Chapter 2: Don't Feed the Animals

"Skinemax?" James said as he followed, "eww, don't give me nightmares Kat." Rolling her eyes she cast a glance over her shoulder and said in a challenging tone "What of two girls getting it on in a lab?" Even under the mask, she could feel his glare as he said "No of my sister in a soft-core porno." Tilting her head to the side, she admitted "Yeah, you've got me there."

"You know I've got you there," he said as they rounded a corner for the elevators. "Now can we not have this discussion in front of Stella?" As Kat thumbed the button, she teasingly said "What worried about discussing sex in front of someone besides me or Chris?" Silent for a few seconds as if to place emphasis on what he'd say next, he then said "I'm worried that the computer genius who spends her time hacking will use this on me one day...."

"So. Hows your day been?" Gray would ask as he looked at the door. Marcus started knocking on it himself. "Any clue on how to operate it at all?" He would ask and before grey could reply he stopped himself and shook his head. "I'll go find someone. Maybe Murphy." He would say as he went to walk around the corner, hoping to bump into anyone.

"...I'm not even sure how to respond to any of this without asking for a ticket to the soft ore porn James thinks you're taking part in." She said, her voice a bit calmer...but it was clear she was pretty pissed.

"Don't go there," both of the Conner siblings said at the same time. The elevator finally arrived, doors opening for them to step into.

Murphy arrived at the elevators, following Grey and Shadow. Mosstly out of orders from Wyle, but he figured they'd also need help activating the elevators.

"It's like I've not made it obvious I've had a crush on Kat for awhile." She muttered before falling silent.

"You have a crush on my sister?" James said at the same time Kat groaned "Did you have to bring that up?" The doors closed and left them in the box of an elevator, slowly rising to the next floor for personnel quarters. "Well.....I'd say that was the most surprising thing I've heard," James said, "but my sister's alive.."

"Murphy." Gray would call as he back tracked from the corner. "Thank god. Would you kindly?" He would ask while moving to the elevator. Shadow was not pleased with the man's arrival and emitted a low demonic growl. "Tell Where's Waldo he better watch his shiny head when I come back." Marcus would say as he recognized the man known as Murphy as the one that stood with Waldo.

"And you're Revenant. I see no reason to be surprised. You're a superhero, your sister is alive and I am now your sisters assistant with worse luck then Velma." She said.

"Hah, superheros don't have the cops on their ass 24/7," James said to Stella. "And assistant? Really? So she got to know before your brother?" he asked, turning on Kat, who suddenly blushed. "It was an accident; we didn't know who Aether Rain was when we brought her in, and they picked me to interview her." When the doors opened, she led the trio out and headed for her room. "So Cyber-Velma gets to know first and not me.....wonderful," James mumbled.

Are you going to be like this the entire day? Gestalt asked.
You know I just might.... James thought.

"Easy there cupcake," Murphy said in a dangerous tone to Shadow. "Unless you want us to blast you again, why don't you stop with the pointless threats? Honestly, the only people I know who threaten this much are guys with insecurities about their penises."

Stella's grip tightened. "Because you knowing Kat was alive would have been worth my life, right? So how about you stop being so self centered. I'm currently having to be led around like a child because I can't fucking sex can't you grow the fuck up and get over it, and be happy Kat is fucking ALVE and a well?"

yeah. Stella was mad.

"Those weren't threats. This one to him is." Marcus would say before grey came in-between him and Murphy. "Yes and while blasting him we will all die in the process. Can we just get in the god forsaken elevator gentlemen?" Gray would say to try and calm things down, a small laugh coming from Shadow. "Who threatens people about the penises? Sounds so stupid."

Both brother and sister traded a look, before Kat looked at the blind Stella and said "You really have not seen us talk before, have you? Sure we bicker and everything but usually it's code for 'Hey I'm super amazed your alive and really happy about it to boot." Snorting, Jame said "Don't get me wrong, still mad as hell. It hasn't even been an hour yet for this to sink in, you expect me to be cool with this?"

Clearing her throat as they reached the room, Kat said in a rather final way, "Point is, it looks like we're a bickering couple sometimes, but really we're not. And Stella as far as your glasses go, I'm about to fix that problem for you. So would you maybe relax for a bit?"

Murphy just sighed and stepped into the elevator. "Shadow, I really have no time for the likes of you. Someone like you, anyway. So shut up, get in the elevator, and let's go."

"Every time I was with you two, while you were together, I was blind. My glasses were current...why do.you think I cried a lot after I finally got.them? Because I finally could see you. So sorry, for not knowing." She didn't sound sorry, but more like she was downcast. Even the gift wasn't helping, whatever it was. "...and...I don't really know how to relax right now."

"Meh meh meh meh." Marcus would say as he enter the elevator, closely followed by Gray. "You do have to emit. how would I not want to peel the skin off that man after he did this too me." Marcus would point out to his skin, which already blood red by his own blood was also burnt to a crisp. "I also have to pay all those people who shot me a visit, just so I can yell at them before throwing something smash able at the wall and leaving." Marcus would declare as Gray gave a hefty sigh and allowed the kid to talk without word from him.

Deciding to move on to Stella and her present, Kat said "Okay, how about this; take a deep breath through your nose, then exhale from your mouth. Oh and James.....you can ditch the suit, you're not gonna need it." Cocking his head at her, James nodded and the nanites seeped back into his skin and clothes.

"And all I'm hearing is 'bitch bitch bitch bitch, I've got a mouth I know how to use but not when to use it," Murphy said in a bored tone. "You want to avoid getting the UV blasts again? Stop threatening people or making those childish shows of force. This is the real world, not some school-yard where you beat your chest to make a point."

Stella did as told, and said nothing. She just held onto Kat and followed.

"Jesus. You agency guys really follow the movies. 'I don't take jests lightly round here boy.' Am I the only one with a sense of humor in this elevator. Be my sense of humor a little dark but what can you expect. I'm every Psychologist's dream patient."

Kat moved Stella to sit in a chair, before moving to her workstation, rummaging around on her desk. Papers fell and she finally found what she was looking for. "Alright Stella, a little bit early for this but I have for you, a Christmas present I had made a week ago," Kat said, moving back to Stella and sitting across from her. In her hands was a tiny palm sized box, which she opened to reveal a pair of contact lenses. Odd looking ones too, James noted as he silently observed.

Taking one on the tip of her finger, Kat said "Do me a favor Kat and open your right eye....and hold it open."

"Kid I don't mind jokes," Murphy said. "Even on the job. But your comments, and actions, have me so far convinced that you are just another asshole who can't be worked with."

Stella opened her eye and used her fingers to keep it open as asked.

Gently, Kat applied the contact to Stella's eye before letting her know she could close it. Then she did the same process with the next eye, and pulled away to say "Okay now, there might be some....fuzziness to what you see. Just give them a moment to calibrate. But I want you to slowly open your eyes."

"Correction, an insane asshole. With a reason to hide when a man burns you alive and then your riddled with bullets to the point you start hallucinating multiple versions of yourself because of severe blood-lost. Not all those bullets hit my arm, some missed and hit other places. So far my actions in this building after Waldo have been well done." Marcus would rant in anger as he remembered his conversations with himself. "Before, I ran my mouth for i was not fully here. It's called possible split personality disorder or influence from another mental being being inside your fucking brain." He would say once more in annoyance as Gray placed a hand on his shoulder, an action that some what calmed down the insane man.

Murphy just looked....unfazed. Like what Shadow had said was a typical daily event for him. Which in its own right was scary. "And that," he calmly replied, "is why my superiors want to put you in a cage."

"To be frank. I agree with them. Sadly, I didn't spend four years of mine life trying gain control so I could stop murdering hundreds of innocent people just to get locked up. So that cage is going to remain empty for a long time. Have you guys dealt with supernatural forces like me before? Or do they give you drugs to remain this calm. Cause i want some?" Marcus would ask with genuine confusion, most were, weird out by him, even Gray had taken to moving a few steps away from him.

Doing as Kat asked, Stella opened her eyes...and as her eyes began to focus on Kat's face, Stella teared up. She let out a strangled sob.
"...but they said contacts wouldn't work...h...how?" She whispered, shaking in a mixture of happiness and confusion. "H...how did you manage it?"

"State of the art nano-technology," Kat said with a pleased smirk. "Those contacts are made of several layers, one for the circuitry, electronics and pieces, and power supply. While in the box," she said, handing Stella the container, "they recharge off the battery. But they also gain supplemental power from your body heat and electricity when worn; built in wi-fi and bluetooth, so you can connect to compatible tech in real time. Neural sensors are already syncing now to your nervous system and allowing you control.....I wrote a tutorial into the program, so follow that for a bit to learn how to actually use them."

"Damn, you made that?" James asked, clearly impressed. "Knew you were a genius but.....wow."

Not replying for a bit, Murphy finally said "You're not weirdest thing I've seen. Trust me."

Stella slowly stood. Setting it down, she stepped closer to Kat. Crying with happiness, she hugged the woman tightly.
"This is the closest thing to my sight I've ever had...it...it's the closest thing I've ev3r had..." she sobbed. "I...I don't know how I could every thank you."

Stella was.....strong. Surprisingly so. Enough that Kat wheezed a little and said "You can start....by not breaking my ribs."

Lessening her grip, she looked up. "I'd kiss you bit I value my life." She said. "Thank you...thank you so much."

"Yeah please don't kiss me," Kat said, taking a gulp of air as she was released. "Now look, those contacts have other functions I built in, but there's not much time to get into that. James," she said, looking to her brother, "I've got some stuff for you as well."

Stella turned to James.
"...like what?"

"Yea.. I think the weirdest thing one could see is a mutilated corpse... Or yourself.. Missing both your arms, holes in your chest and half your face missing along with a leg that's barley their. Those would be the top things I don't.... minus the first one.. I've already seen that." Marcus would say before quieting up. Seems his relationship with this Murphy went from a please shut the fuck up to I don't like you but fuck it, your still not a person I would like to be around but fuck it. At least that's how Marcus liked to look at it.

"Well, in all honesty.....I was kinda unprepared," Kat said bluntly. "I mean the contacts.....Stella don't take this the wrong way but I didn't make those from scratch; Odin made them for field agents so they could have real time intelligence on the fly--I just modified them so they'd play more to your strengths." Turning back to her brother, she said "Right now.....all I can give you is two things. The first, a way for us to communicate."

Moving over to the wall, she pulled open a panel and revealed a safe. "I was kinda planning on sneaking this to you at later time, before we actually met. Guess my saying holds true; planning counts for shit," she said with a chuckle. Punching in a code, the safe's lid popped open and she withdrew two items--one, a cellphone, plain looking like the kind people buy in pharmacies. The second was a flash drive, smaller than the hard-drive Kat had left James.

"This," she said, holding up the phone, "may as well be a two-way walkie-talkie, since I modified it to call only one number. I have the twin." Kat tossed it to James who deftly caught it. "So.....we'll be able to talk?" he asked, a certain glow coming to his face. Smiling, she nodded and said "Yeah. The line's encrypted, ODIN style so nothing short of that AI of yours can crack it. Don't always call me though--send a text first and I'll give the go-ahead."


Shrugging his shoulders, Murphy said in response "Well, not that we've ever seen your brand of crazy, but personally.....look, it's classified, but my career's shown me how shocking humans themselves can be." Boring a hole through the wall of the elevator, deep in thought, he said "It may not have been supernatural, or whatever you are, but it doesn't lessen how horrifying it was, compared to you. You're like.....a Saturday morning cartoon villain compared to a late night Eli Roth film."

"I've never seen Eli Roth before but I understand. I'm simply an insane man compared to murderers out their that will do things you don't like. Of course I was one of them a few years ago. But that was before. Maybe I ain't as odd because I'm not a killer anymore. More a pest that won't die." Marcus confessed as he looked at the wall opposite to where Murphy was looking. "Hey Gray?"

Startled Grey turned to the man. "Yea?" Marcus turned when he said that and smiled under his mask. "I'm guessing you didn't show them what J called his art did you?" A genuine question. He remembered that they took photos of what that thing did but it was a dirty image, barley recognizable.

"Yeah sure, sounds like a plan," James said, taking the phone. "What's in the drive?" he then asked. "Information," Kat said. "ODIN's......been keeping tabs on people. Powered people like you, Shadow, anyone who's more than just ordinary. Most of them bad though; think of it as my way of making you ready for them. But the real treat, is the key in the drive." Taking a breath, she explained "The hard-drive you have from me, there's more files in it, encrypted. The key in this flash drive, will help you unlock them. From there, I need you to send them to me. Stella can help you on that one."

Finally, the elevator came to a stop, doors opening and Murphy walking out. "So, ready to leave?" he asked.

Shadow turned on those words and walked out the door. "Thanks Murphy. Have a good day eh?" He would say as he waited for Grey who turned to Murphy and pulled out a collection of photos.

"These never made it into our files.. Or anything. I think you should give them to your higher ups seeing as I have no reason to be reminded by them." He would say as he held them out to Murphy, each photo being of one or more people in... Inhuman states. Something that could really make a man vomit in disgust but from what Murphy had said he would be use to it. This wasn't in any way to enforce something. The old man just didn't want to keep these in his pockets anymore.

Murphy didn't bother looking at the pictures, sliding them into his suit in silence. Just because he had seen many a horrifying thing.....didn't mean he wanted to see more of the same.

"So wait, Stella and I are supposed to work together?" James asked. "What about Gestalt? He can do what she does way better." Then he realized what he said and cast a sheepish glance to Stella. "No offense."

Stella scowled, then turned her back. Yeah, she took offense. Way better. The words rang in her ears. But she stayed silent...oh, so silent.

Kat gave a small snort and said "Wow even after all that time with Chris and Amy you still haven't figured out how to talk to girls...." Giving her a sullen look, James said "Not the point.....look the point is, you don't need to put Stella in the way of this." Arms crossed, Kat said in response "She's someone I can trust, way more than an alien AI in your head. This happens, end of discussion."

If it had been an anime, there'd have been that little bolt of lightning sparking between the eyes of the siblings as they locked glares.

Stella turned to watch the two stare at each other.
"No Kat, let the man do his super hero crap alone. I'll stay in our room - I had some grinding on my MMO to do anyways." She stalks off without another word.

"Hold it right there," Kat snapped at Stella, not breaking her glare with James. "James, you're my brother and I love you.....but dammit you are not Superman! The more help, the better off you'll be. Not to mention the one tiny, critical detail you're forgetting."

"Oh, what's that?" James asked. Looking at Stella then, Kat said "While she's not an agent, Stella is an asset of ODIN. That means, any secure connections and files she sends to me, while still inspected, won't set off alarms like secure messages to and from my brother. Who is still as of yet, not an asset." Giving him a smug grin, she said "Basically James, this happens with Stella, or not at all."

Stella froze. She turned around.
"So...I'm going to be...a messenger...so you two can talk."

"No," Kat said quickly. "He's got the phone for that. But for this bit, sending me the files on that hard drive, you can link with me and ODIN won't freak out over that. Believe me, I've seen them freak out--it wasn't pretty." Tossing James the flash-drive, she continued "After that.....well, you'll be an asset of ODIN. My asset, actually....so expect instructions."

Stella bites her lip.
"Fine."

"Don't need to act like you're taking the trash out," Kat sighed. "Come on, I'll get a team set to take you back to the city. Unless you want to walk?" she quipped to James. Glowering, he said "Car sounds fine."

A minute later, Kat led them out of the room and to the elevator, Kat pressed a button and waited for it to arrive. They didn't have long, and she led them inside and up to the garage where the team she had called in to send James and Stella back to Manhattan. "Sorry I can't come with," she said sadly. "ODIN's got standing orders for me to stay on base. Can't even drop my brother off....."

"No worries," James said, and he hugged her tightly. "Just really glad....to know the truth," he whispered into her shoulder. She returned the hug, smiling faintly before releasing him. "Take care James.....because the world's just gonna get rougher." Then she turned to Stella, and hugged her.....and slipped a flash drive into her pocket, out of James' sight. "Thanks," she whispered, "for being a good assistant. And don't break those contacts, they're expensive."

Stella hugged Kat back.
"...I'd rather stay..." She whispered. "...but I'll be with him. Someone with sense needs to keep an eye on him." She smiled. "...and I wont break them...I'd be afraid of talking to you again...you gave me sight. I...I'll cherish that most of all."

Letting go, Kat stepped away as she playfully slapped Stella's shoulder. "Go on, let's not turn this into a chick-flick. I hate chick-flicks." Grinning, James said "What about the Devil Wears Pra--" "Shut up," Kat half-growled, and he held his hands up in surrender.

Stella smiled. "Yeah. Let's not. I'm more into kickass girls than blonde lawyers anyways." She stuck her tongue out. "Keep my desk warm, I intend to return.

"Oh come on, what do you take me for?" Kat said as the pair made their way into the car. "I'm gonna let it sit there, empty and gather dust and cobwebs. Put a volleyball there and call it Wilson while I'm alone..."

Stella pouted.
"You'd let my desk get messy then put a ball there. Meanie."

"Yeah well, it's either that or I throw your desk and bed out and get my own lab expanded," Kat joked. James sat in the other seat of the car, sighing as he said "Are we going or do you two need a room?"

"We do not need a room James. Kinda already laid down the law on that one," Kat said quickly. "Oh, bit quick on that card sis. I meant a room for you to keep trading banter while I go home." She blushed then and said "Oh....right."