Deep in the recesses of STAR Labs' high security storage facility, a creature stirred. Caitlyn awoke to a dark world, the force of several people pressing down on her. She strained against the flesh that immobilised her but it only squeezed her tighter.
"Real funny guys, stop holding me down and turn on the lights or I'll beat the living daylight out of each and everyone of you!"
The was a deafening silence from her restrainers, maybe aggression wasn't the best tactic.
"Ha, ha! You got me guys! The old pin the puny weakling using our extraordinary strength routine! Ha ha ha!"
She wriggled again but to no avail.
"C'mon El Sasquatcho, this is no way to treat a lady."
Still nothing, she couldn't even loosen the grip on her slender right hand.
"~Please release me, let me go~" "Alright, we're done." "Look you win! I can't move!" "You're hurting me, y'know and I can barely breathe!" "Just let go, you've made your point already!" "You lot know this is unfair, just stop" "I swear if one of you has coped a feel I'm gunna-" "LET GO, NOW"
Caitlyn twisted and strained, coiled and writhed to escape the indomitable grasp. Nothing worked.
"Guys stop it now! How could you possibly think this is funny?"
Caitlyn saw El Sasquatcho tidying up and immediately set her bowl of rice down so she could help. He was good enough to be the first to buy, the least she could do was help him package it up for the fridge. He'd bought so much, they could all easily have this again tomorrow. Caitlyn thought to future snacking, she'd have to cook something for them all, demonstrate her culinary talents. She'd have to have a think about what she could do for 7 plus herself and El Sasquatcho, who had quite the appetite too. Caitlyn wondered what they'd all enjoy. They finished up quickly with the two of them, Mexican tidily organised into labelled Tacohut boxes, and Caitlyn retreated back to her dorm.
Caitlyn pressed her thumb to the finger print scanner while holding her face against the eye pieces on her cupboard, unlocking the armoury. She was glad to finally getting out of her super suit for the day. She undid the clasp on the unloaded utility belt, it was dangerous to have it full of things she had no knowledge of how to use, which allowed her to reach up the inside to unhook the final few catches. The left side popped open at the top, enlarging the armhole and relaxing the fit of her chest piece slightly.Sweet relief...She slid it off in a single smooth action and threw it up onto the rack with the belt, she was glad to be rid of it for now.
She stretched and sat down on her double bed, according to her Tag Heuer Carrera, she had a couple of minutes to kill before she had to leave. She pulled out her diary. Meeting so many people was pretty tough so to supplement their encrypted files Caitlyn kept personal details of them, just little notes, just to help her keep track of who like what, who did this, that and the other in their spare time, etc. And on the Luchadore's page Caitlyn neatly added, "Generous with food". The details she added about Archer weren't so kind, but they were just as true. She added a few more reminders to herself and then snapped the book shut and dropped it back into the bottom draw of her desk. She checked her watch again. Perfect. Caitlyn finished getting changed, grabbed her toolbag and left for the El Camino Train.
Caitlyn, swung herself in the back, careful not to scratch the paint.
"How long you say you had this bad girl for, El Sasquatcho? She's gorgeous."
, "El Sasquatcho is familiar with the Street Fighter series of games. Mostly, preferring to fight with the large Russian wrestler or the green Brazilian who electrocutes his adversaries. Good combos."
"Zangief and Blanka are fine, but Ken, Guy and Evil Ryu are where it's at"
Caitlyn rolled her eyes, this lot went on about Street Fighter too? How popular could this toy really be? Caitlyn knew what was going to happen next, it always happened between men and their hobbies, they could talk strategy and counter-strategy, like some battle of wits was taking place, for longer than they would actually engage in the hobby.
"Oh, Zangeif has superior wake up combo into Super and overall better frame data" "What does that matter? Ree-you has better zoning and poke options, you'll never get close" "Both Zangeif and Ree-you are inferior Dudley, whos neutral heavy jab into forward heavy jab footsies out perform almost all other moves, and he can counter fireballs" "Are you insane? Dudley's hitbox is retarded and extends 2 feet infront of him, his profile is to big, he's hit by even the shittiest low kicks" "All his moves combo into Machine Gun Punch and the EX version is a stage dive, you can't get close without the punish and there is nothing you can do about Rolling Thunder" "Look, if were talking Ultras Able wins, its a guranteed hit and removes half your health"
Yada-yada-yada. And this wasn't exclusive to Street Fighter either, cars, guns, anything with moving parts, real or imaginary. Everything has to be a competition.
"Psst... If you're still hungry after this, nobody's touched the rice." He then returned to his own meal.
Caitlyn was still kinda hungry and rice would be the perfect carbohydrate dense dish to satify herself and Bug. She was dishing herself up when Zero started screaming from the gym. She poked her head round the door to make sure everything was alright. Zero had gone mental and bad touched one of the holo-droids big time. Dude needed to calm down, he'd taken Robin's death really badly.Don't get me wrong, what happened that night was horrifying but shouldn't have left this much of an impact. Its not like they'd known Robin, known of sure, but actually known the person? Caitlyn had sympathy of Zero, but not empathy, he needed to pull himself to together.
Caitlyn wished she could have done more for him that night, but she wasn't a brawler. The honorable thing would have been to get laid out by Multiplex and hope they no interest in silly things like "loose ends", but it wasn't the clever thing to do. The clever thing to do was to disappear before she herself was on the recieving end of Deadshot, especially when well aimed bullets were a particular weakness of hers.
"No, no... The chocolate is seasonal. El Sasquatcho will not be able to procure it from the Taco Hut until the middle of October. At that time, we have the option of Cayenne or Pumpkin Spice. It is muy dark, thick, and lovely; not unlike the lucky young lady El Sasquatcho escorted to his junior prom."
Imagining El Sasquatcho as any younger than he was now was genuinely impossible. Caitlyn's face contorted as she struggled with the concept. Less broad, less hairy and maybe shorter? It was impossible. Caitlyn tried to force those paradoxical thoughts out of her mind lest she break something in there and went back to spooning out rice for herself. As she hopped back onto the counter, El Sasquatcho continued.
"If nothing else, let us do something. We've been training for days."
"Arcade it is then, we can go a soon as everyones ready"
Video games. It was almost like they were trying to pick things she couldn't do. She couldn't play on a home console, thumb sticks required a dexterity she simply didn't have anymore. Anything else would do, drinking on a street corner, hot wiring Blacklight Gang bikes, could even play some B-ball. She didn't fancy her chances against Ves but Caitlyn could still dunk on her till she learnt the rules weren't really the rules. Video games would win if put to the vote so she smiled and nodded, just to make things go more smoothly.
Bug continued to attack the internal surface of the bin, thumping it for every scrap of edible substance in there. Caitlyn honestly should have seen it coming, she'd spent a lot of time she'd usually be dumpster diving here training, a double whammy of calorie loss. She strayed to close to the bin while trying to be a civil human being and he'd latched on. It was useless straining against him, it would only slow him down and he'd be done soon anyway. Bug was done sooner than Caitlyn thought, no sooner had the smell of cheap Mexican hit her nose, Bug relinquished his grip on the trashcan, now almost entirely void of organic substances.
“Midnight snacking time, boys and girls! El Sasquatcho has brought a bounty of Tacos and Churro Bites!”
El Sasquatcho had laid a mountain of consumable items upon the kitchen table and Bug wanted all of it. Bug fired on all cylinders, flooding Caitlyn's blood stream with ghrelin, the hungry hormone. An all too familiar craving sensation built up and Caitlyn thought it about time to open negotiations."We'll eat some of the mexican food, but we're doing it my way"
"Try to eat the food yourself and they'll be no more I swear"
"Hͥu̻̺̼͎̬̯̒ͯ̽͒́n̉̓̔ĝr̸̲͖̜̯̂̽̿ͪ̚ͅȳͮ̆͛̿͡.̜̙͖̜͍̆̌.̵͎̗̎̽̌̈́̏ͤ.͆ͫͥ̅͏̗̫̝͍͙.̈҉̼̜̣̻̲̗" Caitlyn hoped her inner monologue wasn't broadcast too much on her face, it was embarrassing enough she'd been carrying the bin and that she was about to demolish far more Mexican than a young lady should.
The Mexican was good, really good, but that could have just been her hypothalamus talking. The temptation to compete with El Sasquatcho's tempo and vigor was strong, but Caitlyn's steely nerves and gang hardened will helped her keep composure, maybe another time when the competition was official. She caught El Sasquatcho eye and gave a strong nod; by it he would understand how impressed and grateful Caitlyn was for his generous meal. She didn't vocalise her pleasure for it wasn't in her nature, but her mouth was also full.
Caitlyn was midway through inhaling a taco as politely as one could when El Sasquatcho interrupted himself and took off with a speed unusual for his size. The battle cries to come would strike fear into Huitzilopochtli himself. Caitlyn couldn't help but be paralyzed by the thought of a similar fate, she sat the taco down on the work surface she was perched on. The luchadore had started eating only moments before she did. She looked around the room, all eyes were transfixed on the door through which the guttural noises of an arena champion emanated. She wrapped her fingers round the edge of the work surface with one hand and slyly polished off the half-taco on the surface with the other. She was trapped, to leave for the bathrooms was to sacrifice all dignity but to stay was social suicide if worst came to worst. She had to wait till El Sasquatcho's cubicle battle royale to the death was not just over, but out of recent memory. That could be weeks. Caitlyn checked the clock, her time was running out. Maybe she was alright, it could have easily been something he'd bought specially for himself, no one else seemed to be suffering. No one else had eaten as much as them either. This was all Bug's fault, if it wasn't for his insatiable appetite she wouldn't be in this mess. And why does he get this much say anyway? This was her body, hes a tool to be used at her whim. The resulting embarrassment was going to weeks long of teasing, maybe even a career long, what if she couldn't shake it off. That'll do wonders for her reputation. Time had passed and nothing had changed but the ferocity and volume of El Sasquatcho's personal Pearl Harbor, Caitlyn was still a time bomb waiting to go off. Bug I'll do anything if you'll help me out here, I'll feed you, I'll let you go mad in a dumpster 3 times a week if you just don't let this happen.
It was going to happen. It was going to be embarrassing regardless of what she did, she'd made her choices and she was ready for the consequences. Caitlyn accepted the fate and made peace with the Gastro Gods that had woven it for her.
El Sasquatcho reentered the room and saw fit to pretend nothing had occurred, Caitlyn too returned to picking at chips. A little longer and she could escape, unjudged by her peers. But it was her colleges that betrayed her, there expressions told Sasquatcho everything.
“It fought bravely. You would give it proper honor to wait twenty minutes before entering the room.”
Nooooooo! Why? We could have all pretended, returned to the previous conversation and Caitlyn would be out scot free. Oh God, now the awkwardness would linger further.
"For the love of God, don't talk about it! I'm still eating"
Nooooooo! For the love of all that is holy don't even mention it! Then she felt it. The movement of air in her digestive system. The relaxation of gastrointestinal muscles. The build up. Doom cometh, pray that it be a merciful and swift death.
Caitlyn let out a short stifled
burp
“Sooo… you guys talk about where you wanted to go while I was away?”
"The arcade, Ves wants to see some of the glory of the modern era." Caitlyn remarked as she cleaned her face with a paper serviette. Crisis averted, for now.
Her own supersuit... It wasn't exactly as she envisioned it. They'd gotten some details right, no sleeves and um... well it wasn't exactly how she envisioned it at all. It what she should have expected, a skin tight cat suit, but some part of her hoped it would be more..."Just get in the suit Caitlyn." She wouldn't have to wear this the rest of her crime fighting career, when she was making a name for herself she can make her own costume. She slipped in smoothly, considering they'd never taken her measurements it was good fit, Batman clearly has experience eyeballing size from CCTV footage. Just as she was leaving, she caught herself in the mirror. It looked better on her than when it was flat and lifeless and the robin-esque mask was a great touch, she still felt a little ridiculous and very self-conscious. She took her cargo trousers back out of the bag and slipped them on over the suit, disguising her little legs and immediately looking less top heavy. It would have to do.
"Well put it this way, I'm rather tall and I'm not sure getting a part time job will make me blend in as such."
She wasn't serious was she? She couldn't possibly, she saw us all earlier. We are a complete bunch of weirdies, shes one of the most normal looking of the lot, except maybe dumb and dumber. She had to be trying to skive out of working all day, she did look the sort to try it, probably hasn't worked a day in her life. Caitlyn decided not to comment for now, keeping her thoughts to herself, it was patently obvious it was a stupid thing to say. She did however take the opportunity to look disapprovingly at her. And then she changer her mind.
"You know sweetie, you'd make a great lamppost, or a tree, must be some job openings in those departments here in Gotham", Caitlyn suggested. She tried hard not to be too heavy on the sarcastic tones but she wasn't particularly good at not speaking her mind. "Some of us have real physical afflictions and we're still going to blend in nonetheless."
Secret ID: Caitlyn Gump Alias: Parasite Age: 19 Home Location: Gotham, a wonderful place of opportunity, if you have the money and status.
Powers: None of her own to speak of, but has a symbiotic relationship with a parasitical creature Caitlyn affectionately named "Bug", which is attached to her left arm, it gives her:
Envenomed Claws, cumulative paralytic A projectile gunk shot, hazardous to health long term Hook Shot Capabilities Shell Armour Plating Hazmat-lite, Bug Detoxes and filters Caitlyn's blood, making her resistant to chemical and biological warfare. Defib-lite, Bug's Heart continues to pump blood around Caitlyn's body, even if Caitlyn's heart isn't. Bug is semi-sentient and communicates Caitlyn neurally, feeding her powerful messages of hunger and self preservation.
Bug continues to grow, giving more powers to its beloved host but enveloping more of Caitlyn.
Weaknesses: Besides her left arm she is entirely human, no powers attached. Bug must be fed regularly to be any use Bug can act against Caitlyn's will if it believes Caitlyn is endangering both of them. Ingestion of unknown Paraciticides slows Bug down Caitlyn is used to operating alone and finds it hard to trust others. Technophobe, not literally, but sucks with computers.
Appearance: A dirty street urchin with an alien creature for a left arm. Curly mousy brown hair, cut shoulder length with a rusty scissor blade Her eyes are dark and full of mistrust She stands at a skinny 5'6" and weighs 170lbs, Bug included Used to wear almost exclusively dark baggy clothing, but in light of becoming a TITAN has revamped her look, somewhat. Her hoodie has been swapped out for the more respectable, sleeveless turtleneck jumper and her cargo trousers for, well, better cargo trousers, you can take a girl out of the slums. Her sick hi-tops have also be traded in for more respectable combat ready footwear. This was going up in the world for her, she wasn't going to lose such an opportunity by looking scruffy.
Personality: Caitlyn has dedicated her life from escaping the hell hole that her former life. All opportunities taken, nothing squandered. However her foresight is not twenty twenty, tends to give up long term rewards for short term boons. Caitlyn's trust must be earnt and is more easily lost than gotten. This however, doesn't stop her from being civil with you, something you learn on the streets, so you won't know whether you have it or you don't. Her desire to be a TITAN is not so much one of love for saving people, but of not having to be a criminal anymore, and sees it way to bigger things. She is manipulative and she is a deceiver but she isn't cruel and certainly not a bad person. As someone who often acted alone, she has little teamwork or leadership skills but will endeavor to acquire them when they've shown their value.
Her and Bug had come along way since they day they were first introduced, that day was pivotal in ways she barely understood at the time. She was 13, out of school and trying to help pay off a debt of a father she never met. Pick pocketing worked for a while, till mother's "gentlemen friends" went too many weeks without a visit to her bedroom. Payments went up, the bruises came back. The items stolen and fenced got more expensive; phones, laptops, computers, but it was never quite enough, according to the collectors.
"13 years old, wow, how time flies", the big one would say on the way out as they grabbed the hats and coats they'd slung over the sofa earlier,"I remember when you were only a wee nipper, look how much you've grown."
The other, cigarette in mouth, swinging his coat over his thin shoulders,"She's a smart little monkey too, Gov"
"Really now? Maybe she can come work with us, we could always do with a helping hand in the office", they'd both laugh in such away you knew they didn't mean it so much as a dirty joke as they did just dirty. "Maybe when she's a bit bigger."
"Yeah, and maybe she can finish what her daddy started too, you know he was this close to crackin-" "Thats enough Freddy, were done here."
As Freddy unlocked the door, the big guy, who's name she knew would slip a silver coin out of his coat pocket and deposit into Caitlyn's palm.
"For my favourite God-daughter, buy yourself something sweet."
The same charade every month, little did they know it was the last. Tonight she wasn't staying for the awkward silent late supper before bed. She was meeting him, the Man of Promises. Shortly after the men left, Caitlyn changed back out of pajamas and left into the darkness. Their meeting place was a dark alleyway approximately half way between Caitlyn's home and the office Fred and the Boss man returned too every month after visiting, the heavy cloud cover obscured the moon but the streets were no darker thanks to the powerful neon lampposts. Drunkards already littered the street and their harmless, but watchful gaze made Caitlyn's heart pound harder. The video rental, the second hand store, the charity store, the coffee shop. The alley opened before her, its gaping chasm threatening to swallow her whole. A man in sunglasses was waiting in a door way deeper down. Him. Caitlyn walked down and followed him into the room he was propping open. Caitlyn took a seat at the table that had been dragged into the closet from cafe side.
An ornate wooden box lay on the table, unlocked. The lid seemed still, but periodically Caitlyn could have sworn it lifted up, if only by millimeters. The box demanded her attention, in it was a promise, so she was told. An opportunity to escape the life she had, to be slave to no one and take control of her own destiny.
"Are you sure this is what you want Miss Gump?" "I want it to stop" "And you're willing to do what is necessary?" "Yes" "And you're willing to pay the price?" "Yes" "So be it, lift the lid of the box"
Caitlyn placed her hands on either side of the lid. What on earth could be in this box? She wasted no time, but immediately regretted it. The contents wriggled and Caitlyn slammed the lid back down.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE THOSE?" "Freedom, Miss Gump"
Caitlyn lifted the lid a little slower this time, fingers as far from any of the alien creatures as she could. Thorny, writhing unearthly creatures litter the box, there might have been seven or eight of them all unique in their horrid design.
"What am I supposed to do with these?" "Please pick one, today is the day you escape the chains of society" "I came here for a gun, you said you were going to give me a weapon to fight my oppressors with" He scoffed, "I am giving you something better than a gun," he paused, "Liberation. Pick one."
None of them were particularly inviting, but maybe that was the point. He was wasting her time. She got up to leave but a firm hand pushed her back into her seat.
"Do not make the mistake others have made, Miss Gump, you leave this room and you walk back into your old life, back into the sadness and the misery and the hopelessness, this is your chance to escape. I can assure you that you will not regret this, pick one."
Caitlyn looked back into the box of horrors.
"That one." "A fine choice, the first of many."
He lifted the 7 inch monstrosity out of the box, with no more care than if it were a hamster. Holding it by the giant thorn he rolled it in air and stroked it along the belly side. It relaxed and opened up exposing its lemon yellow, fleshy insides.
"Your hand, Miss Gump."
She didn't respond but her expression said everything. Nope. Nope. Nope. The Man of Promises took her hand from the table. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. He pulled her hand slowly into position, Caitlyn transfixed on the creature, which seem to wriggle more excitedly as her middle finger got closer. NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. She looked up to the man, her face filled with horror, her eyes begged for it to end. She could feel the warmth radiating from the creatures insides on her finger. Every moment waiting for it to clamp around it was agony, the torture never ending. NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! She squeezed her eyes tight and braced for the pain of her skin being devoured by the hungry evil creature, but it never came.
The man relaxed his grip on her wrist, and smiled.
Cao the Exiled
Omega Man
Noctis
Hitman