Police Girl (Worm/Hellsing)

Police Girl 1.6 (Hellsing/Worm)

His arm was still in my chest, unmoving the cape was looking at his embedded arm, an odd expression on his face.

Taking use of his distraction, I shifted my body surrounding the arm, forming thousands of microscopic spines, launching the thousands of spikes, a flash of blue light emanated from my chest, somehow stopping the attack short of the arm, burning the spikes to nothing. A force-field, shit.

Awakened from his stupor by the flash, he looked at me and with an unpleasant squelch and an unhinged grin he pulled his fist from me. Blue and red light swirled around his fist like a fiery glove. Damn it, none of the Brockton Bay capes I had researched had powers like this.

I ignored the burnt smell of my flesh and the slightly hysteric laughter coming from blue-boy, as I closed the smoking hole in my chest.

Spitting out the remains of unconscious and mauled E88 gangbangers from my dogtacles jaws, I brought the Cerberus heads to bear. So far my dogtacles had been able to chew through steel, and the force-fields were only on his hands.

“Shit!” He cursed as I swung them high, slamming the three headed tentacles like a club. My view of the alley shifted back to one person perspective as I lost vision from the tentacles, in the impact a flash of blue was the last thing I saw from those eyes before they were liquefied by the force of the blow.

My ears rung from the sound of cement cracking as the blow drove the cape into the ground, as the dust cleared around his blue embedded form the alley floor was spider webbed with cracks.

Pulling himself up from the imprint in the floor, the blue faded from his back, there wasn’t a scratch on him. Automated force-field generation?

Reforming the injured heads, I attacked again using the jaws this time to pin him down. Biting down on his shoulder a blue force-field formed under the teeth. Biting down against the resistance was futile, the teeth were crushed between the shield and the jaw.

Wreathed in red light his hand grabbed the detoothed tentacle’s throat. Briefly increasing in intensity the red light flashed, I felt a flash of pain as the now decapitated head dropped from his shoulder, oddly I could still see from the eyes.

“Not so tough, are you,” He sneered, taking courage from his attack, stepping towards me underneath his feet lit up. Wide eyed his gait lengthened, somehow covering the ground between us, as a moving blue blur.

In close I tried a slash from my transformed fingers, it failed the same as my other attacks. His fists coloured covering shifted a vibrant red as he swung a haymaker. As the glowing fist hit my shoulder and continued through to my face I felt the flesh and bone collapse under the punch. Jumping back, I attacked again from range keeping him off balance with my tentacles to buy time to rebuild myself.

He was improving, this time he simply back-handing the leading dogtacles, his red hand mostly burned through the head, unfortunately for him he missed the second head as it veered at the last second, dodging his strike and going under his guard. Slamming into his stomach hard, the hit elicited a pained grunt.

Flung away he bounced across the ground, his body lit up in a blaze of blue. No force-field for my sucker punch but one for the ground? Ah ha, his power couldn’t protect all of him at once, which was good, if he was distracted its protection was limited. Reforming my jaw I let another dozen tentacles bud from my back. Sliding across the ground I began encircling him, with a blue assisted leap he was at me again, this time a red punch pierced my lung.

Before he could get a chance to extricate himself from my body the tentacles struck. The first tentacle was eroded by the blue shield almost as soon as it wrapped around his arm, no that won’t do, I reinforced them, armouring the sides of the tentacle with thicker and denser scales. In a constant state of adapting the half-shadow half-flesh tentacles secured another leg, repairing and reinforcing itself constantly as the colours shifted from red to blue.

Swallowing a mouthful of my own blood, the tentacles secured a solid hold of all his limbs. Coiling tightly around his arms and legs I ignored the smell of smoke coming from his arms. He wasn’t so confident now as he struggled frantically. Behind his back I raised a final silent tentacle, striking hard, his focus on the tentacles holding him prone allowed the blow to connect with a crunch.

As my tentacle left the orange sized dent in his head, his shields winked out of existence. Letting his body slump to the ground I sighed. If he had been a better fighter I won’t have liked my chances.

Idly as I reforged the unused tentacles into four Cerberus headed tentacles I looked around the alley, I winced at the destruction, our battle may have been quick, but the collateral was impressive. Walls stood with body sized dents, the concrete floor was cracked all the way through to the ground below and… I don’t remember destroying that dumpster.

Where were the other three?

Oh, that was annoying, our fight had partially buried the other gang members under rubble and garbage, dragging them from the mess would take a while. Reaching across the alley, I pulled the comatose cape to my face, the pulse was weak but he was still alive.

The blow should have killed him, but it didn’t matter, shrugging I bit into his neck, as the blood began to flow I felt something different than the usual euphoria of blood.

Almost like the moment before you sneeze, or the eeriness of calm before a storm. I could almost touch it, if I just reached out, but the harder I reached the more it eluded me. Everything went white. As my vision returned something felt different. A sixth sense of a sort was telling me something was different, it was a small flicker of light within me but not, I couldn’t see it but I knew it was there, just waiting for someone to do something.

Glancing at the mess around me and the cape in my hand, it could wait.

Leaning against the broken dumpster crunches of bone filled the alley as the teeth and micro spikes tore apart their bodies, eliminating the evidence.

--​

As I moved across the rooftops, the little glow, like the proverbial rock in a shoe was a continuous irritant, distracting me, demanding my attention.

Stepping up onto the nearby office building, I sank into a meditative pose.

It was one thing to sense it, but how to do something with it. Visualising it glowing brighter or dimmer did nothing, willing it to change, achieved nothing except make my head hurt. I tried to push it with my mind, pulling it had no effect either.

It hung there mockingly, just out of sight.

Visualising a hand I tried to grab a hold of the spark, as the metaphorical hand closed around it, my mind was filled with fire. Images filled my mind, memories not my own but my own swam through my mind, it was a orchestra of noise and colour.

I shook my head I was 15 not 23, and I never had a sister.

-ushed her fringe back behind her ear, kissing her​

crown I ignore the indignant squawk as she pouts​

​

“Big Brother! You’re embarrassing me, Stop!”​

​

She looks away, affecting a disinterested expression,​

A second of silence passes, before she turns back,​

a pleading look on her little face.​

​

“Why do you have to go?”​

​

I sigh, pulling her into a hug.​

There isn’t anyway to explain it to a five year old,​

​

“Just business, something I have to take care of”​

​

Glimmering her little eyes start to water, I hug her ti-​

No, don’t cry it’s going to get better. I tried to pull myself away from the growing blaze, the harder I pulled the more memories of people I didn’t know swept faster.

A crushing wave of sadness filled my heart as the image of the little blonde girl faded.

-ffled a scream as the belt struck my back.​

​

“I told you to fucking ditch that Kike bitch and​

when I’m coming home, from putting food on the table​

what do I see you and that whore together!”​

​

Another three lashes stick, I can feel the blood dripping​

down my legs, Dad only pauses to take another pull of beer.​

​

“Maybe, I need to have a word with her, eh sonn-”​

Shame, fear, powerlessness… Just… why don’t I give up…?

No! It’s not real, Dad never hit me, and he loves me.

My hands shaking, I bit down on my gag reflex. A strong​

hand patted my back, startling me from my contemplation,​

I let the pistol drop to the ground.​

​

“Congratulations and welcome to the Empire” he man behind me congratulated me.​

​

I just tried to ignore the glassy eyes of the nigger at my feet.​

I wanted to throw up, the guilt and nervousness as I held the gun to the terrified kids head. The smell of cordite mixed with the disgusting metallic tang of blood made my stomach tremble, if this was the guilt I was missing, I didn’t want it not at all. Everything lurched to the side as the surroundings changed again.

-oked around at the crowd, a dozen or so groups of my​

Empire brothers were here, all looked as confused about our summons as I felt​

​

Entering from the right Kaiser flanked by two twins, their presence silenced​

the murmurings of the crowd. Behind him the twins dragged a bloodied​

man, he was somewhat familiar…​

​

“You are gathered here, to witness the fate of those who betray their brothers!”​

​

As Kaiser spoke, the twins threw the beaten man to the floor. Without​

Prompting they dropped two coins at the man’s feet. They grew like a vine​

spikes grew off spike wrapping around the man’s legs like a metallic rose bush.​

​

Blood spurted as the metal prison dug its way into his body,​

not for the first time I hoped to never come across a cape in a fight​

Kaiser was on our side and he was fucking terrify-​

Why aren’t I running, he is a monster! Because once you’re in, you’re in for life the cynical part of my mind supplied. Then everything fell right, oh I recognise this alley…

-Shit, shit, shit it’s the Reaper, she, he, it whatever it was terrifying,​

red eyes stared into my soul, no one had escaped that they wanted dead​

​

I ignored my guns reassuring weight on my hip, instead going for my phone​

as Johnny started shooting, if I could get back up, maybe Hookwolf would gut the bitch.​

​

I ignored John and Danny’s frantic firing. Grabbing at my cell phone, I nearly​

swore as my sweaty fingers fumbled trying to open the clamshell. Glancing up to see​

why they stopped, I froze red-eyed monsters had them by the shoulders, each with an arm gone.​

​

As the phone fell from my shaking hands I held back a scream as a black​

arm shot across the alley like it was made of rubber, grabbing my throat.-​

As I returned from the fast forwarded highlights of mister blue’s life, I was in the dark dry heaving, trembling I shook my head pushing the vivid images, smells and sensations from my mind. I tried to open my eyes to dispel the darkness, nothing happened.

What?

Reaching up to my face, I froze, I could smell blood on my hands…

Gingerly touching my face, I discovered the problem. Reforming my face and my displaced eyes in a burst of shadow, I looked down as my bloodied hands, they still smelled delicious nothing like I had felt at the initiation’s memory.

Licking them and the crushed eyeball gloop, I tried not to shiver at the fear I had felt, or how easy it had been to claw my own eyes out.

 

2.1

Sipping his scotch, the ice afloat in the coloured spirit clinked against the squat glass. As the familiar burn of expensive alcohol enveloped his throat, Kaiser gazed out his building’s massive windows, above most of the city, his unimpeded view oversaw most of Brockton Bay, his city.

Everything the light touched would be his, his rule would be absolute. Only the Asian Dragon’s forces held his Empire in check, preventing his domination of the city. The insignificant gnats like the Merchants filled the unwanted space between struggling behemoths gnawing at the leftovers.

Nursing the icy glass, he turned from the panoramic view, back to his desk and the patiently waiting men arrayed opposite him. Silently he assessed the unmasked men. Victor probably using skills appropriated from a diplomat or negotiator was calm and collected and Hookwolf more used to the physical aspects was beginning to show subtle signs of fidgeting and impatience but still presented a stoic image.

Picking up a Manilla folder from the midst of the cluttered quarterly reports and various memo’s, he dropped the folder on the desk’s edge, gesturing with a finger he indicated for the men to take the collated files from within.

Divvying up the stapled sheets, the two lent back in there chairs reading. Watching the younger man speed read a document in a fraction of the time it had taken him, Max again wondered at the breadth of skills Victor had collected.

“We have a problem, at the moment it is small, only a few dozen men have been disappeared. We cannot afford to look weak in the face of these attack,” Idly his ring finger tapped the glass, “The Ward Shadow Stalker had a brief encounter with the cape our men have so affectionately named ‘The Reaper’.”

The report, obtained from a PRT operative sympathetic to the Empire for a small cash donation, was sparse on actionable intel but did give a description of who had been behind the disappearance of the lower level members and an idea of their powers when they had none to go on.

“A cannibal,” Victor’s muttered in astonishment, silently Max raised an eyebrow. It was rare for cracks in Victor’s poker face to occur.

“Shame she’s a Nigger,” Hookwolf spoke up, rubbing his chin’s stubble. “The trick with the heads would have been good for the dog fights,”

“I would prefer this annoyance to be dealt with in-house,” Setting down his glass of scotch, Kaiser paused for effect, “However, if you are unable to eliminate this problem in a timely manner. Our allies have access to a selection of useful Thinkers.”

Leaning forward, his eyes sought and matched each lieutenant’s gaze. Victor maintained an emotionless facade while Hookwolf sweated slightly under the gazes intensity, “I would very much like to not have to use that contingency”

Victor nodded, sitting the papers on the table, he drew on a former South African commando’s liberated guerrilla warfare and urban conflict skills “It’s a hit and run operation, attacking isolated individuals or small groups. They will be difficult to track down without setting bait”

Max nodded.

“Maybe their power is too weak for anything else?”

“Dog heads, fast healing and possibly super strength?” Victor mused, “But, she might be vulnerable to light and sound bursts above normal levels…”

“Flashbangs?” Hookwolf grunted, “Like Purity’s blasts?”

Max’s eyes narrowed minutely at the reminder, Kayden had been reticent to return to the fold.

“Yes,” Victor nodded, “As well hitting the canine heads with a dog whistle might serve as a useful distraction. The report seems suggests an impressive level of coordination for the heads, it seems indicative of there being some level of shared senses,”

--​

My nose filled with the smell of frying bacon as I smiled. Every now and then Dad would wake up early and fill the house with the smell of cooking bacon and eggs, a rarity in the last few years without mum.

Leaving my room, I could hear Dad moving around the kitchen.

Stepping into the kitchen, Dad started to serve breakfast.

“Ah, I was just about to come and wake you,” He pointed to the set table, “Take a seat it won’t be long,”

Watching as the plates and cutlery clattered I felt a small bubble of guilt. Keeping everything from him, if he ever found out, it would hurt him, but it was better for him in the long run if he didn’t know about Emma, Sophia or my patrols.

We were mostly silent as we ate, neither of us were talkative the silence was comfortable. The bacon’s taste was flatter than it should have been, most ‘normal foods’ since my trigger tasted flat, not bad or flavourless. They just tasted different compared to what I could remember and compared to the stolen memories.

“How’s school been?” He worried about Winslow, especially after the locker.

“Better, Dad…” Chewing on a mouthful of bacon and eggs I deflected giving a small smile, “Why do you ask?”

“You just seem happier these last few weeks,” He shrugged, swallowing the last mouthful of eggs on his plate “I thought you might have made a new friend”

It was nice thought, since Emma I had been alone a friend would be nice, I smiled at the thought as I took my plates to the sink.

I stiffened as Dad pulled me into a hug. Cautiously I let myself lean into the hug, it was nice to have the warm arms around me. I had been terrified I would break one of his ribs before I got a handle on my strength… and I didn’t realise how much I missed them.

“You’ll tell me if you’re having problems, right kiddo?” I nodded into his shoulder, it was a little lie. But it made him happy.

--​

Stepping left I dropped low, my invisible enemy’s speeding fist sliding past my head missing by millimetres, crouched my hand began shifting into a pitch black claw, as I swiped at my invisible foe tendrils of shadowy fire trailed behind the transformed hand.

-ab the Knife!” The boys behind me call as I lunge at the idiot in front of me, I catch his arm as he swings his little switch blade at me. I tighten my grip on his green and red sleeve as I lean in, I can hear my boys have his compatriots taken care of.

“Drop it China Man” I orde-​

Dodging back I clear half the narrow room, as I evade the return swing, twisting my body to the right I step around my foe. Lashing out with leg sweep at his legs, I collapse their knees.

-lam the balding ginger man into the wall, the few family pictures we have rattle on their hooks, his boxers only managing to conceal him by the grace of god. He coughs blood as I punch his nose.

“Now I saw what you have on your computer, you sick fuck,” As he whimpers I push my forehead to his, “The only reason your still fucking breathing is because you didn’t touch Susie, now I’m going to be generous today. You will run and never return… if I see you again, well…”

Leaving the threat hanging the door slams behind his running form, I sigh rubbing my eyes.

Damn it mum, a ped-​

Leaping forward the downed foe I brought my transformed fist down, smashing through the imaginary opponents head, impacting with a dry crack and a small plume of dust.

Blowing my fringe from my eyes, I pulled myself from the crouch. Inspecting the damage, it wasn’t too bad, a fist shaped indent was the only real indication my mock fighting had been going for the last hour in the warehouse.

I huffed. I wasn’t tired or sweaty physically, a feat that made me want to slap myself for working out in this dingy warehouse in just my sports bra and bike shorts.

Instead I felt the mental fatigue from the constant mental strain of holding a miniscule tendril to the memories of the E88 cape, it was small but it was getting bothersome. The memories spark still hung at the edge of my senses and was constantly irritating like a small pitched whine or an achy tooth.

Yay for powers…

And like an achy tooth I couldn’t help but poke at, which was followed by a wave of stolen memories, but nothing of the intensity I had felt the first time.

The tragic past aside, memories of fighting for my life or the unwritten rules of the streets were an information goldmine. Definitely worth the blow to my ego seeing how little my patrols had done to curb the Empire’s activities, the non capes feared their leaders more than my spectre.

It was disquieting, with the experience of street fights for normals I could see the impracticalities of my Cerberus heads. They were excellent for ambush and intimidation, but I couldn’t fight a cape with just them, the physics were all wrong to have me and the heads both in motion, and the tentacles themselves provided difficulties especially with the problems of close quarters and Brutes. Could I make them independent of me?

One had been decapitated in the fight and I could still see through it, maybe… Shifting my hands back to my normal hands, I sighed. Ending the connection to the spark, the fighting instincts fresh in my mind began to dull, my posture shifted subtly back to norm-

I felt my stomach roil, doubling over I gagged as I felt my stomach wrench sideways. As the pain faded, I lay on the ground gasping for air, looking at my stomach I stifled a scream.

I stared, shocked.

A head, neck and a shoulder were jutting from my stomach, fused to me like a demented carnival act. Milky white eyes stared from a slack face at the ceiling, I couldn’t hear a heartbeat, nor any breathing. How did I? I didn’t visualise anything to shift, and how the hell did I make clothes?

Tentatively I touched the face, I-i could feel it…

I had been touching the spark when-

Oh…

I recognised that face now… Mister Blue.

I am so sorry.

M-maybe there were more than just memories in the little spark?