Abnormal Norman 37: Bug the Big League
________________________________________
 
Be Brad
Military Base Prison
 
>Escorted to a holding cell with Amaranthine.
>The kid keeps smiling and looking at me.
>Oh god.
 
>You look to your right to see one of the soldiers.
"Psst, the girl is freaking me out, man!"
>"She's freaking us all out, keep quiet!"
>You look back at the girl.
>Her smile is imprinted on her face like a tatoo.
>You look back at the soldier.
"How old is this kid?"
>"I heard she was about...ten or something."
"She's going to be in another room than me, right?"
>"Nope."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-GGAAAAKK!"
>You were lightly tazed by the side of your stomach.
>>"QUIET PRISONER, OR I'LL HAVE A STONING SESSION WITH YOU, AND NOT THE NARCOTICS KIND."
>Knowing him, he probably meant something biblical like getting thrown to rocks a hundred times.
>... wait that's not right...
 
>You arrive at the cell. It's transparent but bulletproof.
>You compare it to one of those cells like in Dredd or that S.H.I.E.L.D. cell for Loki.
>Thrown inside with Amaranthine, General Igneous Rock then speaks to the guards.
>>"YOU ARE TO GUARD THESE TWO WITH YOUR LIFE. ANY SIGN OF INHUMAN ACTIVITY,  YOU HAVE THE PERMISSION TO SHOOT THEM ON SIGHT."
>"SIR YES SIR!"
"W-Wait! Don't leave me here with her."
>The little girl leaps torwards you.
>>>"You shall be Amaranthine's new boyfriend...foreeeeveeerrr..."
>You cry tears of intense emotional pain as she crushes you with her hugs.
>You plead to the guards.
"PLEASE, KEEP HER AWAY FROM ME!"
>"Sorry man, we have orders to refrain from opening the door."
>You cry bitterly.
 
Be Norman
Viri Scientia Facility
 
"I swear, this looks way different than the place you put me in, Cherry."
>"That was one of our hideout headquarters. This is where the legal stuff happens.
"Holy Shit.
 
>You and Cherry Jubilee walk into the science facility of the city.
>It's like walking into Oscorp from the Spider-Man movie.
>Jeez, this is incredible.
>Holograms, prototypes, robots!
"You have all these and you people still can't beat Saint's Bro?"
>"There are alot of moles in this facility, usually killed once found. Surprisingly, Nolan is still able to counteract with his own things."
>You remember you Nolan giving you a few extra gadgets for your fight against the 7 gangs.
"I think I remember him having a freelance blacksmith working for him in his hideout."
>"We'll get to talking about his hideout later."
>Cherry gives you a little tour along the way.
>She shows you the wonders of her little facility.
>"What you see here are my workers bounded by the law to test prototypes. Something I detest."
"You told me that back at your headquarters. You said you wanted to make prototypes using anything that's necessary, even outside the law."
>"I never said that directly."
"But you did demonstrate it on one of the trackers while I was strapped in *."
[spoiler] See Issue #32 [/spoiler]
>"Cancer is a valuable thing to work on, obviously, but yes, I guess I did indirectly tell you."
"Cancer cure in a vodka...you got that from Marvel Zombies, huh?"
>"I'm sorry?"
"Nah, forget it."
>"I'm curious. What was it?"
"You see, Iron-Man made some prototype that cures cancer but due to a zombie invasion, he used it instead to kill zombies by puking all over them. The cure had little nanobots like the ones you illegally put in me...."
>"Still mad about that?"
"No shit. Anyway, the little nanobots clutch onto the cancer cells and defeat them, but they worked to well and they apparently exterminate the immune system, which was the reason why it stayed as a prototype."
>"Interesting. Food for thought, no?"
"Heh."
>As you walk by the facility, you saw a familiar face.
>Faust, is that...
"Hey, I know that guy!"
>"Hmm?"
>You point to the guy. Purple skin, huge glasses, yellow sweatshirt.
>My god, it's ADAM ATOMIC!
"He's my classmate, Adam Atomic! How the hell...what the hell?"
>"Oh him? He's one of our freelance scientists. Smart as hell but works cheap. We tried offering him a position here but he declined."
"I can't believe it. He's one of you guys."
>"Technically, he doesn't work for US us. He's working for this facility which is legal, like many of the scientists here."
"What does he do here?"
>"He's a mechanical genius."
"You know it. That guy can turn wood to metal!"
>"Literally?"
"N-no, just, well you get what I mean."
>"The boy's a prodigy, but we're not here to talk about him."
>Cherry opens the door to her office.
>She smiles, knowing that you have information on Nolan's factory.
>You go in and sat by the couch.
>Black couch. If my life wasn't in peril right now, I would be imagining something else about this couch right now.
>She locks the door and pulls out a table from the wall.
>Whoa.
>She then activates the little table. It's actually a flat tablet looking up.
"Nice..."
>"Now, before I get some goodies to give you, I need you to detail me Nolan's factory."
"Err..."
>"Don't make me electrecute you through your nanobots again."
"Alright, alright! Jeez, have you no trust, woman?"
>She looks at you as if she's saying 'are you serious?'.
"Right, right."
>You detail the factory. Where it is and what its guards are.
"First set of guards are the more normal ones. No one there knows about-"
>"Yes, yes, I know about the guards outside. Give me intel on the inside."
"R-right."
>You decide to lay low on some of the truths, mainly on the hidden doors.
"So, Nolan has secret doors by some of his clothing machines, the dryers and the caterpillar rooms." [spoiler]False[/spoiler]
>Not sure if there even is a caterpillar room. Cherry's taking notes so there's that.
"Guards have more armor on and they're carrying military machine guns."[spoiler]True[/spoiler]
>"Gilda and his girlfriend? Know where their offices are?"
"Gilda doesn't have an office, but she hangs out with Amy. Her office is...inside...the toilet."[spoiler]False[/spoiler]
>"So filthy no one would know. Not bad. What about these plans Gilda gave you? The battleplans against us that you mentioned a few hours ago."
"That. Well, uhh, it's a map around the city. Escape routes. *
[spoiler] See Issue # 25 [/spoiler]
>"They were getting broken anyway."
"Yeah. Anyway, that's all I know."
>She continues to write on the tablet, eyes wide and legs crossed.
>She then steps out of the room, silently.
>You look around the room, walking about.
>There's one CCTV camera there, and it's pointed straight at the door.
>Perfect.
>Her desk is a blind spot.
>You took out one of the gadgets Nolan gave you. It's an audio device the size of a Gameboy button that allows you to eavesdrop into everything.
>You looked around. Where can you fit this in?
>Behind the framed photo of her by the desk? Nah, TV already made that too obvious.
>By the books? You don't even know which one she reads and which one is just sitting there for show.
>The little plant by the side? Nah, the daily watering will just short circuit it.
>You lift the table with your pinky.
>Under the table is too obvious. She'd spot it in an instant.
>Laying the table down, you look around.
>Damn. Where else?
>You look at the last place you'd ever think of.
>The camera looking at the door.
"Ah crap."
>You went flat by the wall, going under it.
>Any sign of you and your cover's most likely blown.
>You slowly stretched up.
*Tap* *Tap*
>FOOTSTEPS. SHIT.
>You need to stick it by the camera carefully!
>Slowly....
>Slowly....
>Door opens.
>SHIT!
>You slip as the audio device flies to the air all the way up the ceiling
>You sat by the floor as Cherry entered, eyes on her checklist.
>"Alright, I've confirmed the- why are you on the floor?"
"I...I panicked."
>"Why would you panic?"
"It's an old thing. We get uhh captured alot to the point where I'd probably go PTSD on this."
>"Rrrright... anyways, get back to the chair."
>You ran back to the chair, hoping she doesn't notice.
>"Anyway, I got back from one of my people and compared notes. Some of the things you've said are of contrast to what they've said, but other than that, it all adds up."
"So..."
>"You're telling most of the truth. You've just confirmed where your loyalty stands. Congratulations."
"Uhh....r-right?"
>"Now, for the gadgets I mentioned earlier."
>She puts a brief case on the table.
>"I'm sure you know what a grapplehook does, right?"
"Y-yeah?"
>"Then I'm sure I don't need to explain what else is in the box."
>She talks about the briefcase a bit more.
>"Untracable and made from scratch by one of our esteemed people. Not even your father could track whoever made this."
"Okay..."
>"And do be more careful about your relationship with your father. Can'thave him know about us or Saint's Bro, can we?"
>She slides it slightly to your direction.
>"We'll talk soon, Norman. Soon the Saint's Bro will fall, but for now, I think you need to focus on beating the Diamond Dogs. Can't have Nolan killing you for not doing your job to theirs, eh?"
"Right."
>You took the briefcase and casually looked up the ceiling.
>The little black spot of an eavesdropper device is sitting there up the white ceiling.
>I pray to Faust she doesn't notice that.
 
>You exit the office, took a deep breath and...
>>"Holy cow, Norman!"
"I SWEAR I DIDN'T...Oh god, it's you."
>Adam showed up beside you, nearly pissing yourself.
 
>>"You're working here too?"
"You could say that. I got a job."
>>"Awesome! The place is really cool too!"
"Yep. S-so, you work here?"
>>"Freelance. They said I was one of the best mechanical minds of this generation. I think I owe myself a nice milkshake."
"Nice. What do you build here?"
>>"Under contract not to tell, but I can assure you it wasn't cheap. I managed to grab alot of bucks that get me through college!"
"Good for you for taking the initiative to work for your future."
>>"So, what are you working on here?"
"I...I'm under contract too, mate." You say as you showed him your briefcase.
>>"Nice. It's nice to meet  a classmate who isn't all about their Xboxes and their football."
"Yeah, well, it's a surprise to see you here as well. This place is packed up!"
 
>You walk with Adam to converse.
 
>>"Heck yeah! No women to distract you, no jocks to make fun of you and no hall monitors to tell you when curfew is! Being freelance is way more fun though."
"So freelance, huh? Where else do you work?"
>>"Working at Nolan's factory, but can't tell what, if you get me."
"Yeah yeah, I get you, but Nolan's? His family factory is about clothing, right?"
>>"Well, I don't really sneak into why Nolan wanted me to build certain equipment, but I got to tell ya, he probably has alot of enemies."
"What gave you that idea?"
>>"Well the job he gave me is really...really weird. Bound by contract to keep mum on what it is, though."
"Alright, alright. I won't push it."
>You pass by the customer service in front of the exit.
>You casually placed another audio device under it.
>>"Well, anyway, got to head home. Big test tomorrow, you know?"
"Oh shit, right. We have a history test tomorrow."
>>"Slacker attitude, man. You gotta lose that."
"Yeah, yeah. Be seeing you."
>He waves goodbye as he heads out the exit.
>You exit as well and went the opposite direction.
>Your little operation was a slight success.
>Managed to plant two eavesdrop devices inside.
>Now I just hope they don't notice the little thing inside Cherry's room.
 
>You walk along the streets. It's late at night and you decide to take a little shortcut.
>Down the alley. Filled with brutes wearing old biker outfits.
>They look at you with their angry gaze.
>Must be roidrage week.
>One of the guys approaches you.
>"Well, well. Takes a brave soul to waltz into Diamond Dog territory."
>Diamond Dog? Shit, that's the gang you're going to take out!
"N-nothing. Just a bunch of files."
>"Well if it ain't of use, you could let me, I dunno, take a peek?"
"It's nothing of value, leave me alone."
>You look around the alley.
>Lots of Diamond Dogs brutes inside a tiny room by the wall but they aren't armed with pistols.
>You can take them on.
>"Look kid, we can do this the easy way or the-"
>With the power of your ring, you grabbed the guy and threw him directly inside the little room.
>It incapacitates two brutes.
>>"HEY! WHAT THE-"
>Before the guy can speak, you threw a small metal can at the lightbulb above.
>Darkness covers the little room, aside from the little television lighting up a single direction.
>All the remaining Diamond Dogs brutes are scared shitless.
>You dropped the case, put on your mask and cracked your knuckles.
>This is gonna hurt them more than it hurts...well... you know...
>You charge in inside and did one handed slams on the poor gangsters.
>They try to fight in the darkness, but your enhanced sight and sound made it easy for you to find them across the dark room.
*POW*
*BIFF*
*BAAM!*
>Gangsters flying everywhere.
>At last. You're done.
>You tie them up and called the police to pick them up through one of their cell phones.
>A small part of the gang has been defeated but you don't mind. At least this side of the street is safe, now you just need to gear up against the more deadlier groups of diamond dogs soon.
>As you slap your hands together, you notice the television.
>It's on the news channel.
>Something's caught your eye.
>My god. IT'S BRAD AND LYRA!
 
>>>REPORTER: REPORTS OF A HUGS RHINOCEROUS LION NEARLY DESTROYS ALL OF THE SHOPS IN THIS AREA IF NOT FOR THE VIGILANTES, CHRONOS AND COMMANDER UNDERWEAR.
>>>>INTERVIEWEE: IT WAS AWESOME! THERE WAS TEAMWORK AND SHIT EVERYWHERE! SHAME THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO RUIN EVERYTHING.
>>>>>INTERVIEWEE 2: THE ARMY CAME IN OUT OF NOWHERE AND BEGAN FIRING DARTS AT BOTH OUR HEROES. SHIT WAS TOTALLY UNCOOL!
>>>>>>INTERVIEWEE 3: I THINK CHRONOS ESCAPED. MAN, SHE'S HOT. I THINK I'LL START MAKING FANART OF HER.
>>>>>>>INTERVIEWEE 4: THAT RHINO-JERK RUINED MY CAR! A CERTAIN CITY ZOO SHALL TASTE MY WRATH!
>>>REPORTER: ACCORDING TO REPORTS, ONLY THE RHINO WOMAN AND COMMANDER UNDERWEAR WERE CAPTURED BY THE ARMY. CHRONOS SEEMINGLY HAD TELEPORTED OUT OF THE AREA. NO REPORTS OF HOW OR WHERE. BACK TO YOU, TED.
 
>Lauren Faust!
>I need to call them.
>...
>Dammit, forgot my phone at home!
>You rushed on back home, briefcase in hand and mask off.
 
NORMALS RESIDENCE
 
>You opened the door, much to your parents pleasure.
>>"Hey sport! Where've you-"
"Sorry, can't talk."
>You rushed into your room.
>...
>You found your phone by the floor.
>Looking at it, you see one missed call from Lyra.
>Crap!
>You then tried calling back, but no answer.
>You then called Brad, but he can't be reached.
>Shit Shit Shit!
>Brad's been captured by the army and Lyra's nowhere to be found.
 
>You checked if Lyra's GPS is on.
>It is. You grabbed your phone and stormed out of the room's window.
>Finding Lyra is tonight's priority!
 
>You jumped out of your window with your phone in hand.
>Hoping Lyra's still alright.
 
 
Be Lyra
Sewers
 
>An hour of passing out, you wake up with your body, painful as it is.
>Like going to gym after a lazy junkfood-filled weekend.
 
>God, my body hurts.
 
>You move by the sewers, holding your stomach, limping one step at a time.
>You took off the extra disguise, the bandana covering your mouth in an attempt to breathe easier.
>The tranquilizer darts have lost most of its effect, but you're still weak.
>Weak from running, weak from hiding, weak from using your artifact's time stop ability and weak from all the pressure.
>Brad's been captured by the army. Who knows what he'll spill in their facility.
>He could just tell them about the artifacts. He could tell them about Saint's Bro or Viri Scientia...
>No, he can't, he can't tell them that.
"AAAHHKK..."
>Faust, you're losing consciousness.
>Something's pausing your movements.
>A vision. Another vision.
>Every drop of water turns your vision into static.
 
>Too loud. Need to get away.
 
>You crawl away to a safe haven.
>Rats crawl all over the canals, but you don't worry about them.
>You've had worse.
 
>Right, need to focus.
>Blinded by the vision you're having, you sat down and meditated. Concentrated.
"HMMMMPH..."
>It's working.
>The static fades away, as you hear an angry voice.
>A familiar incantation from the visions you've had before.
 
>       {FROM ACROSS THE THUNDER IN THE CLOUDS}
>      {FROM BEYOND THE BUILDINGS OF THE CITY, IT IS LOUD}
>     {NORMAN AND BRAD}
>    {TATTERED AND BLOODIED FROM THE FIGHT THAT THEY HAD}
>   {THEY FIGHT EACH OTHER IN THE WINTER NIGHT}
>  {AS A MAN WITH A RIFLE LOOKS ON HIS SIGHT}
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>*BANG*<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
> {A SHOT WAS HEARD AS RAINBOW DASH AND PINKAMENA LOOKED ON}
>{IT IS NOW DAWN}
 
>The winter vision has haunted you for the past weeks.
>Worse, winter is coming, and your comrades are in tatters.
>Norman and his affiliations with Nolan.
>Brad, captured by the government.
>And you, accidentally bringing Octavia into this * .
[spoiler] See last issue [/spoiler]
>This is going to be one hell of a ride.
 
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
>Footsteps from afar.
>I really hope it's Derpy.
>Octavia couldn't have known it was underground, even with my GPS on.
 
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
>You hear two people walking to your direction.
>Is that Derpy? The hair looks the same but...
"Huuhhhghhh..."
>There comes the two. The other seemed scared.
>THey both look your age.
>You unhood yourself to see clearly.
>Too far away. Your sight is bluring.
>You pass out as they rush towards you.
>THe last thing you saw were two women, neither of them were the people you called.
>Their skins were...blue...and the other...pink...
 
*thud*
 
End of Chapter 37