Crimson Surge - Twisted Destiny
Crimson Coil had no particular interest in Arachnos' Operation: Destiny... Until her work for her Patron revealed SHE was a part of it...
Warning: Violence, murder, swearing, Villains being Villains (... mostly.)
It was hardly unusual to see Villains on the streets in the Etoile Isles, least of all Grandville, the Capital. Generally, it was safe to ignore them beyond keeping out of arms' reach.
If they were moving with a clear purpose straight for the central tower, it was smartest to get well out of the way. Especially if they seemed in a bad mood.
Crimson Coil alighted on the steps at the base of the Tower, quickly dashing up them to enter the tall, dark, and foreboding building. She quickly made her way to the far left corner. Vibrant red arcs of electricity danced across her black armor, adding to the already red lighting inside the building.
No one inside would question her presence or deliberate movements. She had been labeled the 'Destined One' for Arachnos' so-called 'Operation: DESTINY'. Though only those directly involved in the final phases, including her, knew what that destiny was. Everyone else just heard it was important.
In truth? That destiny was tied to the end of the world in Lord Recluse's attempt to conquer it, she would be killed as a perceived threat to his rule after his heroic rival's death. Arachnos would tear itself apart in a civil war, while other villain groups made power grabs with the sudden vacuum. All while Heroes split into various factions trying to deal with the situation in differing ways and likely fighting each other just as much as their common enemies.
Crimson Coil was not fond of being used as a disposable tool, or of the world being destroyed. Operation: DESTINY needed to fail.
As she made her way to the Destiny portal, she carried with her some forged orders of a portal recalibration. Along with some more genuine papers detailing the alterations needed to send her into the future. A future where she could 'safely' fight Recluse, to bring something back that would make him call the operation off. It would either succeed, or be the end of her, she wasn't actually sure she was powerful enough to face Recluse, alone, and survive.
As soon as Crimson reached the portal's area, she offered the papers to the head scientist backing it. She smirked slightly beneath her helmet's full faceplate as his expression twisted in mild confusion and surprise. But... he was fooled by the forgery.
I'll have to see if I can learn the magic trick Scirocco used to fake that... Could be useful in the future... if I survive this one.
That smirk just as quickly faded. This whole thing could very well get her killed, in the name of self-preservation and keeping the rest of the world from being destroyed in an all-out war.
... I'm gonna be fighting a future-Recluse, who is capable of killing future me, who I would have HOPED would be more powerful than I am currently... Alone... What the ACTUAL FUCK me!?
Too late to go back on the plan now, the portal was recalibrated. She took a deep breath and stepped through...
... To be instantly greeted by the still-burning ruins of Paragon City's heart. Crimson stepped into the air and took off toward what was left of the city hall building, if she knew Recluse... he'd be there, along with several of his soldiers.
The tech in her helmet caught Recluse's signature quickly, on top of the building almost exactly where she'd expected. She used her altitude advantage and the smoke rising from the rubble to cover her approach, on top of using a little bit of magic to render herself invisible. A small bit of power went into a spell to amplify her voice, modulated and backed by a slight bit of static:
"RECLUSE!"
Crimson darted into a new location as a bright red energy blast shot through the space she'd occupied before. She continued her taunting, a growl entering her tone: "You will not truly succeed this day."
Faintly, Recluse's response came: "Haven't I already killed you? How?!"
Crimson relocated again, behind him this time, out of sight of his backup that rested below. Her power was redirected to the offense as she surged down, vibrant arcs of electricity striking out eagerly toward the back of her target. "Time travel's a bitch is how!"
The damage of Crimson's starting volley was largely shrugged off, but that wasn't the intent of it, anyway. Two figures of electricity formed and started attacking Recluse. The thin, razor-tipped arms of his backpack swiped at one of the electrical gremlins and disrupted its coherence severely. But it was time spent not trying to stab or blast Crimson as she maneuvered overhead, out of reach.
Her lightning lashed out again, bindings that barely held started to form. She'd need to overcharge her suit's systems to get anything to stick. This fight would have to be finished faster if she were to survive.
Crimson called at a deeper part of her power. Recluse finally sighted his main attacker and sent a blast of energy in her direction before swiping at the second gremlin. Unfortunately for him, she was more agile in the air than on the ground and quickly darted aside. The air around Crimson crackled. While her power couldn't get much brighter, her strikes came faster and hit harder. The bindings to keep Recluse from running around grew stronger, and the rubble below arced with a field that would slow his other movements.
The first Gremlin fell to another swipe, followed by the second to a larger energy blast. Crimson gestured to the side and two small orbs of light manifested, hovering up to her height before engaging Recluse.
She just... needed to keep him from hitting her. As long as she stayed in the air, that kept his terrifying spider arm-claws out of the fight-
Recluse shifted and sent a wave of energy from each claw's projector at once in Crimson's direction. The wave was too large for her to easily dodge, and she took the impact and dropped.
As soon as she hit the ground and collapsed, her power surged anew. Fighting the pain from the blow she took, the air around her filled with a particularly deadly charge that started to focus. Recluse broke from the bindings no longer being maintained and began to move closer to finish her off. She made a brief note of how scorched his armor and cloak were from her previous assault as she raised both arms toward him. Lightning arced between her gauntlets with enough frequency and power the air shimmered with heat. "Just as persistent as the first."
"Except I'm surviving this."
What followed was much like being at the source of lightning and thunder in a storm, rather than miles away on the ground.
Crimson groaned from where she'd landed, blinking spots out of her vision from the blinding blast she'd let out... Until she realized most of that was her two light orbs that had somehow survived and hovered over her body. Carefully she propped herself up to look over the damage that had been done.
More of the building was scorched and collapsed, Recluse's limp body was laying nearby and... smoking a little bit? Crimson's armor looked like it had started to melt in a few places. Spots smoldered and the channeling arrays in her gloves were completely fried. She wouldn't be fighting for a while until things were fixed.
Crimson sighed and struggled to her feet. She briefly scanned the area before limping toward Recluse's body, staring down at it for a few moments. She knelt and fought Recluse's helmet off what was left of his remains. Deeply glad for her helmet's air filters keeping the smell out... mostly.
So... I am stronger than him...
Crimson shook her head slightly and looked around the ruined area. Many others might've felt proud, being able to take on Lord Recluse and not only survive but win. But... She'd done it to survive, and... villain she may be but the world being this because of her actions?
No.
She started to take flight with what power she had left when an oddly familiar glint of red caught her eye. Was that? Oh, dear.
That was her body from this timeline.
Crimson frowned and... against better judgment carefully made her way over for a better look.
Though Recluse and his forces had done a number in the fighting, it was still... her. Wearing a different combat suit that looked lighter. Small red fragments of crystal were scattered around the area that might've been attached at some point. Was it a prototype design perhaps?
She clutched Recluse's helmet a little tighter and turned away. Quickly navigating back to the point she'd entered that time at. She'd spent too long there.
Crimson relaxed a faint measure when she stepped back into the Destiny portal's room. Promptly ignoring all the looks she got from everyone lingering around as she turned to stubbornly limp to the Tower's elevators. No one made any effort to stop her.
As soon as she stepped into one of the elevators she hit the button to head to the top, leaning against the wall the moment the doors shut. One last thing before going home, getting out of her armor, and curling up in bed where she could pass out for several hours.
The elevator doors opened and she pushed off the wall to step out. Not quite marching down the short, cramped hall into the meeting room Recluse and Arachnos' Patrons could be often found when they were plotting. Crimson made no effort to acknowledge the patrons, even Scirocco who she walked right past. No, she went right up to the small platform Recluse observed from, tossing the battered helmet so it'd land at his feet.
Crimson looked up at Recluse, who among Arachnos was usually seen as the most powerful and dangerous person in a room, and silently waited for his response. After a moment of studying the helmet without picking it up, his gaze turned to her. "... Message received."
Crimson turned back the way she came and started back toward the elevator. The only Patron she looked at was Scirocco, and only long enough to see the slightly pleased look on his face.
Operation: DESTINY wouldn't be continuing with her as its tool.
Warning: Violence, murder, swearing, Villains being Villains (... mostly.)
It was hardly unusual to see Villains on the streets in the Etoile Isles, least of all Grandville, the Capital. Generally, it was safe to ignore them beyond keeping out of arms' reach.
If they were moving with a clear purpose straight for the central tower, it was smartest to get well out of the way. Especially if they seemed in a bad mood.
Crimson Coil alighted on the steps at the base of the Tower, quickly dashing up them to enter the tall, dark, and foreboding building. She quickly made her way to the far left corner. Vibrant red arcs of electricity danced across her black armor, adding to the already red lighting inside the building.
No one inside would question her presence or deliberate movements. She had been labeled the 'Destined One' for Arachnos' so-called 'Operation: DESTINY'. Though only those directly involved in the final phases, including her, knew what that destiny was. Everyone else just heard it was important.
In truth? That destiny was tied to the end of the world in Lord Recluse's attempt to conquer it, she would be killed as a perceived threat to his rule after his heroic rival's death. Arachnos would tear itself apart in a civil war, while other villain groups made power grabs with the sudden vacuum. All while Heroes split into various factions trying to deal with the situation in differing ways and likely fighting each other just as much as their common enemies.
Crimson Coil was not fond of being used as a disposable tool, or of the world being destroyed. Operation: DESTINY needed to fail.
As she made her way to the Destiny portal, she carried with her some forged orders of a portal recalibration. Along with some more genuine papers detailing the alterations needed to send her into the future. A future where she could 'safely' fight Recluse, to bring something back that would make him call the operation off. It would either succeed, or be the end of her, she wasn't actually sure she was powerful enough to face Recluse, alone, and survive.
As soon as Crimson reached the portal's area, she offered the papers to the head scientist backing it. She smirked slightly beneath her helmet's full faceplate as his expression twisted in mild confusion and surprise. But... he was fooled by the forgery.
I'll have to see if I can learn the magic trick Scirocco used to fake that... Could be useful in the future... if I survive this one.
That smirk just as quickly faded. This whole thing could very well get her killed, in the name of self-preservation and keeping the rest of the world from being destroyed in an all-out war.
... I'm gonna be fighting a future-Recluse, who is capable of killing future me, who I would have HOPED would be more powerful than I am currently... Alone... What the ACTUAL FUCK me!?
Too late to go back on the plan now, the portal was recalibrated. She took a deep breath and stepped through...
... To be instantly greeted by the still-burning ruins of Paragon City's heart. Crimson stepped into the air and took off toward what was left of the city hall building, if she knew Recluse... he'd be there, along with several of his soldiers.
The tech in her helmet caught Recluse's signature quickly, on top of the building almost exactly where she'd expected. She used her altitude advantage and the smoke rising from the rubble to cover her approach, on top of using a little bit of magic to render herself invisible. A small bit of power went into a spell to amplify her voice, modulated and backed by a slight bit of static:
"RECLUSE!"
Crimson darted into a new location as a bright red energy blast shot through the space she'd occupied before. She continued her taunting, a growl entering her tone: "You will not truly succeed this day."
Faintly, Recluse's response came: "Haven't I already killed you? How?!"
Crimson relocated again, behind him this time, out of sight of his backup that rested below. Her power was redirected to the offense as she surged down, vibrant arcs of electricity striking out eagerly toward the back of her target. "Time travel's a bitch is how!"
The damage of Crimson's starting volley was largely shrugged off, but that wasn't the intent of it, anyway. Two figures of electricity formed and started attacking Recluse. The thin, razor-tipped arms of his backpack swiped at one of the electrical gremlins and disrupted its coherence severely. But it was time spent not trying to stab or blast Crimson as she maneuvered overhead, out of reach.
Her lightning lashed out again, bindings that barely held started to form. She'd need to overcharge her suit's systems to get anything to stick. This fight would have to be finished faster if she were to survive.
Crimson called at a deeper part of her power. Recluse finally sighted his main attacker and sent a blast of energy in her direction before swiping at the second gremlin. Unfortunately for him, she was more agile in the air than on the ground and quickly darted aside. The air around Crimson crackled. While her power couldn't get much brighter, her strikes came faster and hit harder. The bindings to keep Recluse from running around grew stronger, and the rubble below arced with a field that would slow his other movements.
The first Gremlin fell to another swipe, followed by the second to a larger energy blast. Crimson gestured to the side and two small orbs of light manifested, hovering up to her height before engaging Recluse.
She just... needed to keep him from hitting her. As long as she stayed in the air, that kept his terrifying spider arm-claws out of the fight-
Recluse shifted and sent a wave of energy from each claw's projector at once in Crimson's direction. The wave was too large for her to easily dodge, and she took the impact and dropped.
As soon as she hit the ground and collapsed, her power surged anew. Fighting the pain from the blow she took, the air around her filled with a particularly deadly charge that started to focus. Recluse broke from the bindings no longer being maintained and began to move closer to finish her off. She made a brief note of how scorched his armor and cloak were from her previous assault as she raised both arms toward him. Lightning arced between her gauntlets with enough frequency and power the air shimmered with heat. "Just as persistent as the first."
"Except I'm surviving this."
What followed was much like being at the source of lightning and thunder in a storm, rather than miles away on the ground.
Crimson groaned from where she'd landed, blinking spots out of her vision from the blinding blast she'd let out... Until she realized most of that was her two light orbs that had somehow survived and hovered over her body. Carefully she propped herself up to look over the damage that had been done.
More of the building was scorched and collapsed, Recluse's limp body was laying nearby and... smoking a little bit? Crimson's armor looked like it had started to melt in a few places. Spots smoldered and the channeling arrays in her gloves were completely fried. She wouldn't be fighting for a while until things were fixed.
Crimson sighed and struggled to her feet. She briefly scanned the area before limping toward Recluse's body, staring down at it for a few moments. She knelt and fought Recluse's helmet off what was left of his remains. Deeply glad for her helmet's air filters keeping the smell out... mostly.
So... I am stronger than him...
Crimson shook her head slightly and looked around the ruined area. Many others might've felt proud, being able to take on Lord Recluse and not only survive but win. But... She'd done it to survive, and... villain she may be but the world being this because of her actions?
No.
She started to take flight with what power she had left when an oddly familiar glint of red caught her eye. Was that? Oh, dear.
That was her body from this timeline.
Crimson frowned and... against better judgment carefully made her way over for a better look.
Though Recluse and his forces had done a number in the fighting, it was still... her. Wearing a different combat suit that looked lighter. Small red fragments of crystal were scattered around the area that might've been attached at some point. Was it a prototype design perhaps?
She clutched Recluse's helmet a little tighter and turned away. Quickly navigating back to the point she'd entered that time at. She'd spent too long there.
Crimson relaxed a faint measure when she stepped back into the Destiny portal's room. Promptly ignoring all the looks she got from everyone lingering around as she turned to stubbornly limp to the Tower's elevators. No one made any effort to stop her.
As soon as she stepped into one of the elevators she hit the button to head to the top, leaning against the wall the moment the doors shut. One last thing before going home, getting out of her armor, and curling up in bed where she could pass out for several hours.
The elevator doors opened and she pushed off the wall to step out. Not quite marching down the short, cramped hall into the meeting room Recluse and Arachnos' Patrons could be often found when they were plotting. Crimson made no effort to acknowledge the patrons, even Scirocco who she walked right past. No, she went right up to the small platform Recluse observed from, tossing the battered helmet so it'd land at his feet.
Crimson looked up at Recluse, who among Arachnos was usually seen as the most powerful and dangerous person in a room, and silently waited for his response. After a moment of studying the helmet without picking it up, his gaze turned to her. "... Message received."
Crimson turned back the way she came and started back toward the elevator. The only Patron she looked at was Scirocco, and only long enough to see the slightly pleased look on his face.
Operation: DESTINY wouldn't be continuing with her as its tool.
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