he didn't look anything like an Epic. More like a Vanilla carrying something heavy in his backpack for his master. “I’m afraid that they didn't have any occasion yet. I just came here, looking for better life.” He answered as he decided to play along this men’s mistake. He might learn a thing or two about this place. “I don’t even know what my job will be and who will I work for.”

 

“You’d better pray that you get to work for the government. It’s the only job that can offer you any kind of stability. If you’re assigned to an Epic, you’ll never know how cruel they’ll be. Hell, you can’t be even sure if you’ll survive the day with them. My friend got assigned to an Epic called Corkscrew, and man, what he has to put up with every day...” Argon listened patiently to the man talking, remembering the rare, important facts from this river of words. This was going to be a long walk...

 

 

[Edgedancer he/him]

“I’d be happy to answer your questions,” Kenshin answered Buttercup, “but how about we get out of the rain first?” With the other Epic’s agreement she led the way back into her own house. The body of the attacker was gone already but blood still stained the ground.

 

Once they were seated Buttercup started with her first question, "Please describe the, er, attackers."

 

"Not much to say, really. They didn't appear to care much about being cut into pieces or otherwise wounded. The only emotion they did show was rather unnatural anger, more akin to an animal than something human. Although, whatever induced said anger didn’t give them anything to make them more dangerous than ordinary people," Kenshin answered.

 

Given the look on Buttercup’s face Kenshin, which assumed was a mix of recognition and confusion, it seemed that she did have an idea who instigated the attack this morning or more likely a vague idea without the full picture on the Epics powers or motives.

 

"You're certain they weren't stronger than the average vanilla?" That question by Buttercup implied rather clearly that she did expect them to have increased strength as well. A previous accident then?

 

"They certainly died as easily as normal humans.” Kenshin gave a slight shrug. ”To be entirely honest, I did not give them a chance to prove how strong they are. However, a servant girl of mine did a decent enough job of keeping one of them away from herself with a spear, so one of them wasn't strong enough to completely overwhelm her."

 

"Hmm, I see. All right, were there any noticeable physical features that seemed odd, out of place, or just plain different from other humans?"

 

"Nothing I would have noticed. Their growls did sound more like something from an animal but I'm not sure if any physical alteration would actually be necessary for that."

 

"Okay, excellent. Thank you for your time, and again thank you for helping out Corvallis. If you don't mind, I have a few more personal questions for you. I couldn't help but notice that the pile of bodies out there is very packed, while the rest of the bodies in the neighborhood are spread out. That implies they rushed at you. Also, given the dismemberment of many of the bodies, you could not have used an axe or a lance, leaving only the sword. The bodies speak to your skill level, but I must know, are you skilled only with swords, or are there other weapons you excel with? Seeing your handiwork out there, I'd be a terrible head of security if I didn't try to recruit you."

 

Kenshin gave a hearty chuckle at Buttercup interest, it did show her as a woman with an eye for talent at least. As she started talking Kenshin made a wide gesture at the various weaponry she had decorated her home with, “While I do prefer swords anything bladed will do perfectly fine."

 

"Only bladed weapons? No non-bladed or even firearms?"

 

"No, I am afraid those are not in my area of expertise. I do have a knack for throwing knives, however."

 

"I see. Well, you would definitely make a good officer. Give it some thought, if you need to, and if you'd like to join, call this number," Buttercup pulled out a card and handed it to Kenshin, who gladly took it, "and ask for me, Queen Buttercup. Calamity knows I'd never turn you away, particularly after recent events."

 

“It is certainly a tempting offer.”

 

With matters taken care of Buttercup turned to leave. However, she stopped halfway on her way to the door and turned back to Kenshin, "Oh, and the guy you'll reach through that number will likely be a pain in the chull. Just a heads up."

 

After Buttercup left the room, Kenshin took the time to contemplate her offer. She was certainly the most respectable person she had meet in this town until now, she had backbone, seemed competent and the work would very much suit her. On first glance it did appear to be her best option, if she wanted to stay in this city, that is.

[Blackhoof]

 

As the morning light filtered through his blinds and illuminated his sparsely-decorated room, Atrophy awoke. Light stabbed into his thin eyelids, despite the heaviness of his curtains. Opening his hollow eyes and yawning, the Epic reached onto his bedside table and checked his mobile. 8:00, on the dot. As always.

 

Atrophy tapped the screen a few times, and amused himself for a time with a delightful game involving matching pieces of fruit. As always.

 

As the mobile ticked 8:30, there was a gentle knock on his door followed by a young servant boy, bearing a plate of toast and a steaming cup of herbal tea. The boy tentatively set them both down on his bedside table, and furtively retreated once dismissed. As always. 

 

Smiling contentedly, Atrophy slowly devoured his breakfast, and sipped his herbal tea. As always.

 

"Life is good", Atrophy thought to himself. His breakfast finished, he threw off his light blanket and swung his skeletal legs over the side, rising to his feet. Atrophy wandered over to the windows and threw open the blinds. Light flooded the room, and he drank in the beautiful Corvallis scenery. Trees and birds. Truly beautiful.

"It is a miracle that they have lasted so long. I'll have to thank Cornucopia personally next time I see her." All the trees in the other places he had been had long since been cut down for want of firewood or fuel. As he gazed out of the window at the quiet street, nothing disturbed his view except for several Corvallis Security vans, no doubt carrying field workers. He could already tell that today was going to be a good day.

 

Turning away from the window, Atrophy began getting dressed. He always wore the same thing- a plain shirt, jeans, and a white turtleneck. Unlike many Epics, he did not feel the need for fancy clothes, or elaborate costumes. His mere appearance was usually enough to let anyone know what he was.

 

Atrophy left his room and went out into the loungeroom, finding a crying servant and a few others comforting her. "What is going on here?" He enquired quietly. "Why are you annoying me with your sobbing?" The servant started in fear, and most fled. The crying woman looked at him with terror in her eyes and she tried to dry her face with her clothes. The only other servant that had stayed with her, Nancy, rose to defend her. "Mr Atrophy, she is really sorry, its just that her mother died last night in the riots and-" Her explanation cut off in a strangled gasp as Atrophy extended his power and deadened her vocal cords. 

"Did I ask for an explanation?" As soon as he finished, he realised that he had asked them what was going on. damnation.

 

Scowling, the Epic shooed the muted servant away and turned his gaze towards his grieving staff member. With a thought, he weakened her tear ducks, preventing her from crying further. The woman shivered in fear as he glared at her. "Now..." Atrophy began, "grieve if you must, but grieve somewhere you won't annoy me doing so. If I hear so much as another pathetic sob from you I will kill your lungs. Understood?" The woman nodded fiercely. "Excellent. Now get back to... whatever it is you do." She gladly hurried off.

 

Atrophy sat back down, and opened up an old copy of Eragon. It was his fifth reading of it and he still couldn't find any of the sequels, but it was something, at least. A simple little thing.

 

And for Atrophy, it was the simple things that mattered.

[Blaze1616 he/him]

 

Blossom tapped a heel into the floor, her legs crossed as she sat and waited for Rainmaker to finish up with whomever it was she was meeting with. Her arrival took longer than normal, stupid rain forcing her to fly slow to keep from getting wet under her umbrella. 

 

She turned a page inside the folder on her lap. It never hurt to septuple check a speech. She heard Rainmaker's door open, and saw a pair of men's shoes walk away, but she didn't bother to check who it was. Finished reading the section of the speech she was on, Blossom closed the folder and rose from her seat, entering the Queen's office with grace.

 

Approaching the desk, she placed the folder gently on the surface before taking a seat. "The speech is done, and I'd recommend delivering it soon so the field workers will hear it before reaching the fields." Blossom rested her elbows on the armrests of the chair she sat in, lacing her fingers in front of her. "I've already notified Broadcast to prepare the station for a radio announcement."

 

 

Buttercup looked to the sky as she stepped from Kenshin's home. The rain wet her face, forcing her to blink to keep it out of her eyes. She approached one of the security personnel that was hauling the body parts Kenshin had left on the road into a van. "I need you to set up a tent or canopy of some kind to help keep some of us out of the rain for paperwork." The officer nodded, handing an arm to one of the others helping him out, and set off to do as she'd asked. 

 

Buttercup approached the pile, and squatted to get a good look at one of the shifted vanillas. The...creature...had pointed teeth, as though the entire set had been replaced by canines, and the face had blood on it despite the rain. Aside from the teeth, the most striking feature was the thing's eyes. The looked misshapen, seeming far more animal than human. Buttercup stared into those eyes for a long moment, recalling the energy Epic's fuming eyes from the previous night, fury filled. A chill ran down the Queen's spine as she stood, noticing the canopy being finished. She walked over to it, shaking her head to get some of the water out of her short hair. 

 

She pulled her mobile out, sending a text to all the Queens. "In case you don't know, there was an attack this morning on the north side of Corvallis proper. Some vanillas turned against the local population, human and epic alike. They acted very similarly to the rabid humans from the Sports Fields last night. I spoke with an Epic who lives in the area, and it has become clear that these wild humans were affected by an Epic of some sort. They seem to lose any reasoning skills they may have had, and don't seem to feel pain any more. Physical changes include their teeth transforming into canines, and their eyes becoming more animal like. The Epic I spoke to also said their actions and demeanor were very animal like as well. Please be cautious with your daily activities today."

 

Putting her mobile away, Buttercup leaned forward against a table now set under the canopy, letting out a long sigh. Today was going to be another very long day, it seemed. Just as she'd feared.

Edited August 19, 2015 by Blaze1616

[mail-mi he/him]

(Warning! The following post has WoK spoilers! If you haven’t read it but would like to read this post, please PM me and I’ll send you a modified version.)

 

 

Gregory awoke from pleasant dreams of Mistborn and Returned. He already knew what his plan was for the start of the day, so he immediately jumped out of bed and started getting ready. He’d stayed up past midnight studying, and he’d realized that he needed a crew just like Kelsier’s. And so, he spent the next two hours thinking of the people that he could recruit. 

 

So far, he’d only come up with one idea: 

 

Vaughn Tremblay.

 

He was a male ballet dancer working for the local company in Corvallis. There wasn’t anything remarkable about him, of course, but in the few pictures Gregory had managed to look up of him on the screen-cracked mobile he’d found in the garbage one day (it was hard to get food in the storming post-Calamity world), he had been frowning.

 

Frowning.

 

In the Euphoria-drugged town of Corvallis.

 

And that was why, after getting ready for the day and walking for a few minutes through some back alleyways of Corvallis, Gregory found himself in front of the back door of the home where the ballet company stayed. He knocked twice, suddenly incredibly nervous. He calmed himself by thinking about why he was doing this. Just like Shallan when she stole Jasnah’s Soulcaster. 

 

One of the pretty ballet girls, dressed up in her frilly white tutu, eventually opened the door? “Yes?” she said, though Gregory could see that she was not happy to see him. Not happy. It was still weird to think about everyone not being happy. “What do you want?” 

 

Gregory swallowed, trying to calm his racing heart. “Um...is Vaughn here? I-- I need to see him.”

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

 

Vaughn Tremblay was not happy. For once, he was not alone.

 

Music played at a comfortable volume as he and the others practiced. Between shows, they might use nearly anything—Fall Out Boy and Imagine Dragons were always popular—but with their next opening two nights away, they practiced for that, and the music playing over the stereo was a classical number.

 

The music swelled, indicating his cue to lift Deanna, give a graceful spin, and set her down once more. But Deanna was not in place. She stood against a wall, eyes closed, drawing shuddering breaths.

 

Vaughn’s jaw clenched as he went to her, but when he spoke his voice was gentle. “Dee? We need you out there.”

 

She nodded without opening her eyes.

 

“Dee, I know this is hard, but you’ve got to push through. We’ve got a show in two days.”

 

She nodded again, a few tears slipping free.

 

Anger flooded him, heating his cheeks. He wanted to stalk out of this studio and slam the door, track down Euphoria, and strangle her. None of this, none of the tears or sorrow and fear, were Deanna’s fault. You didn’t blame an addict for embracing the drug that promised a cure. You didn’t slap them and call them a scourge on society.

 

No. You saved that for the dealer.

 

“Look at me. C’mon, look.” Deanna opened her eyes, and Vaughn smiled slightly. “I know this is tough, having to deal with all this junk at once.”

 

“I—I can’t. It—it’s all here—and Euphoria isn’t—and—and I know you said not to, but I—I—I…I’m sorry.”

 

“Don’t be. I dealt with that crap every day in Newcago, and it wasn’t easy there either. You can’t shove it down, Dee. You’ve got to embrace it.”

 

“If I start crying onstage—Rainmaker—she—“

 

“I doubt she’ll be at this one. You think she’ll waste time at a show?”

 

Deanna shook her head.

 

“Okay then. I know you can do this, Dee. Take all that crap, and use it. Make everyone out there feel what you’re feeling, and they’ll clap even harder when we hit the finale.”

 

She nodded again, swiping her tears with the back of her hand.

 

Vaughn began to speak, but Charlene tapped his shoulder. He turned, and he saw a young man there with her, her opposite in every way. Where she wore a frilly tutu, he wore faded jeans and a T-shirt. Where her hair was pulled into a bun, his was barely combed. Where she scowled, his nerves were written all over his face.

 

“He wanted to see you,” Charlene said.

 

Vaughn raised an eyebrow, daring a smile. That usually let him weed out the hecklers, come to taunt a tall, dark-skinned, muscle-bound man making twice the money they were. The kid didn’t smirk, so teasing wasn’t on his mind.

 

“Signup sheets are in the front hall,” Vaughn said, “but you can't join 'till the show's over." 

[Mestiv he/him]

 

 

Step by step Summer climbed the stairs to meet her perverted and terrifying owner. She had no doubt, that the audition might be the worst thing that has ever happened to her, yet she kept on walking. The fear of what Drainer could do to her if she didn’t obey, forced her legs to move almost against her will. With her heart pounding like a hammer and mouth dry of anxiety, she reached the open door to Drainer’s study.

 

Alice’s body was nowhere to be found, already carried out by Kate and Jannete. Everything was cleaned and ordered, no sign left of what has happened there just hours ago. Drainer was sitting at this desk, his brown hair covering his face as he leaned over some paper. Summer stood there for a second wondering, if it would be better to disturb him or wait. Finally, she reluctantly knocked on the door. The man raised his head and smiled.

 

“Ah, Summer, come in. You’ll be happy with what I have to tell you.” He said pointing to a chair for her to sit down. She sat down, happy to rest as she was begging to feel dizzy of all the stress. The desk before her was almost all empty, except a laptop, several sheets of paper and two little pony figures standing next to the computer. Summer wasn’t sure, but that might be characters from the My Little Pony cartoon, very popular before Calamity. What they were doing on Drainer’s desk was beyond her imagination.

 

“First, I have to apologize, you won’t be able to have an audition for head maid. I’m afraid I have another task for you.” Summer felt relieved and panicked at the same time. Just this morning she was in a similar situation, when she hoped she was safe and her hopes got crushed. This other assignment might be even worse than what other girls had to go through.

 

“As you may know, I have many contacts among our government administration workers. One of those contacts sends me lists of every new Epic crossing our checkpoints. Just an hour ago, someone came to this town and I need to know more about him. The information I receive don’t contain any photos, so your mission is to provide them. I have to be sure that it is who I think it is. You will go to his house, pretend to be one of the Vanillas assigned to him and when the moment’s right, you’ll take of picture and send it to me. Here, take this mobile, it has a builtin camera. Everything else you need to know is on this paper.” He passed her a new mobile phone and a sheet of paper. “Once you do your job, remain there and wait for further instructions. Don’t disappoint me, or the consequences will be severe…”. With those words, Drainer moved his laptop in front of him and began to write something, glancing from time to time on his little pony figures. Believing that it was all he had to say, Summer stood up and started to leave the room.

 

“Oh, and one more thing!” Drainer stopped her as she was about to leave. “If you’ll do everything as instructed, you may have a chance to get the year I took from you back. Now go.”

 

As soon as she was away from his sight, Summer found an empty room with a bed and sat on it. She finally started to understand that she was safe for now. She even had a slight chance to get her year back. She looked on the paper that Drainer gave her.

 

 

Name: Argon
Old name: Matthew Archerfish
Powers:

• Creation of cakes
• Flying
• Partial resistance to Epic powers

 

The paper specified other information, but those weren’t important, except for his new address. Now, Summer had to hurry, if she was to join Argon’s servants before he reaches his new home.

[Comatose he/him]

 

Skinsaver tried his best to slow his breathing as his private car sped through the streets back to the clinic.  Even after all the time he had spent working for her, sometimes Rainmaker's complete and utter disregard for others still caught him off guard.  How DARE she threaten me.  Skinsaver heard his breath come out in a hiss, and resumed his exercises in an attempt regain the calm composure expected of a physician.  It was not that he did not deserve to be lived-after all, Rainmaker had the audacity not only to force him into a position he had no talent or desire for, but also to make him drive across the city to deliver a message that could have been sent by text, and to threaten him with that damned letter just because she could.  

 

To be fair, Skinsaver had to admit that he likely would have resisted more, or ignored the request had Rainmaker not forced him to come in person.  Even still, surely even the Queen of Corvallis could see the unfairness of tearing him away from his patients for the purpose of informing him that he would have less time to spend with them. I saved her from her prison.  I made her what she is.  How dare she do this to me!

 

If I come home like this I'll agitate the patients.  Skinsaver reached for his tablet, and began scrolling through his patient files, finding calm in his meticulous notations on the condition of each of his charges.  In minutes he felt his breathing return to normal as he returned to his routine.  

 

Any sense of normalcy was shattered by the sound of music in the distance.  

 

What in Calamity?  Skinsaver felt the blood drain from his already pale face as he realized who must be blocking his path.  Where did she find a sparking tuba and someone to play it?

 

"I'm sorry Sir, the road is blocked by some sort of parade.  We might need to wait a while."  

 

"Back up and go around.  I can't deal with that nonsense today of all days."  

 

"But sir, there are cars behind us..."  Traffic wasn't the same as it had been before Calamity, but Rainmaker's reign and Cornucopia's unique abilities had provided the city with enough luxuries to make Corvallis seem like a real city again.  Skinsaver slammed down on the button that lowered his window and looked out.  Seeing only a few other vehicles, he turned back to his driver.  

 

"Ram them, push them out of the way, drive on the sidewalk, I don't care!  Just get me away from that racket!"

 

 

 

Princess Genevieve Ornatia Oprah Delicious giggled with glee as her fledgling marching band played an instrumental verse.  She rode gracefully down the street on a gorgeous white horse.  Sebastien kept pace with her on a similar steed, holding her umbrella aloft to keep the rain off.  The Princess wasn't sure where the horses had come from, but she had wasted no time beautifying them as soon as they approached in response to her song.  The instrumental verse began to wind down, and the Princess cleared her throat, preparing to rejoin the song.  

 

"So we clean, clean, clean the streets,

and we mop up all the grime.

Many hands can make a lot of work,

take not a lot of time. 

Sooo, bend your backs and work your tools,

We'll make this city shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine....."

 

The Princess cut off suddenly as her small parade came to a halt.  Her workers in front of her began to whisper among themselves, pointing at the mess that was blocking their path.  

 

A different crew, likely under Queen Buttercup's command, was already gathering the bodies into piles.  Many of them had awful wounds, and some of them barely even seemed human even more.  Normally, a gruesome sight like this would be of no consequence, but without Euphoria's power, seeing the dead had a profound effect on the cleaning crew.  

 

"All right now everyone, there's no need to look so glum!  If we all work together, we can clean this mess up in no time.  Now, listen up."  The Princess snapped her fingers, giving Sebastien a silent signal to dismount and offer her a hand down.  Once she was safely back within the shade of her umbrella, she made her way to the front of the crowd to survey the scene more closely.  Even Buttercup's workers had paused for the moment, waiting to see what their Princess would do.  

 

Despite the rain, the bodies likely already had an unpleasant smell to them.  As the Princess approached, she could see the workers relax slightly as her aura of beautification replaced the foul smell with the scent of honey and roses.  One by one, the Princess touched a delicate finger to each of the piles.  With each touch, the heaps of bodies shifted and transformed.  Wounds knit back together, blood stains vanished, and clothing knit itself into an approximation of each person's best funeral attire.  

 

"All right then, I've done my part, now it's your turn!"  At her side, Sebastien brought out a pitch pipe, helping the background singers to find their note so they could oooh and aaah in tune with her lead vocals.  The crowd of people and animals around her seemed to hold their breath as one, waiting for the soothing effects of their princess's song.  

 

"Wheeeeeen the world gives you troubles,

You can't just stop and cry.  

You can help to make things better,

All you need to do is try!

 

So now, dig you diggers dig,

That park nearby will do.

You need to dig a grave that's 

big enough for fifty-two!

And then all the rest can come,

there are bodies here to haul.

We can make this street all right again

if you just give your all!

 

"Hit it boys."  Behind her, the band whirred into motion.  As they entered, the tempo of the song increased, shifting into a more upbeat melody.  A pack of rodents and dogs split off from the main group heading to the park.  Birds began to flit from pile to pile, searching the ground and pockets for valuables.  

 

"Who puts the 'fun' funera-al?"

 

"You, Prin-cess!"

 

 

"The speech is done, and I'd recommend delivering it soon so the field workers will hear it before reaching the fields.  I've already notified Broadcast to prepare the station for a radio announcement."

 

Rainmaker reached across the desk and began thumbing through the speech Buttercup had written for her.  Putting Skinsaver in his place had restored some of the confidence she had lost fighting foes she could not pin down.  "Excellent.  You've outdone yourself, Blossom.  Now let's get this over with so we can figure out who our enemies really are and destroy them."  A gesture was all it took to send a servant scurrying over to the window.  "We can discuss the details on the way, and rendevouz with Buttercup when we are done."  

[Blaze1616 he/him]

 

Blossom rose from her seated position, a smile on her face from the praise. She had always been good with speeches, it was one of the main reasons she got the Public Relations position. That and, of course, her charm. 

 

Straightening out her dress suit, her heels clacked against the hard floor of the hallway as she retrieved her umbrella. She wouldn't need it anymore, now that she was traveling with Rainmaker, but it was still her favorite umbrella. It simply made no sense to leave it behind, particularly since a replacement from Cornucopia would likely not be to her liking. 

 

Entering the office again, Blossom motioned for Rainmaker to lead the way. "After you, my Queen."

 

 

Buttercup stood under the canopy, watching the security personnel work. She had joined them, but was taking a short break, receiving word from GasMask that Bubbles was awake and enjoying a morning sketch. It was rather early for her sister to be up, though. Must be the nightmares. That poor gi-

 

An odd noise rose above the soft patter of rain. Buttercup scrunched her eyebrows, turning towards the noise. Slowly, but surely, the noise grew in volume, a deep dread rising from the pit of the Queen's stomach as she could start to make out lyrics.

 

Buttercup moved out from under the canopy as the security personnel began to crowd around. They were all likely excited for a chance to see one of Corvallis's more well known Epics in action. The Queen shoved her way to the front of the group, looking to the side to see a large procession of people, all in song. And at their front, on a pure white steed, sat their leader. Buttercup groaned, and let out a complaint. To her dismay, she didn't speak it, but sang it.

 

"Oh Calamity knows,

I'm not in the mood.

Please don't tell me

that it's Princess G.O.O.D."

 

Buttercup turned back towards the group of security officers, ready to spend the next hour supervising from a very long distance, when a guard interrupted her.

 

"Oh Queen Buttercup,

look at the time!

I'm here to tell you that

good and mood don't rhyme!"

 

Buttercup glared at the singing officer and punched him right in the nose. He hit the wet pavement with a whimper, clutching at his face as several other officers chuckled.

 

"When you first started singing,

I considered giving you a pass.

But then I realized

I'd rather kick your-"

 

Buttercup cut her song off, though, as the Princess got off her horse just a few feet away and started her group on cleaning up. The sweet scent of honey filled the air, and a small amount of bile rose through Buttercup's throat at the sight of the frilly Epic. Swallowing it back down, Buttercup shoved her way through the group of officers, desperately wishing to get away from the singing.
 

[Blackhoof]

 

 

The driver opened the small hatch leading to the passenger compartment, and Iconoclast mentally calmed the ghouls further. Without his influence, they would have been howling and hissing, reaching through the hatch to claw apart the driver. But that would have spoiled the surprise.

 

"Listen up, subjects! Our glorious queen is giving a speech!" The driver barked, and turned up the radio. The ghouls, of course, simply fidgeted silently, their faces twisting into masks of rage or hate, disregarding Rainmaker's speech entirely. As Rainmkaer's speech continued, the ghouls grew increasingly agitated, but Iconoclast held them in place. Shortly, as the speech drew to a climactic and inspiring close, the van pulled up, and the driver got out.

 

With no windows, Iconoclast relied on sound- he enhanced his hearing and he could hear the driver moving around to the back. Further away, he could hear other vans pulling up, and doors slamming.

 

The handles rattled as the overseer reached the door, and a column of light shone into the dark compartment as the doors opened. "Alright maggots-" The driver's rough bark was cut off abruptly as Iconoclast leaped out of the van and tackled him to the ground. The ghouls followed, all of them pouring out of the van and charging towards the lines of assembled workers and overseers. The overseer under Iconoclast struggled, first angry but quickly fearful as he saw the Epic's teeth grow into fangs and his fingers turn into talons.

 

"N-no! Please! You can't do this!" Iconoclast smiled, and gently stroked the overseer's cheek, listening to the screams of the workers and the howls of his ghouls. "I can do whatever... I.... want...." He raised a hand, readying the killing blow.

"No! Rainmaker promised us protection! She said we would be safe and secure!" The overseer squeaked, trying to escape, his baton beating Iconoclast's side feebly.

Iconoclast closed his hand into a fist, except for two fingers.

 

"Rainmaker lied!" With that, Iconoclast drove his two extended fingers into the overseer's eyes.

He stabbed straight through the eyes and the brain, and felt the tips of his talons scrape against the inside of the dead man's skull.

 

Iconoclast ripped his hand out in a spray of blood and grey matter, and rose to his feet. Labourers were running everywhere, retreating into the fields away from the slavering ghouls. Several had been brought down by the ravenous creatures already. With a cruel laugh, Iconoclast enhanced his legs and sprinted after the nearest group of fleeing workers, chasing down and turning one. They fled into the fields, dodging around stalks covered in canned goods. But with Iconoclast's peak-human physique and inhuman endurance, it was a futile effort. It wasn't long before another worker had been caught, Iconoclast grabbing his arm and holding tight for the mere few seconds it took to free the worker's mind. And then another was caught. And another.

 

And another.

 

...................................................

 

 

Adam frowned as he plucked another can of crushed tomatoes from the high, thin plant in front of him. All around him, organised into orderly rows with spaces in between for the pickers, were tall, thin stalks, all with a variety of consumer goods and foodstuffs spaced out across their branches and stems. This particular row was canned tomatoes.

 

"You know...." Adam began, as he turned and placed the can into the large cart being pushed along by his partner, Eric. Eric watched him do it, and planed another scratch on his clipboard. When the pair had reached the end of their assigned rows, they would return the cart to the depot, where the clipboard would be surrendered and the goods counted again. 

"What is it?" Eric asked, clearly uninterested.

"It's just that.." Adam continued, plucking another can from the plant. "Without Euphoria's happiness... It has sort of occurred to me how weird this is."

"Weird in what way?"

Adam squinted, and gestured to the can-covered plant, each can sprouting from a separate stem, as if it were a flower or apple. Eric looked thoughtful for a second, and said, "Hmm... I see your point."

 

Suddenly they heard screaming and shouting in the distance. They froze. "...what was that?" Adam asked, eyes wide

"P-probably nothing. Maybe the overseer's are killing someone? Maybe someone got uppity, like last night...."

"But there are a lot of screams... how many people could they be killing?" The screams sounded closer. 

"Maybe... a lot of people got uppity..."

 

They stayed there, frozen in fear, as the screams and shouts continued. A few gunshots sounded as well. "Gunshots?" Adam gasped. Overseers rarely carried guns- they had never needed them before. But they kept a supply in every van, in case of emergencies. "What the hell is going on?"

Eric gulped. "I think... we had better get out of here." Adam nodded, and both workers began backing away from the source of the sounds. Suddenly there was a shout, uncomfortably close, and a bestial growl. "RUN!" Eric roared. And they did.

 

It wasn't long though before they heard something behind them. Looking back, Adam saw shadows in the rows to either side of them, some of them gaining. Blind panic drove them forward, and more growls and screams began sounding all around them. Suddenly the stalks next to the pair exploded, and a bloody figure tackled Eric to the ground. The figure clipped Adam as he flew past, and he fell to the ground. For a moment Adam lost track of everything as his face smashed painfully into the mud, mud getting into his eyes, nose and mouth. As he spat and sputtered, Adam heard Eric crying out and struggling behind him. Adam finally cleared his eyes, and turned, trying to clamber to his feet. But he froze when he saw what was happening. 

 

The figure; a muscular, rag-clad man, covered in blood; knelt over Eric, one hand pinning down his arm and the other grabbing his chin. Eric had already stopped struggling, and at first Adam thought he had been choked to death. But the truth was far worse. In another second, Eric's eyes had gone from cloudy and unfocused to something.... alien. His eyes and face became twisted and enraged, and he opened his mouth and howled. The figure released him, and rose to his feet. 

 

The figure, which could only have been an Epic, turned to Adam and smiled. Its teeth were razors, and its eyes... there was nothing human left in them. Adam took a step back. The Epic leapt into action, and before Adam could react, he was on the ground, the Epic's claws pinning him into the mud. The Epic gripped Adam's chin, and looked deep into his eyes. Adam struggled, but he had no room to move, nowhere to go, no way to escape.

 

Suddenly he felt.... strange. His will to struggle vanished. Why struggle? Why fight? What was the worst that could happen?

The next second, he felt something begin changing within him. He felt the Epic in his mind, in his brain, changing something. Taking something away, or adding it; he did not know. But he didn't mind, either way. 

 

Then Adam began to forget things. He realised that he couldn't remember his life before Calamity. Then he forgot his time before Corvallis. And soon, Adam didn't even know where he was. Finally, he didn't know who he was. He couldn't remember his name. 

And that made him.... angry.

 

By the fifth second, he felt angry. He felt.... really angry. Angry at the whole world. All he wanted to do was make the world pay. Take revenge. The only one he wasn't angry at... was the Epic looking into his eyes. He heard growls. He wasn't angry at them either, for whatever reason. But everyone else... they would pay. They would die. The Epic let him go, and leapt off of him, sprinting away into the rows.

 

The thing that had been Adam Lambert, Corvallis resident, rose to its feet. It could smell blood. It could hear screams. The thing that had been Adam began stalking through the rows, looking for prey.  Hearing and smelling was not enough.

 

It wanted to taste them.

Edited August 22, 2015 by Blackhoof