Abnormal Norman 25: Deal with the Devil
_________________________________________
 
Be Norman
Nolan's Factory
 
>"So, where do we begin?"
>Nolan walks around, taunting you with his presence.
>"Ah, yes. The necklace. If you would be so kind as to..."
"Hold it."
>"Hmm?"
"I ain't giving you shit until my people figure out what these artifacts are."
>"Your people?"
>He scoffs.
"Yeah. My people. We've been researching about it for months!"
 
>Your bluffing can only get you so far.
 
>"And might I ask, who these people are?"
"Like I'd tell you."
>"I see we're finally talking business. What do you propose?"
"I'll find Vinyl a cure for her ailment, and once that's done, you're out of our hair. All of us. Our families as well.
>"Ailment? Norman, she's in a coma caused by the necklace."
"No, there's something else. You see Lyra sitting there? She's blind now thanks to you taking away her alien locket.
>"You're implying that Vinyl might as well be mute, deaf or paralyzed once she's out of the coma?
"Exactly. Give me time and I'll find you a cure for Vinyl.
>"Or, I could just tell my men to fire at your families and raid your homes for the necklace, assuming you don't have it with you, then have my top people get on studying it."
>Dammit, you're running out of excuses.
>I could just punch this guy, but I'd rather not get cold blood in my hands.
>Besides, too many witnesses. They could call the shooters anytime.
>What else can I s-
>"Obviously, you're not a man of business." Brad says
>The tension is completely broken, thanks to Brad
>"Nolan, if you're a respectable business man, then you'd listen to reason. It's like dating a woman. You want to get in her panties but you don't want to force yourself immediately, otherwise, it would be bad for your reputation."
>Our faces are completely blank, but Brad points out his flaws damn well.
>"How about this deal then, if you're so eager to get shit done. We work on finding Vinyl a cure for...whatever she'd have if she wasn't in a coma. While Norman's people are dealing with it, we work under you as your cronies."
"BRAD! That's a terrible idea. Wasn't it YOUR idea to stop crime? Why are we joining crime now?"
>"A-alright, how about this, we make the competition easier for you."
 
>"... I'm listening." Nolan replies,
>"Yeah, we take out your team's rival gangs while we try to find a cure."
>"And what if you took out all of them?"
>"Err...well, how many rivals do you have?"
>Nolan smirks, and laughs a little.
>"I must say, Brad. You're pretty bold with that statement. Offering to ease the competition."
>He walks off, thinking to himself.
>Our gang has seven rivals. Two of which, has yet to enter the city.
 
>"Normally, I'd decline such a generous offer, but you two, or rather, three, have proven quite powerful against Flim Flam's gang."
>"So, you accept?"
>Nolan throws Lyra's locket at her lap, to which she wore immediately.
>"You all have 7 months to take out the competition, and within those 7 months, have Vinyl's cure ready."
>Lyra and Brad nods. You just stare on.
 
>"Failure to deliver, and there will be dire consequences. Now, get out of my factory."
>Brad tries to break the tension.
>"Does this mean we're not getting any jobs?"
>Nolan looks at Brad, then throws a bundle of cash at Brad.
>"HUAH?!?"
>"Here's $10,000 as funding. Use it wisely."
>"Good god..."
>Lyra pulls your arm.
>"Come on...l-lets go."
>Lyra is shivering, probably from being consumed by darkness for hours.
>"Come on, I've got some clothes in my bag." said Brad.
 
>Minutes later, you, Brad and Lyra walk by the streets in your civilian clothes.
>Lyra's clenching on your arm like a scared child on Halloween. She's shivering like a wet dog.
>"Norman." Brad said
"Huh?"
>"You think what I said...was a good idea?"
"Brad, you just bought us seven months time, and Purple's our only hope for this ."
>"God, this situation..."
"We started this fight. It's not that hard to imagine that we'd get into deeper shit than that."
>"You still regret the day we became super-heroes?"
>...
"We've made a difference, made enemies, but did the city a favor nonetheless."
>"*sigh*, how are we going to get out of this mess?"
 
"I've already thought up of our options."
>"Huh?"
"Nolan may be in charge of a huge gang, but he's still a kid, nonetheless. His decisions range from respectable to rash.
>"You saying he'd betray us on the seventh month?"
>You nod.
>"Lauren Faust. So what's our options?"
"One, we trust Purple with making a cure while we deal with the gangs. Two, we make a deal with one of the gangs to make Nolan and his gang leave the city, or three, we take our chances with whatever happens in the future."
>"Argh, this is stressing. All I wanted to do was to be a super hero and beat up thugs, not be a puppet or be part of this!"
"It's the path we chose, and in the end, this is still our responsibility."
 
>We arrive at Lyra's house.
>You escort Lyra to her door. She stays quiet throughout the day.
"Hey, cheer up, Ly. Tomorrow's a Saturday. You can rest up."
>Lyra stays quiet. She can barely stand on her own.
>She let's go of you and latches on to the door.
>You felt bad for her. Guess she really hates the dark.
>"B-bye..." she whispered.
>She goes in her house quietly, as to not wake her mother up.
 
>You and Brad continue to walk to Fluttershy's house.
>"Norman, it's the middle of the night. You think Twilight and Fluttershy would be awake?"
"Worth a try. I can't sleep at this hour."
>"With that happened, yeah me too."
>You arrive at Fluttershy's house.
>You knock 5 times.
>...
>Someone opens the door.
>"Norman? Brad?"
>Brad was right. We just woke Purple up from her sleep.
"Purple, we need to talk."
 
>Ten minutes have passed and you had already told Purple everything.
>She looks at you, eyes wide with a mug of coffee
>"Oh my god..."
"Yeah..."
>She scratches her head, surprised at the news.
"Listen Purple. It's your choice if you want to help us or not."
>"This is...this is all so sudden..."
>She stands up and walks around for a moment.
>Her pet dog, Spike, just watches from the distance.
>"You don't have to answer now, Twilight. You can call us tomorrow in the morning." Brad said.
>"No."
"I guess that's a no?"
>"No, I mean...yes. I will do it. I'll do my best to crack this thing wide open!"
"Really? That would be great, Purple. We'd seriously be in your debt."
>"Hey, what are friends for? Besides, this is scary and exciting."
>Purple's trying to be optimistic about most of this.
>"Thanks, Twilight. You're the best!"
>"Well, there are weirder things that have happened before I met you all here."
 
>You shake her hand as a sign of good faith.
"If you need any help, just call, and I'll send Brad over right away."
>"HEY!"
"Come on, Brad. You're great as an assistant." you tell him
>"Well..."
"Besides, didn't you tell me one drunk night ago that you were into Purple?" you tease him in a whisper.
>"Norm!"
>You both laugh.
 
Meanwhile, outside the house, hiding by the tree
 
Be Gilda
"Sir, I'm confirming that the two are telling the truth on the matter that they have people working for a cure." you say in the microphone.
>"Anything else I should know?"
"Sir, it would seem that more people know about Norman and the other guy's vigilantism."
>"Alright. Keep an eye on them."
"Will do, sir."
 
>I'll be sure to get a raise now!
 
Be Norman
Flutter's door
 
>Walking outside of Flutter's home, you notice a bit of rumbling by Flutter's tree.
>...
>Nah, it's probably nothing.
 
>...
>You grab a hose and sprayed it on the tree.
>"ARRGHSPLOOSHHARGHASHABLARGH!"
>A woman falls from her tree. A familiar one at that.
>You grab her by her shirt. It's her!
>The one you used as a human shield back at the factory.
"Hey! What are you doing? Why are you here?"
>"Shit! Compromised, compromised!"
"What?"
>You notice an earpiece worn by her.
>You try to listen to it but the feed's been cut.
>Damn.
>You slam her by the tree.
>"HEY, THIS IS MY FAVORITE SHIRT DWEEB!"
"Yeah? Well it's gonna be alot messier when if don't tell me who are you and why you're spying on us."
>"Yeah, yeah."
>She pushes you away as she dusts of the dirt from her shirt.
 
>"Name's Gilda. I've been hired by Nolan to keep an eye on you and your two friends, in case you all try to turn on Nolan."
"Gilda? Wait, I think I've heard that name before. Have we met?"
>"Whether you were my pen pal from the juvenile or you've met some of my old friends, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you do your job. No funny business, got that, dweeb."
"Fine, fine. Just stop spying on us."
>"Can't do that, maggot. I've been specifically tasked to spy on you until the seven months is over, or until Nolan trusts you all fully."
"So what, you're gonna spy on us while we bathe and shit?"
>"N-not that specific, you dunderhead!"
>She also mentions another thing.
>"Look, I've also been hired to try and help you and your people in regards to the gangs."
"Huh?"
>"I supply you guys with info, help out a little so Nolan's time wouldn't have been wasted."
 
"I appreciate the gesture, but we'd do better on our own."
>"Oh really? Do you even know who you're going up against? Where they are and what they're capbable of?"
>You stay quiet.
>"Yeah, so I thought. You guys need me. I'm getting paid by the hour for this so whether you want me to do my job or not is all up to you."
"Alright, fine. Just...just tell me the details in the morning. I need to turn in for the night."
>"Whatever, dweeb, but remember, like a gryphon or an eagle, I'll be watching you."
>She said so while making an owl face while wiggling her arms.
>"Aaaalwaaays waaatching..." she says while backing up to the shadows.
 
*sigh*
 
Morning comes, or for Lyra, 12:00 noon
Be Lyra
Your room
>Waking up from your slumber.
>Still shaking from yesterday.
>The darkness. Oh god the darkness.
>You hold tight to the locket, vowing never to join Norman's adventures again.
"Fuck him and Brad!"
>You stand from your bed, kicking the trash from your feet.
>You look at your green jacket at the floor. Still stained from blood.
>You took it and threw it out of the window in a fit of rage.
>Taking your lyre from your bag, you convert it from a bow to the lyre and you play it to calm yourself.
 
>A few minutes have passed and you've calmed yourself from the stressing night.
>Your mother comes in your room.
>"Lyra, that was wonderful."
"T-thanks mom."
>"Come downstairs, I've made you some waffles and eggs."
>Luckily she didn't notice the bite marks by your feet and legs.
>You dash down the stairs with your tummy grumbling and your tongue yearning for a taste of sweet breakfast cake.
>The smell just made you forget about the awful night.
>You sat down immediately to eat.
>Your mother brings in a package from outside.
"Hey mom, what's that?"
>"You tell me! It's from a boy."
>ohshitshe'sgettingthewrongidea
 
>She puts the package on your side.
>"Who's this Norman boy?" she asks
>Ahh, Norman. I knew it.
"You know, that guy who rescued us from that convenience store *."
[spoiler]See issues # 4-5. -Dan [/spoiler]
 
>"Oh yes, I remember him. Such a cute boy. You're seeing him?"
"N-no, not like that."
>"Alright, I won't try to pry in. You just enjoy your breakfast."
 
>You read the note on top of the package.
>>"Lyra. Issues 2-10, 15-21. I can't find 11-14. Sorry for last night.   -Norman and Derpy."
>Guess Norman told Derpy about what happened.
>For a childlike klutz, she's alright.
 
>Curious, you open the package to find a bundle of comic books titled "Scarlet Spider".
>Well, I guess Norman kept his promise.
>Sort of.
>I need to beat the shit out of Norman next time I see him.
 
 
Be Norman.
Taking an afternoon walk outside
>As you walk, thinking about the future, Gilda climbs out of a sewer hole.
"Faust, Gilda. No need to be that much of a ninja."
>"Pull me up, dweeb!"
>You pull her up.
"Alright, so what does the mystical Gilda have for me?"
>"Alright, so let's start with the list."
>She hands me a list. A list of seven names.
"Ah yes, Al Mualim. I shall carry-eth out their sentence."
>"Cut the crap. This is serious."
>She points to the first name of the list.
 
"Uhh...'Viri Scientia'"
>"These eggheads are a mix of traditional cults and present day cartels."
"So they're religious gangbangers?"
>"Close. They're the craziest of the list, but they can stand fairly well on their own."
>Gilda grabs a book from her bag and opens it.
"Wha...that book has a hole in it."
>"The Viri Scientia specializes in transferring lethal concoctions from the black market, as well as drug transfers."
>After that, she gets a map from her bag.
>"These guys are rats. They've learned from the old roman books and made several trap doors and escape routes throughout the city, each for and against their people."
"Holy shit, its like batman designed the place.
 
>You look at the map. Circles and lines connecting from one to the other.
>We've had most of our men search the city but they either got  captured or killed in the process.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is too much to process."
>"Keep them. They might come in handy for this month's mission."
"I feel like an international spy, or the guy who stole the declaration of independence."
>"It's what your friend signed you up for. Take it up with him."
"Jeez."
>Gilda hands you the files.
"Well, thanks. Anything else you might want to tell me?"
 
>Gilda looks at the sky as an eagle soars above.
"Gilda?"
>"Sorry, you were saying?"
"Anything else you forgot to mention?"
>"Just one thing. Nolan ain't the only guy in your school with connections to a drug family."
 
 
>Well whoopee-dee. Ain't that something to look forward to.
"Why don't we talk about it over by 'Burgerphile'?"
>"Are  you asking me to lunch? What are you a mega-dweeb?"
"Look, I'm starving for meat and information. Just bare with me."
 
End of Chapter 25