Shakedown Part 1

Maybe it was simple denial or just plain ignorance, but I've come to a very eye-opening revelation. When you're in this gig for as long as I have, you tend to have everything fall into a pattern. So much so that almost every action feels like deja vu. Even as I leaped across multiple rooftops in a single bound under cover of darkness, my mind flashed towards the same poses, same quips, and exact locations that I've experienced seemingly thousands of times.

However, despite all that repetitiveness, there were plenty of things that have changed. Because to be the best of the best, I had to get knee-deep in the territory of the worst of the worst, for I was Victoria or as the world only seems to care to know me as Omna.

After my fight with the Mutant Masters, for now, that two things had remained clear. One: Rev is pretty much the only solution I have to stabilizing my powers, however long that might be. And two media or not, Rev managed to put me in the hospital, obviously sending the message that the drug had power over even the strongest hero in Krimo.

This means killing two birds with one stone; I publicly declared my one-woman war on Rev to both restock my arsenal and take it off the streets. And to show to every criminal in this wretched city that they weren't safe from me anymore.

So far, at least, even dumb ones were starting to get it as I managed to scare a couple of Rev dealers so bad that they lost all sense and retreated into their headquarters, leaving me with all the reason I would ever need to take'em out. Here and now, hard and fast.

Using flight mode at its most basic level, I kept up my series of gliding leaps, adamant about not wasting even a hint of power with the limited time that I've got. The aftereffects of Rev are pretty damning, but as long as I don't overextend myself, then I'll be fine for a couple of hours.

Thankfully I didn't have to waste much more time as the runaway minivan-inspired hovercraft finally managed to drift into a small nameless metal building on the fringes of the middle and lower levels, seemingly covered head to toe in mounds of the surrounding snow.

Once I managed to secure a high enough vantage point about a couple of hundred feet away. I switched from flight to sense mode. From there, any barrier that obstructed me quickly vanished, revealing twenty-four life signs, including my two wannabe race car drivers. I also saw a somewhat lengthy staircase that leads to a platform directed towards the roof and numerous crates.

Again experience manages to play a massive part in the next few minutes as through lip reading and body language alone, I managed to get the gist of their pressing conversation. I even decided to make a game about it as I imagined their voices.

"Where the hell is the fire? You guys nearly ran me over!" said the one man, clearly leading the pack angrily as the others converged on both his presence and aura.

"Sorry boss, it's just Omna caught onto us, and after we lost her, we thought to come back," said a rather young-looking thug.

"Wait, wait, wait, you had Omna on your fucking tail, and you thought that the best idea after that was to come back here to the fucking source!?"

"Sorry boss, I guess I didn't think-"

"Yeah, you didn't think, retard, why do you think here!? It's only a matter of time before she starts barreling in."

At that point, I decided to pull off my appropriately timed dramatic entrance, backing away from the rooftop to get a running start, counting on each hand casually into the air to remember each person's positions. When that got settled, I switched off sense mode. Once I made enough distance, I then crouched down, preparing my body for what came next.

After said bracing, I then unfurled into an all-out mad dash towards the edge of the building, jumping off it valiantly. Like a rubber, band gravity snapped me into a fast descent towards the imminent ground. However, before gravity managed to claim me entirely, I switched to laser mode, firing a geyser of crimson energy down to the warehouse, slowing down my descent just enough to pull off a safe landing.

Everyone else, however, was far from safe as I wasted no time. Like one of those bygone Tommy guns, I let my lasers fly, hitting all but one of my assailants in a with superheated scarlet streaks! Skin boiled, blood burst and bones broke as each assailant broke down into shock and tears. Yet, no matter how much they screamed, no matter how much they cursed my name, I simply didn't care.

No, instead, all I felt was that numbing sensation I felt with the Mutant Masters. A sensation that once again let me live with what I've done. Because if Omna can't save everyone, and she can't give hope, then I guess Victoria will just have to give fear to those who refuse to save themselves.

With all my opponents down and out except one, I instantly turned my attention to the driver who was talking with his boss. He was a young little thing, barely even a young adult still trying to prove himself through flashy teeth and tattoos. Either way, I can tell he wasn't exactly a hardened criminal as he plead for his life.

Still, I didn't bother falling for that potential trick; instead of firing a near blinding light that distracted him just long enough to throttle the skinny boy into the opposing wall near one of the staircases! Without hesitation, I then shot a small blast to his right ear, leaving a large searing cut from start to finish.

Before he could even react, I jammed my finger on the hot wound, forcing the man to let out a shriek that would give even some opera singers a run for their money! In an excellent half-minute, I let the boy scream it all out before slapping into focus and giving out my demand.

"Tell me what's happening in this little operation, and maybe your evening gets a lot less painful. Stay silent, and I make absolutely no promises, do I make myself clear."

"Yes, God, yes, your crystal, okay?! We were just trying to advertise some Rev for the Villain Expo; that's all I know, I swear!"

Once again, deja vu played a part in my mind, remembering the frankly dozens of times I've heard of the said expo. Remembering the frankly dozens of times I've tried failed to truly clean up the filth that is this fucking city. Which honestly made me all the more determined. Upon that mention, I started to lift the man and slammed into the wall forcing the man to petrify in fear nearly.

"And who's hosting the damn thing this year? Tell me."

"Okay, Okay, I'll tell you, just don't hurt me! It's-"

The kid never did get to finish his statement as, upon instinct, I dove with the man to avoid a powerful, fleshy pillar of muscle and tendons that cracked the wall in front of us like an egg. Realizing the danger, I tried to properly secure my informant, only to see that said pillar managed to rip into his side at the very last moment, killing him almost instantly.

Once again, the numbness started to take over my entire being, as with my now bloody costume. I looked dead on at the vengeful man who talked with the boy earlier—the same man who had sprouted the muscular pillar with an empty bottle of Rev in hand.