Lilith and Eve stand at opposite ends of the Vanguard dorm’s pool.
Lilith:
Eve, I’m shocked you’re this gung-ho about “saving” me.
Eve:
And why is that?
Lilith:
Because you are usually such a bitch. Are you just trying to wipe that perception away? Because trust me, it’s not going anywhere.
Eve:
I don’t care if people think I’m a “bitch” or not anymore. I think I’ve proven enough times that I stand up for what I believe in and fight for the people I care about. So If those are qualities worth disparaging to you, go ahead, but you’re wrong.
Lilith laughs.
Lilith:
Is that what you’ve convinced yourself? Remember how nobody wanted you during the Sports Festival? Your attitude issues cost you a major opportunity to prove yourself, and you’ve never recovered from it! You talk a big game, but I know you’re scared… scared of being alone. That’s why you can’t accept that I’ve changed for the better because I’m not the same submissive Lilith that would follow your bitch ass around without question. You’re selfish, Eve; just admit it.
Eve clenches her fist.
Eve:
(I can’t let Lilith get in my head. This is how the Vanguard works; they prey upon your insecurities. To make you wish you were better. Lilith thinks she’s better this way, but this isn’t the real Lilith. I’m trying to save my friend because she deserves to be herself.)
Eve points at Lilith.
Eve:
You can keep flapping your lips all you want. You’ll never convince me I’m the bad guy here. I won’t join the Vanguard, not now or ever!
Lilith:
Oh, you will, Eve, and I think I’ll make you my personal bitch once you lose to me here. That’ll really settle our score.
Eve:
(This can’t be how Lilith actually felt, right? I never treated her like she was beneath me… these have to be ideas inserted into her head by Vanguard… right?)
Lilith:
Anyway, enough talk; it’s time for the fun to begin.
Lilith extends her butterfly wings and takes flight.
Eve:
Going aerial from the start?
Lilith:
Yes, it will give me a bird’s eye view of your defeat!
Lilith points her hands at the ground. The grass surrounding the pool area grows uncontrollably, eventually towering triple Eve’s height.
Eve:
What’s the point of that?
Lilith:
Oh, you’ll see!
Lilith surveys the area.
Lilith:
(I’ve boxed her into this small area, and once I become a giant, I can either crush her beneath my feet or destroy her with my ravenous winds! I’ve already secured this victory, but I guess I’ll humor her a little.)
Lilith dives towards Eve.
Eve:
(Huh? What’s she doing? A frontal assault will never work against me!)
Eve pulls out a set of knives, one in each hand.
Eve:
(I’ll have to react quickly to whatever she’s doing.)
Lilith flies right over Eve and then soars high into the sky again.
Eve:
What did that accomplish!
Lilith:
It’s called a bombing run! Or, in this case, a seed bombing run!
Eve:
Huh?
Eve looks down at her feet and spots a group of seeds Lilith dropped.
Eve:
Shit!
Lilith:
You’re about to become a permanent fixture of my forest!
Eve leaps out of the way as Lilith grows the seeds into massive apple trees; one of the roots wraps around Eve’s ankle, binding her.
Eve:
*frustrated grunt*
Lilith:
You may have narrowly avoided being trapped beneath those trees, but let’s see how you handle my next attack!
Lilith begins flapping her wings, creating razor winds.
Eve:
(At least if she uses her wind attack, she’ll free me from this root. It’s too thick for my knives to cut through.)
Lilith:
What’s that look on your face for? This attack isn’t meant for you!
Eve:
Then what- Huh!
Lilith’s razor winds slash into the treetops, causing the many apples to rain down upon Eve.
Eve:
Ah! Ah!
Lilith:
They may just be apples, but they must feel like rocks with how far they’re falling!
The apple rain ends, leaving Eve bruised and battered.
Eve:
Ow…
Lilith laughs hysterically.
Lilith:
The mighty Eve bested by mere fruit! HAHAHA!
Eve:
(Lilith’s battling with a killer instinct she never had before… if she fought like this against Angel or Jace, she would have given them a real challenge. Maybe that’s why she says she’s happier this way… it was her battle against Jace that caused her to fall into the Vanguard’s clutches… is- is she better this way?)
Eve grinds her teeth.
Lilith:
(Eve’s losing hope, and that’s the first step in seeing the light. Once she realizes that I’ve become far more powerful than I ever was before… she’ll become envious. And that’s the second step.)
Lilith reaches into her seed pouch strapped to her belt.
Lilith:
(I can play around with Eve until she’s red in the face. And if she’s still resisting the light, I’ll crush her beneath my boot.)
Lilith lands on the ground a few feet away from Eve.
Lilith:
I know we’ve only just begun, but have you accepted that joining the Vanguard is far more appealing than fighting it?
Eve:
No…
Lilith:
*sighs*
Eve:
I won’t lie, Lilith, you’re getting in my head far easier than I thought you would, but I can keep fighting my doubt by remembering one thing…
Lilith:
And that is?
Eve:
Those aren’t
your
words!
Eve chucks a knife at Lilith, but Lilith repels it with her wing.
Lilith:
Oh wow… I’m so impressed…
Eve has a glint in her eye.
Eve:
You should be.
Lilith:
Huh?
Eve quickly rubs her hands together and grabs hold of the branch restraining her. The knife then comes flying into the wood at an extreme velocity, freeing Eve.
Lilith:
What?!
Eve:
I was saving that trick for if you got sloppy, and it looks like you have!
Eve slugs Lilith in the jaw, sending her flying into the chain-link fence surrounding the pool area.
Lilith:
*pained grunt*
Eve:
How do you like that, Lilith?
Lilith:
You’ll pay for that!
Eve:
Not if I knock you out right here and now!
Eve charges toward Lilith, but Lilith takes flight.
Lilith:
Not if I stay in the sky-
Eve leaps into the air and grabs hold of Lilith’s ankle.
Lilith:
Hey! Let go!
Eve:
Make me!
Lilith:
With pleasure!
Lilith soars high into the sky and begins flying frantically to shake Eve off.
Lilith:
GET OFF OF ME!
Eve:
(Wait for it… Wait for it…)
Lilith flies directly over the pool.
Eve:
Now!
Eve lets go of Lilith’s ankle and begins plummeting.
Lilith:
Ha! Have a nice fall!
Eve lands in the pool’s deep end.
Lilith:
*frustrated grunt* Dammit! She planned that!
Suddenly, Lilith feels herself getting pulled downward; she gets a look of realization.
Lilith:
No! She magnetized me!
Eve emerges from the water and climbs out of the pool.
Eve:
This oughta cool you off, Lilith!
Lilith begins plummeting into the pool.
Lilith:
SHIIIIIT!
Lilith falls into the water and gets magnetized to the pool’s bottom.
Lilith:
(Crap! She’s got me trapped!)
Eve catches her breath and wrings water out of her hair.
Eve:
(My magnetizing quirk lasts 5 minutes, and I grabbed her ankle about a minute ago, so unless she can hold her breath for over 4 minutes, she’s done. Then, I’ll leap in the water, pull her out, and give her CPR, and finally… the real Lilith will be back.)
Lilith struggles to swim upward, but her ankle is stuck to the pool’s bottom like glue.
Lilith:
(I have to get out of this! What would Master think if he found out I was defeated so easily? Think! Think!)
Lilith looks down and notices her ankle isn’t actually magnetized to the bottom of the pool like she thought; it’s her pant leg.
Lilith:
(Huh? Wait… that’s right! Eve can only magnetize what she touches, and she placed her hand on my pants, not my skin. So…)
Lilith removes her shoes and pants, freeing herself from the magnetic hold.
Lilith:
(Good, I’m out of that mess. Now what? If I surface immediately, she’ll spot and attack me. Hm…)
Eve sits down and watches the water.
Eve:
(Even if she grows gigantic, she’ll still be magnetized to the ground for the next few minutes. So, unless she learned how to control that ability recently, she’ll run out of juice before she can defeat me. No matter what, I’ve won-)
Suddenly, a tree emerges from the pool.
Eve:
(Huh? A tree?)
Lilith is hiding in the damp tree leaves.
Lilith:
(Look at her… she’s so confused. I have a small window, but this is my chance to defeat her.)
Lilith’s wings are drenched.
Lilith:
(I can’t fly like this, so I’ll have to sneak up on her the old fashion way.)
Lilith shrinks to butterfly size and runs across a tree branch to get closer to Eve.
Eve:
(That’s it, even if this is a trick, I have to go in and make sure Lilith’s alright. It’s worth the risk.)
Eve starts walking towards the pool.
Lilith:
(Yes, Eve… come a little closer… closer…)
Lilith is angled directly above Eve.
Lilith:
(This is the end for you, Eve!)
Lilith drops from the branch and begins falling toward the top of Eve’s head.
Lilith:
(Welcome to the Vanguard! HAHAH-)
Eve catches Lilith, midair.
Lilith:
WHAT!
Eve:
Gotcha!
Eve’s grip binds Lilith, preventing her from growing larger.
Lilith:
*pained grunt* How- how did you know?!
Eve:
At the start of the fight, I pretended not to realize what you were up to when you grew the grass surrounding this pool area… you were trying to keep me boxed in. From then on, I knew you wanted to use your giant form to crush and defeat me. Hell, it’s the whole reason you brought me out here. So, I set up a situation where you’d believe you could do that.
Lilith:
Wait… so you magnetized my pants to the pool bottom ON PURPOSE!
Eve:
Yup, I knew you’d slip free and believe you had the drop on me. When I saw the tree, I knew what you were planning.
Lilith:
*frustrated grunt*
Eve:
Lilith, I’m sorry.
Lilith:
Huh?
Eve:
I know I can be a little overbearing, but it’s because I care about you and all of my friends. You’re right; I’m afraid of being alone, but that’s not why I hated seeing you in the Vanguard. It’s because I knew that even if you were stronger, the real Lilith wouldn’t throw everything else about her personality away for that. I don’t know if you were just trying to hurt me when you said all of those things about me being selfish, but if you weren’t… I’ll try to be better. I see I’m not perfect, but if there’s one thing I am… it’s protective. And no matter what, I’ll always take a bullet for you or any of our other friends. That’s what makes me a hero, and that’s what drove me to win this fight!
Lilith:
You haven’t won yet! I can still-
Eve chucks Lilith against the ground, knocking her out cold.
Eve:
*sighs* Sorry.
Vanguard’s eyes dart open.
Vanguard:
Lilith has been defeated? *frustrated grunt* These students are bigger pests than I thought.
Silver, Wes, Demetri, and Zach navigate through the Vanguard dorm. The lights are dimmed.
Demetri:
Why are we being so careful? We know exactly where they are!
Silver:
Nothing is stopping them from leaving their rooms, and we don’t want to get caught in Isaiah’s Temperance trap.
Zach:
Yeah, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Demetri:
*grunts* I guess…
Wes:
So, who should be on this floor?
Silver:
Nobody. The next floor should have Isaiah and Romeo, then Jace and Verity on the top floor.
Wes spots a red light at the end of the hallway.
Wes:
Silver! Look out!
Silver:
Huh?
Wes coats his arms in mirror glass and jumps in front of Silver, reflecting a laser beam that was fired at him.
Silver:
Nice save, Wes!
The laser beam blasts a hole at the end of the hallway, opening it to the outside.
Isaiah:
Nice save indeed, Wes.
The outside light illuminates the hallway revealing Isaiah.
Demetri:
Isaiah!
Isaiah:
Hello, old friends. It’s good to see you all. Have you finally decided to join us?
Silver:
No, Isaiah, we’re here to bring you back to your senses.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Demetri:
Yeah, and finally, make you pay for abandoning us!
Silver:
That’s uh… not what we discussed?
Demetri:
I’ve got a score to settle.
Zach:
Did Isaiah somehow get even more jacked in the last few weeks?
Wes:
I know… he’s starting to get to that point where he’s so muscular it’s gross…
Isaiah:
Your words mean nothing.
Wes:
Why? Because we’re not members of the Vanguard!
Isaiah:
No, because I’m not going to take insults from a guy who eats bread.
Everyone stares at Isaiah.
Zach:
Is bread that bad for you?
Silver:
I think so, but it’s kind of like sitting. Nobody cares that it is.
Zach:
Oh, is that why people use standing desks?
Wes:
I have enough back problems, and a standing desk ain’t fixin’ that.
Demetri:
Shut up, you idiots! Who cares if he’s healthy and not a complete loser anymore! That’s what Isaiah sat for!
Isaiah:
What do you mean, Demetri? It was always my dream to get jacked!
Wes:
Ew…
Demetri:
You guys go ahead; I’ll handle this asshole!
Silver:
Okay, just be careful.
Zach:
Good luck, man.
Silver, Wes, and Zach head to the next floor.
Isaiah:
Ah, Demetri, I’ve wondered when you would see the light. I mean, come on, you’re just as big a loser as I used to be. You obviously want a better life, right?
Demetri:
Hell no!
Isaiah:
Hm?
Demetri:
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the time that you’ve been in the Vanguard, it’s that if I want some respect, I need to earn it. I’m a degenerate, but I’ll be a goddamn well-regarded one!
Isaiah stares at Demetri.
Isaiah:
Wh- what?
Demetri:
We’re never going to shake the moniker of being perverts. So, it’s time to stop dreaming and prove that we can be appreciated for other reasons!
Isaiah:
Stop saying “we!” I’m not like that anymore! I’ve changed!
Demetri:
Oh yeah? We’ll see about that!
Demetri unstraps a sack he’s been carrying on his back and places it on the ground.
Isaiah:
What is that?
Demetri:
A little friend I had Tara cook up for me.
Demetri opens the sack and pulls out a giant wooden puppet resembling Alden.
Isaiah:
What the hell is that?!
Demetri:
It’s called: “Better Alden!” And unlike the real version, he’s going to be useful.
Isaiah cracks a smile but quickly reverts to his stern expression.
Isaiah:
(That’s not funny, it’s childish, and I am not a child!) That thing will get termites before it does anything to help you!
Demetri:
We’ll see about that!
Demetri attaches his strings to the puppet and marionettes it.
Demetri:
(This is my chance to show everyone I’m no joke and I can get
my
friend back.)
Demetri extends two wrist blades from Better Alden’s hands.
Demetri:
These bad boys are coated in some deadly poison. Of course, I have the antivenom, but I won’t give it to the Vanguard Version of Isaiah.
Isaiah:
That’s fine; you won’t get the chance!
Isaiah’s eyes glow red.
Isaiah:
You made a big mistake making that puppet out of wood! You’re probably trying to follow traditional styles, but come on! My heat beams will torch that thing!
Demetri:
Then I guess it’s a good thing I have a built-in shield!
Isaiah:
Oh, what is that made out of wood too?
Demetri smiles.
Demetri:
No, it isn’t!
Demetri sends Better Alden bursting towards Isaiah.
Isaiah:
Eat heat beams, you deranged bastard!
Demetri:
Deploy shield!
Better Alden’s mouth opens and fires two pairs of panties.
Isaiah:
What?!
Isaiah hesitates to fire his attack.
Demetri:
Gotcha!
Better Alden stabs both of its poisonous wrist blades into Isaiah’s abdomen.
Isaiah:
*pained grunt*
Demetri:
Ha! I knew the real Isaiah was still in there. Why else wouldn’t you destroy two perfectly good pairs of panties?
Isaiah:
I was just caught off guard! Your stupid prank didn’t have any effect on me otherwise!
Demetri reels Better Alden back in, and Isaiah falls to his knees.
Demetri:
Right… just admit you’re still the same old Isaiah. There isn’t much point in resisting it now. With my venom in your bloodstream, you’ll be down momentarily!
Isaiah smiles.
Isaiah:
That’s what you think.
Demetri:
Huh?
Isaiah stands up and leaps out of the hole in the hallway created earlier.
Demetri:
Isaiah!
Suddenly, Isaiah reappears back where he was a few moments prior, but his wounds are gone.
Demetri:
What?! How did you-
Isaiah:
Ever since those other fools left, I’ve placed us inside the Temperance. We’re now in a prison, Demetri, which prevents either of us from sustaining damage while inside it.
Demetri:
Then how are we supposed to fight?!
Isaiah:
That’s for me to know and for you to find out!
Isaiah laughs maniacally.
Demetri:
*frustrated grunt*
Aaron fires a barrage of bullets at Talon as he flies through the sky, narrowly avoiding them.
Aaron:
Come on, turkey! I’m ready for Thanksgiving!
Talon:
It’s December, and I’M NOT A TURKEY!
Aaron:
I don’t believe you!
Talon:
I’ll make you believe!
Talon soars high into the sky and positions himself directly above Aaron.
Talon:
A falcon is a bird of prey, and I will prey upon you!
Aaron:
How late did you stay up writing that line?
Talon:
*frustrated yell*
Talon dive bombs Aaron.
Aaron:
Jesus Christ! How stupid are you?
Aaron transforms his arms into a Howitzer Cannon.
Talon:
Oh crap…
Aaron:
Howitzer Burst!
Aaron fires off a massive and deafening blast with extreme destructive force; it collides with Talon sending him flying sky-high.
Talon:
AHHHHHHHHHH!
Aaron:
Dinner’s ready!
Charlotte swings Ester at Alexis repeatedly, but Alexis dodges each attack easily.
Charlotte:
Stand still, you little bitch!
Alexis:
No, I don’t think I will.
Alexis readies six paper shuriken and throws them at Charlotte. Charlotte attempts to block them.
Alexis:
Detonate!
The shuriken detonate right before making contact with Charlotte, sending her flying and tumbling against the ground.
Alexis:
(I hope the others are handling the other grunts well.)
Tara torments a group of Vanguard males with the orgasmorator, driving around them in circles.
Tara:
HAHAHAHA!
Wrath is punching his way through the crowd of Vanguard grunts with his flame-covered fists.
Wrath:
Infernal Impact!
Vanguard Grunt:
AHHHHH!
Wrath scoffs.
Wrath:
These kids are pathetic.
Ryan:
*off screen* Maybe they are, but we aren’t!
Wrath:
Huh?
Ryan turns his entire body into goo except for his head and wraps himself around Wrath.
Wrath:
*grunts* What the hell is this?!
Ryan:
Haha! I’ve got you trapped!
Wrath:
Get off of me, you little snot!
Bruno:
Don’t worry, Hayze!
Bruno runs over and grabs Ryan by the head.
Ryan:
Hey! Let go!
Bruno rips Ryan off of Wrath and tosses him aside.
Ryan:
Ow…
Bruno:
Ryan can’t transform his head into goo. That’s his weak spot to stop his attacks.
Wrath:
I didn’t need your help.
Bruno:
Well, you’ve got it.
Wrath:
Whatever, and I’m not Hayze; if I catch you calling me that again, I’ll make your entire body a weak spot.
Bruno:
Whatever you say, Wrath.
Charlotte stands up.
Charlotte:
Looks like our reinforcements are here!
Hailey, Whitney, and Desiree arrive as well.
Wrath:
Reinforcements? That’s a funny way to say “punching bags.”
Hailey:
Oh, we’ll show you!
Hailey extends her rubber arms towards Tara and grabs her motorcycle’s ignition keys.
Tara:
AH!
Tara crashes off the motorcycle and tumbles to the ground.
Hailey:
I’ll take the crazy girl. Whitney, go attack the flat-chested girl.
Whitney:
Right.
Blair:
You guys 100% know my name!
Aaron continues blasting Vanguard grunts.
Aaron:
I need a new dance partner if one of you Vanguard ladies is available!
Desiree:
I’ll take that cocky bastard down!
Ivy gravity blasts twenty Vanguard students through the air.
Ivy:
Push!
Vanguard Grunts:
AHHHH!
Ivy feels a tug on her ankle.
Ivy:
Huh?
It’s Alden with white shit all over his face.
Alden:
Please, hot girl I’ve never met before… Help me…
Ivy:
Uh…
Ivy ignores Alden and walks away.
Alden:
*groans* At least it can’t get worse…
Talon lands on top of Alden, barely conscious.
Alden:
AHHHHH!
Inside the U.A. main building, Spectre readies his wrist tasers.
Spectre:
I don’t know what you children are up to, but I won’t stand for this.
Calm:
Good, we don’t need you to.
Sydney:
You may be a pro, but we don’t care.
Spectre:
(I need to find out what they’re doing. They’re not alone, that’s for sure.)
Spectre phases through the ground.
Sydney:
Where’s he going?!
Calm:
He’s trying to escape the school! We can’t let him!
Sydney:
Well, poindexter, tell me how we’re supposed to stop someone from leaving a building when they can phase through it!
Calm:
Simple: Flood it.
Sydney:
Huh? Are you stupid? I can’t do that in here!
Calm:
We have to stop Spectre. If he finds out a war is happening outside the school, he could alert the Top 10, and everything will fall apart.
Sydney thinks for a moment.
Sydney:
Fine.
Sydney begins flooding the hallway they’re standing in.
Calm:
I’ll find him and hold him back until you arrive.
Calm begins swiftly swimming through the waters.
Sydney:
Sure, I’ll get my water wings on…
Spectre phases onto the staircase leading to the roof.
Spectre:
(I don’t know why Adrian and Walker haven’t escaped that room yet, but there’s clearly something going on. I have to see what’s outside, and if need be, I’ll-)
Suddenly, a wave of water comes streaming up the staircase.
Spectre:
What the!
The wave crashes into Spectre, smashing him into and through the door to the roof. He slides against the rooftop.
Spectre:
*pained grunt*
Calm walks out onto the roof.
Calm:
Sorry, Spectre, I respect you, but I can’t let you progress further.
Spectre:
Huh?
Spectre looks out at the army of Vanguard students fighting against the Distraction Team.
Spectre:
What is this? What’s going on?
Calm:
A battle, one that can’t involve the pro heroes.
Spectre:
Why are you kids doing this?! Vanguard isn’t a threat to be taken lightly! He’ll destroy you all!
Calm:
No, he won’t.
Spectre:
Huh? Why not?
Calm:
Because we’re being led by someone we all believe in, and his plan will succeed.
Spectre:
Are you serious? A simple plan isn’t enough to defeat Vanguard! You need power! Black Hollow couldn’t stand up to him, so why do you think a bunch of hero students can?
Calm:
Honestly, I’m not sure.
Spectre:
Huh?
Calm:
I was born from Hayze’s logic, so every fiber of my being should tell me this is a terrible idea and we’re doomed to fail. But I’ve been shown repeatedly that the greatest strength a hero can have… is hope. We shouldn’t look at a problem and immediately be daunted by its scale, but rather… we should always look for a way to solve it. The weak can overpower the strong with planning, skill, and faith in each other. That’s why our plight will end in victory!
Spectre:
But why… Why not involve the pro heroes? What’s the point? You’re only weakening your chances of success!
Calm:
We wouldn’t have been allowed to participate in your plans.
Spectre:
Of course! You’re still in training!
Calm:
The fate of the world is on the line. Would you really be satisfied standing on the sidelines being told what will happen? Oh, wait…
Spectre:
I see your point, but I won’t allow this to continue. People will die, and it’s my duty as a hero to prevent that from happening.
Calm materializes his trident.
Calm:
Everyone is the hero of their story. So, we’re okay with being the villains in yours!
Gale is still being held to the ground by extreme gravity.
Gale:
*frustrated grunt* When I get out of this-
Romeo:
You’ll do what? I’m not afraid of a little gust of wind.
Gale:
I’ll make you eat those words! I’m the best damn fighter this world has ever seen!
Romeo:
Really? Because right now, you seem like the best damn doormat the world has ever seen.
Romeo laughs hysterically.
Gale:
I’ll get you!
Angel takes flight and soars down the hall toward Romeo.
Romeo:
Oh boy, another toy! Karma, turn him into a fallen angel!
Karma accelerates toward Angel, and the two begin grappling halfway between Romeo and the rest of the Infiltration team.
Angel:
Sorry, Karma, but this is for your own good!
Angel smashes Karma against the wall.
Angel:
Your shot is clear, Saige! Take him down!
Saige:
Right!
Saige aims at Romeo.
Romeo:
Looks like this is my unlucky day, unless?
The Wheel of Fortune stops on Saige.
Romeo:
Nope! It’s yours!
The Wheel of Fortune reveals Saige’s punishment: Blindness.
Tyson:
Ah, shit!
Saige’s vision goes dark as she takes her shot.
Saige:
Huh?
Saige’s bullet goes off course and hits Angel’s shoulder.
Angel:
AHHHH!
Angel falls to his knees in pain, allowing Karma to counterattack and uppercut him in the jaw.
Angel:
*pained grunt*
Romeo laughs again.
Romeo:
Boy, this is just going swimmingly for you guys!
Tyson:
*grunts* This isn’t good…
Tyson turns to Blaze.
Tyson:
/You gotta get out of here and tell Aster’s team what’s happening./
Blaze:
/What? Why should I go? If Saige and Gale are out of commission, you need all the help you can get./
Tyson:
/This battle isn’t important. The one against Vanguard is, and we cannot jeopardize that. So get out of here while I distract him./
Tyson pulls out a deck of cards.
Romeo:
Cards? What are we going to play, Go Fish?
Tyson shuffles the deck.
Tyson:
Nah, we’re going to play 52 cut up.
Romeo:
Don’t you mean “pick up?”
Tyson:
If you’re lucky!
Tyson begins throwing cards like knives at Romeo.
Romeo:
Karma, dear!
Karma jumps in front of Romeo, and Tyson’s cards slice and embed into her skin.
Romeo:
What the hell?! Why are those cards so sharp!
Tyson:
Because it would be lame if I used knives!
Karma continues getting pelted by cards.
Romeo:
(Annoying Pest!) It’s time to spin the Wheel of Fortune again!
The flame begins cycling.
Tyson:
Well, I guess I’m on a timer, then!
Tyson charges towards Karma.
Blaze:
(Now’s my chance!)
Blaze uses a microwave to melt the doorknob off a dorm room and sneaks inside.
Tyson:
Take this!
Romeo:
Karma! Block!
Karma accelerates forward, but Tyson blocks her punch with his hand.
Tyson:
Nice try, hot stuff, but in our training exercises, I got the hang of your quirk’s timing.
Romeo:
It doesn’t matter! The Wheel of Fortune is about to destroy you!
The wheel stops on Karma.
Romeo:
Oh crap…
The punishment is: Punch the Wheel of Fortune.
Romeo:
WHAT?!
Karma slugs Romeo in the chest, freeing herself of his control.
Romeo:
*pained grunt* Oh crap…
Karma:
Romeo…
Romeo:
*high-pitched whine*
Karma starts kicking Romeo’s nuts over and over.
Tyson:
Ha! Luck was finally on our side.
Gale:
Good. Now can you help me up?
Angel gets to his feet.
Angel:
I don’t think this is over yet, Tyson.
Tyson:
What, the fight or Romeo’s fertility?
Angel:
The fight…
Voice:
*from afar* Oh, let me stress this: it’s not.
Everyone’s eyes widen as they turn in the direction of the voice: It’s Vanguard.
Romeo:
Master… I was just about to finish them off!
Vanguard:
Don’t worry, Romeo, the Wheel of Fortune was bound to come up in their favor once, but now I can alleviate some of your pain.
Gale:
Alright! It’s about time! Let me at him!
Angel and Karma are trembling.
Tyson:
(Dammit, I didn’t expect Vanguard to show up. I wonder why he’s here? Maybe the rest of the plan is going too well for his liking. It doesn’t matter, though, he can take all of us down in seconds.)
Vanguard examines the group.
Vanguard:
Who would like to be my appetizer? I like to take on my opponents one at a time.
Tyson:
Right here, you bastard!
Vanguard smiles.
Saige:
Tyson?
Angel:
Are you sure you want to do that?!
Karma:
He could kill you!
Tyson smiles.
Tyson:
Somebody’s gotta do it, so it might as well be me. He killed my mentor, so this is my chance to get even with him.
Vanguard:
We can battle on the roof; this hallway is a little cramped.
Tyson:
That’s fine by me.
Vanguard:
The rest of you can continue playing with Romeo. Be sure to eliminate them quickly.
Romeo:
Will do, Master! Right after I regain the feeling in my crotch…
Saige:
Be careful, Tyson.
Vanguard and Tyson depart upstairs.
Tyson:
(Blaze shouldn’t be too far from getting to Aster, so all I have to do is hold Vanguard at bay. Of course, that doesn’t mean I won’t try to be the star of the show. He may be all-powerful now, but not when he plays under MY rules.)
