Abnormal Norman 22: North of the Wall

Abnormal Norman 22: North of the Wall

_______________________________________

 

Be Norman

School Cafeteria

 

>Alright, Nolan just offered me a job.

>Not sure what that job is, but apparently he pays big.

>The way he asked me was strange. We've only met today and now he's offering me a job.

>Who is this guy?

 

>You enter the cafeteria, eyes searching and tummy's grumbling.

>You spot Rainbro, sitting alone.

"Hey Rainbro."

>"Oh Norman, hey!"

>You sit with her, and proceed to ask her about Nolan.

"Listen, I have this problem, or rather, suspicions..."

>"About what?"

"This guy, Nolan."

>You point to where Nolan is sitting.

>"Oh, him? He's just one of the cool seniors of the school!"

"He just offered me a job."

>Rainbro spits out the milk she was drinking.

>"Holy crap, Norman! You got a job from Nolan!"

"Yeah, yeah. Brad said the same thing. Sort of.

>Despite what they perceive as good news, your voice went full serious while talking to Rainbro.

"The thing is, we've never met, nor have I seen him much before, but then all of a sudden, he comes to me and offers me a job!"

>"Is that so much a bad thing? That guy pays a fortune!"

"I don't even know WHAT job he's offering me!"

>"Well, from what I know, it's a factory thing, maybe even a desk job AT the factory!"

"What factory?"

>"The North's Attire."

>You've heard of it. It's a franchise that specializes on modernizing clothes from the 15th century to the 19th century.

>"Isn't this great? Weren't you with the fashion org a few months ago?"

"Yeah, back when I was dating Cloud Kicker."

>"Yeah...how DID you guys break up?"

"She abused my...clouds."

 

>You and Rainbro share a hearty laugh.

>"Norman, listen. About Rarity and the others..."

"They're on to me and Brad, right?"

>"More like they're on to you and Lyra. You guys have been hanging out too much."

"Yeah, I know, and she is a bitch!"

>"That aside, news has been spreading out that you guys are dating!"

"That's pretty normal in the society of high school. Remember when people thought Brad and I were more than friends?"

>"Hah, I remembered that fiasco...I saved your whole high school life when I...kissed you..."

"Yeah, just to say I wasn't dating Brad."

 

>[awkward silence]

"Sorry about that kiss. It was real bro of you to do that."

>"Yeah, well...it was a really nice kiss too..."

>You and Rainbro blush, remembering past memories before you got the ring.

>You guys were pretty bro too, often times helping each other out at the cost of one's demise.

 

>"Listen Norman, there's more. While Applejack and Pinkie barely suspects a thing, Rarity's gone full suspicious of you."

"She has been more approving of me in the last few weeks, plus we have been acting like jerks, hiding secrets from her."

>"Why can't we just tell her? She won't snitch or sell out!"

"You don't know her. She may be generous, but both her and her sister have at least once gossiped and worked at the school's journalism org."

>"Wasn't Lyra a journalist too?"

"According to her *, yeah, but she has as much to lose here as I do on the battlefield."

>[spoiler]See Issue # 19. -Dan[/spoiler]

 

"So, back to the original topic at hand, should I trust him or not?"

>"Nolan?"

"Yeah."

>"If you're so unsure, why not just ask him directly?"

"He'd lie to me."

>"Then accept the job, then sneak around, find some info he has on you and decide for yourself!"

"Hmm, alright. That sounds like a great idea."

>Once you said your goodbyes, you head on out to buy some food.

>As you do so, you see Lyra furiously reading a comic book. From the looks of it, 'Scarlet Spider'.

>I didn't know she was into good comics...

>"NORMAN!" she yells

"Hey Lyra. Thanks again for abandoning me in that warehouse..."

>"You're welcome. Now tell me, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?"

>She points to her comic book.

"It's a comic book."

>"Goddammit, this thing is the best thing I've ever read!"

"Uhh, how many comic books have you read, anyway?"

>"THIS, AND THOSE NEWSPAPER STRIPS!"

"Uhh..."

>"Jesus, why haven't they made a movie for this guy? Was he at the Avengers? I never paid attention to these movies."

"Lyra, as much as I love to explain Kaine's backstory, he's just too underrated to spawn a movie on his own."

>"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, Scarlet has more backstories!?"

"Uhh, yeah. There's Spider-Island, the Clone Saga, the one-shots..."

>"I NEED TO READ THEM."

"Lyra, I didn't know you were into Kaine after reading one issue."

>"Neither did I, but he's hot in this, plus the action and art... damn me for being broke."

"You want a job?"

>"YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN GET A JOB EFFORTLESSLY??"

"Y-yeah, Brad and I were about to get hired for fac-"

>Lyra grabs your shirt and moves in closer to your face.

>"Listen, Norman, YOU HAVE TO GET ME A JOB AT...WHEREVER YOU'RE GETTING ONE!"

"ALRIGHT, alright, chill!"

 

"Hey, you two, get a room!" said one of the jocks by the table.

 

>Lyra lets go of your shirt and proceeds to walk out.

 

"Looks like my team-ups with her got extended."

 

 

Be Amy

Walking with Nolan in the hallway

 

"Nolan."

>"Hmm?"

"How exactly is this plan going to work? You two haven't even met yet you just offered him a job out of the blue!"

>"Think about it this way, Amy. My name is somewhat known in the school. Being rich and all, they would assume that I pay top dollar in my family's business."

"So, you think Norman would just accept just because you pay handsomely?"

>"I expect him to accept it suspiciously. Should he accept, I'll increase the security in the factory, watching his every move."

"All this for Vinyl? Are you even sure that Norman's this...vigilante?"

>"I've seen alot of crazy things, Amy. From my own eyes, to the surveillance cameras throughout the city."

"And?"

>"Norman's always there to disappear whenever that vigilante would appear, minus the baker's convention. The vigilante arrived there in tights."

"How do you even know Noir-Man's connected to Vinyl turning into a monster?"

>"I don't, but, something's been bothering me about the footage in the park where Noir-Man and his costumed peers fought Vinyl."

"And that is?"

>"Commander Underwear pulled something off of her neck, like a necklace, while the hooded girl disappeared just as the army corners Noir-Man and Commander Underwear."

"So you're saying, you find out who Noir-Man is, you find Commander Underwear and this mysterious necklace."

>"Yes. Want to stay at the factory to keep an eye on things?"

"Only if you're there." you say in a flirting manner.

 

Be Norman

Walking with Brad and Lyra to Nolan's factory

>"Oh man bro, why does she have to tag along? COME TO STEAL MY JOB?"

>"Fuck off, Brad. I'm here to get a job, and maybe get promoted high enough to fire both of you."

>"Norman, why does she have to be here?"

"She needs the money so she can masturbate over discount Ben Reilly some more."

>"His name is Kaine, and NO, I do not masturbate over childish super-heroes."

"Yeah, I know. He says that is every issue, and no, the book's not for children either."

>"Lyra, I thought you weren't into this kinda thing."

>"I'm not!"

>"Then why are you reading cape books?"

>"What? Can't a girl read graphic novels?"

 

"Guys, stop arguing over who get's to be my sidekick. We're here."

 

>Lo and behold, the majestic factory stands before you.

>This doesn't look like the generic factory filled with bland colors and people in their bland uniforms.

>It's colorful, and most of the building's walls have been fitted with mechanical decorations.

>It looks like something Aryan would have designed. Nolan's family never kept a cent when it comes to fashion.

"Lauren Faust, are we in the right place?"

 

>The front gate opens for us, and standing there greeting us is Nolan and his lady friend.

>"So, come to consider my offer, eh?"

"W-well, actually..."

>"NOLAN MAH MAN. HIGH FIVE."

>Brad raised his hand but Nolan ignored him and kept him hanging.

>Jackass.

>"Mr. North, this place is incredible!"Lyra told him.

>"Ahh, you haven't seen anything yet. Come inside for a tour."

>[spoiler]I swear if this becomes a Norman and the Chocolate Factory oneshot...[/spoiler]

 

>We come inside the factory, and to our shock, it's even more fantastic inside.

>Moving bridges, racecars for the employees to travel around, a freaking chocolate fountain.

>I KNEW IT!

 

>"So this is where our people make the clothing. From scratch, onto the real thing. We design the blah blah..."

>Alright, you're here for one reason. Find out what he's up to.

>You lean by Lyra to whisper.

"Psst. Want me to buy you a month's worth of Scarlet Spider comics?"

>"What are you saying?"

"I need you to go onto his office and find some files. One of them is probably about mine."

>"Is that why we're here? To investigate Nolan?"

"Look, he may offer us a generous amount of shekels, but when he offered me a job here, it's all too weird."

>"...a month's worth, huh?"

>She then hands me Vinyl's necklace and proceeds to disappear from thin air.

>Luckily nobody noticed. I wonder if she could just teleport or turn invisible.

>Well at least she knows nothing on how many issues of Scarlet Spider comes out in a month. Lyra's services for $3.50.

>...

>heh

 

 

Be Lyra

Nolan's factory

 

>Using your time stopping abilities, you managed to sneak past the security cameras and guards.

>You just hope you don't get another body-stopping vision during the time you're away from Vinyl's necklace.

>30 seconds in. You have no idea where Nolan's office is. Crap.

>You decide to look around. Marvel at the beauty while looking for a sign that says "OY PRICK, DA OFFICE IS HERE!".

>Damn, your 60 seconds is up. Time continues on while a blot of blood spits from your nose.

>You hide by a blind spot from the cameras, then assess your environment.

>You see Amy walking by the catwalk.

>Maybe she knows.

 

>You follow her, hiding and crawling near her distance

>She walks to a wall and pushes her hand on one part of it.

>The wall moves, then creates a doorway.

>Wow, a secret door! This place has everything!

 

>She walks in. You inconspicuously follow.

>As you enter, a flight of stairs is in front of you. That must be where Nolan's office is.

>You creep in silently, hoping Amy doesn't come back up too soon.

>As you reach ground floor, you notice that it's not an office. It's another huge part of the factory.

>Hory Shet.jpg

 

>You're on the second floor of the secret part of the factory, and it overlooks something that's way too serious compared to the original factory.

>Huge guys with scars and black vests carrying large amounts of boxes and packages.

>Another checking a weapons cache while a big brute is crunching numbers.

>What is this place.

 

>"Oy, you got the crystal in the van?"

>"Every kilo of it."

>Amy walks in and talks to a tall buff woman. She's probably the one handling this shady business.

>"Gilda. How's the week's operation going on?"

>"Going smooth ma'm. No sign of decline or backstabbers on our buyers."

>"Listen, I need you to send a group by the Cider Pub's territory."

>"Ma'm, with all do respect, that territory has high security. You know how pricky Flim and Flam are.

>"We need not worry about them. The super heroes beat the shit out of them days ago."

>"Then shouldn't we worry about them?"

>"They haven't butted in on our business. For now at least."

 

>Jeez, is this a drug operation?

>You look to your right and you see a room.

>You crawl to it. Luckily it's unlocked.

>Going in, you notice it's an office.

>A picture of Nolan by the wall, a bunch of files and folders on the table.

 

>Hell, there's probably even a secret panel that activates another door here.

>You stand up to look at the files.

>There's files for the city's surveillance system, a bunch of other files of people too.

 

>Hey, it's the General who tried to take Vinyl. General Igneous Rock.

>And here's a bunch for scientists with their lead researcher. Doctor Cherry Jubilee.

 

>And at long last. The tip of the sundae. Norman's file.

>Judging by these files, he suspects Norman and Noir-Man are one and the same.

>He even has files of Vinyl's medical certificates here.

>Put two and two together...FAUST, HE KNOWS ABOUT THE ARTIFACTS!

>NO, I WILL NOT HAVE THEM TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME.

 

>*FWING*

"AHH!"

>A knife just nearly stabbed your hand. It landed on the desk.

>You turn to see who it was. Amy.

>She, at such speed, grabs your arm and tries to disable you.

>"What are you doing in here?"

"LET GO OF ME!"

>You managed to stomp her foot.

>She lets go of you and you try to make a run for it.

"Come on, let me stop time!"

>Your head is dizzy as you force your powers to stop time.

>She throws another knife, ruining your concentration.

 

>And as you try to escape, the tall woman, Gilda, blocks the exit.

 

>"Nowhere to run" Amy says.

 

End of Chapter 22

 

Happy anniversary horsefuckers.