Chapter 37 - My SI Stash #37 - You Are A Kryptonian Now by TheEpicLotfi (Worm) (1/2)

-Dude gets SI into Worm as a freaking Kryptonite. Instant read~ （＾ν＾）

*I haven't read Worm at all, I just like reading Self Inserts in general but I still look up on google (Worm Wikipedia) what's it about, the characters etc. to better understand the context!

Sypnosis: Our intrepid Self-Insert awakens in a strange land with the intuitive knowledge that he is a Kryptonian.

His first task? Survive the Undersiders' bank heist. Easier said than done, however, since he has had yet to absorb any sunlight from inside the building.

Rated: M

Words: 74K

Posted on: forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/you-are-a-kryptonian-now-kryptonian-si.57514/threadmarks (TheEpicLotfi)

PS: If you're not able to copy/paste the link, you have everything in here to find it, by simply searching the author and the story title. It sucks that you can't copy links on mobile (´ー｀)

-I'll be putting the chapter ones of all the fanfics mentioned, to give you guys a sample if you wan't more please do go to the website and support the author! (And maybe even convince them to start uploading chapters in here as well!)

Alright, from the top. I'm a Kryptonian, and I am now in Worm. Like a newborn baby with an a_d_u_l_t body and memories implanted, I knew exactly what the f_u_c_k was happening to me, and it was not comforting in the least. Now? I was inside blackness, which finally receded to reveal people dressed in costumes surrounding us with big monster dogs.

”Fifteen minutes,” I heard a feminine voice announce. ”We won't be here any longer than that.”

F_u_c_k.

000

This was real. This was real and it was happening. Right now, in fact.

Utterly uncaring of my inner turmoil, Skitter continued. ”If you are thinking about running, making a phone call or getting in our way, this is a good reason to reconsider. This little creature and her one hundred sisters that I just brought into this room are under my complete control.” They were there, dangling above us from hundreds of gossamer threads, just waiting to sever the connection it had to the ceiling and do its job.

”She's a black widow spider. A single bite has been known to kill a full-grown human or put them into a coma. You move, talk, try to find or kill the spiders I just put on your bodies, in your clothes, in your hair? I'll know in a split second, and I'll tell them to bite you several times.”

I fought through the stress and apprehension, clinging to one life-line: I knew who Skitter was. Taylor Hebert. She'd never kill me. She couldn't. That wasn't in her moral fibre… yet, at least.

I plucked the spider from above me and crushed it with my thumb and index finger. I stood up and gave Skitter a shaky grin. ”Y-y-y-you mean that t-t-thing?”

”Uh-uh.” Tattletale shook her head. ”Big mistake.” She pulled out a gun and pointed it at me. Oh f_u_c_k. She, I knew, would definitely take exception to that. ”Black guy with the dumb hairdo, come.” She's not a murderer.

”U-uh, no,” I said. ”I'm fine where I am.” She's not a murderer.

”Come or I'll shoot you.” She's not a murderer.

”You won't,” I protested. ”B-because you're not a killer.”

I heard a deep voice rumble a ”F_u_c_k it.” And suddenly, I was inside darkness. Oh f_u_c_k, Grue was coming.

The first punch hurt the hardest. Right on my face, even. Did he break a tooth? He didn't stop with just one, though. Three to the face, then one to the torso which winded me. I was on my knees, in pure agony. The darkness receded, and all the hostages turned to me.

Tattletale's grin only sharpened. ”What did our friend say about not being a hero?”

I grinned through the pain. ”You're all… bark… why didn't you… kill me?”

Why am I saying this? Oh, right, because Grue f_u_c_k_e_d with me, and I didn't much appreciate that. And because these are all f_u_c_k_i_n_g characters that I know like the back of my hand. Grue is a reputation-savvy asshole who doesn't really like playing by the rules that society had set, seeing himself as above that shit, but he wouldn't kill me. It was a combination of not having the stomach to do so, and it was genuinely the stupid thing to do.

”Shut up, beefcake, or those words will be your last.” What the f_u_c_k were these lines, anyway, and why was I still so intimidated by them, despite the corniness?

I was safe.

”They won't, though,” I wheezed, and for the life of me, I did not know why I said the next thing that I said. ”Because you're a dumb bitch who couldn't-!”

BANG.

My shoulder. My shoulder. She shot me in my f_u_c_k_i_n_g shoulder.

Oh my GOD, it hurt.

So much for 'Kryptonian', huh?

”F_u_c_k!” I screamed. I was on my back, breathing sharply, s_u_c_k_i_n_g in short bursts of air. It hurt. It hurt like nothing I had ever experienced before in my life. I began to curse in every conceivable way, in every language, stepping out of my moral comfort zone to say the most heinous of things, all to let out the sheer overflow of emotion. ”Tattletale!” I screamed. ”This isn't over! I'm gonna… Oh, I'm gonna laser-eye… laser-eyes… you… I'm… lasers… F_u_c_k!”

”…needs healing!”

”Stay… where you are… move…”

”…bleed ou-…”

The next thing I felt was relief, plain and simple. All my pain was basically s_u_c_k_e_d away in a single nigh-o_r_g_a_s_mic instant. The sheer juxtaposition of misery and neutrality threatened to have me devote my life to whoever allowed me such bliss.

The haggard, brown-haired girl who stared back would probably order me to jump off a cliff if that exasperated look had anything to say. ”You're an idiot, you know that?”

”Oh, it's you,” I muttered. ”Okay, this… this is good.” I grabbed her by the shoulder. ”Don't try to reprogram Skitter's bugs. It'll only end badly for you. Just let them take the money, let them leave.”

She pushed my hand off her shoulder and gave me a disturbed look.

”Nursing time's over,” I heard Tattletale's obnoxious voice pipe up from ten meters away, outside of the clump of hostages. She pointed the gun at me again. ”I'll need you to shut the f_u_c_k up, or the next place I'll shoot will be your knee-caps. One for each word you'll utter henceforth. Panacea'll heal you, of course, and we can rinse and repeat all day. Just say the words.”

I couldn't believe the nerve of that bitch! I opened my mouth to-

I shut my mouth almost an instant later. Rage gave way to fear, because truly, I didn't want to know how it felt to be shot in my knees. I'd rather live a long life of that never happening.

”Good thinking.” She winked at me. ”Now,” she addressed the rest of the crowd. ”I want you all to understand that we're not f_u_c_k_i_n_g around. Sit the f_u_c_k down, shut the f_u_c_k up, let us do our job, and you guys can go back to your life, all safe and sound.”

”…this wasn't a part of the plan,” I heard Skitter murmur into Tattletale's ear. How the f_u_c_k did I hear that? ”You almost killed him.”

”Trust me,” Tattletale murmured back. ”I know where to aim. Besides, he was pissing me off.”

”This doesn't look like 'Cops and Robbers' to me.”

Tattletale had no response to that.

The Undersiders continued their bank robbery. Meanwhile, I had to sit down, utterly useless, no doubt a nuisance to everyone around me. So much for being a hero, so much for being f_u_c_k_i_n_g 'Superman'. The hell was I even thinking? There was barely any sunlight in the bank, most of the lights being artificial. The little that I did receive no doubt went straight to keeping me alive after the shot to my shoulder, and the excuse of an 'enhanced hearing range' I was now enjoying. What good was it to hear when you were f_u_c_k_e_d and you could do nothing about it?

One more word and I'd be shot. Again and again, because stupidly enough, I managed to step on Lisa's trigger: being called stupid.

Man, f_u_c_k her narcissism. No wonder the Worm community liked to bash her!

”Bug,” I heard Tattletale say. ”Take the brave guy out of the crowd. Keep him close to you so he doesn't give anyone dumb ideas. It's either that or I shoot him again. We can't afford to have the crowd mob us.”

With that, she ambled away. Skitter turned to me. ”You”—she pointed at me—”Get up. Sit closer to me.”

I stood up and navigated through the maze of people sitting on the floor until I reached Skitter, who looked several inches shorter than me, and much less intimidating as a result. ”Sit down,” she demanded. I did just that. ”Don't turn around. Face me at all times, or Grue will beat you up some more.”

”So much for spider bites,” I muttered. She clenched her hands, her head gesturing towards Tattletale, who was keeping an eye on us both. Right. Keep mum.

I caught the blonde girl's reflection from the exposed part of the windows on the glass door. After a minute or two, she joined two other Undersiders, Alec and Grue, at the vault in the back. This was my chance. I had to capitalize on Taylor's doubt.

”Bug girl,” I whispered. ”Don't talk back, just listen. I heard what you did to Lung.” She hid her emotions well. I could commend that. ”I'm proud of you. I know what you've been saying to Armsmaster.” I looked at Tattletale until she went to follow Bitch and Grue, no doubt trying to open up the vault door. ”What you're doing is f_u_c_k_i_n_g brave. You don't have to go any harder than this. It's fine. In ten minutes, the Wards will come. All of them, except for Shadow Stalker. If you join forces with them, we'll put away the Undersiders once and for all.”

She shook her head minutely. Right, she was on a mission to find out who was backing them.

”The boss is Coil; Thomas Calvert. We've known for a while, now,” I lied. ”Tattletale is a high-rated thinker. She will sniff you out by tonight at the latest. It isn't safe for you to be with them anymore.”

Her thoughts were inscrutable through her costume, her body-language still and vigilant. ”If you turn your act around now, the PRT will let you go. I can assure you of that.”

Something told me that she didn't seem at all convinced.

F_u_c_k, come on, Taylor! ”I wasn't lying when I said you're not a killer. You're just caught up in something terrible, with no one to guide your hand. I'm not saying that you need someone to tell you what to do, but you're not going at it the right way right now.”

She still wasn't reacting.

”There are two killers in the Undersiders,” I said. ”Bitch is wanted for murder. She killed her foster family. Jean-Paul Vasil, or Alec as you might know him, is the son of Heartbreaker. There are outstanding warrants against him for **** and murder. Forget about 'three-strikes', your boy is destined for the Birdcage.” Her hands were shaking. She hid them behind her back. ”You do not want to associate with these folks. The moment you get caught with them, the waters will muddy fast, and you'll get in over your head. Again, you're a good kid, Bug girl, and I don't want to see you taking this direction in life. You could be one of the most powerful heroes in this city. This undercover look doesn't suit you.”

I was convincing her. I could see it. I knew it in my bones.

”When the Wards c-” BANGBANG. Air left my lungs wholesale as a projectile shot through the back of my knees and through my knee-caps. I was utterly dazed, and I hoped I would feel this way forever, because I knew that once I reached the top of the ramp, the only way to go was down.

And down I went. Down, further down than I could possibly imagine, like a Higgs-Boson particle finally hopping out of its false vacuum state valley.

I saw white.

”AAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

I woke up feeling much better.

”-not a part of the plan, Tattletale!” Taylor shouted.

”-don't you dare f_u_c_k us, Bug, don't you dare! You have no idea what I'm capable of-”

”-threatening me? Is that it-”

”-f_u_c_k_e_d with your head, you idiot-”

No. They weren't shouting. They weren't even in the room. They were out of the lobby, probably somewhere far, but still inside the building, yet I could hear them plain as day. Taylor's doubt was more apparent, now.

”Focus!” Grue shouted. ”Guys, here's a quick fix: let's toss the douchebag out. He'll be somebody else's problem. We've secured the hostage's compliance, so it doesn't matter. Tattletale?”

”Sure,” she said.

Black clouds were already expanding out from the corridor leading to the lobby. ”Remember the plan, Bug girl!” I shouted. ”Wash your hands off this mess!” And in another moment, it was dark.

Hands wrapped around me, lifting me up on my feet. They began dragging me somewhere. Suddenly, they threw me, and I rolled down the stairs. My h_i_p_s ached like a motherf_u_c_ker, but it was manageable. Jesus Christ, I hate the Undersiders.

I got up shakily. ”F_u_c_k!” I screamed. ”F_u_c_k you, Grue and Tattletale!” I shouted, then I screamed myself hoarse at the bank's entrance

The door shattered to reveal a giant monster dog that punched me with their paw. I rolled as far as to the other end of the sidewalk and didn't get up. Down the street, the sun was just about to set over a building. I reached my hand up to take as much sunlight as I could, all the way until the sun had dipped beneath it, and there was no more sun. No more sun…

F_u_c_k_i_n_g Worm.

Chapter 1.2

I wish there was more sun.

I felt better, though. Not great. Not not in pain. Just better.

Someone came up to me to help me up. I took their help and got on my feet. ”T-thank you.”

The man was white and old, with male pattern baldness. He gave me a nod. ”Don't mention it. Are you feeling okay?”

”I feel like shit,” I admitted. He led me to a building wall, where I leaned against. ”Oh, f_u_c_k,” I looked at the hole in my white sweater's shoulder.

”Can you walk?”

”Yes,” I replied, irritated. ”I just need more sunlight…”

”Sunl-”

”Yes,” I responded. ”Yes.” I limped away from the scene where dozens of people were coming to observe. I didn't care what the f_u_c_k happened to those stupid shitheads, whether Taylor actually followed my advice, or if they actually got arrested this time around, or if Amy listened to my advice about not trying to be a hero. If I was lucky, Tattletale's display of brutality should have suitably cowed her-

”Wait!” I heard a voice behind me. It was Amy. Why was Amy following me? Well, it made sense to let her leave along with me. Now, Glory Girl wouldn't have a reason to bash the Undersiders' skulls in. Though it paid to have powerful hostages, using Amy was just playing with fire.

I trudged on ahead and tried to scamper away, but it hurt.

”F_u_c_k-wait!” She shouted after me.

I tripped over my legs and fell on the asphalt where I belonged. Is this enough suffering, author!me?!

Amy crouched over to where my head was. ”Do I have permission to heal you?”

”Knock yourself out,” I muttered dejectedly.

She did. I, quite unashamedly, gasped in p_l_e_a_s_u_r_e as Amy's power straightened me out. ”It's as I thought…”

I sighed. ”I've got alien physiology, and you're fascinated in me.” I pushed myself up to leave. ”Okay, whatever, I've read that story before. Bye. I need to sleep on a heap of trash and wait for sunrise.” Or… not. Oh, no, nonononono, Jesus Christ that sounded like a terrible idea.

”Wait,” she said. I didn't. ”What the hell is your problem?”

”My problem is I need a cigarette, and I already swore those off, and I'm not about to fall off the wagon.”

”Stop!” she shouted. I did, turning around.

”Yeah? What did you want?”

”What the hell are you?” she asked. ”You've got no Corona, and your DNA is utterly alien. You don't share a single genome with any known organism. I've got more in common with rocks than I have with you.”

”I'm not a parahuman,” I said.

”Yeah, no shit!” she practically hissed. ”I'm not stupid, so don't f_u_c_k_i_n_g treat me like I am. I asked you a question.”

”I'm an alien,” I then said. Probably the one true thing I had said all day. ”I'm a f_u_c_k_i_n_g alien. That's what I am. I'm not from this city, this state, this country, this continent, this world!” I took a deep breath to calm myself. ”And really? Everything is freaking me out.”

”You're a Case 53,” she said with some finality.

”Call it whatever the f_u_c_k you want,” I said.

”How did you know I was going to reprogram her bugs?” she asked.

”Because…” I muttered. ”That's what I would do.”

She glared at me, now. ”With my powers?”

”Sure.”

”What do you know about my powers?”

I looked at her flatly and rolled my eyes. ”You're a biokinetic with kiddie gloves on.”

Her eyes were as wide as dinner plates. ”How did you know?”

”Powers,” I said, jazz-handing. ”Panacea,” I said quite deliberately. ”Listen carefully… I'm…” I sighed.” I can't sleep outside. I ain't about that life. I mean, it's cold outside. What I want to do is crash on your couch, and the moment before sunrise, I'll be out of your hair. I promise that.”

She sneered at me. ”What makes you think I'll agree to that?”

I sighed and mentally counted down from ten. ”I'm sorry, okay? I'm weird. I'm aggressive. I'm not in a good place right now. I was shot twice today.” I took a deep breath in. ”I meant thrice. Thrice. I was shot thrice, today. Both my knees, and my shoulder. I respect you, Panacea. Thank you for saving my life.”

”You're… welcome,” she said, still staring at me dubiously.

”So…” I gestured towards her. ”You followed me for a reason. What was it?”

”I… I needed to know what you were,” she said. ”There's… sophistication in your make-up. Optimized organic systems that snap into place when things aren't right. It might take a while, but you can heal correctly from any and all injury. It's like… someone made you… someone perfect.”

”Ah, gee, thanks,” I replied flatly. ”Are you satisfied?”

”That you're an asshole?” she replied.

”I need a bed!”

She nodded. ”The PRT can house you. Just wait here. Once the bank robbery ends, I'll connect you with the Wards. They'll take you to HQ. You can explain your situation, there.”

I nodded and gave her a lopsided smile. ”Actually, thank you, Panacea.” Speak of the devil, however, down the street, more black smoke billowed outward as an array of costumed individuals, some flying — one on his own and the other on a hoverboard — and some on the ground, were poised to attack.

A white-clad teenaged girl descended from the sky, then, to stand right beside Amy. Glory Girl, of course. She looked just like how the fan-art portrayed her, almost disappointingly so. A cutesy round face and a costume more reminiscent of Lady Liberty with a short skirt than Supergirl. Still, she was definitely one beautiful person, leggy as all hell.

”Oh, thank God, Amy.” Victoria Dallon wrapped her sister around in a hug. ”When I heard the bank was being held up, I thought—”

”They let me out,” she said. ”Mostly because that idiot over there—” Was she pointing at me? ”—couldn't keep his mouth shut. He called their bluffs and almost got killed, so they decided to throw him out, and me while they were at it.”

Victoria narrowed her eyes at me and hummed. ”That was… stupid of you.”

You're stupid, I stopped myself from saying. ”I'm a stupid person,” I admitted. ”Glory Girl, could you do me a quick favor and fly me up to a roof-top? I really need some sunlight.”

”Right!” Amy exclaimed. ”T-that's how the cells… that's how they activate, isn't it? Holy shit, this could…” she devolved into crazed mutterings.

Victoria looked at her dubiously. ”Ames… Earth to Ames.” Amy looked up, almost befuddled.

”Right, sorry… I was just… considering things. Hey, you”—she pointed at me—”I need to touch you again.”

”I have a name,” I reminded her.

”And… I don't care about that,” she replied easily. ”Give me your hand for a couple more seconds.”

”Amy,” Victoria said. ”You're acting weirdly.”

”What she said,” I said slowly. ”But… okay, f_u_c_k it.” I walked towards her, hand outstretched. ”Here.”

She took it, and then spaced out, probably focusing the entirety of her brain on my Kryptonian DNA and how her shard could benefit from such succulent data.

Wait, f_u_c_k.

I was almost going to pull back, but Amy let me go first. ”Done.”

F_u_c_k!

Why did I let her do that? Moreover, why was I so impulsive?

Did I just accidentally doom Earth-Bet?

Like stress usually did with me, it gradually eased into apathy. It was done. What could I do? The answer? Get stronger. Hah, and unlike a certain Saiyan in Brockton, that meant I didn't have to train all that much beyond soaking in sunlight. Speaking of sunlight. ”Glory Girl, about that favor I asked?”

”Has anyone ever told you that you're weird?”

”Only every time I meet someone,” I replied. I held my arms up, and she hugged me with one arm before lifting me up. I was expecting pain or discomfort, but instead, I received nothing. That was promising. The moment I touched down on the roof-top, the sun was on me again. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be for long. Several dozen kilometers away, a mountain range stood tall. In a few more minutes, the sun would dip beneath the mountain range, and I'd be f_u_c_k_e_d until sunrise.

”...Are you staring at the sun?” Glory Girl asked.

The last of the sun finally dipped below the mountain. ”I was, yes.”

”Why?”

”I want to detach my retinas,” I said. ”It's an insurance fraud scheme.” I did some stretches. Oh, I felt good. I felt great, actually. Could I fly yet?

Okay, make like Peter Pan and feel freeeeeeeee!

No flight.

”Alright, don't tell me,” she responded. ”See if I care.”

I looked at her, one eyebrow raised. ”I was joking. No need to catch.”

”...Catch what?”

Ouch. Difference in slang… that would do ya. ”You know, catch feelings.”

”I have a boyfriend.”

”And I'm legally an a_d_u_l_t,” I responded. ”I meant 'getting upset'.”

”You've got a weird accent,” she noted.

”Everyone around me's got a weird accent,” I replied right back. ”I think it's you who should talk normally.”

”Are you from Africa?”

”Not yours, no. I'm pretty sure that one's a giant dump.” I went over to the ledge of the roof and sat myself on it, legs dangling. Below me, on the streets, a black van marked with the PRT insignia pulled up right in front of the bank. The darkness had abated. The Undersiders were filing out, some unconscious, and others restrained. F_u_c_k. They did it. I turned to Glory Girl. ”There's a girl that was kidnapped, you know.”

”What?” she asked. ”Where? How do you know?”

I raised a finger. ”The bank robbery was a distraction. A cape named Coil used it to kidnap a girl named Dinah Alcott — a highly powerful precog. Few people know she even triggered; well, except for him.”

”How do you know all of this?”

”I can hear things,” I said, posing it as a mere observation that was completely unrelated to her question. ”I've got enhanced hearing.” Because that was the truth. Lies were easy that way. If someone asks a question, tell them a truth, not necessarily the truth, and let their own biases do the rest of the work.

She flew up over me and descended right in front of where I sat, standing on thin air. ”How do I know you're not just full of shit?” she asked. ”Lying to a hero isn't exactly a smart thing to do.”

”Because I know you'll beat me six ways til Sunday, and I'm not stupid. Besides, I'd gain literally nothing from sending you on such a wild goose chase”

”It's six ways from Sunday,” she corrected. ”You could just be exceptionally brave. If I was told the truth, you weren't exactly keeping self-preservation as a priority during the bank heist. Plus, a lot of villains would like it if the heroes get too distracted on bogus rescue-missions.”

”I knew exactly what would happen if I pushed the Undersiders' buttons,” I defended hotly. ”They're all kids, anyway. Plus, I saw your sister and I took a chance on her. As for Dinah, it's fine if you don't believe me. An Amber alert is going to sound in a couple of hours. Little Dinah's gonna have needles shoved in her arm pretty soon unless we do something.”

”-an agent of yours was ins-”

I looked over to the procession of Undersiders and found Skitter getting filed into the van, quite forcefully, at that. Oh well. I'd do my best to get her out, and it's not like she did something that couldn't be forgiven. If fanfiction informs me correctly, then they'll all get Wardship.

Well, except for Alec, who might definitely get Birdcaged unless they bring to light years of child abuse. Also, Tattletale might just get ganked or broken out by Coil. Bitch was… ironically enough, I loved Bitch. She was definitely one of my favorite characters in the setting, and her origin story really tugged at my frozen heart strings. They would most likely not overlook the fact that she Victory Royale'd her foster family. F_u_c_k, that was sad.

Then there was Grue, who almost broke my jaw. The less said about that piece of work, the better.

It felt utterly alien to still have so much empathy for people who straight-up f_u_c_k_e_d me over, knowing exactly where they came from. If I had to live with the guilt of my sister's suicide, I'd be pretty f_u_c_k_e_d up. If I had to single-handedly take care of my younger siblings, I'd probably do some questionable shit to get by. If my dad told me that the only way to have a place in the family was to murder and ****, I honestly didn't think I'd have the moral fibre to stick to my guns, especially if that moral fibre was never cultivated in the first place.

”F_u_c_k…” I muttered. ”It didn't have to end this way for them.”

”Why?” Glory Girl scoffed. ”They had it coming. They tried to rob a bank. They shot you!”

”Like I said,” I sighed. ”I'm a stupid person. Though I'm pretty sure the only reason the Undersiders were defeated was because Skitter betrayed them.”

”Why would she do that?”

I smiled a little. ”I… told her to.”

”Bullshit.”

It was getting darker, now. Dark enough that the street lights had turned on. ”I don't think there'll ever be a day where you'll just take my words at face value, Glory Girl. I applaud that.”

A guy wearing a white suit with clock faces on them began to fly towards our position. What the f-Clockblocker can fly? Is this an AU? Please don't let this be an AU. Say sike right now.

Clockblocker hovered before me, arms crossed. ”You the guy Amy told us about?”

”Uh, yeah,” I said. ”...Clockblocker?”

”Aegis,” he corrected. ”We switched costumes.”

”Right.” That happened. ”Yeah, I've got like, no home or whatever, and I've also got powers, so that gives y'all an excuse to house me, right?”

He tilted his head. ”What are your powers?”

”What aren't my powers?” I chuckled. ”Well, I'm solar powered, and goddess Sol isn't really gracing us with her presence right now, so I guess you could say I'm just your everyday man. I do have enhanced hearing right now. I can probably hear whispers from a block at most.”

And they were all saying pretty… mundane stuff when I focused. When I didn't, it all just muffled. The PRT grunts were trading coded words with each other, pretty impenetrable unless I was a military buff, which I wasn't. Military types sure did like their acronyms. Posers.

”That… could be useful,” Aegis said. ”And if you get more powerful in sunlight… there's potential in that.”

”Okay, so, now what?” I asked. ”Armsmaster pulls up on his bike and takes me in? Do I ride with you guys?”

”Uh… so Clock notified HQ about you, and the Director would probably like to have a one on one with you.” Makes sense. ”Are you Wards age?”

”No,” Glory Girl answered for me. ”Says he's legally an a_d_u_l_t.”

”Well, I'm nineteen,” I confirmed, not that I had an I.D or a passport to actually verify that. Truth be told, I should have gotten a Cauldron tattoo or something. Coupled with Panacea's testimony and some light acting on my end, I could have gotten away with selling the whole Case 53 angle.

Well, until Armsmaster busted out his lie detector.

Eh, I guess honesty would be the best policy in a world of parahuman thinkers and Armsmasters. Nobody had to know my alien (hah) status right now. I spoke English, and I wasn't planning on overthrowing America, so they wouldn't have much cause to panic.

None of that really mattered. I just needed a bed. Once I could get through the night, I'd have a whole day's worth of solar radiation available to me.

Glory Girl was still looking at me like I was hiding something, which I definitely was, so she wasn't too far off the mark. Aegis' full-face mask left him inscrutable.

”You'll be riding with us,” Aegis said. ”What's your name?”

”Lotfi,” I said, making sure to enunciate it clearly and loudly. He would have to be an absolute idiot to-

”Sorry?” Aegis floated in closer. ”Lofty?”

”I want to choke you so hard right now,” I bit out, glaring daggers at him.

”I didn't hear your name right!” Aegis defended.

”That's a dumb name,” Glory Girl observed casually.

”You're a d-...” Calm down, me. Calm down. ”Lotfi. El-Oh-Tee-Eff-Aye. Not much to it, I grew up Muslim, it's an Arabic name.”

”Huh,” he said. ”Interesting. Why don't you come down with me? We're riding out now. I'll have to hug around you.”

”Sure,” I said. He swooped in and lifted me off gently before slowly descending us both. It felt surreal, being suspended by a person who was literally flying. It shouldn't have been possible at all, but it was. I was experiencing it, after all. The moment I landed, the magic ceased abruptly. It was over, no matter how much I wished it wasn't.

I had to learn how to fly stat. I saw Glory Girl fly off to reconvene with her sister, mentally tuning out their conversation as I focused on where Aegis was leading me. I passed by the van holding the Undersiders. The moment Skitter spotted me from inside the van, she strained against her bonds. ”You promised!”

I stopped in front of her. ”You tend to say a lot of things when your life's at stake.”

”Ah, piss off,” Tattletale snarled. ”You knew that we weren't gonna kill you.”

”Bitch, you shot me!”

”And now you're walking!”

”Tattletale, shut up,” I said calmly. ”And Skitter—” F_u_c_k, why did I call her Skitter to her face? Uh, whatever, roll with it. ”I haven't forgotten. I'll do my best to get you out of there. Lawyer you up, yadda yadda, you know the deal. Don't say anything.”

”You told me-”

I felt myself getting riled up. ”Skitter, you literally held dozens of people hostage, fearing for their lives! If you honestly, for even a second, think you're guilt-free, that you did absolutely nothing wrong, I honestly don't know what to tell you. Just sit tight and wait, alright? The worst they'll do is offer you probationary Wardship, though I have no idea what they'll do to your Canadian pal over there.” I was lying. The worst they'd do is put her in jail. Probationary Wardship would probably be likely, but I had no idea how canon Piggot worked. She might very well throw the book right at her face regardless over her change of heart. Then again, she was allowing Sophia in her team. She obviously didn't have too much of an issue with dark horses.

Uh, I hated speculating. Always led to so many different avenues, but none certain. What I'd do for Dinah's power.

”F_u_c_k you,” Alec muttered almost emotionlessly, letting some amus_e_m_e_nt bleed into his voice.

”Rabbit-Ears,” Aegis called to me. ”We're just about to leave.” Why did he call me- oh, my hearing… that beat revealing my real name to a bunch of villains with a grudge, though. Still, I'd have liked a better epithet. F_u_c_k, now the Undersiders would go around calling me that, even as my other abilities manifested.

”Sorry,” I said. ”Again, sit tight, Skitter.”

The PRT officer closed the door to the van, cutting Tattletale off mid-profanity. Yikety yikes. Good riddance to her. I walked over to Aegis until I reached their van, and climbed onto it.

All the Wards were already seated. A really young girl, a really beefy guy in a purple diamond-print latex suit, Clockblocker in Aegis' suit, a guy in a medieval suit of armour and finally a brown-haired boy in a gold and red power-armour.

”Introduce yourself.” Aegis nudged me.

”Uh, okay,” I said, clearing my throat. ”Heyya, kids.” I can't believe I was actually talking to the Wards. This felt so surreal that my already tenuous grip on reality began to fray severely. ”The name's Lotfi. I repeat, Lotfi. I can hear within a pretty big range at the moment. Nothing special. Yet. Currently, I'm homeless, so there's that.”

”Welcome, Lotfi,” Vista announced. ”I'm Vista.”

”Oh, it's a superpower!” I said. ”The hearing-thing. Also, thank you, Vista.”

”We… kinda got that impression,” Clockblocker said.

”Just had to make sure,” I said. ”Dunno why.”

”I'm Clockblocker,” Clockblocker in Aegis' suit said. ”We switched suits today. Surprisingly, it worked pretty well for us, especially after Bug-girl switched sides.”

”Kid Win,” power-armour boy said.

”I'm Gallant,” the medieval armoured boy continued. ”We'd love to have you with us.”

”I'm glad you'll have me,” I replied.

”Browbeat,” beefy-boy said in a voice that belied his size. ”I'm glad my debut was actually worth something.”

”Wish I could have seen you in action, Browbeat.” I ambled over to take an empty seat next to him. ”No, seriously, I really do.” Wow, was he f_u_c_k_i_n_g huge or what? Aegis took a seat on the van, and after the doors closed, we were on our way.

”Lotfi,” Vista piped up. ”Did you just receive your powers?”

”A little something like that,” I said.

”Oh… I'm sorry.”