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chaniters · 9 months

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The ranch

Elena saves the day, and Cyrus visits the Ortega's ranch.

"Get back! It's doing it again!" you warn, jumping to the side. With one swift movement, Elena's hand reaches for the squirt bottle, turning around and spraying the assailant repeatedly in the face with perfect aim. "NO! NO! BAD!" Each jet emphasizes her words, the reddish energy buildup quickly dissipating in the air as the animal quickly turns tail after getting caught in the act. It breaks into a sprint towards the other goats, stopping only to take a bite out of a block of hay lying against the fence.

"Thanks for the save, Mom," Ricardo mutters sheepishly. "I told you not to expose your back," she says before pulling the trigger at her own son.

"Sorry! Sorry!" he chuckles, trying to block the water. You can't be sure about what he's thinking, but if you had to guess, you'd say he's proud that his mom came to save the day when no one else could. "Siempre te lo digo y te lo repito: Tienes que tener más cuidado, m'hijo. ¿Por qué no haces como tu amigo Sidestep?" "No es justo, él la vió venir porque tiene ojos en la nuca!" Ric complains. "Entonces te consigues un espejo retrovisor o lo que te haga falta, Ricky, pero algo vas a tener que hacer si vas a estar jugando rudo con la cabra mágica. Acuérdate que vale más maña que fuerza."

"I don't really have eyes at the back of my head!" you say, pointing out the obvious slander. "It was just an expression," Ortega replies. "Vamos adentro que es hora de cenar," she goes on in Spanish. "Voy a preparar el cuarto de huéspedes." "Eh… Guest room? I … uh… really should be going." "Nonsense, it's very late, and you're all bruised up, and you are Ricky's friend, so you're invited to stay for the night." "I just don't want to impose…" you start. "Come on Sides, you can stay here for tonight; I swear it's ok. I don't even know how are you can walk it off after all that beating we took. You need to take off that skinsuit and get some rest." "I'm fine," you object, trying to ignore the tingling sensation of the active paingate that keeps e tgether. "Also, I'll need you two around to help if Snowball gets scared; it's her first night here after all." "Snowball?" Charge asks. "The goat," she clarifies. "I just named it." "... fine… I guess I could stay the night then … just in case," you concede, defeated. "But I don't have a change of clothes." That's not exactly true. You do carry a second full-body nanomesh like the one you're now wearing under the skinsuit that you could change into, but it's form-fitting enough that it could be accurately described as underwear, not something that you would want to wear as the only layer in someone else's house. "Ricky can lend you something, Sidestep." "Cyrus," you sigh, taking off your mask because it's pointless to keep wearing it when you're about to have dinner with her and her son that trusts you enough to bring you to the family home. "Of course, I can. Here, come this way!" Ricardo leads you through the house. What are you getting yourself into this time? Is this how you finally get caught?

#fallen hero: rebirth #fallen hero spoilers #fanfiction #chargestep #fhr #sidestep #ortega #Snowball

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chaniters · 10 months

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Into the gates of Hell.

Sidestep and Ortega rush to the site of a new emergency in the City of Los Diablos, only to find an unexpected opponent.

Your gaze strays from the quick passing of the palm trees and through tall buildings at both sides of the road lingering on the busy traffic ahead of you, all of it distorted by the scorching waves elevating from the overheated asphalt.

The chaotic traffic jam engulfing Los Diablos' only surviving highway extends for miles, yet Charge’s motorcycle still cuts through it like lightning, changing lanes too fast for you to even count and leaving behind a long streak of car horns and surprised drivers. There are other motorcycles of course, but all of them end up being left in the dust by a combination of Charge’s enhanced reflexes and the military grade systems of the monster he’s piloting.

Ricardo fell in love with this machine since Hood first presented him with it, and you’re finding it difficult not to get lost in the sensation as well, as you hold onto him and let the world turns into an ozone scented blur.

Still, you have a responsibility here, and that is to make sure that Charge doesn’t fuck up.

“Take the next exit to the left” you say

“You mean right” he corrects you

“No, left!”

“I’ve know my way around these roads for years” he protests

“I memorized the route so do you wanna place a bet on that?” you shoot back. The left exit comes, and after a moment’s hesitation, Ricardo curses and turns left, taking your advice in the end.

“Whatever happened to your many years of expertise?”

“I’m experienced enough to know better than betting against a nerd”.

“...and by ‘experienced’ you mean old, right?”

“Who are you calling old?!”

“Hold! We’re here!” you point the road ahead.

“Oh Dios mío… remind me what the alert said this was?”

“Woman wearing black skinsuit, no name given, raiding Computer lab by the Hollywood reservoir. Probable psychokinetic”

“No shit” He comments as he stops the bike near a cracked palm tree.

The whole facade of the lab is cracked in several places by what looks like wrecking ball impacts. Two cars are turned on their side, one of them is upside down and several trees are lying around dislodged from their stumps.

“The lamp post too?” Ricardo asks no one in particular. You follow his gaze to see a tall lamppost, completely bent and lying down to the side.

“PSST! Over here!” someone hushes you from behind the upside down car. The two of you look to each other before approaching to investigate.

Your mind senses three minds hiding behind the car, something you quietly signal to Ortega with hand gestures, getting a nod in return before he motions for you to circle from the left as he does the same from the right.

Perhaps it’s the woman in the black skinsuit setting up a trap?

You let a sigh of relief as you get to the other side, finding no skinsuit villains but what appears to be three innocent civilians instead. Two scientists and one janitor, if the labcoats and overalls count is a proper indication.

“Get down! Before it sees you!”

“Before what sees us?” Charge asks as he crouches by their side, you quickly follow in turn.

“That monster she brought!” the old janitor mumbles. The two scientists are younger, a man in his forties whose thoughts appear locked in a loop of repeating a prayer in Korean and a woman who frantically fiddles with her phone.

“Are there injured?” Charge asks again.

“That woman brought it and It broke one of the guards’ arms. Most are hiding inside I think.” “Alright… What kind of monster are we talking about here?” “It’s a horned spawn of Satan I tell you! Tore the building apart!” the Janitor groans, and you can sense his words having an impact on the younger man, his prayer turning even more frantic.

“I took a picture!” the woman says, showing you her phone.

THe picture is too blurred to properly identify, but it does indeed depicts some sort of horned creature staring angrily at the lens. The sight makes your curiosity tick, and you run a quick scan of the building ahead… Charge is used to how you work by now, so he silently takes hold of your arm and drags you away from the civilians hearing range, his voice turning into a whisper.

“What do we have?”

“There’s more civilians like the old man said. I think they are safe but some seem to be in pain. And there’s also an… something” you struggle to find the right word

“So… the son of Satan it is” he says with a smirk.

“Demon’s aren’t real,” you groan. “...Right?” you ask, starting to doubt what you know about human religion. The group behind the car seems pretty convinced.

“Ready to face hell?” Ricardo ignores your question, offering a wider smile instead. “Shouldn’t we ask for backup?” You ask, suddenly having some second thoughts. “No time for that. Cover me while I take point, let’s see what this fuss is all about”

“Roger” you nod, taking your gun out of its holster, it’s contact making you feel more confident.

The Janitor waves for Ortega to hide to no avail, as he walks towards the stairs leading to the lab entrance, you following close by.

“Get back fool! Devil’s gonna get ya!”

“Sorry mister, facing the devil spawns is my job”

“I warned ya!” He yells.

Your aim is on the entrance itself, the door cracked and fallen to the side. The creature must have immense strength.

Carefully, Ortega begins walking the steps up, reaching up and…

“Stop! It can see you!” you warn as whatever’s inside fixes it’s attention on the Marshal, glowing red eyes in the dark.

“Wha….AAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaa…-” Charge’s question gets interrupted by a massive red blast of … something?

You duck just in time to see how Charge is blown backwards at high speed, arms flailing wildly as he flies more than two dozen feet in the air, bouncing on the dirt next to you with a loud thud and landing on his side. Cursing, you open fire blindly at the aggressor, immediately realizing you missed. “Mierda! Move Sidestep!” Charge yells, but it’s already too late.

Whatever’s inside does not miss though, sending a second reddened pulse, this one aimed at you, strong enough to project you spinning in the air against the car the civilians are using for cover, your shoulder taking the brunt of the impact, hard enough for the pain-gate to kick in before you collapse to the ground.

“We’re doomed! I told you not to disturb the red devil!” the Janitor whimpers.

As soon as the world stops spinning you glare at the entrance, trying to get a shot at the enemy, a dark figure emerging from the inside. Shit, this is bad, your legs feel like wet noodles right now, and whatever energy aura your opponent’s powers is based on is intensifying enough to be palpable and visible, engulfing everything in tones of red. You feel goosebumps all over your skin.

“Baaaaaaa” says the small -but very menacing horned goat- as it glares at you and Ortega.

#fallen hero: rebirth #fallen hero spoilers #fanfiction #chargestep #sidestep #Ortega

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chaniters · 1 year

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IT'S OUT!

#Fallen Hero Retribution #Fallen Hero #Sidestep #Ortega #Lady Argent #Steel #Herald #IT'S OUT!

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chaniters · 1 year

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Team effort

Sunstream ventures into the suspect's house on her own, revealing a new unexpected power while Charge, Sentinel, and Steel provide backup. Meanwhile, Anathema and Sidestep meet up with Linda Goodman to arrange the trade. ***I didn't post these in the correct order, you can see the correct order on the link below, or read it on my AO3 -------------------------

Joels It makes you roll your eyes that they would just add an L and call it a day after the LDPD closed their previous establishment. The bar offers diamante masks for anyone not already wearing one, a common courtesy in some of the old-fashioned villain bars. You politely reject the bouncer offering one, since the mask Anathema asked you to wear already covers all of your head. Anathema also refuses, wearing the second horse-head mask they were carrying in their bag. Themmy’s is black and hairy with a small pink hat on top, while is white with a rainbow-colored unicorn horn.

“I really like these,” you say, pondering on how would you go around making it practical for a suit.

“Thanks. They’re leftovers from the last pride.”

“Pride?” you ask, confused.

“Eh?”

“Oh, right… the parade,” you say quickly, catching the thought fast enough to cover for your ignorance. “Where are we supposed to seat?”

“There” Themmy points out to a table on the far corner. “It’s reserved.”

The decor and music here are more vintage than Joes, but the bar has the same feel to it. And of course, there are Joes everywhere waiting tables and manning the bar, making your skin crawl when you remember them shooting you. Anathema promised they’d act as a human shield if need be, but you know it could get ugly if Joes figure who you are. Their Invulnerability can’t protect you from a dozen attackers.

The two of you make your way to the table without causing much more than a glance at the colorful masks, and Themmy orders some fries.

“She should be here in a few minutes. ---------

You give them a single nod, looking for all the exits and scanning to see who might be a treat, as you wait.

“There’s Goodman!” Anathema announces after a few minutes pass, their mask looking at the woman by the door, also wearing a horse-head mask, this one brown, heading for your table. “Wow. Nice detail with the masks.”

“I knew it would make us easier to identify each other.” You scan at her mind directly now, quickly realizing that the core of her thoughts is protected. Familiar… you’ve definitely felt this woman’s mind before, and…

No, you have to be wrong… She can’t be… Is she…? (!!!!) “She’s Husk,” you whisper as the false Linda Goodman approaches “WHAT?” Anathema gasps.

“I’m telling you that’s not Linda Goodman. It’s Husk taking her shape, I know that mind! What do we do?” “Oh shit! Shit shit shit….” Themmy lets out. “Alright… we have to arrest her then? We need to capture her first.” they ponder, as Husk takes a seat in front of you. “Good evening gentleme…-.” Husk’s words are cut off by the electric blast making them twitch and fall back limp on the chair. “Done!” you tell Anathema, making sure anyone looking dismisses the sudden movement. “… the fuck?” Themmy asks, confused, looking between the twitching Linda Goodman and the smoking energy gun in your hand, still pointing at her under the tablecloth. There’s a trick to shooting someone before they notice, a trick the farm taught you well. “What did you do?”

“You told me to capture her?”

“I didn’t mean here you moron! How are we going to arrest her in a villain bar!” their whispering gets louder and louder.

“I don’t know!” you whisper back, cursing yourself for being an idiot. “I’m sorry!” “Alright... Alright. Let’s... Let’s pretend she’s drunk or something..? And walk out with her and make the arrest outside.”

“Drunk? But she just got here?” you point out

“Got any better ideas?”

“No”

“Then help!”

“Alright… I’ll just try to make people not look at us.” Themmy starts standing up, grasping for Linda…? No, Husks hand… And against all odds, she breaks free, springing to life like a viper and running for the door, faster than any human should be able to.

“After her!” Anathema hisses hiss, jumping over the fallen chair, you following closely behind, gun in hand as you topple a Joes over, the one that was bringing your fries to the ground.

All you can think about is how your handlers would NOT be amused about this fuckup of yours. —------------------------------

“You guys said this was going to be subtle!” Sunstream complains through her intercom.

“You’re doing fine. We support you!” Charge encourages on her earphones quickly enough.

“That’s not what I’m talking about!” Sunstream lets out an irritated grunt as she lands on the other side of the fence.

“Hey, you volunteered, miss!” Sentinel argues. “You’re the one who said we should draw sticks, and that we never let you get your hands dirty with stealth missions.”

“Yes, but I didn’t know I was going to be breaking and entering!”

“Don’t break anything then?” Steel suggests, mildly amused.

“I hate all of you so much.” She grumbles, making her way through the bushes to the vicinity of the front door.

“You are approaching the cameras” Sentinel points out. “It’s time to do your thing.”

“Alright, I’m going bright. Look away” she replied.

Sentinel lowered his dark goggles, and even that was barely enough to cover from the incoming flash, even behind the van’s tinted glass.

“Shit, that’s bright.”

“Told ya. No way the cameras will pick anything but white while I pick the lock.

“Well remind me to wear sunscreen next time,” Sentinel said, rubbing his eyes.

The flash died down and disappeared as the door closed again.

“I’m in,” she replied. “Please tell me Goodman isn’t coming back home.”

“Steel?” Sentinel asked.

“Still driving her Pontiac, heading downtown. I’m following at a distance… there are no signs of her turning back.”

“Good.”

“If anything happens, I’ll cut the power and come get you out,” Charge said, from his hiding spot, covering the back doo. near the fuse box.

“Thanks, mom, but I can handle myself,” she replied as sarcastic as she could deliver, taking a few steps forward into the unfamiliar living room.

“Focus. If this person is involved with Husk, then she’s a menace and it could get dangerous fast.”

“If she drives a Pontiac even with all of those native-American protests going that already makes her a menace, right?” “What do you see?” Sentinel asked, rubbing his temples behind the van’s monitors, ignoring her comment.

The question would go unanswered for several tense minutes.

“Sunny?”

“I hate to disappoint, but I don’t see piles of corpses or living husks hooked to the ceiling like you said there would be, Marshal Sparkles.”

“Husk wouldn’t be so obvious in the middle of a residential area. This isn’t a sewage tunnel like last time,” Sentinel spoke, suddenly wishing he hadn’t, the revolting memories come back to his mind.

“This woman is classy. Wish my apartment looked half this good.”

“Focus,” Sentinel repeated.

“I am focused! Moving to the corridor… aaaand…”

“…”

“...and?” Charge asks, again the impatient one.

“And her bathroom has a bidet. I’m telling you guys, this is really upper-crust!”

Sentinel resisted the urge to curse at these kids as Charge laughed heartily on the other end.

“She’s stopping her car by a bar… she came out, and now… she’s looking for something in her trunk?” Steel pointed out

“Just a random bar?” Charge asked.

“It’s called Joels.”

“What kind of name is Joels?”

“I’m not going in to find out”

“The kitchen is nice too. I’m headed into the bedrooms.”

“I think there’s something fishy in that bar…”

“Keep the channel silent for Sunny and Steel, would you?” Sentinel interjected. “Sorry.” Charge said. “You can take your time, she’s not returning soon.” Steel said. “Left her car around the corner… I’ll park closer to the front door to see when she comes out.”

“Alright, bedroom number one is… very weird.” Sunstream continued.

“Weird how?” Sentinel asked.

“Many posters… and there are CDs everywhere. She must be a real fan of the Blue Guys Group!.”

“The band?” Charge asked, confused

“Yeah, and these tattoo designs are just sick good…”

“When I said take your time, I didn’t mean check out her music!” Steel interrupted.

“Alright, alright! I’m moving to the next room.”

“Thank you.”

“Geez, I’m just looking for clues here…”

“We can discuss what bands Linda Goodman likes later.”

“Whatever, it’s not like you guys appreciate a…” She interrupted herself abruptly, letting out a sudden yelp.

“Are you ok?” Sentinel asked. “Come in Sunny!!!” “That’s it, I’m going in” Charge let out after a couple of seconds passed, standing up and opening the fuse-box, ready to fry the circuit.

“No, wait. I’m fine” Sunstream voiced from her end

“Shit don’t scare us like that!” Charge complained.

“What did you find?”

“Steel… are you 100% sure you’re following Linda Goodman?” Sunstream asked.

“Positive. It’s definitely her, I even took pictures of her going into the bar.”

“Thing is… I’m standing right next to Linda Goodman as well.”

They all went silent, as the thing they were all fearing became a reality.

“Describe her for us,” Sentinel asked calmly.

“She’s in pretty bad shape… drained I don’t know what’s wrong with her…There are bruises everywhere, I think she’s unconscious…? She’s attached to a machine, I think it’s a respirator?”

“This confirms it. It’s what Husk does. They’re a shapechanger but they can’t take someone’s appearance without constant access to the base DNA. If she’s hooked to medical machines then there’s no telling how long Husk has been replacing her for…” Sentinel pondered

“Don’t touch anything!” Charge warned

“Uh...oh.”

“What do you mean ‘oh’ ?” the Marshal asked

“I tried to see if she was awake… and I think I… triggered something?”

“Something like what?”

“An alarm…?”

“Get Goodman and come out of there right now!” Sentinel spoke in an urgent tone.

“Gotcha!” Sunstream huffed, seconds before as a large explosion shook the house, quickly putting the whole building in flames.

—

“Mierda!!!!” Charge let out a frustrated cry, taking a few steps back from the heat coming from the house. “Mierda, this is my fault! it, I’m coming in, I'm getting Sunny out!!”

But a blast blew up the back door before he could, Suntream jumping out of the raging inferno, carrying the unconscious woman past a shocked Charge.

“SHIT! ... I fucked up!” She yelled, still shielding Goodman with her body as she moved her away.

“She’s alive!” said Charge feeling her pulse. “Sentinel, call an ambulance”

“Already did Marshal”.

“I shouldn't have…”

“Stop it. You didn’t fuck it up, Sunny you just saved this woman. "I did?" "Definitely did... mierda that was a close call, are you alri...-? Eh... you never told us you were fireproof?" “I… didn’t know?” Sunstream said looking at herself, only now realizing she didn’t even have a scratch on her.

“Well, now you know and it's perfect! Now stay with her until the ambulance arrives, I’m going for my motorbike.”

“Alright, I’ll do it!” she said, slapping her own cheeks, trying to get herself back in the game.

“Suspect is coming out of the bar! On the run!”

“That’s definitely Husk and we tipped them off!.”

“I’ll be there in a second Steel!” Sentinel said, walking out of the van to take off “Just don’t lose that bastard.”

“I’m going to cut them on foot, stand between them and the car” “Don’t let them get away guys!” Sunstream said while holding the real Linda Goodman in her arms. “... what the…” Steel grunted, confused “There’s a crazy guy in a horse mask chasing Husk with an energy gun… wait no! Two crazies in horse masks!” “Say again?” “Husk just stole a motorbike! I’m getting back to my car!” --------------------- My Fanfiction: https://chaniters.tumblr.com/post/181692759294/my-fanfiction-for-fallen-hero DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and the setting of the Fallen Hero: Rebirth and upcoming Fallen Hero: Retribution games written by Malin Riden. I do not claim ownership of any characters from the Fallen Hero world. These stories are a work of my imagination, and I do not ascribe them to the official story canon. These works are intended for entertainment outside the official storyline owned by the author. I am not profiting financially from the creation of these stories, and thank the author for his wonderful game/s, without which these works would not exist.

#fallen hero rebirth #fallen hero retribution #fallen hero spoilers #Sunstream #Anathema #Charge #Steel #Sentinel #Sidestep #Villain OC HUSK #Fanfiction #Fallen Hero Fanfiction

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chaniters · 1 year

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Keeping the lights on

Cyrus decides to stay where his friends are, come what may --------------

Alone and surrounded by machinery is one of the most calming setups you could ask to spend your time in. The basement level has plenty of unused space, mostly storage units and vaults, one of them which Steel has made abundantly clear that you’re to steer clear of. Easy enough, you’re not here to steal their captured villain doomsday devices, just to assemble the generator and bring the lights back on. It’s been quiet too. You suggested you could work faster if you stayed the nights here, and nobody seemed to object. It’s been three days since then. Pretty safe ones too without the cameras or power, just candles, flashlights, and emergency lights when they can get the emergency fuel generators running. Not a place the Special Directive might be looking in.

Still, the stay is about to be cut short, mainly because you’re done.

The generator’s display shows all systems are in order and you’ve done a triple checkup of the control of the fiery plasma inside the reactor’s tokamak. It always amazed you how these devices don’t come pre-programmed and have to be trained from scratch each time one is put online, so they can learn how to control the plasma configuration. It’s not like the computer has any kind of intelligence beyond its assigned duty, but you can’t help but feel a kinship for it. Would it have been easier if your mind hadn’t been designed to do anything other than follow orders?

“Evening there!” The voice comes from the stairs, pulling you away from the thoughts you had allowed yourself to submerge in once more. It’s Anathema, one of your new friends.

“Good evening, Themmie. Hadn’t seen you in a while.”

“Been patrolling the streets. Showing our presence, you know. Making sure they see we’re not ‘done’ like PharmaCore and Carter and all those political idiots want.” “And now you’re back. Did Charge send you to check up on me?” “Whaaat, can’t I just come to visit you while you’re trying to help us?”

“I’m pretty sure that he did send you.”

“Fine, read my mind all you want, be that way, it’s totally not creepy at all.” Themmie rolls his eyes. “I wasn’t reading your mind. Much. Was I right?” “Yeah, he did send me. But I still wanted to say hi anyways”.

“Thanks” you smile back at him. “Hi to you too.” “So now that it’s out of the way, please tell me that you’re done and we’re getting lights again? Can we turn the fridge back on? I really miss having cold drinks!”

“I’m done. Was about to pull the switch.”

“You're joking. It's real? You're not shitting me?”

“I promise it's real.”

“Wow this is … it’s huge! I’ll go tell Charge and Steel and then we can all…”

*CLICK* goes the button as you press it, and the generator immediately starts humming

And powering up… and the ceiling lights through the basement slowly start flickering and turning on, pushing back the shadows and placing you both in a perfectly lit environment.

“Awww man! You should have waited a moment until I called everyone!”

“Why? I was here to turn on the lights and I did.”

Themmie sighs. “You know what’s your problem? No showmanship! It’s not about turning on the lights, it’s about presentation!”

“What more presentation do you want? There were no lights, now there are lights on!” you protest.

Footsteps on the stairs make you both lift your gaze.

“I can’t believe it. You actually did it?!” Steel asks amazed as he comes down. “I did” you nod, letting him appreciate the assembled generator. “It’s an old model but every piece was here and most of the assembly was done before they packaged it. “It wasn’t that hard”

“You turned on a nuclear generator and you’re telling me it’s not hard?” Steel’s gaze goes from the machine to you. “I’m starting to wonder what school did you go to?” “I went to the UNYB.” “Where’s that?” “Leave it Chen.” Anathema laughs “That stands for University of None of Your Business, I already asked him the other day” Steel frowns, but Sunstream cuts him off by coming down the stairs.

“About time! I don’t like being on official Lamp duty all day long!” Sunstream follows, turning off her glowing light now that the lightbulbs are back. “Pitty, I was getting a good tan finally” Themmie replies, stealing a half-smile from her.

The elevator doors open with a ding, and Ortega comes out on his wheelchair.

“YES!” It’s working again! I knew you could do it!”

Normally you’d try to weasel out of a hug but you’re cornered by rangers and the machine you just assembled, so Ricardo gets a good hold on you, squeezing you in his arms once more.

“I told you I could do it.” You reply, trying not to make a fuzz of it, only now realizing that they probably are going to make one. “ It was preassembled in the boxes, it wasn’t that hard really, I’m serious”.

“Stop being so humble already!” Anathema slaps your back. “You did an awesome job here!”

“Yes you did!” Ricardo adds, followed by Sunstream and even Steel acknowledges you did more than what he expected.

It’s weird to be getting this much praise for your engineering skills. Back at the farm your work was either satisfactory or it was not and that was that. Praise like this was something that was reserved for your commitment to training or actions in combat simulations or the psy-training exercises. Weird but not uncomfortable?

Perhaps you could do some more work like this if they’d let you? It certainly feels nice to be useful.

“Thank you. I’m glad I could be of help” you say trying your best to not look anyone in the eyes. “You should be able to start recharging your inner generator as soon as I plug the interface into the new grid, Charge”

“That’s the news I was waiting for! Steel, would you please let everyone know we’re fully back in business!”

“Right away Marshal!” he smiles as he walks up the stairs.

“To the elevator my friend,” Ricardo says giving you a wink. “I need some high voltage right now!”

“Right away!” you chuckle, following him as he turns the chair around.

It only downs on you after he pushes the floor’s button… With the generator’s back up, where are you going to stay tonight? Your plans were to leave Los Diablos for good, yet you threw them away the moment it seemed you were needed.

You decided to stay to help your friends out of this mess, even after all you learned from that other poor regene. Ortega smiles at you as he pushes the chair onward, and you can’t help but follow, smiling back.

It’s pretty obvious now. You’re not leaving because your friends are here.

It’s not a smart choice. Will it come back to haunt you later on?

Perhaps, but that’s a problem for future you to deal with.

--------------------- My Fanfiction: https://chaniters.tumblr.com/post/181692759294/my-fanfiction-for-fallen-hero DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and the setting of the Fallen Hero: Rebirth and upcoming Fallen Hero: Retribution games written by Malin Riden. I do not claim ownership of any characters from the Fallen Hero world. These stories are a work of my imagination, and I do not ascribe them to the official story canon. These works are intended for entertainment outside the official storyline owned by the author. I am not profiting financially from the creation of these stories, and thank the author for his wonderful game/s, without which these works would not exist.

#Fallen hero fanfiction #fallen hero rebirth #Fallen hero retribution #Fanfiction #Steel #Sidestep #Charge #Anathema #Sunstream #fallen hero spoilers

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chaniters · 1 year

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To serve Humanity

After some badly needed self-discovery, Cyrus is determined to deprogram himself for good and stop being a mere servant to the humans. Having decided to abandon the city, Cyrus heads on to the Rangers HQ to say goodbye to his friends and start taking care of number one first. -------------------

“Well this is it then, the last paycheck,” Milos says handing over an envelope. “Sad to see you go, Cyrus, you’re the most efficient employee I’ve had taking care of this place”

“You’ll find someone soon” you assure him while simultaneously erasing your name and any remembrance he has of you living in the basement of the arcade for good.

You don’t approach for a hug, so he opts for a weird handshake instead.

“Well, good luck to you eh… good luck man!” he adds quickly, embarrassed that he suddenly doesn’t know what to call you.

“And you too Milos” you shake firmly, turning to be on your way.

It’s finally cold enough that your layers don’t feel odd as you hit the streets, almost as if the city doesn’t want you to go, offering clear skies and soft winds for once.

“Too late Los Diablos, nothing you say is gonna make me stay this time” you whisper back to the wind before putting some chewing gum in your mouth.

Your mind is set this time. Too much going on, Special Directive might still be on the prowl after the Husk mess and you need time to figure your shit out. What’s more, Sidestep was becoming famous enough that the media noticed his absence these last weeks. Five stories in three different newspapers, you counted them well. You know there will be more stories if he reappears, leading to more questions.

Talking to Anathema gave you some perspective, sometimes people need time to figure things out and that’s what you did, the conclusions becoming obvious after a short while.

No two ways around it, staying is getting caught, working with the rangers is dangerous, and being a hero is just another symptom of your programming. Always seeking a way to serve the humans, like the good regene slave they made of you. Even trying to paint was just another sign that you starve for approval, even coming from absolute strangers.

“Fuck that,” you whisper again, tossing the gum wrapper on the streets.

Let some human idiot clean your litter for a change.

Only one thing left to do, something you tried to talk yourself out of.

Returning the suit.

You should just walk away and never be heard from again.

There are bus tickets for the furthest towns to the south in your pocket. The wastelands on the border to Mexico are harsh, but you know you have the skills to find your way out of the country if you set your mind to it.

But you can’t do that.

Leaving without saying goodbye just stings like something that you’ll regret even worse. You have to at least let them know first, even if it’s awful It’s a practical choice too. If you formally quit, then people will stop wondering about Sidestep, he’ll soon fade away and be another retired sidekick nobody talks about anymore. If you disappeared for good? That wouldn’t do, it’d call too much attention, you know how Ortega was looking for you when you didn’t show up last time.

Will he be mad that you’ve been avoiding them this last month?

You don’t know, but you’ll be finding out soon enough. It was nice to have a friend like him, but now it’s time to cut the loses and admit there’s no win to be had in Los Diablos for you. Perhaps you can make this short visit and be done with it.

……………………………..

The back entrance you’ve been using lately was quiet. Quiet and dark, since the light switch didn’t work.

You made your way through a pitch-dark corridor, wondering if everyone had taken a day off.

“Steel?” you ask, incredulous to see the man, clad in his armor, manning the reception desk at the HQ, red emergency lights keeping the place from absolute darkness.

“Eh?” he replies, startled, trying to discern who you are under the dim lighting.

An emergency flashlight turns online on his suit, blinding you without warning.

Even then, it takes a moment for him to recognize you under the dim lighting.

“Sidestep. So you finally decided to show your face again” he says, raising his gaze from his cellphone. “We’re closed in case you didn’t know. Emergencies only.”

“What’s going on in here? Where’s the staff?”

“Power’s out,” he says, gaze falling back onto the phone’s screen. “Staff’s been sent home.”

“Want to fill me in on what’s going on?”

“Not particularly. And don’t you dare sneak into my mind.”

“... Cute. I see you got that promotion to working reception finally.”

“Yeah, I’m doing that because we’re understaffed and no one else will. Got a problem with that?”

“No, I just…”

“Or perhaps you came to join the rangers finally as the Marshal wanted? You wouldn’t be my first pick for the team but if you really want to help I’m all for switching it up kid. Interested?”

“Not in a million years” you scoff. “Just need to talk to Charge.”

“Fine. I’ll announce you, take a seat somewhere” he struggles to type some characters on his phone. “

You decide to stand instead, staring at him for a few minutes as he continues to fiddle with the phone, struggling to type correctly. His modded hands aren’t smooth enough to handle the device.

“I could help with the…”

“Keep your hands off my phone. I can handle this!” he cuts you off, annoyed.

“No, I mean I could just do the…” you tap your forehead once “... thing”.

“Absolutely not!” He grumbles, of course, he doesn’t want you telepathing around the HQ. Too dangerous that you’d steal someone’s thoughts apparently. “There. It’s done.”

“Cool down. I get it. You don’t like me”

“No, I don’t”

“Then you won’t have to deal with me much longer I guess” you ponder.

Giving him the suit would do the trick, and you wouldn’t have to explain much.

Besides, it’s clear they are busy with some catastrophe anyways, so perhaps it’s best if you just…

“No, I said I can’t do it. You’ll have to find someone else!”

“But there is no one else! And you said you could do it!” a familiar voice protests in the distance.

You turn in their direction to see a middle-aged man in overalls walk towards the exit carrying a large toolbox, followed by Ricardo with… on a wheelchair?

“Charge?” you ask, incredulous. “What’s going on, are you ok?”

Well, that’s new. The terrified look he gives you.

Boy if Steel truly announced you then he did not check his messages because he did not expect you to be standing there, and he did not want you to see him in the chair.

The man sees the opening and continues for the exit at a double pace, stops by the door, and turns, giving Ortega an apologetic look.

“Sorry Marshal, but the moment I got in here I started getting texts from every major business in town saying they’ll blacklist me if I do this. I’ve got kids you know?”

“Pinche cabrón cobarde! We save your life not once but TWICE, remember? And now that we need a favor and you let us hanging to dry under the sun, is that how it is?”

The words certainly hurt and the man looks more and more embarrassed… but he still walks away without looking back.

“Otro traidor y otra vez me lleva la chingada!” He curses, rubbing his temples. “Hello Sidestep.” he says finally.

“Hi. You’re also not going to tell me what’s going on?”

“We are having a little issue with the electrical company. It’ll be solved momentarily.”

“Issue? What issue? You didn’t pay?” you ask, confused

“They cut our powerlines” Steel comments from behind the counter, finally volunteering the truth. “Said they’re not going to provide for us anymore.”

“What? Why?”

“That’s not…”

“...because someone in here, against EVERYONE’S ADVICE, decided he had to have a thing with the treasurer’s daughter.”

“You mean Riley?”

“Bingo! That’s the one!”

“This isn’t my fault! I broke up with her months ago, remember?” Ortega spouts angrily, turning his wheelchair to face Steel. “And now we’re paying the price because you couldn’t keep it in your pants!” Steel accuses, furious for once at someone that’s not you.

“How could I know she’d do this?!”

“Because I told you it was a bad idea! Everyone told you but you NEVER listen!”

“Ehr… why Is Riley doing this again?”

Ortega looks up to the sky, going blank before answering, clearly exhausted.

“She blames us for what happened to her friend Linda. Says if we had caught Husk sooner she wouldn’t have been pretending to be her for months.”

“But how could you…”

“Doesn’t matter” Steel interjects. “Every time he opens his big mouth she gets angrier. So far she had PharmaCore use its influence with the electrical company, the water company, the staff got threats of being blacklisted if they didn’t leave and we lost our sponsors.”

“Can she do that?”

“You see anyone stopping her? Her dad backed her up. They want to run us out of town.”

“It won’t work. We’ll figure this out like we always do” Ortega says, likely trying to convince himself.

“We’re sitting ducks. You can’t even get your battery recharged without the adaptors here.”

“Voy a parar el pinche crimen en esta ciudad desde esta silla chingada si hace falta! A mi nadie me va a parar!”

“Yeah, get mad, because that’s really useful. That’ll solve everything” Steel eye rolls.

“It would have been solved if that pendejo traidor had done his part!” Ortega points at the door.

“How was he going to help?” you ask trying to figure things out.

“He was going to assemble the generator in our basement. The building received its own Cold Fusion generator a decade ago but it was never used. Hood had the building hooked to the city powerlines instead back in the day.” Charge explains.

“And now there’s no one to do it. Riley got word of it and threatens to blacklist every fusion engineer that could do the job.”

“I could do it. If all the pieces are really there, that is.”

They both stare at you.

“What did you just say?” Steel asks.

“Technically I don’t have a degree” you confess “But I’ve done maintenance on fusion generators before. Assembled a fair share of them myself too. Especially the older models.”

“Right… you… you did know a lot about plasma when we first met now that I recall? Even schooled Psychopathor on his own plasma rifle too.”

“You’re not seriously considering letting an unlicensed civilian manipulate a…” Steel starts.

“Follow me, right this way!” Ortega turns his wheelchair, propelling himself to the nearby corridor, a flashlight illuminating the way. You’re quick to follow.

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” Steel jumps over the counter chasing both of you.

You smile, walking faster to follow Ortega on wheels, daring Steel to catch up.

There’s a nagging feeling that you’re forgetting something as you head onwards to examine this generator they speak off.

#Fanfiction #fallen hero rebirth #Fallen Hero Retirbution #Fallen Hero spoilers #Sidestep #Ortega #Steel

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chaniters · 1 year

Text

Running out of lies

Found by Anathema, Cyrus has to face reality again, and it hurts. -----------------

“Leave me alone!” The words are hushed coming out of your mouth as you try to repack all of your supplies.

“Not until I get some answers”

“You’re drawing attention” you protest because there already are some looks turning your way.

“Then calm down if that’s what bothers you. Also, let me carry that,” They say, taking hold of the easel you rescued from the garbage.

“I don’t need help”

“You’re limping, I have eyes”

You choose silence because you’re not in the mood to explain how you got grazed by a bullet on a sewer, saying nothing more as they walk with you for the next blocks heading towards the bus stop that is your only escape route.

They don’t share in the silence.

“Out with it. What happened?”

“There we go again.”

“I’m not gonna stop”

“Told you, I don’t want to talk about it” you reply almost immediately. -------------

“Dr. Elderidge got her PharmaCore research back in an envelope under her door the day you banished. That’s the only clue I had that you were alive and I couldn’t tell the others. Do you realize they’re still looking for you? How worried they are?”

“Well, now you found me so they can stop. Besides, there’s no reason to be worried, not like I’m part of the team anyways. I’m just a nobody.”

“You’re not some nobody! What the fuck man?”

“I don’t need your help, or your concern, or whatever you’re trying to do! I’m gonna be an artist now, don’t you see??!” you make a point to tap the easel he’s carrying. “I just sell the shit I do and buy stuff with it. Like everyone else does”

That gives them some pause. Enough for you to snatch the easel from them and start walking away. Not that it stops them from following after the initial shock.

“You’re going to quit?! Why?”

“None of your business. The only reason I haven’t returned the suit is that I’m trying to wash it myself. Once I get the sewer stench from it, I’ll return i’ll mail it to your HQ”

“What happened down there?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Would it kill you to just talk to me? You’re not making sense, you did everything you could to be a hero and now you’re throwing it all away? There has to be a reason… and what’s up with that scarf? It’s a million degrees out here!”

“Leave the scarf alon-...”

But their hands are already grabbing for it.

It’s not like the move’s not telegraphed in your mind, but you have your hands full and you’re not fast enough to avoid them as they snatch it off your neck.

“This thing is … Fuck! Cyrus what happened?!”

“Please put that back on?” you beg. “I didn’t want anyone to see.”

They just stand there holding the scarf, staring at them—clear-as-day bruises and marks on your throat, where Husk tried to strangle you. Thankfully then the scarf goes back on, gently, their hands treating you as if you were suddenly made of glass.

“Thank you.”

They give you an evaluating look, their mind quickly putting together the pieces of the puzzle. You avoid the prying eyes and take off, but again you are followed.

“The fuck… Are you ok?”

“Course I am. It’s nothing.” You try to dismiss the marks they saw, but their mind clenches around them, far too tight for the kind of telepathy you’re capable of in this state.

Shit.

“What did Husk do to you?…” you can feel the anger mounting on them, directed at whoever did this to you.

“I don’t want to talk about that!” you yell, far louder than you intended.

“... then why are you tearing up?”

SHITSHITSHIT

“I’m not! Stop asking questions! You’re seeing things. I’m fine. Never been better! Now go away!”

You add suggestions to your words, but your current telepathy would fail the most basic examinations back at the farm. Sloppy, emotional, obvious lies won’t cut it against someone so determined.

They sigh in frustration, following you, trying to understand. Not something you can help them with. Tears? Since when are you so fucking weak?

You’re not supposed to cry, least of all with other people around.

“Stop running!”

“I’m not running!” You lie.

What else can you do?

Husk just wanted to kill you. They never meant to shatter your vision of the world. No, you’re the one who did it all by yourself, getting into their mind uninvited.

How do you explain that now you know things you wish you didn’t and nothing makes sense? Like how you still feel serving the goals of the Special Directive is the “right” thing to do, but you can’t deny knowing how vile it truly is?

Husk opened your eyes to the horrors humans are capable of and there is no closing that door now.

“Does the painting gig help?” Themmie asks understanding too much without even knowing you.

“Why do you care?” you ask bitterly because it’s too true.

“Because you almost die trying to help me and Ferra, you idiot!” they say, hand on your shoulder, looking into your eyes. “It’s my fault. I know what Husk does to people!” Again you look away, unable to hold their gaze, just as you don’t understand the emotions inside their mind right now.

Guilt? Remorse?

Humans are too darn complicated, and you don’t know why but Themmie feeling bad because of your last telepathic screwup with Husk just feels wrong.

“Hey, I’m telling you…It’s nothing. I mean… I get the files or not? That’s all that matters. I swear I’m fine. I mean.. I’ll be fine.” you try to reassure them.

And again you fail. The gesture makes them feel even worse.

You’re the one hurt, they should be the ones trying to make you feel better, not the other way around. That’s how Themmie sees it at least.

It’s painful… how they think this is all their fault. Blaming it all on himself just as…

Just as you do.

“Sides, I swear I’m going to hunt that Husk down, and when I find them…”

“No! Husk’s not going to bother anyone else ever again!” you spit out, wishing you had bit your tongue immediately afterward.

“What?”

Shit. You hate being this weak.

Themmie’s concern is wearing you down, but would it be so bad to say something?

“... fine. Alright, Fuck it. I’ll tell you what happened. Some of it at least”

“Let’s keep walking while we talk. That helps sometimes,” they say, knowing you more than they should once again.

The traffic light changes and you cross, thinking about how to start.

Should you lie?

But what kind of lie would that be? You don’t even know which way it should point.

No, no lies. Just the truth, at least what you can give them.

“It’s simple. I thought I could go and fight Husk alone, and they were getting away while you were busy with the police and Carter”

“We told you how dangerous they are!”

“You think I don’t know that now?!” Your voice grows louder than you wished for.

“Sorry! I shouldn’t interrupt you. Go on please”

“If you let me” you grumble, annoyed. “We fought. They mopped the floor with me and that’s all I’m going to say about it.”

“That’s fine. That’s totally fine. You don’t need to go into details.”

“You saw some of the details.” you rub the scarf around your throat. “Promise me you won’t tell”

“I promise I won’t.” And it’s not a lie. Not one you can feel.

“Thanks. Things got uh… less than ideal… and uh… some people showed up.”

“People? What people?”

“Other people. People Husk pissed off” You can’t tell them it’s the special directive because no one is supposed to know that. Looks like once again you’re helping them hide their secrets. “So they were distracted and I took the chance to get the hell out of there”

“And then…?”

“There were gunshots. I lost track of Husk’s mind after that.”

“Dead?”

“They were definitely not firing blanks” you bite your lip. “I started running and I got lost in the tunnels… It was hard to breathe, it was dark, It smelled like shit… and I couldn’t see where I was going, and … and… and…”

And Husk’s memories took too darn long to banish. You can never retain anything, but of all things, this shit got stuck in your brain. Everything they ever told you became a lie, and you wanted to forget.

The words die and you cover your face. You don’t want Themmie to see you tearing up again

But they step forward, wrapping their arms around you in one big hug.

“It’s ok. You’re ok now. It’s over”

You can’t remember ever feeling this weak and useless in your life. Regenes are not made for this. Definitely malfunctioning. Not supposed to be crying on someone else’s shoulder.

It can’t be real. It can’t be happening to you. You want to push them away and break free, show them it’s nothing at all. But you can’t fucking stop crying anymore. Mourning the lies you told yourself. That they always knew better. That they had a great plan for all of you. That you had a purpose.

The lies that kept your world glued together, even after you escaped.

“It’s going to be alright. I’m here for you,” They say.

How could it be alright, when everything is falling apart?

#fallen hero rebirth #fallen hero retribution #fallen hero fanfic #My fanfiction #Anathema #Sidestep #fanfiction #fallen hero spoilers

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