Chapter 5: Base & Search

<Damian POV>

After spending some times with my new loyal minions, I started making up my next plan...

Cause the day was still young and the night was still far away!

... Also cause I wanted to hoard as many powers as I could at first then bunker down for a few days (before the news got out).

Anyways,

The next plan was gonna be really simple. Like truly simple.

It was-!

-Ambush!

... Sorry if you were thinking of something more courageous but I was the kind of guy who doesn't fight someone equally.

I was the guy who always went for the overkill!

And my new power was also perfectly tuned for these type of attacks.

It wasn't like the person I was going after was particularly strong anyway...

In fact the only reason I was going after her was because her power was sneaky and would make stealing powers much easier for me.

And who was the lucky person, you may ask?

Her name was Sophia (I forgot her last name) but many would also know her as Shadow Stalker.

She was a minor antagonist in the early phases of Worm (as she was one of Taylor's primary bullies) who everyone forgets about when the true big bad guys of the series come in. She was a violent vigilante before PRT caught her, then she made a deal with them that she would work for them on probation and in return wouldn't have to go to juvie.

I hated her when I first read the series and I disliked her now. Though to be honest, it was kind of hard not to.

She kinda made it easy for everyone to hate her because of her horrible personality and acts.

But leaving my bias aside, my reason for targeting her specifically was because of her power.

It basically let her transform into a dark gaseous state in which she was able to pass through anything. Like walls and armors, even people but she preferred to no do that.

Since passing through things herself took a lot of concentration and time, she primarily used the power on the bolts of her crossbow (allowing them to ignore defences) as it was easier.

And because of the dark state of that form, in the night she was practically invisible.

The weakness of this power though was pretty simple; electricity.

Even small static shocks of electricity could be turned into intensive injuries for her when she was in her gaseous state.

So... How did I go about stealing her power from her? Especially when she was probably in her Cape identity right now, and had no reason to hold back against me.

'Hmmm...' I thought deep and hard about this, while petting some cute mouses.

-Then I got an idea.

'Yeah, maybe that could work! ... But it's gonna be tough, no doubt about it. Much harder than Taylor atleast.'

And for that plan. I was gonna need some poisonous bugs-

*Cricket! Cricket! Cricket!*

*Buzzzzzz!*

*Click! Click! Click!*

-Yeah. That was settled. So other than that, all I needed was some duct tape, some chips for me, and a... taser.

But to be honest, acquiring a taser was probably gonna be hard.

...

Turns out, it wasn't hard at all.

I just used my trusty anthropods to steal one from a sleeping bank guard.

But then I thought, if stealing one was this easy... Then why not more?

More was better right?

So using a hoard of insects, I discreetly acquired a ton of tasers from shops, sleeping guards, and who knows where.

As for the other items on the list?

I just bought both the duct tape and chips from a store.

No reason to steal the little stuff that I could afford.

All of this was completed within an hour. So with that the only thing left was finding Shadow Stalker. But that was also gonna be hard in and of itself.

That was the point of her power after all.

So for the time being I spread my insects as far as I could, but mostly focused them in the Boardwalk and Docks areas cause that was where PRT mostly sent their Wards for patrol.

...

There wasn't much progress in finding her, even after the sun set and skies became dark.

Though I did find and tag (stick a bug after them) some... interesting targets.

So that I could go after them after I was done with Sophia (it was perfect for stealth afterall).

You know what? I was really hoping that I would've found her when the sun was still high up. Cause I was feeling really sleepy after this long and tiring day (it was currently 8 o'clock in the evening).

But I guess beggers can't be choosers.

After spreading my loyal minions to the Docks and Boardwalk areas of the Brockton Bay, I had decided to do complete some essential objectives.

Like a shelter. As that was my primary need right now.

-And even though it took me a while to find it, it was so worth it!

An abandoned factory just near the Docks. While it wasn't very exciting, it was the most preferable place for me as no one was gonna come looking here.

-and while Docks came under the Merchant's territory, they didn't really do anything other than selling drugs or doing small-time crimes (so danger of them snooping around were also quiet low).

ABB and Empire were much, much worse than them in my opinion.

Using some bugs, I had found an empty and clean room in the basement where I could set up a tent and some basic appliances.

It wasn't much, but it would do for now.

I had then gone and bought a tent, a camping light that worked on a battery, and some canned food as it took a long time for it to decay and as it was also on sale.

Coming back to the factory, I had spread my bugs to every corner of the building for surveillance in case someone really DID come.

Then I spent an hour or so setting up the tent and eating the canned food to replenish my energy.

Silently eating with my minions resting in the shadows, I intensely thought about the deviations to the power I had stolen from Taylor.

Originally, it was after some time that Taylor was able to control her bugs at a good distance. But I had been able control them from a radius of 7 blocks almost from the very start.

-and as the hours passed by, I could also feel my reach and control over them increasing.

It was truly a perplexing situation, but not an unwelcome one.

Free power was always welcome after all.

Still, I had a theory in works. Wasn't sure how right it was, but if it was?

Then every power I stole was going to grow stronger with time...

'... Only if I was able to communicate with the Shard...' I shook my head and sighed. 'So many mysteries would've been solved in a snap!'

But one thing was clear to me, I HAD to figure out a way to travel to the Shardspace. If I ever wanted some answers.

Don't know how I would ever do that. But I would figure out a way, of that I was sure.

-Another thing to note down on my bucket list I guess...

*Bzzzzz! Bzzzzz!* Stinger quietly nuzzled in my palms. Worried about me.

Looking up at me with her cute black beady eyes, she buzzed lightly.

*Bzzz! Bzzzz!* I sighed.

"I'm not sad Stinger... I'm just... Overthinking things." I said.

*Bzzz! Buzzzzzz!*

I chuckled. "I know that doesn't sound good either... But eh, it is what it is."

Angrily ruffling, she furiously buzzed. *Bzzzzz! BZZZZ!*

"I know! I know!" I chuckled again. "But to be honest, it's part of my personality. It would be weird if I don't do it."

Acquiescing to that, she reluctantly nodded her head. *Bzzz! Bzzz!*

"I'll take care of myself Stinger. I promise." I said with a small smile.

And so, both of us spent the next few hours talking peacefully. And ultimately even playing some games.

'... Yeah... I could definitely get used to this.' I thought with a relaxed smile.

===============

And Done!

Next target determined! And who is it? It's everyone's least favourite Ward! Shadow Stalker!

Damian sets up a base of operations and some mysteries about Queen Administrator gets uncovered! The power is mysteriously becoming stronger! How? Well... I couldn't tell you that now could I?

Anyways, thank you for the support guys. I love it! All the power stones, comments really brighten up my day!

Next up, Damian's first battle!

Till then, see ya later!