No.4707[View All]
>An explosion rocks a barren rocky field as a monstrous being walks across it, menacingly laughing as it causes destruction, its voice sounding odd - as if run through a filter with itself. As the monster finishes laughing, a woman appears in the field, running towards the creature acrobatically, making sure to cartwheel and flip several times before jumping up and kicking the creature.
“Take that!”
>Standing on a hill overlooking the dueling pair, a hooded figure gestures towards the ground where the monster fell down.
“Not so fast, American Ranger! You may be strong, but you have no answer to this! Sacred Staff, make my monster grow!”
>The figure holds a staff and holds in the air, a black energy coursing out from the staff and hitting the ground where the monster was, causing the ground to shake and crack, the dust from which obscures the area enough for the monster to grow to a giant size, dwarfing the surroundings.
>Struggling to keep her balance for a moment, the blonde woman, American Ranger, steps back and does an acrobatic backflip, landing and looking upwards.
“That’s a big mama jama. . .”
>American Ranger shifts her pose to one more suited for fighting. . .
“Wait! American Ranger, don’t forget-”
>American Ranger brings up a hand to the side of her head, as if activating a communicator in her ear.
“Of course, you’re right, Chancy! How do you beat a giant?”
>American Ranger brings her hand down, positioning her arms so they’re in a cross, her next line overlaying with the disembodied voice.
“-with another giant, of course! Lady Liberty, grant me strength!”
>American Ranger begins to flash with a bright light, each time the light dies down revealing her to be larger and larger - until she stands at a similar size to the monster.
“You may be powerful, Baron, but you’ll never win, because you don’t understand. . .”
>American Ranger winds up her fist.
“. . .responsibility!”
>American Ranger’s fist fires forward, hitting the monster across the jaw.
95 posts and 126 image replies omitted. Click reply to view. No.4803
>>4802"I don't like politicking and scheming. You can trust me."
>Orion watches as Martha sits."Fine. Tell us what you know and we'll leave."
>He steps out from between the girls, satisfied that Madeleine is safe. No.4804
>>4803"That's easy to say, not so easy to keep to."
>With Orion no longer blocking the way, Madeleine steps forward."Thank you, Martha, we won't be long - I've already seen what happened."
>Martha raises an eyebrow at the comment, but otherwise keeps quiet."I just need to know a few things: Who were the militia? Who was the scientist? Who was the woman you were fighting - and the child as well? And do you know where Blink went?"
>Martha thinks for a moment, then shrugs."I thought your friend went back to you. I don't know who the child was, nor the scientist. That woman's identity is a private matter, and the militia belonged to a group called the Witchfinders, they hunt down Meta-Humans because they're convinced they're the spawn of Satan - I was hunting them for personal reasons."
>Martha looks at the pair."Satisfied?"
No.4805
>>4804"Clearly you didn't learn much about me the last time we met."
>Orion grumbles to himself in annoyance. He then looks at Madeleine expectantly. "Well? What now?"
No.4806
>>4805>Martha looks over the two, watching Madeleine's for a moment, then adds:"I doubt that kid's the only one they've got, but I have no leads you can follow - he might have more recent info."
>Martha points at Orion."I doubt it, though, it's been a long time since Ken Thompson was involved with them. Outside of that, I've got nothing. . ."
>Martha sighs.". . .makes me feel as useless as Chancy is sometimes."
>Madeleine visibly reacts to the last comment."Wait, what?"
"What?"
"That last thing."
"I was just saying it makes me feel a bit useless, that's all."
". . .right."
>Madeleine nudges Orion."Orion, I think we need to leave, it's happening again. We need to get to the bottom of whatever this. . . thing is."
No.4807
>>4806>Orion looks at Martha."Reach out if you ever decide to stop squatting in a sewer and acting like I'm going to have you arrested."
>He takes Madeleine's hand and turns to walk away, lowering his voice while speaking with her."Why is it all focused on this Chancy character? What's the point of making people think some bumbling sidekick exists?"
No.4808
>>4807". . .good luck in your search."
>Martha comments as the pair leave her behind.
>Keeping up pace with Orion, Madeleine maintains her previous volume."I'm not sure. . . maybe it's. . . leverage or something? Like it needs something for people to latch onto to make it's way in?"
". . .if it's something that needs to make its way in, that is. Why it's doing that through a kids show from the 90s I don't know though."
No.4810
>>4809"Well. . ."
>Madeleine sighs.". . .there's no leads on Blink now, so we've just got to wait until something comes up, I guess."
>Madeleine takes out her phone, bringing up the information from earlier."Want to look into this actor, then? He's based not far from here."
No.4812
>>4811"Off we go then, time to visit an actor - hope you brought your autograph book."
—————————————————-
>After another journey, the pair find themselves outside a small office building, the sun starting to set behind them with just the right angle to provide enough light to read the names on the buzzer by the main entrance.
>Reading through them, Madeleine presses one, and the buzzer rings for a few moments before someone picks it up."This is Shooter's Stars, how can we help you today?"
"Hi, we have an appointment with Raymond Allen, it should be under Cox - I know we're a little late but I was hoping he'd still be available."
>The familiar sound of keyboard tapping can be heard through the low quality microphone of the buzzer, and then the device makes a noise to indicate that the door is unlocked."He's still available, if you'd like to come up, we'll set you up in one of the meeting rooms."
>Opening the door, Madeleine steps through, holding it open long enough for Orion follow her, and heads upstairs, eventually being placed in a small meeting room.
>As the pair wait, Madeleine taps her fingers."Do you think he knows what's happening? Or do you think he's another victim of it?"
No.4813
>>4812>Orion scratches his head, trying to think. "Either he's responsible for it, or…"
>Orion looks almost baffled by his own thought for a moment."…Or maybe he's not real either. Whether or not that's literal, I have no idea."
No.4814
>>4813>Madeleine nods."It's certainly a convenient situation for him, going from nothing to the hot topic pretty much overnight. . ."
>Madeleine trails off as a man with brown hair in a suit steps into the room."Ah. . ."
>Madeleine stands up and offers out a hand for the man to shake."You must be Mr Allen, my name's Erika Xavier, and this is. . ."
>Madeleine indicates to Orion."Well, I'll let him introduce himself. I just wanted to say before we start that I'm a big fan of your work back in the 90s, I know you were technically a child actor then, but you still held yourself well."
>The man, Raymond Allen, looks confused for a moment as he processes everything that was said to him, but then smiles."Thank you, it's always nice to meet a fan, especially when they're interested in funding my projects."
"Of course of course, now, but first, I'll let my associate ask a few questions, we don't want it to just be us speaking after all."
>Madeleine chuckles and the man joins in awkwardly."Yeah. . ."
No.4815
>>4814>Orion stares at the man, taking a moment to study him. He takes note of his brief confusion, then extends a hand to shake. "Mark."
>After giving time for the man to shake his hand, Orion immediately begins."First, how are you doing? Good I hope."
>Orion continues watching the man intentively. No.4816
>>4815"Nice to meet you Mark. . . uh. . . I didn't catch your last name."
>The man awkwardly shakes Orion's hand."I'm doing good, this recent nostalgia boom has been amazing for me, to be honest."
>Raymond sits down in the last remaining chair."I saw, you had an event on in the Tomorrow Arena, well, before it fell over."
"Oh yeah, bad situation there. . ."
>The man pauses as he shivers, a shiver also running up Orion and Madeleine's spines at the exact same time, then continues.". . .but you didn't ask to see me to catch up over the news, right? You're interested in my play. . ."
>The man reaches into his suit, then frowns, patting various parts of his suit.". . .looks like I've forgotten the script, one moment. . ."
>Raymond stands up, heading to the door, and opens it, only to find the other side has changed from the small office area to an endless expanse of corridors."What the-"
No.4817
>>4816"Fucking shit."
>Orion moves towards Raymond, grabbing him by the shoulder and shoving him into the wall."Alright, what the fuck is happening? You were confused about whatever the hell is going on out there. But we know there's no character named "Chancy" for that American Whatever show."
>Orion tightens his grip on the man's shoulder. "You been working with a psion, or maybe a wizard or something?"
No.4818
>>4817>Raymond lets out a yelp as Orion shoves him into the wall."W-what are you on about? I remember playing him and everything. . . Ow ow ow!"
>Raymond lets out another yelp of pain as the grip on his shoulder is tightened.". . .I swear I remember playing him! Julie was so kind on set and. . . and. . . why can't I. . . ow! Please stop that!"
"Orion. . ."
>Madeleine stands up. ". . .I think he's telling the truth. I can tell he's not lying. . ."
>Madeleine groans.". . .we're on the Astral Plane."
"What's an Astral Plane?"
No.4819
>>4818>Orion releases his grip on the man, and takes a step back. He looks at Madeleine"Just because he's telling the truth that doesn't mean he's not responsible."
>He turns his attention back towards the man."It's the place where minds originate. Your brain is influential but not the actual source. Now answer my question from earlier. Have you been talking with any psionic Meta-Humans?"
No.4820
>>4819"Where minds. . . what. . . no, at least I don't think so. . ."
>Raymond clutches his head for a moment."Why can't I remember anything specific about-"
>Just before he can finish his question, Raymond disappears unceremoniously, and a "voice" speaks out from the surroundings, feeling more like a train of thought than anything actually vocal.Not needed here. This one doesn't want.
>Madeleine looks at Orion."You heard. . . felt? That too, right?"
No.4821
>>4820"Yeah. I did."
>Orion starts looking around the room."Whatever's there! Come on out!"
No.4822
>>4821>Orion receives no response from whatever the presence was, and Madeleine closes her eyes for a moment, reaching out as far as she can."I'm not picking up anything. . . outside of the surroundings, of course. . ."
>Madeleine opens her eyes again, and offers a hand for Orion to take.". . .at the risk of this ending up with us being eaten, or stabbed, or set on fire, or possessed, or whatever, do you want to have a look what's beyond that door? I don't think we're going to have much luck staying in here."
No.4823
>>4822>Orion takes Madeleine's hand. "Whatever's thrown at us, we'll make it through."
>He begins to lead her towards the door."Let's go have a look."
No.4824
>>4823"Once more into the breach, then. . ."
>Madeleine takes Orion's hand, and the pair step through the doorway, the door instantly shutting behind them and disappearing the moment they look away, having been replaced by more endless corridor.
>With a sigh, Madeleine looks around.". . .at least it's not actively trying to kill us yet."
No.4827
>>4826"Let's do it then."
>Orion points his attention towards the nearest wall, immediately destroying it with a massive explosion. The chunks of dust and debris quickly fizzle away, only to reveal yet another identical corridor in place of what was once a wall."What?"
>Orion stares at it in disbelief, before gritting his teeth and trying again. This time, he destroys practically the entire area around the pair, only for it to reveal more identical corridors."What the fuck!"
No.4828
>>4827>Madeleine's reaction to the situation is relatively calmer.". . .that's not a good sign, usually these things just break apart when you do that. . ."
>The presence from earlier returns:Sea-one angry, angry not good, Sea-one be calm. . .
>A door appears Remember good times, simpler times, better times.
>A door suddenly appears behind the pair, and opens with a creak.Indulge inner child.
No.4830
>>4829Sea-one no angry, angry bad. Sea-one calm.
>Madeleine looks at Orion, clearly not hearing the presence."I don't think destroying it will work. . ."
>Madeleine looks at the door.". . .it's something different, at least?"
No.4831
>>4830"I just keep hearing that annoying voice complaining about me not being calm."
> Not yet realizing that Madeleine hasn't also heard the presence, Orion gives the door a casual kick, more like a light tap with his foot to vent some frustration."I guess we just have to go through it."
No.4832
>>4831"Weird that it's so concerned about your mental state, I've never encountered a therapist on the Astral Plane. . ."
>Madeleine looks at the door.". . .still, we can go through, if you think that's for the best."
No.4833
>>4832"I'd rather not. But smashing things doesn't seem to be working either."
>He looks at Madeleine. "Come on. I guess."
>He then goes to step through the door. No.4835
>>4834>Orion looks around the room, and then down at himself."…Wha- I'm a kid?"
>He examines his hands, and then his body, before looking back around the room."Whatever you're doing, knock it off!"
>Orion grabs a near-by baseball off the ground and throws it, smashing the sole window in the tiny room. He then goes on a rampage, stomping across the room throwing and smashing whatever he can."Fix me! Take me back to Maddie!"
>He continues to stomp around the room breaking things, only to finally take notice of the television. "Why are you so focused on that stupid show!? I've never even seen it! I've-"
>With his attention finally being grabbed, he continues to stare at the screen."Huh."
No.4836
>>4835>The footage on the show continues despite Orion's protests.". . .and remember kids, it's always important to have somewhere you can call safe, somewhere you can escape to, whether that's real or imaginary. . ."
>As the show continues, Madeleine steps through the door, similarly being transformed."What. . . this thing really likes childhood, huh? It's like some big company trying to sell you nostalgia or something. . ."
>Madeleine looks at the screen.". . .it's not saying the worst things, though, that's a good lesson for kids. . ."
>At the entrance of the room, Madeleine stands, silently tapping against an invisible wall and shouting out to Orion, her words not making their way through. Before Orion can look over at the door again, it silently closes. . . No.4837
>>4836>With a brief break in the show due to the episode ending, Orion looks over and notices Madeleine standing in the room."Hey! Maddie!"
>Orion hurries towards her. "I was worried you weren't going to make it in here!"
No.4838
>>4837>Madeleine rushes over and gives Orion a hug."It was just a weird door, that's not enough to stop me. . ."
>Madeleine chuckles."Besides, what would I be if I just left you behind like that?"
—————————————————-
>Outside of the room Madeleine knocks on the door as hard as she can, stopping when it's clear "What did you do to him?! I know you can hear me!"
>The corridor is silent for a moment before the presence "speaks up" again:Sea-one was angry, this one provided escape.
"Escape? You better not have-"
>The corridor darkens for a moment as it matches Madeleine's mood, and the presence changes as it notices something.Mule?! This one knows! This one knows! Presence was different, but is Mule! This one is such big fan! But why didn't Mule make self known?
>Madeleine's anger is temporarily defused by confusion at the presence's comments.". . .Mule?"
Mule lost memory? Ok, this one will remind!
No.4839
>>4838>The corridor shifts and turns as the door Orion went through disappears, and another door appears a fair distance away.Mule! Follow!
"No. Bring him back."
In time! In time! Mule should follow first!
>Madeleine opens her mouth to argue again, but relents after a moment of thought."Fine, I'll play by your game. . ."
>Madeline starts stepping down the corridor towards the new door, and the walls rotate around her, stopping occasionally to stabilise and show a painting, all of them depicting ruined cities and environments.This one is Mule's biggest fan, so this one tried to copy Mule. . .
>Madeleine frowns at the painting, not saying anything so as to avoid a reaction from the presence.But this one did not understand dark heart of humanity like Mule, so this one did different, this one
helped humanity. . .
>As Madeleine goes further down, the paintings change in tone, depicting societies slowly stagnating and collapsing into more ruins.This one loves children, so this one made
all children! Reality harsh and complicated, but childhood, childhood simple. . .
>Madeleine stops for a moment, looking over one of the pictures."It's escapism though, it's not healthy. Look at what's happening."
Humans saved from pain, though, like Mule wanted.
>As the comment stops, the door suddenly snaps closer, right in front of Madeleine.This one found key memory! Watch!
No.4840
>>4839>The door makes a creaking sound as it opens in front of Madeleine, leading into a small office in her home. At a desk in the centre of the room is an older man, who types away at a typewriter. As she sees it, Madeleine takes a small step back."Oh. . ."
>In front of Madeleine, another version of herself steps through the door, walking so that she's just in front of the man, who doesn't look up to greet her."You're late."
"The trains. . ."
"I didn't ask for an excuse."
". . .sorry."
"When I tell you to come home, I expect you to drop everything you are doing and return immediately."
"But-"
"No excuses, ■■■■■."
"Yes father. . ."
>The Madeleine in the office looks down sullenly."Well?"
"Sorry father?"
"Are you not going to ask why I told you to return? Or did I raise a dullard?"
"No father, why did you need to see me?"
"I've arranged a new business deal. You are to return home permanently, no more gallivanting at university."
"But-"
"No buts, ■■■■■."
"Yes father. . ."
"Good, now. . ."
>The man begins to speak again, but his words are drowned out as the Madeleine in the scene begins to focus on something else. As she does, the Madeleine in the corridor grabs the door and struggles against it for a moment before slamming it shut."No.
That is
not a 'core memory',
that is not to be seen."
>The presence seems surprised again, but then replies with an almost jovial nature.This one sees now. This is not Mule. . . this is Stronger-Mule!
No.4841
>>4840"What?"
Mule could never do it, but Stronger-Mule, Stronger-Mule did! Stronger-Mule is hero!
>As the presence "speaks", Madeleine's clothing changes to that of American Ranger."What's your obsession with that show. . . you know what,
fine."
>Madeleine clenches her fist."If you're insisting that I'm some kind of hero to you, I'll do something a hero does. . ."
>Madeleine punches the wall, causing it to crack.". . .I'll save a child in danger."
Stronger-Mule, wait!
>Madeleine punches the wall again, causing the cracks to enlarge.—————————————————-
>Within the room, the TV continues to play the show, with American Ranger fighting a villain, until an attack of hers meets with the screen, causing it to crack.
>American Ranger punches the screen again, causing it to shatter, and reaches through the TV screen to pull herself through and grab the "Madeleine" in the room. As she does, she looks at Orion."Hey, kid, this might be a bit confusing, but I need you to trust me for a moment - this isn't who you think it is. . ."
>Still keeping hold of the "Madeleine", American Ranger does a pose."I should know, I'm her."
No.4843
>>4842>American Ranger dodges the attack, having to drop "Madeleine" as she does."That's not Madeleine, Orion, I am."
>Pointing at the other "Madeleine", American Ranger scoffs."I mean, do you
really think I'd wear anything like that?"
No.4844
>>4843"Well I've never seen you dressed like this before either!"
>His eyes move back and forth between "Madeleine" and American Ranger."Wait."
>He looks at "Madeleine"."Maddie? Hello? You haven't said anything in a while."
No.4846
>>4845>Orion's eyes widen in surprise as "Madeleine" fades away. "She was a fake!"
>He looks at American Ranger with a mix of shock, and even child-like wonder. "You are the real Madeleine then!"
>Orion moves towards Madeleine, and then hugs her the best he can now being a head or two shorter than her at minimum. He looks embarrassed while doing so. No.4847
>>4846>American Ranger goes to return the hug, then changes her mind, instead moving so that it looks like she's protecting him."No offence, but you look a bit too young for me currently. . ."
>Turning to look at the door, points at it."Now, I
know you can hear me, so here's what's going to happen: I'm going to leave with Orion,
you are going to be unable to stop me - and then you are going to go back and lick your wounds."
>American Ranger is silent for a moment, waiting for something to happen, then sighs."Ugh. . . this so embarassing. . ."
>American Ranger moves her free arm up so she's pointing at the ceiling."I swear this by Lady Liberty!"
>The room suddenly flashes white, and Orion and Madeleine find themselves back in the small meeting room from before, with a very confused look Raymond Allen sitting across from them with a blank look on his face. No.4848
>>4847>Having suddenly appeared back in the meeting room at his normal age, Orion quickly pats and examines his body before letting out a sigh of relief."Finally."
>He looks at Madeleine."I feel like I'm not going to explode at the slightest inconvenience anymore. Thank you."
>He pauses for a second, then asks: "What actually happened anyway? Why'd that thing not affect you? And what was with the er… outfit?"
No.4849
>>4848>Madeleine sighs in relief when she notices she's back to her usual clothes."I'm. . . not entirely sure."
>Madeleine gives Raymond a smile, and the man walks out of the room wordlessly."I think it had me confused with someone else. It kept on calling me Mule, and insisting it was a fan - but all it showed me of this Mule was a load of destroyed worlds. . ."
>Madeleine shakes her head.". . .which isn't me, of course. Then it. . . well it saw something and decided I was 'Stronger-Mule' which meant I was a hero - which is where the costume came from."
"After that, I think it just left because of how it perceived me. . . I wouldn't really call it 'beaten' or anything like that. I essentially just sent it to its room - it was a lot like a kid, basically."
No.4850
>>4849>Orion watches as Raymond leaves the room. He thinks to himself:{
"…Huh. I wonder what's gonna happen with that guy since Chancy wasn't a real character."}
>He then looks back at Madeleine. "Well you got rid of it. And… well, you didn't look bad doing it either."
>Orion gives Madeleine a smile, but it slowly fades. "We still don't know about Blink though."
No.4851
>>4850"It still feels a bit hollow though. . ."
>Madeleine sighs."I was kind of hoping that this whole business would be some kind of plan and Blink would be there. . ."
". . .guess not, huh."
>With another sigh, Madeleine looks at the door."Hopefully something will come up soon, and I just hope they're safe, wherever they are."
>Madeleine yawns.". . .for now though, I think I need some sleep. . ."