The Skittering Chaos (Worm/Hazbin Hotel)

[Pinklestia]

so even if she had a chance to get into Heaven, because she never washed her sins away and was never repentant, she never stood a chance of getting into Heaven.

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In this setting babies get into Hell so...

 

[SystemSearcher]

I guess that the main thing preventing Taylor from going to Heaven is that, despite certainly committing atrocities and not being entirely in the right, she was basically overall correct in her motivations, and repenting for something that was legitimately the best out of all options at the time is rather difficult.

Or, at least, that would be the case if Hazbin Hotel Heaven wasn't so horribly elitist that even being a saint is not a guarantee of getting in.

 

[Pinklestia]

Or, at least, that would be the case if Hazbin Hotel Heaven wasn't so horribly elitist that even being a saint is not a guarantee of getting in.

Click to shrink...

So in this setting either Jesus didn't exist or he was a freaking liar.

 

[VisV]

So in this setting either Jesus didn't exist or he was a freaking liar.

Click to shrink...

Christianity seems to exist… so yeah Jesus was a liar.

 

[VisV]

I guess that the main thing preventing Taylor from going to Heaven is that, despite certainly committing atrocities and not being entirely in the right, she was basically overall correct in her motivations, and repenting for something that was legitimately the best out of all options at the time is rather difficult.

Or, at least, that would be the case if Hazbin Hotel Heaven wasn't so horribly elitist that even being a saint is not a guarantee of getting in.

Click to shrink...

Taylor Hebert did nothing wrong.

I'm not being ironic, I actually mean it.

 

[Pinklestia]

Taylor Hebert did nothing wrong.

I'm not being ironic, I actually mean it.

Click to shrink...

She made mistakes but she saved thousands of Earths and so many people I can't count them.

 

[VisV]

She made mistakes but she saved thousands of Earths and so many people I can't count them.

Click to shrink...

TAYLOR. HEBERT. DID. NOTHING. WRONG.

 

[Night Hunter]

Can we not do this?

She died and go to hell for her sins, rightfully or not, because someone or something judge her soul as such, end of history

In another note, can sinners travel between rings? I know they end up in rings associate with they sins, Pride the most populous,of all.

 

[VisV]

Fun new helluva boss lore fact.

That whitemark on Blitzo's face is the imp equivalent of scar tissue. So... something fucked him up bad in the past.

Also Notice that fizzaroli's entire face is white, and he uses prosthetic arms and legs.

 

[TitaniumQuartz971]

Fun new helluva boss lore fact.

That whitemark on Blitzo's face is the imp equivalent of scar tissue. So... something fucked him up bad in the past.

Also Notice that fizzaroli's entire face is white, and he uses prosthetic arms and legs.

Click to shrink...

He also says to keep the demon who has four of his robotic replicas for personal use far away from him.

 

[Pinklestia]

In another note, can sinners travel between rings? I know they end up in rings associate with they sins, Pride the most populous,of all

Click to shrink...

Apparently only demons can, but maybe if you stay in hell long enough you become a real demon? Dunno there is too much we don't know besides that Sinners can't have kids or move to other parts of hell on their own.

 

[VisV]

Apparently only demons can, but maybe if you stay in hell long enough you become a real demon? Dunno there is too much we don't know besides that Sinners can't have kids or move to other parts of hell on their own.

Click to shrink...

Rules are made to broken~

 

[Pinklestia]

Can we get an informal post with all the magic Taylor has copied?

 

[VisV]

Thread Necromancer.

We need Asmodeus to show up at some point.

Taylor has to impress him with her completely accidental pimp hand.

Also he can give her fashion tips about the proper usage of kinky boots.

 

[Thread Necromancer]

Taylor Hebert's abilities obtained and when:

End of Worm Canon:
Shard Induced Multitasking
Shard Induced Aim Enhancement
Flight pack training

Chapter 1:
Demonic Form (Minor)
Demonic Moth Silk Production
Demonic Endurance
Demonic Strength
Demonic Brutishness
Magical Sensing
Enhanced Sensing
Shape shifting
Magical Release (Wind)
Deal Making
Sinful Immortality

Chapter 2:

Chapter 3:

Chapter 4:
Multi limb shape shifting

Chapter 5:
Acceleration barriers (Skidmark's Power)

Chapter 6:
Magical Inventory

Chapter 7:
Altered acceleration barriers into magical barriers
Bug Possession

Chapter 8/9 (screwed up the numbering here a bit):
Flight

Chapter 10:

Chapter 11:

Chapter 12:
True Demon Form

Chapter 13:
Bug Possession fully realised as Possession

Chapter 14:

Chapter 15:

Chapter 16:

Chapter 17:
Magical healing

Chapter 18:

Chapter 19:

Chapter 20:
Crimson Transformation

Chapter 21:

Chapter 22:

Chapter 23:
Modified Crimson transformation

Full list of abilities:
Shard Induced Multitasking
Shard Induced Aim Enhancement
Flight pack training
Demonic Form (Minor)
Demonic Moth Silk Production
Demonic Endurance
Demonic Strength
Demonic Brutishness
Magical Sensing
Enhanced Sensing
Shape shifting
Magical Release (Wind)
Deal Making
Sinful Immortality
Magical Barriers
Magical Inventory
Possession
Flight
True Demon Form
Magical healing
Crimson Transformation
Modified Crimson Transformation

 

[Night Hunter]

One thing I notice is that every Ring of Hell has a different sky color. Pride is red, Greed is green, Lust is blue(?) and Wrath is pinkish-orange couple with a cycle of day and night. Taylor may not have notice there is day and night since day in Pride since the day sky probably has a light tone of red while night is more deeper.

 

[doomlord9]

So in this setting either Jesus didn't exist or he was a freaking liar.

Click to shrink...

There's another option, which fits with the "Heaven is full of elitist assholes" lore.

Jesus did exist and he did die to absolve everyone's sins. Nobody said this was more than a singular, non-repeating event.

At that exact moment and only that exact moment, everyone alive had their sins absolved. If they managed to die between Jesus dying on the cross and before they managed to sin again, they would go to Heaven. If they didn't...oh well, they had their chance.

 

[VisV]

There's another option, which fits with the "Heaven is full of elitist assholes" lore.

Jesus did exist and he did die to absolve everyone's sins. Nobody said this was more than a singular, non-repeating event.

At that exact moment and only that exact moment, everyone alive had their sins absolved. If they managed to die between Jesus dying on the cross and before they managed to sin again, they would go to Heaven. If they didn't...oh well, they had their chance.

Click to shrink...

You know... If jesus is portrayed accurately... I think he might be pissed off with heaven.

 

[doomlord9]

You know... If jesus is portrayed accurately... I think he might be pissed off with heaven.

Click to shrink...

I'm guessing a whole lot of...well, everyone in Hazbin is pissed off with Heaven.

Unfortunately, Big G has more than enough power to continue not caring about their opinion.

 

[VisV]

I'm guessing a whole lot of...well, everyone in Hazbin is pissed off with Heaven.

Unfortunately, Big G has more than enough power to continue not caring about their opinion.

Click to shrink...

ATTACK AND DETHRONE GOD.

 

[doomlord9]

It just came to be how Jesus fits into Hazbin.

It's his rebellion. His "Screw you Dad! I'm gonna let everybody in!" tantrum.

Big G just rolled his eyes, let it go through, and blocked the part where the effect continues beyond a single moment.

 

[SystemSearcher]

Another option is that Big G is extremely overworked with actually running the world, and so the angels have taken over heaven without him realizing just what they ended up turning it into.

 

[Pinklestia]

Another option is that Big G is extremely overworked with actually running the world, and so the angels have taken over heaven without him realizing just what they ended up turning it into.

Click to shrink...

Well... that unfortunately makes a lot of sense and since Jesus died when the world population was a whole lot smaller and he never leaves Heaven, he doesn't realise something is wrong.

 

[Thread Necromancer]

The Skittering Chaos 18

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There is something about Hell's tea that gives it a bit of an extra kick. Maybe it has a higher caffeine concentration in the leaves, or maybe this new body of mine isn't as used to the caffeine as my old one. Though, with a demon's constitution, it wouldn't make much sense. Weed from Hell was a bit of a kick to it as well if my sense of smell is right, so it's likely the first.

"So what's going on today boss?" Mimi asks as she sips her coffee. Whatever kind of coffee she's having though, from how bouncy it seems to be making her, might be a little too much for the little mouse demon.

"We're keeping busy for the most part while I continue to monitor the situation between the two gangs," it's all we can really do without playing our hand. While the Raz Family's defence is weak, their harassment tactics were working in their favour for now and continuing to weaken the Crimson gang while they built up their forces. Though, without any heavy hitters to take out Crimson's own, without a change in their strategy, the best they can do is take out the fodder. I doubt the Raz family isn't trying to figure out how to deal with the Crimson gang's boss, the clones, and their heavy armoured troops.

"Mimi, there is one thing I want to get out of the way," as I say that, I can see Mimi shift her full attention to me. "And before we start, I want you to know that I'm not someone that holds a grudge."

Mimi's mouth twitches downward as I say this, and her posture becomes a bit straighter. Despite the energy that she had before, she stills, my wording worrying her. She's looking at me, straight in the eyes, and while she does so I can smell something with my antennae. A bit of sweat, and she brings her coffee up to take a sip.

"I want to know, were you Burnscar?" I ask. Long seconds pass as we watch each other. Mimi stares at me, trying her best to keep from betraying her emotions to me, yet I can still smell the slight scent of sweat on her, and can hear the quickening of breath. I don't particularly wish to confront her on this and force her into this kind of situation, it would be better to get this over with now. Not talking about an issue is what led to the rift that grew between Dad and me. While we both worked on repairing our damaged relationship, it never was the same. If this all blows up now, and Mimi runs for it, it'll be less of a hit if it happens now rather than simply waiting on top of this landmine until it blows up. Not that it would be pleasant either way as despite only knowing her for a short amount of time, I enjoy her company and find myself connecting with her more than… well, more than I had with the Wards.

Eventually, she looks down, away from my eyes as she grips her coffee cup a bit harder, staring down into the bitter black stuff. A few more moments pass between us. I can hear the conversations downstairs, the girls happily chatting as they grab their breakfast. Despite her hesitation, I don't sense her magic shifting in a way that indicates a spell, and she'd have to drop her coffee to get at her gun. While I hope that Mimi doesn't try anything… interacting with the Nine changes people, not to mention actually being one of them.

"Yes… I'm Burnscar," Mimi finally said, her voice low, and her nose twitches. She never looks up from her coffee. I frown a bit.

"You are Burnscar?" I ask, trying to put emphasis on the "are." The mouse's ears twitch and I can smell the slightest whiff of salt. Mimi looks up, her lips are pursed, and quivering a bit. She's blinking often, likely holding back tears, while her brow is scrunched, a mixture of anger, fear, and misery.

"I am Burnscar," she says, seeming not to have picked up on what I was trying to say.

"No, you're not, you were, Burnscar. The key word being "were,"" I say, but Burnscar's brows just scrunch more, confusions seeping in. Hoping to better display my point, I place a hand face up on my desk between us, and use my magic to light a fire with it, a small blaze about the size of a torch. Mimi stares at it, her breath quickening, her lip quivering a bit more as her grip tightens on her cup.

"Burnscar's file says that when using her power, she would feel better, like everything was going to be alright. Her depression, her anxiety, and her inhibitions would slip away the more she used her power and the more fire there was around her. Look at this fire now, do you feel those tears of yours drying up? Are you feeling more sure of yourself? Do you feel a bit more compulsive?"

She doesn't answer my question right away, continuing to stare at the fire, her blinks grow rapidly and I can still smell the salt. She starts to breathe in through her mouth, her nose clogging up. I extinguish the fire and get up from my chair. She doesn't move, still staring at the spot where I'd held up the fire. Slowly, I reach out as I get closer. Mimi doesn't try to pull away as I gently place my hand on her shoulder.

"I don't think you're Burnscar, not anymore. Burnscar was the amalgamation of a depressed and lonely girl in a terrible situation, with a mind altering power that slowly drove her over a cliff. I don't see that in you, what I see is a girl, burned and hurt by a situation she was pushed into, and slowly trying to turn her life around," I can see Mimi's grip on her cup relaxes a bit as I talk. Good, hopefully that means I'm getting through to her.

"You may have been Burnscar once, but that life doesn't have to define you. From what I've seen, what I know, and how you've acted while I've been here, you're not Burnscar. You're Mimi, the girl who enjoys comic books, who hates injustice, who is starting to have a love of guns, and, who I hope I can consider a friend," Mimi looks up at me as I say that last part, tears slowly falling from her huge eyes, her lips quivering. She sniffles and puts down her coffee cup. Mimi's arms rise up, hesitantly. I smile and pull her towards me. Her arms wrap around me as she hugs me tightly, her breath holding a tremor in it.

I begin to stroke Mimi's hair, remembering how Mom would comfort me when I would go to her crying, either because something scared me, or I got hurt. She'd stroke my hair, cooing at me, telling me sweet nothings. Slowly I would calm down as Mom made sure I was alright. Knowing Mimi's big ears, I start to do the same as Mom, just quieter; I begin saying sweet nothings as well. Telling her it will be alright, and that she needn't have to worry. At the same time, I start to grow, slowly turning into my true demon form while also growing out my other pair of arms as I slide my arms under her, picking her up to keep her head on my shoulder. I maneuver us over to her chair and sit down with Mimi on my lap. Her crying has slowed but still present as she continues to hold onto me tightly while my whispers continue.

"We-we're actually… friends… right?" Mimi asks through sniffles. She doesn't look at me, still hugging me tight, but her head does lean in a bit more.

"I consider us to be, why?" I ask. Mimi doesn't respond immediately, letting herself calm down a bit more as we sit there on Mimi's chair. Slowly, her whimpers fade, and she doesn't shiver or shudder as much as when she started trying to hold back her tears.

"I… I thought I had a friend… once. Elle, I… I thought the world of her… she… she was… I loved her… she was my best friend…" Mimi stops for a moment, her breathing growing uneven again as she hugs tighter for a moment.

"I… I learned…" Mimi starts but can't seem to continue, though I think I get the picture.

"She betrayed you," I finally say, having assumed as much both from her attempts to convey her message, and from my own experience with the destruction of friendships. Thinking about this kind of thing, especially if the wound hasn't healed, it can be hard. It had been hard to think about Emma's betrayal in the beginning, and even as it scarred over during the years of bullying, it'd made me just that little bit more cynical and bitter. Though as I moved on from Emma, and my life got turned upside down, I'd been able to move on from it, and heal. Part of it was likely due to my friends. They supported me when I felt no one would, or in Dad's case, could. Our developing friendship and my mission gave me something to do and enjoy rather than stew in my bitterness, letting me heal from the damage Emma and her posse had done.

Of course, I'd also piled it on with the revelation that I knew who she had been, what she had done, and I was willing to look past it, at her, rather than at the shadow haunting her. Ending up in the asylum, slowly being forgotten about, and then being recruited by the Nine. It would have been tough, the kinds of things she'd have gone through, that she'd have done.

She didn't elaborate further on what happened between her friend and herself. I knew that she was friends with Labyrinth, but nothing about what might have gone on between them as I had focused more on how to combat Burnscar, her power's effects, and how the interactions affected her. I hadn't expected to face her again after I'd finished my research on her, both during Jack's first failed apocalypse, and now. Though, both now and then, I'm glad I did, it gave me a bit of insight, both on her condition, and on the girl behind the mask.

Slowly, Mimi's breathing turned calm, her shuddering eased, and the smell of salt didn't grow stronger as things continued. I stopped whispering in her ear, but I didn't stop petting her head, using my nails on them to give a bit of a head scratch at the same time. Mom would do it for me when I would grow upset, her nails scratching at itches I didn't know I had and the simple pleasant and repetitive motion helped me calm down faster as a kid.

"I won't tell Adam if you don't want me to," I say. Mimi doesn't react much really, tired from a good sob, merely relaxing in my lap. She isn't asleep though, her heart hasn't slowed down enough. "Though, it might be best to tell him."

"No," Mimi says, "We… we killed his gang, Jack was the one that killed him but… I was still a part of it… we still dismantled him and Sherrel's gang, their life work. I mean they even brought back their gang and its name in the afterlife. It must have meant something to them if they brought it back."

"Maybe, he doesn't like it when people mess with him, and I think for a time, he saw himself as the Merchants. But as time went on, he seems to have lost interest in them. He's changed from what I knew of him… While he likely isn't happy about dying, he has had time to rethink his life after all of this. I don't know him well enough to say whether he'll be upset or not, but he told me that at their peak, when you, Jack, and the rest of the Nine moved into town but hadn't taken them out, he felt empty. That he felt "nothing" despite the fact that he and his gang were the most powerful force in Brockton at the time.

As for Sherrel, I don't know. If you want, I can ask her about it, what the Merchants meant to her. For Adam, it was about survival… I don't know what the Merchants meant to Sherrel."

"Could you?" Mimi asks, a bit of hope in her voice. Smiling a bit, I ruffle the older woman's hair.

"Sure. I can go check, and after that, if you want to, maybe you can tell Adam and Sherrel. Either way, you don't have to worry about me," I say, giving Mimi a bit of a squeeze, hoping to reassure her. Mimi squeezes back before she cuddles into me a bit more, resting her head on my shoulder as I continue the head scratches.

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Eventually, Mimi and I had to separate from the impromptu cuddle, both because we needed to work, and we were getting hungry again. Of course, I was delayed from extracting myself from the cuddle by the mouse demon falling asleep on me, though I did get more practice with my scarf weaving, and it was getting to the point that I could work on weaving while looking through my phone. I only have to pay a cursory amount of attention to the project to get a consistent quality scarf.

While I weaved my scarf I researched about New Canada. As Sam Spade had said, New Canada considers themselves as a continuation of Canada. As expected, the terrain is absolutely frigid. Most of the place is covered in snow all year round, making farming a bit problematic. The Canadian's, however, had managed to figure out ways around it. Cannibalism was one way, but it went beyond that. While Cannibalism is the most likely punishment for those who committed crimes in New Canada, due in part to the high prevalence of demons there resembling prey animals, most prisoners would be used in one way or another to fuel New Canada. Some, like demons made of wood, would find themselves chopped up for fire wood while their head sat in a prison cell, others would have what natural abilities they had exploited.

For example, if I were a Canadian, and I ended up in their jails for some reason, I'd find myself having to spray out my silk day in and day out, giving it away to the Canadians until my sentence was up. Adam would likely be chopped up for prisoner rations. Sherrel… well… I'd rather not think about what would happen to Sherrel.

Some of course resisted this, and with capes having a better grasp on magic than others, they fled. Some would run for the hills and the rest of Hell. Others stay and fight. Of those that stay, there are apparently two major rebellious factions they can join. The Quebecois French, which started off as a separatist movement that has apparently been around since before Canada in the living world was properly founded, and some other faction calling themselves the "Metis," which as far as I understand are some kind of rebellion of mixed race natives. Interestingly, both factions were older than capes by quite a bit, with the more recent of the rebel factions forming over a century before capes began appearing around the world.

I doubt Alec is in either of these factions, he never was the kind of person to really want to get involved in things with grand missions. He'd rather just spend his time lazing about and enjoy himself rather than get involved.

As I continue to perform some more research on New Canada, my phone chimes with an alert.

Private Message from : [ENE_Battery]

Intrigued, I swipe away the internet browser and open up the chat room app, then tap on the private message from Battery.

Topic : Thanks

[ENE_Battery] : Just wanted to personally thank you for your help a few nights ago with that information. A lot of people just got saved because of you.

[Mistakes_Were_Made] : It isn't really a big deal, I just used what knowledge I had to try and help everyone out and hopefully save some people. Any good person would do the same.

[ENE_Battery] : I wish, if there were more people out there like that, I doubt hell would even be this large, or have this many people.

[ENE_Battery] : Though, if you don't mind me asking, I've since learned that there were three slave brothels, and not just the two that you mentioned. While we were raiding the Crimson gang, some imp mafia attacked at the same time, and hit the last brothel that we didn't know about. Would you happen to know about that last group of slaves?

I frown, not liking where this is going. Pulling open my desk, I pull out one of the other vigilante's phones. This one had had a fingerprint lock on it that I had easily spoofed by cutting off the vigilante's thumb before changing the various settings on it and the password. With it I start setting up another account and use the rollie polly vigilante's account to prep an invite for my sock puppet.

[Mistakes_Were_Made] : Are you implying that I might have coordinated something illicit for my own benefit?

[ENE_Battery] : I am, but that doesn't mean that if you did have something to do with this, we can't work this out. While I find it a bit unsavoury, I'm also not exactly in the position to be picky about my allies, especially when it is us against all of Hell. We vigilantes aren't just a collection of heroes and PRT officers from Earth Bet, but we're also former villains, and criminals who've all united under a common cause. We each have our own reason for joining up and sticking with this coalition. So I'm willing to make a deal. If you tell us who you coordinated with to kidnap those slaves, and who they are being sold to, we'll pay you, you can help us get them back, and we can make this all right again.

[Mistakes_Were_Made] : You've obviously made up your mind on whether I'm guilty of this or not.

[ENE_Battery] : Mistakes, don't make another mistake. Just because you made one mistake in the past doesn't mean you have to make another. Work with us here and we can put all of this behind us, so please don't make this harder than it has to be.

[Mistakes_Were_Made] : While I would love to inform you of my collaborators, there are none. I have not kidnapped any slaves or conspired to kidnap any slaves. I know what you are implying that I'm making a mistake, but I have not done anything of the sort. If there is a leak in this loose coalition of vigilantes you will have to look somewhere else for it as I've never had any dealings with any kind of Mafioso.

I type up and post to the private chat. While I wait for a response, I finish up the new sock puppet profile and invite my sock puppet into the chat room.

[Earth Bet Capes Chat Room]

[Queen_Crustacean] has joined

[Loco_for_Just_Ice] : There are guys all over the safe house, I can see in the cameras that they're going door to door!

[4gent_5mith] : Stay calm Loco, help is on the way.

[Lucksman] : What's going on?

[Psicho] : Fucking fucks are teuk to raid the fucking safe houses tha porkypig set up

[Psicho] : Theye taking the girls

[Psicho] : Gonna ficm em

[4gent_5mith] : Hold on @Psicho, we're only a few minutes away, don't get killed for no reason!

[Hedonisk] has joined

[Deceaced_Dir_Arny] : I'm at the second safe house, and we just fought off a group of guys like this, no idea who these guys are but they're well armed and armoured. I've got what's left of my team here working on figuring out who attacked us. Whoever they are though, they put up one hell of a fight. Got an armband on them that looks like a black owl.

[Lucksman] : Hey @Hedonisk, you're back! What happened? It's been a year since you last poked your head in. We thought you died or something.

[Porc # 33] : This is communications officer Gage at safe house 3, we've come under assault by outside forces and request immediate assistance!

Seems I'm not the only mole in that group. This likely won't help at all with Battery being on my case because I didn't disclose the third brothel to her. While I could have, would it have lead to greater success on our part or theirs? Their forces would have been spread thinner meaning they would have been easier to deal with by the Crimson defenders. Though if they'd been successful, we'd have been able to hit more of the Crimson gang's warehouses and hurt the resources they had.

Losing that account hopefully won't lead to a cascade of my socks being banned. While I tried to make it seem like they were being invited naturally, there is only so much I can do without losing time on all my other projects.

Of course, the question is now, who are these guys? If they are in fact mercenaries, then someone must want the slaves. Valentino's a possibility; Angel said that Crimson was selling them to Valentino. Perhaps he decided he still wanted them? It could also be someone trying to cash in on the bounty money that Valentino put up for vigilantes while also going after their loot. Some of the more violent vigilantes were certainly not hurting for guns, ammo, and other kinds of loot.

As I ponder, I watch through the eyes of one of my biters as the robo biters come to a stop. Curious, I move my biter closer to the edge of the roof it's on. Knowing how relentlessly some of the Crimson gang bosses have been chasing the robo biters, them stopping all of a sudden is bizarre. Feeling with the few bugs I have tracking the other robot biters, they've stopped as well. What was going on?

Then, I hear gunfire from the possessed biters in the Raz family's territory. I direct a biter and many of my bugs towards the gunfire, sticking to the alleyways with my biter to keep it from being spotted. As I move my biter into position, the gunfire grows in intensity. Soon enough the high calibre booms of one side are quickly joined by the sound of a few sub machine gun raining down fire upon whoever started firing the bigger guns. I feel through my bugs members of both sides fall down. As my biter comes closer to the conflict, I can see a body on the ground. The dead demon looks like it's some kind of black wolf dressed up in a military uniform, some kind of red camo like the veteran imps had underneath a tan vest with various kinds of gear. On the wolf soldier's arm I can see a band of red cloth wrapped around it, and on it, the symbol of a black owl.

They're after the slaves then. While I still might be wrong, whoever hired these guys probably want the slaves if they attacked both the vigilantes and the Raz family who we framed. That means it was likely one of the people that I know wants those slaves, either Valentino, or one of his lieutenants looking to impress the boss. Though, it could actually be the Crimson gang fighting back… How did they get information on the vigilantes so quickly? Then again, all they would have to do is nick a vigilante's phone and get into it. From there, figure out where the safe houses are from the conversations on there, and now you have the ability to direct any hired mercenaries to where you need them.

Either way, if the attack on the Raz family is hampering their ability to distract Crimson, it'll only be a matter of time before Crimson can regroup and go on the offensive. With their heavy hitter still in play and most of the Raz family's robots out of commission from that doomed assault, they'll run the imps through. No doubt they'll take more slaves to replenish their losses from our looting and the attacks on their brothels.

The Raz family has to know this; why else would they have kept the mechanical dogs in Crimson's territory for so long? Even now, I'm watching as the dogs, while they are attacking the Beast, they aren't running like before. The speedster utterly demolishes them as he speeds past them, lightning springing out in his wake, stunning the other robot dogs as he slams his fist down into one of their heads. The mechanical monstrosity head is flattened by the Herculean demon while he rounds on another, continuing the carnage.

Maybe I could turn this to my advantage. With the distractions gone, and their supply of robots seemingly slower than their need, the Raz family will need someone or something to stay alive and unmolested by the outside. Even if they don't want to play ball, it could prolong the war between Raz and Crimson, weakening both further while we grow in power. I grab my phone and pull up the number of the toy soldier I'd made a deal with, Anthony. At the same time, I start to move some of my flying bugs off of my biters in the Raz Family's territory and begin to tag the armoured combatants, letting me track them.

"Hello, this is Anthony."

"Anthony, it's Skitter, do you have some new recruits for me?"

"Oh hey, yeah I got some people for ya, about a dozen or so who kind of like the idea and are willing to come on over. Are we doing something?"

"Get who you can and meet us near 347th street and 958th Ave, and make sure they're prepped for a fight."

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"Moxxie, I need information," I say into my phone while Sherrel drives.

"Oh, hey Skitter, I'm back in the office right now and we aren't heading out again for a bit, so I can see what I can do. What's your question?"

"Do you know anything about some mercenaries, guys that wear tactical armour like the more veteran imps but they have an armband with a black owl on it?"

"Uh, I think so. They could be a small time merc company called Black Owl. There are a bunch of mercenary companies like them around, especially up here on Pride. Don't really have anything that stands out about them. Even their name is pretty generic. Most of the time it's Black something or other. They got some alright guns and stuff, probably some heavy armour, maybe even a suit of power armour if they're about to move up from small time stuff, nothing too scary though, and nothing you can't handle from what I've seen. I'll check around the net to see if there's anything different about them and text you if there's anything out of the ordinary. Other than that though, you fought S.W.A.T guys before right? Basically that, only a bit tougher."

Swat? Trying to remember about history class, I remember that there had been an organisation, which had basically been the proto PRT before they were eventually formed by Alexandria disguised as Rebecca Costa-Brown. Swat had lost most of its funding to the PRT since dealing with Parahuman issues took precedence over handling less important regular crime. So if the mercenaries were like Swat, then they would probably be closer to Coil's minions or even PRT troopers.

"Alright then Moxxie, thanks," as I hang up, Sherrel looks at me, somehow still managing to drive through the insane traffic without crashing.

"So why exactly are we helping the Raz? I thought that the whole idea of doing a false flag was to have Crimson and Raz fight it out so that they'd be gone and we'd pick up the pieces."

"That was the plan, but a lot of the girls we grabbed are from this area, and the Raz family isn't going to be putting up much of a fight now that they lost most of their robots. They haven't been doing as well protecting their territory either so we're moving in to take out the mercenaries that are attacking them. What rep they have will crater and we'll show the people that they can't be protected by the Raz family. From there, what they do is up to them, but it'll grow our good will in that community if we can actually protect them here. After that we deal with the Crimson gang."

"So what, we're going with hearts and minds and shit?" Adam asks from his spot manning the turret as he ducks down to listen to us.

"It'll bring us more recruits and weaken the Raz family. After this, they'll either decide to play nice, and we can set up our territory officially, or they won't and we can deal with them here and now," personally, I hope that they decide to actually ally with us and not stay a problem, but some people can't be reasonable. I learned that early on when we tried to make an alliance with the various factions in Brockton against the Nine and were spurned for it.

"Alright cool, just tell me where to go," Sherrel says as she finally looks back to the road and I can let go of the handle in the arm rest. Through my bugs, I can feel several of them that I'd used to tag mercenaries with coming up on the left. From what my biter that followed them had seen, at least two of them were packing some kind of bazooka. As we drive, I start to move my bugs up from their hiding places on their torsos and up to more critical places like their necks and their heads.

"Mercs on the next left, get ready!" I shout and look to the back of the van. In the back are the few imps that decided to join us, each of them wearing the scarves I'd woven with my silk. Once I have a bit of down time, I'll weave them something more, and include a few inserts for armour. For now, their natural demonic durability, and the few tricks I learned at the hospital will have to do. Before the van moves around the corner, I use a bit of magic to draw my antennae in, so I don't get blown over by the sound of the tank cannon firing.

As the van takes a left and skids to a halt, I'm already poking my head out of the passenger's side of the van and aiming over at the group of mercenaries, lining up my shots. I get two shots off, before Adam fires. The shot shakes the world, running through me and keeping my aim from steadying, while the van shudders and starts swaying.

The two I hit go down, though whether it was necessary, I don't know. The group had been moving down the street on one side, and while my shots made sure the mercenaries with the bazookas weren't operational, that single blast blew out the wall behind it and sent the squad of mercenaries flying.

"Fuck yeah! I'll never get tired of that!" Adam shouts while his wife giggles at his enthusiasm. Right, I forgot the Merchants never had been the kind to care about collateral damage. I get back into the van, there not being any more mercenaries down this road, and a fight is going on up ahead. I can feel some of the bugs I tagged on a robot trundling it's way towards the fight.

"Let's try to keep the collateral to a minimal Adam, especially as we want to control this place eventually. Next fight is a few blocks down that way," I say as I point down the road we'd just peeled off from. "After that, the third left and then straight down the street."

"I'll try Skitty, but this thing isn't exactly meant for not fucking shit up!" the cockroach says as we back up and start driving down the street again. On the bright side, if things go as well as back there, we might not even need to get out of the van.

<><><><><><><><><>

Sorry for the long wait, I'd been working on the Thanksgiving stuff and then the Halloween stuff.

Please comment, it makes me giddy and critiques help me figure out where I might be going wrong... or influence where the story might go in the future by drawing my attention to things I hadn't considered.

 

[VisV]

Now... who hired the mercenaries?

Also Taylor/Mimi is surprising ship, but one that is gaining steam.

Supreme Pimp Taylor can handle multiple girls surely?

Also... How dare you not follow up on the lisa letter

 

[Thread Necromancer]

Now... who hired mercenaries.

Also... How dare you not follow up on the lisa letter

Click to shrink...

These things take time to compose in universe, especially regarding things with such importance as informing you're best friend that you are dead but are still able to write to her from the great beyond. Plus, while extremely important, the letter isn't exactly time sensitive unlike some of the events going on, like the sudden attack by mercenaries that the Raz family is enduring. Besides, I've got an idea regarding the letter that that you will certainly enjoy.

Spoiler: Letter plan

Taylor may be pulling a fast one on a certain cheating birdy in order to do more than just send a single letter. The idea isn't fully developed, and if it would really mess with the story's direction it might get axed like the idea I had of introducing Greg as an antagonist, but I don't see how it would destroy the direction of the story.

Edit:

Also Taylor/Mimi is surprising ship, but one that is gaining steam.

Click to shrink...

All aboard the S.S. Friendship~!

 

[eNBious]

These things take time to compose in universe, especially regarding things with such importance as informing you're best friend that you are dead but are still able to write to her from the great beyond. Plus, while extremely important, the letter isn't exactly time sensitive unlike some of the events going on, like the sudden attack by mercenaries that the Raz family is enduring. Besides, I've got an idea regarding the letter that that you will certainly enjoy.

Spoiler: Letter plan

Taylor may be pulling a fast one on a certain cheating birdy in order to do more than just send a single letter. The idea isn't fully developed, and if it would really mess with the story's direction it might get axed like the idea I had of introducing Greg as an antagonist, but I don't see how it would destroy the direction of the story.

Edit:

All aboard the S.S. Friendship~!

Click to shrink...

Friendship? Platonic relationships are a go! Can't believe Taytay would cheat on her platonic love Lisa though, smh my head.

 

[krahe]

I'll never find it not amusing that Skitter works with a demon cockroach

 

[Greatazuredragon]

The word 'mercenaries' in a Worm fic always makes me think Coil. Wonder if the damned sanke is around?

Nice bit with Taylor and Mimi.
Nice chapter good work.

 

[Pinklestia]

Omake: Everyone ends in Hell

"Why did I end in Hell? Was I a bad person?" Asks the small bunny girl.

"Who cares? Everyone ends in Hell!" Says the fox man .

"Everybody?" Asks the girl.

"Have you ever eaten fish?" Asks the fox

"Yes."

"That's a sin, welcome to Hell!" The fox seems so happy saying that.

"But... Isn't eating fish on a Friday something you are supposed to do?" The girl is unsure if to trust the fox words.

"Still a sin. Hey Jim, how did you die again?"

"Got the lower half of my body crushed by concrete blocks."

"Crushing your balls is a sin, welcome to hell!"

"But I didn't do the crushing!"

"They still don't care, do they?"

"But... what about Jesus? Didn't he promise salvation to beggars and hookers?" The movie she saw said so and so did the nuns at the orphanage.

"Oh those particular beggars and hookers did go to Heaven, but nowadays... Everyone, yes EVERYONE ends to Hell!"

"I don't believe you." There had to be a way to go to Heaven otherwise what was the point of being good if you had to share your afterlife with bad people?

"You don't? See that guy selling his body for food over there? He was a Pope!" The man, an ant, was indeed dressed like a Pope.

"What." Surely, he was just pretending, right?

"Oh and guess what? We once had a Saint, the purge got him in the 1810s I think, right Jim?"

"I dunno man; I wasn't here yet."

"Eh, sorry I forgot you are younger that me."

"Why are you telling me this?" The bunny girl asked.

"Oh because is hilarious, seen the crying babies yet? Yes even babies end in hell!"

"Why?"

"No baptism."

"This is getting ridiculous, so... People just end in Hell for anything?"

"Oh yes, and the Purge is the only way out but you end deaded that dead that way."

"So... there is no redemption?"

"Hey Jim do you see any purgatory here?"

"No but we have a bucket if you feel like throwing up and there is a toilet in the back for any pissed or shitty business."