Catalysts: IC (Oh the thread is slowly dying...)

Winter did her best to shrug off her concerns, questions, confusion, nervousness, uncertainty, and general mental disarray as she made her way to the television station.

The main building responsible for most of the city's local broadcasts was only a few blocks away now, and Winter could already hear the all-too-familiar sirens, wailing loudly into the afternoon air, along with the ambient din of multiple helicopters.

Though it took her several moments to realize that what she had taken for the thump-thump-thumping of many sets of large, bladed propellers were, in fact, the angry, collective drone of thousands and thousands of bees.

Doubtlessly the helicopters were present as well, but they were simply drowned out by the clouds of insects that Winter glimpsed through the station's many windows, which seemed to give the place an eerily lifelike quality.

She could not, however, proceed any further on account of the police line that circumnavigated the building. Thus, Winter simply remained hidden and awaited the inevitable slaughter...

And now some freak in a suit came nonchalantly walking through the tunnel. "Pardon me sir, you seem I be trespassing. This is our subway station, and unless you wish to join us you need to leave." Trouble on the home front. Lovely. Is there going to be ANY undisturbed time?

He stopped, and smirked, his back was to the boy. "Trespassing? On an abandoned subway station? I remember when an old man could take his daily sunset stroll in peace. You're a little young to own something as old as this, aren't you?" He leaned on his cane a little more, and made the arching of his back more evident, all the while talking like an old senile man. "Well never mind that, If you own this place you must be one of those super-powered yipper snappers." He flung the cane wildly pointing at the subway entrance then at the sky while he was talking. He turned and looked the kid in the eye. "Is there perhaps someone a wee-bit more sober looking I could talk to? Who knows what you could be seeing right now." He reached into portal and removed a pocket watch. "Tsk. Tsk. Supper time."

"I do believe you appear to e a catalyst too, from that portal of yours. I must say, you seem to be in quite a hurry. We have some food in that room over there. But I'm watching you, stranger." No one other than those who were there already could be trusted. Shady ass looter.

Ray scratched his head and looked around. He glanced furtively at the barely noticeable to him section of heat ripples that was on edge to the boy. "Why dear boy... your words are strange." He got really close this time, and looked at the boy's eyes. "You should take this boy to the hospital, his pupils are not even visible." He reached into his pocket and grabbed a pair of spectacles. If this kid can really see this, he must be tripping balls. I can't even see it half the time and I know where they are. "Yes, yes. Well. No. I am needed home." He turned and hobbled off, "Trespassing, honestly? I remember back when people had private property. Not any more... Nope, nope, nope. A government spy could sort you out in a jiffy, with talk of trespassing." He yelled back, his voice intentionally hoarse. He had to get over this tunnel thing...

Lieo watched as cars and helicopters swarmed around the perimeter, and listened to the cocking of handguns, and watched as mounted guns from the helicopter were readied. Clearly, they were hesitant to shoot him in case so many more lives were at stake. Lieo was beginning to enjoy this; this was the sort of action and thrill he anticipated! Things were simply fun and games, until a megaphone from one of the helicopter called out to him. “A carrier is on their way right now; surrender now peacefully, or we will be force to exterminate you!”

E-exterminator?

“Boy…” Lieo growled. His temper began to flare. “I really… do not like that word.”

“Stand down, or else!”

Lieo remained silent, feeling his anger welling up inside of him. His temper began to flare, and it would only be a matter of time until it popped. The bees around him closed in and formed a large mound at his feet, and crawled up his body. Others climbed into his hand. All of the bees in Lieo’s body began to writhe impatiently. The megaphone called out one last time, “do you ac—“

“AARGH!”

Lieo roared as a large stream of bees shot out from his hand and connected itself to one of the helicopter’s landing skids, and immediately after doing so, the officers hiding behind their cars, brandishing their weapons opened fire. Bullets cleared holes through his body, but it left him undeterred, hardly acknowledging the bullet holes in his constantly regenerating form. He roared once more as he pulled on the helicopter one last time. The helicopter tried to overpower him, but failed as it was pulled down. Lieo swung it around and swept it through the array of police cars before him, wiping out anything that it touched. Letting go, it hit one last car before exploding into a plethora of bright orange and red fire, with black smoke billowing into the sky and shrapnel shooting out in every direction. Him and the news station was now mostly surrounded by a wall of fire and billowing flames and the leftover cops held their fire, running around to see to the injured and deceased. The other helicopter had already retreated as soon as Lieo attacked the first one.

“Oh, the horror,” Lieo yelled out around him as he watched the fire burn around him, “oh the dread, the sorrow, oh the catastrophic; oh the MONOTONY!” Lieo let out a sigh mixed with relief and disappointment. “How about we make this more fun? Make it a game? All of you, and me! In the station, bring the National Guard if you want to. It will be a game, so I expect no cheating! Bombs and explosions count as such. Make through the maze and kill me, if you can!”

With that said, his entire body suddenly dispersed into a swarm, his head surrounded and protected by a clump of bees to hide his secret, and flew into the building, preparing a maze, making walls at every corner, stuffing the elevators with bees so they couldn’t get through (because after all, using elevators is cheating too). It would take a while to prepare his game, since the bees hasn’t quite reproduced enough to provide all of the drones necessary, so he had them blockade all of the doors in the building. A couple of drones scouted the area outside as a simple precaution. If they managed to infiltrate the building prematurely, he didn’t want to get caught off guard. One of which, buzzed passed Winter but didn’t attack her. Which of course was odd for an Africanized bee, but they only performed actions commanded by Lieo – and Lieo wasn’t even aware of her existence. And she of course didn’t seem too much of a threat; or at least not enough for the drone to report to the hive. Her catalyst secret was unknown even to Lieo, whom was sitting at the top floor of the building watching events beginning to unfold themselves. Damon whom once thought was lost managed to think through his own consciousness again, breaking through, with the power of his own happiness.

See dearests? I told you! I told you, I told you, I told you! I told you that your voice was going to be heard! Oh my lovelies, this is wonderful! I can’t even tell you all how happy I am through words. This… it’s great. It’s just what you wanted, isn’t it? Good. I… I just hope I’m alive to see it through. To see you all succeed. I love you all… my family…

Ragnarok took the time to check up on their "friend" in the medical bay; his skin seemed to be healing fine and Ragnarok laughed at him.

"I have to say my friend you make a convincing Titan; You know what I could do so easily? I could give you different forms. Multiple skeletons... Maybe the monolithic form again.. I could make you a GOD at this rate; mind you it hurts my lungs for the time being, it's still a future possibility. I don't intend on letting you go."

Winter ducked behind her designated cover, a large green dumpster that had seen better days, and waited until the heat of the explosion seemed to settle before she dared to poke her head above the rusted metal.

She was within what appeared to be a perimeter of fire, and from her current position could not make out the police line. Something whizzed by her head, causing Winter to duck back behind the dumpster, but the bee appeared to have meant her no ill will - yet.

She stood up and eyed the building before her, seeking a way in. Playing by this guy's rules... this maze, apparently... would be a good way to die. But I don't think heading in there beforehand would please him very much either, so...

Winter made her decision. I'll let the police go first. If the man keeps to his word, I can proceed inside after them and hopefully remain alive, so long as I don't break this guy's 'rules.'

Aeron coughed slightly. His skin was still healing, it was healed enough for him to have regained mental functions though. "I don't think I want to be pulling anymore of that shit anytime soon." Aeron cracked his knuckles without moving his hands. "For now I just want to rest. Then after I'm healed I'll probably just move on, regardless of if you want me to or not." He seemed pretty adamant in this.

Ragnarok smiled then lifted up his arm in a "V" shape, bent calmly. He then quickly threw his weight into his side as he slammed his elbow downwards, digging it into Aeron's abdomen.

"I don't believe I was giving an option; You know it'd be a shame if you started overflowing with power again and then suddenly your bones just started jutting out in every little which way they could go."

Nox stalked off back into his room. Pandora was ignoring him, and no one else was really around. As such, he tracked down the little fat mouse and took it by the ail. "I'm like a god to you, aren't I? I feed you, protect you, and right now I have the power to end you. But what kind of god am I? I cannot know until given power. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Do you hear that, little one?"

Aeron growled. "I don't think I gave you permission to touch me. Bones jutted out like spikes from his body to form a kind of spiky barrier around Ragnarok's elbow. If he wanted to move it, he risked being poked. Truthfully it probably wasn't wise of him to be A) jutting bones from out of his body this early, and B) pissing off Ragnarok, but damn it if he was gonna get pushed around.

Ragnarok grinned widely at him and reached up, tugging roughly at the corner of his mouth. He drooled at the malice; he was losing his fucking MIND to violence and sin; what was happening to him..

"Oh my what pretty bones; I can EASILY break them, or even better shoot you in the face. Or maybe pull them out one by one, and leave you alive for as long as you can stay. Or maybe slice open your stomach and fuck around with your intestines. Or maybe gouge your eyes out and put crickets in the sockets."

He put the mouse down. A pleasent little creature. Always do benevolent. But now, he had to sleep. It had been long since he had last slept, and he feared nightmares. Whatever stalked when he was conscious certainly hunted while he slept.? But it was time to face the beast.

"You'd be doing me a favor." Aeron spat. "you don't think I can handle that!? You don't think I know pain!? Oh I'm sorry mr 'My lungs hurt when I make bones jut out your body'! Look at me! LOOK AT ME!" Aeron screamed. The more he screamed the more his flesh seemed to rip itself. "You don't think I know what it's like to have compound fractures on a DAILY BASIS!? Fuck you! Fuck all of you!" He swung a punch at Ragnaroks face his bones extending, ripping the flesh, but extending his arm beyond it's normal length. He was using it as more of a means of distraction so he could leave. He was leaving.

Ragnarok grinned and moved his arm up then moved backwards looking at him. The expansion; the glory of the inhumanities. The atrocity. The flesh-ripping insanity! He pulled a pistol; just one though. It broke his habit but DAMNIT he was going mind-ripped apart insane. He aimed at Aeron's leg and fired four shots into it; gauging his reaction.

Aeron tanked the bullets, sure it hurt, but he'd felt worse. He kept his fist in Ragnaroks hand and swung himself out of the bed. Bones extruded from his legs to form a tripod, this was mostly to keep him balanced. He had to keep himself grounded, if he fell over he was fucked. After planting his feet ont he ground the bones dug themselves in. He was strictly using his hands on this one. Bones extruded out of his knuckles, assuming Ragnarok didn't move his hand it'd be speared.

Ragnarok ran his tongue over his lip and grinned, emptying a single shot into Aeron's side. He bit into his lip, bringing forth the copper tasting liquid from inside. What the fuck what he doing..? He was attacking an INJURED MAN for fuck's sake! This was crazy; he should stop... but... But the pretty colours.. The fun, adrenaline filled feeling... It was too much. He couldn't stop.

"I'M GOING TO RIP YOUR FUCKING BONES OUT AND DEVOUR YOUR FLESH YOU PUTRID MAGGOT"

The bones manipulated slightly and popped the shell out of Aeron's side. "Try me ass hole!" Aeron screamed. Bones shot out of his back in spikes, much like that of a porcupine, his fingers grew and ripped as the bones essentially became larger forms of his hands. He once again pulled the typical skull masked out from his forehead and down over his face. "Real tough of you, fighting an injured man. The saddest thing is that I can still kick your ass." More bones planted Aeron in the ground, he wasn't going anywhere.

Ragnarok grinned and felt his power going out of control; it was almost visible, a black tendril piercing into the very soul of Aeron. He was draining energy immensely before he fell back against the wall, his hand covering one eye as he cackled madly. He could hardly think to himself.

Got to remember... Happy thoughts... Steph... Family.. Nox..

NO. NOX HATED HIM. STEPH WAS WILLING TO HAVE ME DIE AFTER THE CHILDREN CAME. THE CHILDREN WOULD HARDLY MEAN ANYTHING.

That's not true.. They're our beloved family members; Nox was just interested in a girl for once... Steph.. Steph is worried about me... The children are made from MY genetic material..

Aeron slammed his right fist into his right hand and cracked his neck. "You ready for this asshole? You messed with the wrong bone golem." He put his arms to his side, the bones extruded down into the ground and then in the ground they went sideways extruding upwards and random angles to form large spikes, cracking the ground and breaking it. The spike wave of bones were heading towards Ragnarok, their was a large commotion as the entire room seemed to crack from it's new instability.

He began laughing loudly; it seemed to echo as he pulled his arms up, drooling and barking like a wild dog. His mind was arguing with itself and he couldn't realize the bones heading straight for him; he'd be majorly fucked up. Possibly killed. But that didn't matter.

YOU ARE THE FATE OF GODS; STAND UP. DESTROY THEM ALL. THEY ARE WEAK.
But aren't we as weak for claming this..?
WE ARE THE ABSOLUTE; THEY ARE NOT PERMANENT
Who're we to judge..?
WE WERE GIVEN CONTROL OF DEATH! WE ARE GOD.
But shouldn't god be just..?
THE WORLD IS NOT JUST; WE SHALL FORM IT IN OUR IMAGE.
No... That's wrong! Stop it!
I. WILL. NEVER. STOP.

The bones continued to charged towards Ragnarok, rather than hit him though they splintered off and went up the wall. This trapped him in a prison of sorts. Aeron broke the bones off at his arm and unhooked himself from the floor. He stumbled slightly as he made his way to the door which he realized was blocked off by the bones. He swore loudly before turning to a wall. Bones came out from his left arm and he dove at the wall, using the excess weight from his extruded bones he smashed through the wall and fell onto the floor and rolled a few feet.
"Fuck, that was a bad idea." his eyes were locked shut and he just rolled a few more feet before getting on his stomach and beginning to crawl.

He was now in a ruin. A big dark smoky ruin. Some doctors or nurses were wheeling a gurney towards him. They had sedatives. He writes, but he could not resist the drugs. When he came to, he was strapped in to machine not unlike an MRI machine. Except for the drill aligned with his temple. He tried to escape, before a voice rang out. It was female, an calming. "It's easier if you don't resist." The drill revved up, and he blacked out.
He awoke from his nightmare with vision blurry and a stabbing pain in his temple. There were orbs floating in the air. He tried to get up, but failed. The female voice spoke again. "Ssshhhh... You're safe, dear."