More Meteor Showers Bring Even Stranger Powers. (O/A)

[mc2]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Shane can feel the need for violence bubbling up inside of him. He hisses, "She may have, but I haven't. Daedalus' private army, and the research staff in charge of my sister, has given me quite the store of bio-organic material to use. So unless you have found a way to remove my biomass from your body, or think you can handle every pain receptor in your body being fired at once, then I suggest you stop playing these games and co-operate."

Shane's eyes are dark, poisonous, and sincere. His gaze shows that he will deliver on his threat, and maybe more.

Berchant sighed, "Oh yes. I momentarily forgot about her knight in shining armor." Turning he led the way upstairs without saying another word until he opened the door to a large room with a large bed in the corner and several old toys. It looked like it was a storage room for old toys that Berchant might of played with as a child. Sitting in the middle of the floor was an elderly woman holding Christian reading a story to him. She looked up to see her son and his two guests behind him.

"Who are they?" She asked her son, her blue eyes narrowed with concern. "They look like a mess. They will ruin the carpet."

"Mother, may I introduce my son's mother, Annabella Soulsmith," Berchant sighed. "And her friend Shane."

"I don't like them, make them leave. They are obviously bad influence on your child," the woman snapped.

"I would love to send them away mother, but I can't," Berchant sighed. "These people are bent on revenge for Daedalus's work- my work... and I don't want to place our lives in danger. We need to hand over Christian for our own safety."

"So they can put my grandson in danger? No."

"Ma'am," Annie said stepping forward. "You have no idea what your son is capable of. I don't want to ruin your idolization of your son, but I will if I need to. Please hand over my son. I am the safest person for him to rely on. An experimenter on meta-humans shouldn't be trusted with a child as powerful as Christian is. Your son will make his own child a lab rat... a lab rat like he made me."

She squatted down and called out, "Christian, Why don't you come to Mommy?"

Christian glanced at her and then at Shane, "I don't want to. Not when you are with scary mister... He let you get hurt."  

[Deora_Alvarez]

Deora followed Trinity's advice, only pausing momentarily on how much it sounded like some comic book cliche. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, doing her best to get completely calm. As she got quiet she found she could not only hear the splashing in the pool, but feel the movement she'd caused under the surface. She could feel not only the waves, but the currents causing them. Beyond that, she could feel where the pool's filtration system drew in an jetted the water back out. She could almost see the water running in the pipes through the floor and walls, running alongside the facility's regular water supply. It was faint, and she wouldn't have known what to look for if Trinity hadn't told her, but she could definitely sense it. Water was flowing throughout the walls around her, and she hadn't even thought about it.

Her attention was drawn away from the water for a bit at the sounds of Trinity receiving and typing a couple messages, and when she tried to sense the water in the pipes again she found them to be fainter, seemingly farther away. It may have been beginner's luck that she'd gotten that far in the first place, but it gave her hope of what her power could become. For the moment she decided to ignore the water in the pipes, and focus more on what was in front of her. She paid more attention to the currents and movements of the water in the pool, finding patterns and trying to predict where they would go. After a few minutes that seemed like forever in the quiet of the room, she opened her eyes again. "I think I get it now." She said, a confidant smirk returning to her face.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

mc2

"Ma'am," Annie said stepping forward. "You have no idea what your son is capable of. I don't want to ruin your idolization of your son, but I will if I need to. Please hand over my son. I am the safest person for him to rely on. An experimenter on meta-humans shouldn't be trusted with a child as powerful as Christian is. Your son will make his own child a lab rat... a lab rat like he made me."

She squatted down and called out, "Christian, Why don't you come to Mommy?"

Christian glanced at her and then at Shane, "I don't want to. Not when you are with scary mister... He let you get hurt."

Shane nearly chuckled at the notion. He is well aware that any injury Annie incurred was due to her pushing herself past her limits. Regardless, the child's words nit a nerve with him. Shane killed dozens of men today. If Christian has the same aura sensing ability as Annie then Shane would be practically beaming a dark aura.

Shane concedes with, "I'll be waiting downstairs, give you guys some time with each other."

"Dr. Berchant, if you could please accompany me. I'd like to speak with you on matters of science." The request is genuine and without any hint of threat or underlying objective.  

[mc2]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Shane nearly chuckled at the notion. He is well aware that any injury Annie incurred was due to her pushing herself past her limits. Regardless, the child's words nit a nerve with him. Shane killed dozens of men today. If Christian has the same aura sensing ability as Annie then Shane would be practically beaming a dark aura.

Shane concedes with, "I'll be waiting downstairs, give you guys some time with each other."

"Dr. Berchant, if you could please accompany me. I'd like to speak with you on matters of science." The request is genuine and without any hint of threat or underlying objective.

Berchant raises a brow at Shane's request and before leaving leans down to Christian's level and hisses, "If something happens to me. Remember what the scary mister is capable of."

Annie glared at him but said nothing as he got up turned and led the way downstairs for Shane. Once downstairs, Berchant turned to face Shane and said in a sigh, "What do you want now?"

Meanwhile, Annie sighed as Christian kept his blue eyes narrowed at her in suspicion. "I thought he said he'd make sure you were safe," Christian complained.

"Yes, well it wasn't his fault. If it wasn't for him I would be dead," Annie replied.

Berchant's mother glared at Annie and spoke up finally, "Yes well if you monsters stayed in your place you wouldn't have had to worry about putting yourself in danger, now would you? If you hadn't left Daedalus in the first place, where they were feeding you, clothing you, giving you free room and board..."

"What did you think Daedalus was, a five star resort?" Annie laughed. "You hate meta-humans but you've been made rich from your son's work with them, yes? And your own grandson shares my abilities, I am sure your son told you that..."

The old woman glared at her and replied, "Sure. But Christian isn't a monster like you. I've heard all about how you've used your abilities." As they spoke Christian's eyes darted back and forth between the two women, confused what to believe entirely.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

mc2

Berchant raises a brow at Shane's request and before leaving leans down to Christian's level and hisses, "If something happens to me. Remember what the scary mister is capable of."

Annie glared at him but said nothing as he got up turned and led the way downstairs for Shane. Once downstairs, Berchant turned to face Shane and said in a sigh, "What do you want now?"

Shane turns to him and says flatly, "I'm going to remove the biomass from your body, but there is something I must ask you before I do. I know you had nothing to do with the project my sister was the star of. What I'd like to ask is if you had any correspondence what any of the project leaders or staff?"

"I'm not asking you for my sake, but for a teenage girl who had her life destroyed."  

[mc2]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Shane turns to him and says flatly, "I'm going to remove the biomass from your body, but there is something I must ask you before I do. I know you had nothing to do with the project my sister was the star of. What I'd like to ask is if you had any correspondence what any of the project leaders or staff?"

"I'm not asking you for my sake, but for a teenage girl who had her life destroyed."

"Really I could care less about your sister, she died end of story," Berchant replied. "Of course I am intrigued by how she is still running around in her mechanical body and that her body is sleeping out in that vehicle at the moment, but I have bigger fish I am interested in: Annabella's increased power and what powers she transferred to our son... making our son into a weapon for Daedalus... those two are what really fascinates me. And you, of course."

"Ah, but did I have interaction with any of the project leaders or staff... I am sure I did," Berchant replied frowning. "Truth be told we never exchanged notes or anything. I had an inkling they had your sister's body but what they were doing with it is beyond me. Like I said, it is live meta-humans that interest me. Recently my interests have been perked by the substance that both you and Annie ingested. How come her powers were magnified but so were the side effects? How do you have powers now. Why does Christian not also have her increased powers but apparently no side effects of using his power? Now, those are fish I'd love to fry."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

mc2

"Really I could care less about your sister, she died end of story," Berchant replied. "Of course I am intrigued by how she is still running around in her mechanical body and that her body is sleeping out in that vehicle at the moment, but I have bigger fish I am interested in: Annabella's increased power and what powers she transferred to our son... making our son into a weapon for Daedalus... those two are what really fascinates me. And you, of course."

"Ah, but did I have interaction with any of the project leaders or staff... I am sure I did," Berchant replied frowning. "Truth be told we never exchanged notes or anything. I had an inkling they had your sister's body but what they were doing with it is beyond me. Like I said, it is live meta-humans that interest me. Recently my interests have been perked by the substance that both you and Annie ingested. How come her powers were magnified but so were the side effects? How do you have powers now. Why does Christian not also have her increased powers but apparently no side effects of using his power? Now, those are fish I'd love to fry."

Shane can see this will require him giving up some of what he knows. "I believe I can put quite a few of your inquiries to rest. Annie may be up there for quite a while, y'know...arguing, and it has been a long time since I have been able to toss notions of biology around."

"You see I was privy to Dr. Acula's notes in regards to the pure meteor radiation. And I have gone through great lengths to understand my body, as well as the possible side effects that could be incurred to metahumans and regular humans. So which of your questions would you like addressed first?"  

[mc2]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Shane can see this will require him giving up some of what he knows. "I believe I can put quite a few of your inquiries to rest. Annie may be up there for quite a while, y'know...arguing, and it has been a long time since I have been able to toss notions of biology around."

"You see I was privy to Dr. Acula's notes in regards to the pure meteor radiation. And I have gone through great lengths to understand my body, as well as the possible side effects that could be incurred to metahumans and regular humans. So which of your questions would you like addressed first?"

Dr. Berchant's blue eyes lit up in excitement. Regardless of the fact that Shane was no doubt a foe and a threat to his life, Shane was a well known biological genius and if he had access to Dr. Acula's notes... "My first concern is how did the pure meteor radiation Annabella ingested will affect Christian. I had hoped that he would have inherited her liquid body, but I gave up on that considering that Annabella couldn't change form while she was pregnant. However, it is intriguing that Christian apparently has no adverse side effects no matter how much he uses his power... Could that be the effects of the fact that his mother ingested pure meteor radiation or just a fluke?"

"And of course, it is well known that the experimentation by Dr. Acula has warped your sanity some, will that happen to Annabella?" Dr. Berchant asked. He then paused waiting for Shane's answers.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

mc2

Dr. Berchant's blue eyes lit up in excitement. Regardless of the fact that Shane was no doubt a foe and a threat to his life, Shane was a well known biological genius and if he had access to Dr. Acula's notes... "My first concern is how did the pure meteor radiation Annabella ingested will affect Christian. I had hoped that he would have inherited her liquid body, but I gave up on that considering that Annabella couldn't change form while she was pregnant. However, it is intriguing that Christian apparently has no adverse side effects no matter how much he uses his power... Could that be the effects of the fact that his mother ingested pure meteor radiation or just a fluke?"

"And of course, it is well known that the experimentation by Dr. Acula has warped your sanity some, will that happen to Annabella?" Dr. Berchant asked. He then paused waiting for Shane's answers.

"Acula's notes didn't speak of possible effects of offspring, but I believe I can offer something on that. The initial meteor radiation targets specific cells in the body in order to create the various powers. When Annie ingested that substance, it saw what was already changed and "improved" on it. It didn't so much magnify her powers as it did hasten the natural progress of metahuman evolution. The reason she still experiences these side effects is because her body hasn't caught up to it."

"Christian has inherited her ability, but at a natural level. I believe it is a genetic trait in his case, no different than a widows peak or eye color. I'm guessing the only "side effect" he feels from use of his powers is general fatigue?"

"And in regards to my, and Annie's, sanity...she should be safe. There are rare occurrences where someone who has come into contact with meteor radiation will experience a slow decay of their mental stability, or stunt mental development in the cases of children that have been exposed."

"My sanity has degraded because my body is attacking itself endlessly. I have a natural resistance against the meteor radiation. That is why I didn't gain any powers at the same time my sister did. Acula thought he'd use my injury as an opportunity to see what effects pure meteor radiation would have if it were introduced into certain key areas of my body. Not ingested, but injected into my body. While the radiation fights to change my cells, my immune system fights back, all the while keeping my body in flux. This constant waltz of biological activities requires me to feed on living tissue in order to keep my body from destroying itself. Annie doesn't have that problem."  

[mc2]

Rikki Tikki Travi

"Acula's notes didn't speak of possible effects of offspring, but I believe I can offer something on that. The initial meteor radiation targets specific cells in the body in order to create the various powers. When Annie ingested that substance, it saw what was already changed and "improved" on it. It didn't so much magnify her powers as it did hasten the natural progress of metahuman evolution. The reason she still experiences these side effects is because her body hasn't caught up to it."

"Christian has inherited her ability, but at a natural level. I believe it is a genetic trait in his case, no different than a widows peak or eye color. I'm guessing the only "side effect" he feels from use of his powers is general fatigue?"

"And in regards to my, and Annie's, sanity...she should be safe. There are rare occurrences where someone who has come into contact with meteor radiation will experience a slow decay of their mental stability, or stunt mental development in the cases of children that have been exposed."

"My sanity has degraded because my body is attacking itself endlessly. I have a natural resistance against the meteor radiation. That is why I didn't gain any powers at the same time my sister did. Acula thought he'd use my injury as an opportunity to see what effects pure meteor radiation would have if it were introduced into certain key areas of my body. Not ingested, but injected into my body. While the radiation fights to change my cells, my immune system fights back, all the while keeping my body in flux. This constant waltz of biological activities requires me to feed on living tissue in order to keep my body from destroying itself. Annie doesn't have that problem."

"Why does it even surprise me that you can guess Christian's one "side effect"?" Berchant asked smiling. "But, he has a lot more potential in his powers than his mother. He changed an entire Olympic sized swimming pool of water into acid and then into water when he was one. After that he slept for two days without waking, but in contrast when Annabella did the same thing she was coughing blood periodically for a week. Not to mention the more severe side effects. Fascinating that one can do such so easily and the other cannot, yes?"

"Well, it is a relief to know at least Annabella won't go insane," Berchant continued. "Of course your sanity is a concern if she plans to stay by your side. I am sure you are aware that someone as intelligent as you have already figured out that Annabella will stab you in the back the first time you become what she deems a threat."

"But that is your concern, too," Berchant added smiling. "However, one thing interests me: is there any way to make her body catch up to her mutation? At Daedalus we have managed to make her almost perfect the control of her abilities, but she is so limited in what she can do before harming herself. If she continues to use her power in the way she does she will end up getting herself killed."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

mc2

"Why does it even surprise me that you can guess Christian's one "side effect"?" Berchant asked smiling. "But, he has a lot more potential in his powers than his mother. He changed an entire Olympic sized swimming pool of water into acid and then into water when he was one. After that he slept for two days without waking, but in contrast when Annabella did the same thing she was coughing blood periodically for a week. Not to mention the more severe side effects. Fascinating that one can do such so easily and the other cannot, yes?"

"Well, it is a relief to know at least Annabella won't go insane," Berchant continued. "Of course your sanity is a concern if she plans to stay by your side. I am sure you are aware that someone as intelligent as you have already figured out that Annabella will stab you in the back the first time you become what she deems a threat."

"But that is your concern, too," Berchant added smiling. "However, one thing interests me: is there any way to make her body catch up to her mutation? At Daedalus we have managed to make her almost perfect the control of her abilities, but she is so limited in what she can do before harming herself. If she continues to use her power in the way she does she will end up getting herself killed."

Shane's eyes wander in a daze as he revisits an earlier thought. "That may be what it takes. I can't kill myself, and Daedalus has failed miserably."

"It is possible that her body may never catch up. Just like how some people may try their best to be athletes but are physically incapable of doing so."

Shane goes quiet for a moment while he thinks. "On that note, that may be exactly why Christian is able to use his powers so well. Have you ever read the Stephen King novel "Firestarter?" Charlie was a natural at using her abilities from an early age, but lacked the proper self control. I know the book is merely fiction, but there are some fascinating ideas in regards to the offspring of two..."

Shane looks at Berchant with an analogical eye. He doesn't feel a metahuman energy signature coming from him, but that doesn't necessarily mean it can't be so.

"...Dr. Berchant, have you ever come into contact with a meteor fragment or anything that would contain it's radiation? I know you don't have any powers, but Christian's phenomenal power reserve couldn't have come from Annie alone, no matter how "advanced" she is. Are you capable of becoming a metahuman, like so many millions of people around the world?"  

[mc2]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Shane's eyes wander in a daze as he revisits an earlier thought. "That may be what it takes. I can't kill myself, and Daedalus has failed miserably."

"It is possible that her body may never catch up. Just like how some people may try their best to be athletes but are physically incapable of doing so."

Shane goes quiet for a moment while he thinks. "On that note, that may be exactly why Christian is able to use his powers so well. Have you ever read the Stephen King novel "Firestarter?" Charlie was a natural at using her abilities from an early age, but lacked the proper self control. I know the book is merely fiction, but there are some fascinating ideas in regards to the offspring of two..."

Shane looks at Berchant with an analogical eye. He doesn't feel a metahuman energy signature coming from him, but that doesn't necessarily mean it can't be so.

"...Dr. Berchant, have you ever come into contact with a meteor fragment or anything that would contain it's radiation? I know you don't have any powers, but Christian's phenomenal power reserve couldn't have come from Annie alone, no matter how "advanced" she is. Are you capable of becoming a metahuman, like so many millions of people around the world?"

Berchant smirked and clapped his hands lightly, "Very Good Shane Morris. You really are too intelligent for your own good. Early on working with Daedalus I had to work with pure meteor fragment, and my suit ripped. But thanks to the nature of my abilities I was able to hide that fact. I can control my own aura and help control the moods of others. I, of course, don't have vast amount of control on my abilities, and depends on the strength of the person. Why do you think Christian is so attached to me? Even considering the tests I have put him through... Annabella would have escaped years ago if it wasn't for my manipulations. It is my own fault for not realizing when she was able to break through them subconsciously. Still she never was able to guess that I am also a meta-human. And you were only able to conclude that after observing Christian. Fascinating little ability, isn't it?"

"Of course it isn't nearly as impressive as Annabella's or yours," Berchant continued. "If Christian has so much ability with having a parent like Annabella and a weaker powered one like me, imagine what the offspring of you and her would be like. Fascinating idea isn't it?"

"It is a shame, though, to hear that her body will most likely not catch up with her powers," Berchant added. "You'll have your hands full trying to keep her from overusing her powers. And when she decides to kill you, because we both know it is only a matter of time before you truly go mad, she may have to use all her powers to stop you. Of course, Christian may decide to kill you before his mother does. That would save his mother's life... but she would have no where to turn once your gone... You have no idea how often she had fantasized about what could have been if she hadn't signed up to be a Daedalus project, all because she didn't want to be a threat to others because of her increased powers."

"Annabella amuses me, and my son is my precious experiment," Berchant added, his eyes turning dark, "If you let anything happen to them, I will find a way to kill you and destroy everything you and your sister ever worked for."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

mc2

"Annabella amuses me, and my son is my precious experiment," Berchant added, his eyes turning dark, "If you let anything happen to them, I will find a way to kill you and destroy everything you and your sister ever worked for."

Shane eyes Berchant incredulously. This man has probably used his snake's tongue to lure countless metahumans into his grasp. What more he has built his relationship with his own child upon a lie. Shane can feel the rage boiling inside of him. Because Berchant's lie mirrors Shane's lie.

Shane had used Annie to attack Daedalus. He could have done it himself with considerably more difficulty after she had told him the location, but he used her as a distraction. Shane has also experimented on countless young women.All so he could try and bring a dead woman back.

Shane's mind spins with doubt, regret, hate, and rage. It doesn't take long for the dark passenger to start whispering into his ear.

Shane's eyes darken as his face twists into a mad grimace. A voice hisses from his throat that is slightly tainted by the voices of many others. "We have no intention of harming Annabella or Christian, but your treachery will not be forgiven. You take joy in dissecting and tinkering with the lives of metahumans. Now you will be our experiment."

Shane concentrates on the biomass particles within Berchant. Because Berchant admitted to having little control over his ability Shane figures that a distraction would be enough to throw him off temporarily. No screaming, he repeats mentally again and again as he orders his "children" to multiply and hunt down the very cells that give Berchant his powers. You can whisper and beg, but you will not scream.  

[mc2]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Shane concentrates on the biomass particles within Berchant. Because Berchant admitted to having little control over his ability Shane figures that a distraction would be enough to throw him off temporarily. No screaming, he repeats mentally again and again as he orders his "children" to multiply and hunt down the very cells that give Berchant his powers. You can whisper and beg, but you will not scream.

Berchant's eyes widen and he falls to the ground in pain at Shane's attack. He knows that even if he had full control of his abilities the chances of calming Shane was almost zero. But maybe he could make use of Annabella. There was a small chance that she would stop him. After all, she did always hate killing. Letting Shane kill him or harm him would be partially her fault or so she would perceive it...

But he couldn't scream out not with Shane controlling his vocal chords, but what if he was able to make use of Annabella's aura sensing abilities. Closing his eyes he focused on trying to project his and Shane's aura through the house.

Upstairs, Annabella was about to retort something to Berchant's mother when she placed her fingers to her forehead and fell silent. The old woman glared at her and snapped, "What are you-"

"Shh, grandma, Mommy has a headache..." Christian hissed. He had seen it before when she sensed fluctuations in auras.

Annie's brown eyes grew wide, why was she sensing that there were two metahuman's downstairs? And so strongly too? Getting up she rushed out the door hearing Berchant's mother calling out, "Where are you going now?"

Annie hurried downstairs to find Berchant on the floor and Shane pulsating a dark almost murderous aura. "Are you trying to get Christian to hate you forever?" Annie demanded pulling at Shane's arm. "I thought I told you I wasn't interested in harming him anymore."

Berchant glanced up at her and smirked to himself, so he bet right. Annabella was still as weak heart-ed as ever. How come such a power as hers was granted to a pacifist was always beyond Berchant; however the irony always struck him as funny. Of course, he thought with a little bit of dread, it is only a matter of time that Annabella thought it was odd for two meta-human auras to be downstairs...  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

mc2

Berchant's eyes widen and he falls to the ground in pain at Shane's attack. He knows that even if he had full control of his abilities the chances of calming Shane was almost zero. But maybe he could make use of Annabella. There was a small chance that she would stop him. After all, she did always hate killing. Letting Shane kill him or harm him would be partially her fault or so she would perceive it...

But he couldn't scream out not with Shane controlling his vocal chords, but what if he was able to make use of Annabella's aura sensing abilities. Closing his eyes he focused on trying to project his and Shane's aura through the house.

Upstairs, Annabella was about to retort something to Berchant's mother when she placed her fingers to her forehead and fell silent. The old woman glared at her and snapped, "What are you-"

"Shh, grandma, Mommy has a headache..." Christian hissed. He had seen it before when she sensed fluctuations in auras.

Annie's brown eyes grew wide, why was she sensing that there were two metahuman's downstairs? And so strongly too? Getting up she rushed out the door hearing Berchant's mother calling out, "Where are you going now?"

Annie hurried downstairs to find Berchant on the floor and Shane pulsating a dark almost murderous aura. "Are you trying to get Christian to hate you forever?" Annie demanded pulling at Shane's arm. "I thought I told you I wasn't interested in harming him anymore."

Berchant glanced up at her and smirked to himself, so he bet right. Annabella was still as weak heart-ed as ever. How come such a power as hers was granted to a pacifist was always beyond Berchant; however the irony always struck him as funny. Of course, he thought with a little bit of dread, it is only a matter of time that Annabella thought it was odd for two meta-human auras to be downstairs...

Shane can barely feel Annie tugging at him. With a commanding fire in his voices he proclaims, "We can't be held at fault for what must be done. Your interest in sparing him pain is blind and naive. His power to manipulate minds will be eradicated."

Shane can feel the microscopic biomass hunt for the cells that possess the meteor radiation. An event so microscopic and grandiose that he nearly loses his mind entirely. But then he feels something. Something foreign. The device!

Shane's audibly teeth grind as the realization that he could inadvertently kill Annie's son pushes the dark passenger back. With his scientific mind regaining some control, he eases the pressure on Berchant's cells and uses the biomass to see how the device is connected to him.