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A CYOA in Worm or I think my name is No No
RE: A CYOA in Worm or I think my name is No No
#74
**Taylor**
The next day passed in a blur. Wake up, run, shower, breakfast, school. All of those things flew until last period and Study Hall. “Miss Hebert, Miss Fleischer, Miss Takamachi,” the teacher said catching my attention as well as Akane and Katie’s. “Your work study has been approved, there is a van waiting to take you and the rest of your study group in front of the main doors.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” we said, almost in unison before turning and leaving the classroom. Work Study alternated days, some people had Mondays and Wednesdays, others, like us had Tuesdays and Thursdays while no one went in on Fridays so that they could be there for school events. Walking out of the building I could see Carlos and Dean drive past in Dean’s car even as we started toward the black PRT SUV. “Are you two ready for this?” I asked as I climbed into the back seat and slid over to the driver’s side.
“As I’ll never be,” Katie answered as she took the front passenger seat and closed the door.”
“So long as that joke got the costumes right,” Akane replied closing the back-passenger door. “He mucks this up I’m going to string him up in the mall atrium by something sensitive and give every passing kid a swing with a wiffle ball bat.”
I winced slightly at that, but I could also understand. The three of us and the PRT were laying a lot of trust in Leet’s machine and if it, or he messed things up, we were going to go out there looking like idiots. “I’m sure if something had gone wrong that we would have been notified,” Katie said calmly over her left shoulder. “Though if we need alterations…” she trailed off and at that Akane and I both smiled.
“Minor fitting issues we can handle I’m sure,” Akane said calmly. “But if something is majorly wrong, we’re in trouble.”
Even the monogramming being missing would be acceptable, I thought as we passed into a guarded parking garage behind the PRT building. “Akane,” I said as another thought struck me. “You’re going to have to show us how to do up the masks on these things correctly.”
“That isn’t a problem,” Akane said with a smile as the SUV stopped and we unstrapped ourselves. “The face covering was one of the many things my grandfather taught me in my youth.” Her grin set me at ease, Why does it though?
**
Apparently, I didn’t need to worry about the masks after all. Leet had set up the headgear so that the face covering simply stretched across the front and hooked into the opposite side. Pants, a sleeveless turtleneck styled undershirt and a jacket that from the printed instructions could either be simply wrapped around tied shut like a Gi top or buttoned closed at three points. The footwear was soft-soled and calf-high boots made to look like sandals but zipped up the back. Stepping out into the lounge area I found Akane going over Katie’s costume before nodding with approval.
“Looks good,” she said setting the belt around our teammate’s waist. “And I might need to talk to Sabah and Parian about these boots. I didn’t expect Leet to come up with something that was both functional and comfortable.”
“What were you expecting,” Katie asked a hint of nerves in her voice.
“That I would either have to make something last minute myself,” she said smiling, ”or else teach you two how to tie traditional sandals to your feet.”
“That doesn’t sound like fun,” I muttered slightly sourly. “Any chance we could use this headgear design for our own as well?” I asked.
“Depends on Parian,” Akane answered while looking me over. “Working some protective headgear like a boxer’s or MMA fighter’s helmet in there would be a bit much, I think. But maybe some padding held together with ABS plastic strips. Anything too bulky would give things away and end up looking like a military helmet covered in cloth. You might have to cut your hair though.”
“I’ll consider it,” I said. My hair was my most feminine feature and I had already bundled it up in a thick braid and wrapped it in a cloth sleeve that clipped on underneath the helmet.
“Your public awaits ladies,” Gallant said stepping in through the door with Aegis right behind him. We had another couple of hours of rehearsals before the news conference and debut, but we needed to get busy.
Putting the mask in place I turned to the others, “Let’s do this,” I said. No No and Rune both fixed their own masks and nodded. As far as we were concerned, it was game time.
**
Sherryl Atkinson was the chief correspondent for PRT and Protectorate issues for Brockton Bay’s ABC affiliate and took her job seriously. Because of that she and her camera crew were already in place when Deputy Director Renick stepped out and the entirety of the room went silent. “Ladies and gentlemen,” the bureaucrat said with a hint of solemnity. “In a moment Director Piggot will step out and state the PRT and Protectorate’s stance on what happened Saturday. After this she will answer a few questions before Aegis comes forward to introduce and accept the incoming new Wards. Once they have been introduced there will be a short period for questions for them as well. With luck and all of this will be completed for your stations to do editing for the six-o’clock news. If one of the new Wards declines to comment on a question do not badger them or you will be removed from the press pool.”
Sherryl nodded at that. It was a common statement, at least the last part as the PRT had no patience for reporters badgering their junior members. Still though, she had a job to do and was about to give her camera operator a tap when he gave her a thumbs up. Steve knows his job, she thought as the Director of the local PRT stepped out onto the stage and up to the podium.
“Thank you for coming this evening,” she said setting a tablet on the podium in front of her. “Saturday afternoon the parahuman gang known as the Archer’s Bridge Merchants took a number of civilians and unknown to them, one Empire cape, two Wards and two members of New Wave hostage while attempting to rob Weymouth Mall. We have since confirmed that their intentions included not only those robberies, but the forceful addiction of every hostage there.” The woman, no longer as out of shape or obviously injured as she had been before Christmas, stared at the group of reporters coldly. “The fact that the robberies were foiled, the hostages freed without injury and the apprehension of so many of that gang along with two of its parahumans happened is a direct result of those five young people. Also that night, the Empire cape that I mentioned being there, turned herself in to PRT jurisdiction and has joined the Wards program. Anyone who knows the Empire’s cape lineup will recognize her name and her power as she is not changing her name, but her motivations have changed, allowing her to see the light that is law and order. Now, I will take a few questions. You,” the director finished pointing at Sherryl.
“Director,” Sherryl said standing up. “You said that the Merchants have lost two of their capes and that one of the Empire’s capes has joined the Wards, is there any thought as to moving on either gang?”
“Sherryl,” the director replied with a smile that was probably three-quarters feral because the woman could sense the blood in the water. “You know I can neither confirm nor deny any potential operational possibilities. However, I will say we are looking at our options and intelligence for anything that is actionable both in the near and long term.”
Sherryl sat back down as the director turned and pointed to another correspondent, “Director,” another woman said calmly. “What led you to take a criminal into the Wards program?”
“Maria,” the director said responding to the local Fox affiliate’s reporter. “One thing you have to remember is that everyone makes mistakes and that teenagers make more than adults. This particular young woman was raised in a household that while not physically active in the Neo-Nazi movement, supported it financially. She called her parents out on their own hypocrisy for not acting on their beliefs and was sent to a family member who was physically active in the movement. She triggered sometime afterwards and was admitted to their roster immediately. Lately, she has found reason to break from their grip and leave. Furthermore, the only crimes she has ever been accused of have been misdemeanors, notably defacement of public property and resisting arrest without violence.”
“But what about comparisons to Shadow Stalker?” another reporter called out causing the director to grimace.
“Shadow Stalker was a mistake,” the director said, her voice turning cold and angry. “She was captured as a vigilante who not only didn’t want to work with us, but thought we were too weak to do our jobs. Her acceptance into the Wards was against my judgement and under orders from my superiors. The difference between them is that this young woman could have walked away after the debriefing under rules of truce similar to those of the Endbringer fights. Instead she decided to take probation and Wards membership when it was offered
**
**Taylor**
As Aegis stepped out onto the stage to take the microphone from the director, I took a deep breath and watched Katie, No, I have to think of her as Rune. A new Rune, but still Rune. Rune and No No, lift up on the table that had been painted black so that it would disappear amongst my bugs over the lights. I had been slowly bringing more and more into the room and the line about blotting out the sun felt appropriate. “Now if you will excuse me ladies and gentlemen of the press,” Aegis said starting our cue. “Skitter, No No, Rune, would you ladies please step out and speak to the press?”
“Of course we will Aegis,” my swarm buzzed before forming a wall over most of the stage. Rune and No No went out over the stage curtain while the media were distracted, after which I walked out behind the screen, my bugs parting, as if a sheer curtain before me. “I am Skitter,” the swarm buzzed before it disappeared into mist.
No No dropped beside me from maybe eight foot in the air, landing in a three-point stance before standing. “I am No No,” she said, her radio-microphone picking her voice up clearly.
Rune, as planned, came down slowly behind and between us on the table, the raised edge of the stage hiding it slightly once it was on the ground. “I am Rune,” she said. At that point all three of us bowed at the waist to the press. “We stand ready to serve,” we all said in sync before standing back straight again.
**

(AN: I'll edit and fix this tomorrow, too frustrated right now
Wolf wins every fight but the one where he dies, fangs locked around the throat of his opponent. 
Currently writing BROBd

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RE: A CYOA in Worm or I think my name is No No - by Rajvik - 06-02-2020, 09:42 PM

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