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Grendyne groans and starts pulling on her boots when the alarm goes off. Again. She quick-marches to the broom hangar, sits on her machine and is handed a plethora of loaded weapons by attentive corporals.
"Two flyers in one day? They're getting way too common."
"It's worse," the commander informs them, "South Karlsland got hit with three at once. We're taking Lytee's express and sleeping there. You can sit out if you absolutely need to, but Freya's still recovering so we could use you as a comms relay."
"No, I'll come. I just reserve the right to complain about it."
The 42nd United Forces Witch Wing takes off and assembles into a perfect synchronized formation as Lytee charges her teleport power.
...This is not South Karlsland wilderness.
[note: halfway through this thread I created a unique account for Grendyne. Do not be alarmed by the change in account. -Rockeye]
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characterquarry
wormcan
Oliver gets convinced to go in, since it would be less catastrophic if he touched Noelle than if any of the others did. And Krouse can move him out quickly if she does move against him. Normally this kind of precaution isn't necessary on a good day, but normally they aren't specifically trying to see if Noelle can touch people. She even agrees to let people look at her, under the circumstances.
Oliver comes out safely. He waits a few minutes, talking with Noelle at a normal volume and with the lights on. Noelle reports that the feeling she's about to attack someone is at a normal intensity, and it doesn't feel more controllable. But she's resisting as much as she ever could, and isn't having to concentrate to do it.
Oliver comes out safely. He waits a few minutes, talking with Noelle at a normal volume and with the lights on. Noelle reports that the feeling she's about to attack someone is at a normal intensity, and it doesn't feel more controllable. But she's resisting as much as she ever could, and isn't having to concentrate to do it.
witchwatcher
"It seems like that's the best I can do. You've already paid, so I'll be on my way. Unless you have more questions?"
wormcan
"Nothing we didn't discuss earlier, no. You'll remember not to tell people we're on Terra?"
Noelle, meanwhile, just thanks her repeatedly from across the radio.
Noelle, meanwhile, just thanks her repeatedly from across the radio.
witchwatcher
"Money talks. Or doesn't, in this case. You know where to find me if you need another geasing."
She leaves.
She leaves.
wormcan
And the Travelers have just made more progress than their entire cape career. Next up, anyone on their list who can remove powers directly, or is Noelle picking between repeated transformations to reset its progress and a curse?
witchwatcher
It seems that being turned male causes Witches to lose their powers, and they don't get them back if they're returned to female. But that probably won't help Noelle, and the Witch who can do it is under a geas never to do so again since it was that or jail time.
There's nobody who can directly remove powers. Transformations and curses are both options, though.
There's nobody who can directly remove powers. Transformations and curses are both options, though.
wormcan
Noelle wants a transformation. Badly. Even if there's nothing better than the Witch who could turn people into animals, that's infinitely better than this. And they're rich; they can have it undone later if the curse is a total success.
witchwatcher
Places said there was a transformer in London: This is the male-to-female transformer who is currently on probation for misusing her ability. They could probably contrive to have her transform Noelle, but it would involve the government geasers. Either Places was mistaken about what they wanted or sent them to London for some other reason.
Of the Witches who can transform people (and who are not currently on probation, insane, and/or in prison) the nearest one can turn people into animals and lives in the southern half of Hispania, which is Gimel's version of Spain. It's a three-day boat ride, or a rather expensive ten-hour airlift by Witch couriers.
Of the Witches who can transform people (and who are not currently on probation, insane, and/or in prison) the nearest one can turn people into animals and lives in the southern half of Hispania, which is Gimel's version of Spain. It's a three-day boat ride, or a rather expensive ten-hour airlift by Witch couriers.
wormcan
Noelle still isn't smaller than three tons. (Yet! Growth mindset! (Figuratively.)) An airlift would be complicated.
Is there a transformer who can turn Noelle into her real self? That would be worth lengthening the trip.
Is there a transformer who can turn Noelle into her real self? That would be worth lengthening the trip.
witchwatcher
One of the people listed as a healer can revert a person's body to their 'true form', where one's true form is some mixture of their version of an ideal body and what their genetics actually code for. She lives in what would be California if North America wasn't shaped differently and called Liberion.
Getting there with Noelle would be five days by boat then two and a half days by train. Places' prices are much lower for in-world teleports, but still fairly high. There are two other teleporters in London if they want to shop around, but both of them are employed by the UDF so it might make secrecy complicated.
Getting there with Noelle would be five days by boat then two and a half days by train. Places' prices are much lower for in-world teleports, but still fairly high. There are two other teleporters in London if they want to shop around, but both of them are employed by the UDF so it might make secrecy complicated.
wormcan
Explaining their trip to the people providing transport in a way that doesn't make them refuse is probably doable, but better avoided. They'll try Places again; she already knows to be discreet.
And Krouse can try to bargain the price down to normal in-world teleport level, since the trip is much less dangerous this time.
And Krouse can try to bargain the price down to normal in-world teleport level, since the trip is much less dangerous this time.
witchwatcher
She'll do it for normal in-world teleport level (A few thousand dollars - Noelle is still huge if not quite so dangerous anymore) if they tell her everything they know about Cauldron.
wormcan
It's a deal.
They don't know much. No one does. They can confirm that Cauldron exists and sells bottles of superpowers. They've personally seen a set, though they weren't Cauldron customers, and the people who drank the vials ended up with powers. They recommend not talking about it much; the rumor says that Cauldron is very good at finding out when their secrecy is threatened.
They don't tell Places that they got their abilities from those vials, or that drinking half of one is the cause of the problem they're trying to solve.
They don't know much. No one does. They can confirm that Cauldron exists and sells bottles of superpowers. They've personally seen a set, though they weren't Cauldron customers, and the people who drank the vials ended up with powers. They recommend not talking about it much; the rumor says that Cauldron is very good at finding out when their secrecy is threatened.
They don't tell Places that they got their abilities from those vials, or that drinking half of one is the cause of the problem they're trying to solve.
witchwatcher
Places seems to accept this information at face value.
Arranging for a place for Noelle to stay close to this healer only takes another couple of days. Places suggests that they say Noelle is already the victim of a curse, to help avoid inconvenient questions.
Arranging for a place for Noelle to stay close to this healer only takes another couple of days. Places suggests that they say Noelle is already the victim of a curse, to help avoid inconvenient questions.
wormcan
As long as it doesn't mislead the healer in a way that would interfere with fixing the problem, they'll go along with it. Noelle can have been cursed to absorb any organic matter and spit out evil clones if that's a thing curses might do.
witchwatcher
That is indeed a thing curses might do. There are few hard rules about them except 'being unpleasant'. Form changes rarely remove a curse, and they're not expected to remove her power either so it's the same thing really.
The healer has a long waiting list.
The healer has a long waiting list.
wormcan
Of course she does. Is this the kind of long waiting list that can be addressed with bribery, or are they going to have to argue among themselves about whether they want to use force?
witchwatcher
Bribery totally works. But they're going to run out of money sooner or later at this rate. The healer will see Noelle in private some time tomorrow.
wormcan
They were in the low but plural millions before leaving Bet; Places doesn't charge that much. They are expecting to run around to some of the more expensive capes on Gimel, though.
The healer gets informed on what she's up against, though they lie about the cause. If this works, it'll cancel out two years' worth of Noelle getting worse. If there isn't a permanent cure for their power, they'll probably be back to talk about regular visits.
More mundanely, since they're bribing their way to the head of the line can she also heal Genesis' paralysis?
The healer gets informed on what she's up against, though they lie about the cause. If this works, it'll cancel out two years' worth of Noelle getting worse. If there isn't a permanent cure for their power, they'll probably be back to talk about regular visits.
More mundanely, since they're bribing their way to the head of the line can she also heal Genesis' paralysis?
witchwatcher
Healing someone wheelchair-bound is going to a lot easier than someone with a curse that causes an unusual form. She will heal Genesis's body as well for a 25% increase in the waiting-list-jump-bribe.
wormcan
They're throwing money around like it's nothing; they may as well continue throwing. This is what they were mercenaries for; they would have done it earlier if the last set of capes could have helped.
witchwatcher
That afternoon the precog known as Seer, in the course of her usual precogitating, says that it would be a good idea to have the Protectorate ready to respond to a major threat in an unexpected location. Attempts to narrow it down don't seem to help much, but they rule out a few dozen major cities.
The next morning, the healer arrives. She wants to heal Genesis first, as it's likely to be the easier of her two jobs.
The next morning, the healer arrives. She wants to heal Genesis first, as it's likely to be the easier of her two jobs.
wormcan
Krouse grumbles at this, but it's not like Jess has been waiting any shorter than Noelle has.
There are indeed no complications. Smiles, laughter, and hugs all around (with the obvious exception) until Noelle and Krouse insist on trying the other patient.
There are indeed no complications. Smiles, laughter, and hugs all around (with the obvious exception) until Noelle and Krouse insist on trying the other patient.
witchwatcher
This one takes longer. The healer doesn't need skin contact, thankfully, but she starts looking rather strained. "Curses are always tricky. The body doesn't have the usual patterns. I'll manage it eventually."
Time passes. "...Ah, there we are." There is a slurping sound, and Noelle should now be able to feel a pair of legs, still covered in warm flesh. "Wait. I felt the spell pop..." She stares at the still-present mound of body parts. "What in the world..."
Places appears, along with her guard and 'N'. "Shit, too late to warn you. Run! RUN!" 'N' shoves the mound of flesh back with a visible wall of force, somehow managing to tear Noelle free of it at the same time, though probably breaking something in the process. Places' guard picks her up and runs as fast as possible.
The healer is just going to stand there staring in surprised and dismayed confusion.
Time passes. "...Ah, there we are." There is a slurping sound, and Noelle should now be able to feel a pair of legs, still covered in warm flesh. "Wait. I felt the spell pop..." She stares at the still-present mound of body parts. "What in the world..."
Places appears, along with her guard and 'N'. "Shit, too late to warn you. Run! RUN!" 'N' shoves the mound of flesh back with a visible wall of force, somehow managing to tear Noelle free of it at the same time, though probably breaking something in the process. Places' guard picks her up and runs as fast as possible.
The healer is just going to stand there staring in surprised and dismayed confusion.
wormcan
It's good that the healer was standing there. If she were doing anything more mobile, it would have been harder for Krouse to swap her and Noelle. He catches his girlfriend before she falls, leaving the healer to land on the monster in her place.
Marissa is fast, dodging a limb and moving for the door. Jess can't run, she hasn't had functional legs for years and isn't used to operating these ones. And her chair certainly isn't fast enough. Oliver rushes to help her, but too slow. The monstrosity rolls on top of her and it's all he can do to get away.
Marissa is fast, dodging a limb and moving for the door. Jess can't run, she hasn't had functional legs for years and isn't used to operating these ones. And her chair certainly isn't fast enough. Oliver rushes to help her, but too slow. The monstrosity rolls on top of her and it's all he can do to get away.