Project S.T.A.T.I.C. Part 4: Worlds Apart

Courtney awoke the following morning feeling more refreshed than she had in a long time. For the first time since witnessing Beth's transformation and Jake's subsequent turn, she had a dreamless sleep. She stood up and stretched before heading to the kitchen to make some coffee. Pam was already there and pouring herself a drink. “Good morning,” Pam greeted her, “I trust you slept well.”

“Better than I have in months,” Courtney said with a small smile, “Thank you for that.”

“It's nothing, I assure you,” Pam said, stirring her cup and taking a sip, “Ugh, I see in this universe Jake still doesn't have good taste in tea.”

“No, neither of us were big on tea,” Courtney chuckled, “So, I've gotta ask. What did you do to me last night?”

Pam frowned for a moment before explaining, “I took your more painful memories for a night. It's something I used to do for Beth when we first came together. She suffered from night terrors back then. Her dreams were filled with her final moments in her fight with Rebecca, horrendous outcomes, and various illusions that she endured. I took on her pain night after night so she could sleep soundly. I lived through her nightmares so that she could have a bit of peace.”

“You mean you-” Courtney started.

“I walked through your memories, yes,” Pam cut her off, “It isn't pleasant, but it's a small price to pay. Beth helped to remind me that it's okay to sacrifice for good people.”

“I still can't believe you and her wound up together in your universe,” Courtney said, making herself a cup of coffee, “She always had a thing for Jake. They dated off and on, but they never worked out. I never would have pictured her ending up with another woman, let alone one that worshiped Goth.”

Pam smiled, “She was adamant that she was straight when she came into my care. Months of care and time can change things, though. I believe she didn't know what she wanted until we came together outside of wanting someone to care about her. Now I'll admit, her stubbornness can be difficult. I can see why she and Jake didn't work out. Deep down, she's as much of a submissive as Jake. She has the potential to be dominant, but there's a part of her that needs someone to care for and nurture her.”

“You don't immediately come off as the nurturing type,” Courtney remarked, grabbing her binoculars from her utility belt, “No offense, but you seem stiff and rigid at first glance. Your background and history with Goth doesn't help that perception either.”

“I followed Rebecca because she gave me a chance and hope when I had neither,” Pam explained, “She found me when I was little more than an urchin fighting to scam and survive. She saw potential in me that I didn't know was there, and she gave me the means to escape a life of weakness and poverty. Her teachings came at a cost, of course, but I managed to retain my humanity. It's because of that fact that I was able to connect with Beth. I still remember our night at this very cabin. Her brutality was relentless, and she managed to dull my senses to the point where I couldn't use my powers. My empathic abilities were still present, though, and I focused them on her while she tortured me. Between the abuse and the beatings, I could feel all of her regret, pain, and misery buried beneath mountains of rage. In my final moments, I was filled with this unexplainable need and desire to take that from her.”

“She killed you?” Courtney asked in disbelief.

“She did, but death is not always the end in the world of magic,” Pam explained, “It was because of Beth's failure to defeat Rebecca that I was given a chance to live again. I made her an offer to keep her safe, have some degree of freedom, and in return she would be mine. As time passed, she grew to trust me and I grew more fond of her. Playing with a straight girl has always been fun, but I never expected that I'd actually fall for her. Fate had other plans, though, it seems.”

“This whole thing is still so wild,” Courtney shook her head, “The fact that there are other universes out there alone is enough to make my head spin, but tossing magic in the mix is insane.”

“I wish I could say this is the strangest thing I've seen and dealt with, but over the last year I've experienced more craziness than I ever thought possible,” Pam sighed, “Fighting the woman I love is certainly in the top three, but a demonic invasion of our world and aligning ourselves with a demon queen to vanquish my former mentor are still at the top of my list.”

“Shit, you guys have been through the wringer,” Courtney said, “Jake and Beth dealt with some wild and crazy baddies in our world, but nothing on that level.”

“Our city never fell, though,” Pam pointed out, “Especially not to the likes of its saviors. I'd say that you've been through quite a bit as well. Speaking of, I think we need to plan out our attack.”

“Right, back to business,” Courtney said, her tone turning serious again, “Okay, so you said you can get us close to that warehouse but not inside it. I can pull up the blueprints for it and find a way inside that might not draw the attention of Beth's legion of undead. The problem, as I mentioned, is that she's going to be looking for you. She already wants me dead, but you struck a nerve with her.”

“We are connected across times,” Pam sighed.

“That's one way to look at it, but I'd say it's more likely she's pissed that you know as much about her as you do,” Courtney pointed out, “Not trying to shoot down your romantic idea, but this Beth isn't the same one you know. She's unhinged, dangerous, psychotic, and more malicious than any of the major criminals we've seen.”

“You said she killed Goth, Footgirl, and others,” Pam said.

“Kaitlyn the Conqueror, Megabutt, Multigirl, Hippogirl, The Cougar, basically anyone that ever slighted her or could have been a threat,” Courtney nodded, “She's the greatest threat Metropolis has ever faced. All of Jake's tools are at her disposal, and the entire city is under her control.”

Pam frowned at this, “If she has all of this then how have you managed to evade her this long? I've seen what access Jake has in the Birdcage. Furthermore, how have you been accessing Jake's files without Beth's knowledge?”

“Up until now I've been more of a nuisance than a threat to her,” Courtney replied and smirked, “She's good, but I know more than one backdoor and way around. Jake taught me more than just how to fight. One of the last things he'd made before…before he died was a VPN that scrambles the IP address every few minutes. He gave me the prototype of it, and it's made it next to impossible for Beth to track me. She knows that I'm pulling files, but she can't see it until I'm out of the system.”

“I'm going to pretend that I understand all of that and trust you,” Pam said, “My tech skills aren't as archaic as Rebecca's, but I've never been as big a techie as Jake or Beth.”

“You keep saying that name,” Courtney said, walking back to the living room to grab her laptop, “Am I right to assume you're talking about Goth?”

“Yes,” Pam said, “You and the others of this universe, except perhaps Jake, knew her as the Goth Goddess. She believed herself to be that, but it was because of a singular motivation of passion and a demonic influence from a long forgotten Hell queen named Lilith. Beneath all of that was a mortal woman far removed from time, but not unlike you and I. It was rare to see her humanity, but I was one of the few that got to see it. The woman behind the mask of divinity was my friend, my mentor, but she paid the price for her sins in my world. Goth became my enemy, but Rebecca was always my friend. Her life was just as tragic as her origins, but under it all was simply a frightened lovestruck young woman possessed by a cruel and sadistic demon.”

“There's always a story behind the monsters we see,” Courtney solemnly surmised, “It's easy to forget that so many of the people we fight and fear were once people like us.”

“How right you are,” Pam frowned, “Havoc, Alexis, Rebecca, Kaitlyn, and so many more were all humans with lives that were pushed too far one too many times. So many of them could have been saved had someone merely been willing to lend a hand in their time of need. However, most of us are too busy fighting, fleeing, or playing into their schemes to consider this as an option until it's too late. By then, they're almost always too far gone to save.”

“Listen, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but-” Courtney started.

Pam could sense where Courtney was going, but she didn't need her empathy to know it. “You're worried I'll freeze when we come face to face with her again,” she finished.

“You froze once already, and you get this look every single time she's brought up,” Courtney sighed, “I need to know that you won't hesitate when the time comes because it's not if it's when.”

Pam closed her eyes and frowned as she spoke, “In our world, Jake tried everything he could to save Rebecca, you, and many more. I watched as so many paid the price for his hesitation and sentiment. Your world and mine are both at stake here. I will not falter should it come to that.”

“Words are easy, but action is hard, Pam,” Courtney said, looking up from her laptop, “I get it, okay? Every time that I see Jake…I know that I need to put him down, but then I get stuck in this shitty loop thinking about everything that we had. I know he's like a rabid dog now, but he's still Jake to me. You know this Beth is beyond saving, but that doesn't mean your heart won't get in the way.”

Pam’s frown deepened as she opened her eyes and looked down. As much as she wanted to deny it, she knew that Courtney had a valid point. The truth was that it was easy to talk a big game, but she didn’t know how she would react when the time came for her to come face to face with Beth. This woman might have been a far cry from her little pet, but they were still the same person. This Beth hid behind a mask, was sadistic, monstrous, and had snapped the same way that so many other women she’d known had. Even knowing that, Pam wasn’t sure how she would handle the inevitable confrontation when they came face to face.

“I understand why you’re worried,” Pam sighed, looking Courtney in the eyes, “The truth is that I am not looking forward to facing her. All I can do is give you my word that I will do everything I can to prevent sentiment from standing in the way of our victory.”

“You know, when you’re unsure you stretch out your replies,” Courtney remarked.

Pam rolled her eyes, “Remind me not to play cards against you.”

“I get it, okay?” Courtney sighed, “I just don’t want to lose anyone else to this madness. There’s been enough good people that have lost their lives because of who Beth has become.”

“You barely know me,” Pam pointed out.

“You’re right, but I’ve learned a lot about you over the last twelve hours,” Courtney countered, “You didn’t have to do what you did last night, and everything you’ve shared about your life has been pretty well genuine. I might not be an empath, but I can read people better than most. We’re going to get you home, I promise, but I need you to focus on your Beth, not ours. Whatever happens, you cannot let your emotions get the better of you.”

Pam smiled and shook her head, “If this is what you were like before the Devil Burrower parasite, then I am truly sorry I never got to know you in our world.”

“You know me here and now,” Courtney shrugged, “Whatever happened to me in your world is done. All we need to focus on is getting into that warehouse, getting whatever the hell it is you’re needing, and getting you home. Give me some time and we can move out.”

Pam nodded and took a deep breath, “Alright, I’m going to cook us something while you work, assuming there is still food in this place. There’s no sense in us going into battle on an empty stomach.”

“I assumed that Beth was the one who did the cooking in your relationship,” Courtney smirked, going back to work.

“Hardly,” Pam snorted, “I love her more than anything, and there are many things she is wonderful at, but she is a lousy chef. I’ve taught her a number of things over the last year, but it’s always been me in the kitchen. Figure out your part while I cook us a meal, and we can discuss our plan of attack over breakfast.”

“Roger that,” Courtney nodded.

-----------

After breakfast, Courtney and Pam laid the groundwork for their assault. Pam could get them close to the warehouse, but it would be up to Courtney to get them inside. The layout of the building showed an escape hatch on the roof that led down to an old catwalk. It was the best option for them to make it inside without causing too much commotion. There was still a high likelihood that they'd be found attacked while searching for the relic, but the more time they had to move freely the better. Neither of them could afford to fight an all out war in such tight and confined spaces for long. Once they were inside, their exit strategy was minimal at best. With dampeners lining the walls, Pam wouldn't be able to phase them out of harm's way.

An inky pool of darkness swirled on a nearby rooftop as Pam and Courtney rose out of it. Courtney lurched forward a few steps and held a hand to her mouth. Pam could tell she was disoriented from the teleport, but she was handling it better than most newcomers. “Ugh, how do you travel like that?” Courtney shuddered, “It's so freaking cold, and I've been on roller coasters that have less twists and turns than that.”

“You get used to it,” Pam shrugged, “The first several times are disorienting, yes, but it makes traversal much simpler when time is of the essence.”

“I guess you've got a point,” Courtney sighed, standing up straight and collecting herself, “It's just not my cup of tea.”

“I do drive, you know,” Pam rolled her eyes, “One can't just teleport everywhere without inciting a panic.”

“Good to know you're not totally magic based, I guess,” Courtney said, pulling out her binoculars and surveying the area, “Alright, there's a pack of wanderers down there already. They're shambling, but there's a lot of them. There's also no telling how many, if any, are inside the building.”

“What about the surveillance systems here?” Pam asked, “How long do you think we have before she arrives?”

“Depends on what she's doing,” Courtney replied, stowing her binoculars and grabbing her grappling gun, “If she's playing with one of her victims, we might have a little while. She could have alerts going to her phone, though, if movement is detected in this area. It's hard to say, but I can assure you that the longer we stay in the open the worse our chances get.”

“Then we need to hurry,” Pam said, walking over to Courtney, “Let's go.”

Courtney nodded and wrapped an arm around Pam's waist. She fired the grappling gun at the warehouse rooftop and pulled them over to it. The feeling of flying was one that never got old to Pam. She'd done it with magic, but cutting through the air at such high speeds was different. She relished it anytime she and Beth would go out; although she rarely admitted it aloud. Just as quickly as they'd left, they landed on the gravel rooftop. Pam steeled herself for the inevitable to come. Nice as it would be to think they'd manage this without a fight, she wasn't foolish enough to actually believe that. No, Beth would come sooner rather than later , and when she did they needed to be ready, she needed to be ready.

Courtney led the way over to the hatch near the middle of the rooftop. Pam followed closely behind her and squatted down beside her as she opened the creaky hatch. A musty and moldy smell drifted up the minute the hatch was opened. It was clear that this place hadn’t been touched in a long, long time. It wasn’t a surprise; even in their universe Jake seldom visited these buildings. They were primarily here to keep Brunswick projects out of the hands of people that didn’t know or understand them. Courtney exchanged a look with Pam before dropping down into the darkness. Pam shook her head and did the same.

They landed on a creaking and dusty walkway high above the warehouse floor. It was dark, the windows were either broken or dusty, and what they could see was in a clear state of disrepair. Courtney pressed a button on her cowl to activate her night vision, and Pam closed her eyes to conjure her version of night vision. “Alright, so what exactly are we looking for?” Courtney asked, crouching down to look for any of the infected.

“I’ll know it when we find it,” Pam replied, knowing that wasn’t what Courtney had hoped to hear, “ I can feel it here, but it’s in the basement.”

“Great,” Courtney sighed, “I’ve got signs of movement below us. Either they’re turned employees, or some of the infected got in from your hole from yesterday. Whatever the case, my count is at least six that I can see.”

“There’s more than that,” Pam frowned, “There’s an overwhelming feeling of hunger coming from this place. I can’t pinpoint the exact number, but sensations this strong don’t bode well for us.”

“Then we need to move quickly and quietly,” Courtney said, “Come on, let’s make our way down. I’d wager that Beth will be here before long.”

Pam nodded and followed Courtney down the walkway. The sounds of growling below were unsettling, but more so was the knowledge that her twisted pet would be here sooner than later. The truth was that she wasn’t sure how she would hold up when the confrontation came. Her emotions were all over the place and divided when it came to fighting this battle. Part of them understood that this Beth was little more than an obstacle in the way to returning home, but she was still a version of her beloved. She would have to do what she had to if she was going to have any chance of righting the wrongs happening back in her world. Out of all the fights that she’d had over the last year, this was easily the most difficult mentally for her to envision. 

They dropped down to the floor like a pair of silent cats. Out of the corner of Pam’s eye, she saw one of the infected shambling nearby. If they were spotted by one of these things, the others would swarm on them. She had a choice to make, and it didn’t take long for her to make it. Pam held up her hand to stop Courtney from advancing. Courtney frowned as she watched Pam stalk towards the infected. Pam took a deep breath as she got behind the man. He was wearing a uniform which meant he’d worked here while he was still alive. She pushed that thought aside as she reached out to snap his neck. In one swift and fluid motion, Pam eliminated the closest threat without any of her magic. She held onto his body and gently lowered him to the ground.

“You need to be careful,” Courtney whispered, “If that thing had smelled you, we’d be covered in these bastards.”

“If it had seen us we would have as well,” Pam whispered back, “You said it yourself, we need to keep moving. Where is the basement?”

Courtney shook her head and resumed the lead, “This way.”

They stayed low and moved slowly through the warehouse. Navigating through the various racks took some time, but they crept closer to the doors to the basement. Pam’s heart pounded in her chest as she followed behind Courtney. More than once, they came close to running into a herd of the infected. They were clustered together in groups of three to four, but there were more around every corner. Their luck had held steady so far, but they hadn’t been here long. The entire time, Pam kept wondering when they might hear the sound of Beth’s gun or her maniacal cackle from behind. 

They came at last to the door in question. It was heavy and rusted, but Pam could feel a surge of arcane energy radiating from behind and below. So far, they'd managed to navigate the maze without much incident. Courtney grabbed the handle of the door, turned it, and pulled it open. The resounding squeal of the door echoed out as the rusted metal scraped and groaned. That was the end of their luck it seemed. Pam immediately turned around to prepare for an onslaught, but it never came. She expected to hear a series of roars, rampant running, and snarled filling the space, but all that came was a still, eerie silence. It was deafening, but Pam could feel a palpable tension building. 

“Somethings not right,” she said, watching the warehouse floor, “They should be coming for us.”

“Then she's here already,” Courtney frowned, looking down the dark stairwell, “This is a game to her. My guess is that she's down there.”

“Does she have this much control over these things?” Pam asked in disbelief.

“She injected herself with the serum,” Courtney reminded her, “I don't understand it, but it's like-”

“A hive mind,” Pam finished, “Dammit, I was hoping to avoid an all out war.”

“Are you going to be able to handle this?” Courtney asked.

“Using my magic in here creates a massive strain on my mind and body, but I've survived worse,” Pam replied.

“I meant fighting the psycho version of your girlfriend,” Courtney said, “Are you up for it?”

“As much as I can be,” Pam sighed, “Let's just get this over with.”

Courtney nodded her agreement and led the way down stairs for them. The stairwell was wide yet straight forward. Stone steps that led into the darker and more dangerous section of the warehouse. As they reached the bottom, the lights flickered on and temporarily blinded them both. Pam dispelled her magic as Courtney hurried to switch her night vision off. Pam could feel a giddy and sadistic sense of glee not far from where they stood. The same sadistic joy that she'd felt when she'd encountered the Beth of this universe. She was here, she was waiting, and she wasn't alone. The predatory hunger from the infected was more prevalent here as well, but then she could sense the innate magic from the relics nearby. 

“Well, well, I've been wondering when you two would show up,” Beth cackled, “It's rude to keep people waiting, you know. Isn't that right, Jake?”

Pam's eyes adjusted first, and her blood ran cold as she looked around. They were surrounded by a horde of the infected, and Beth stood twenty feet away with a leash in her hand. By her side, on all fours, was a mangled and twisted version of her friend. Jake's skin was peeling, bruised, scarred, and even burned from abuse. His hair was matted and tangled, but it was his eyes that struck her the most. They were cold, lifeless, and glazed over with a feral hunger. He growled at the two of them and lurched forward before Beth yanked him back.

“Not yet, you stupid twit!” Beth snapped at him, “I promise, I'll feed you soon enough. I want to hear what these idiots are doing here first, Jake.”

Courtney's eyes adjusted next, and she gasped at the sight before them. “Beth, stop this,” Pam ordered, hoping her dominant side might be able to break through Beth's madness, “This has gone too far. Stand down before things escalate further.”

“Things are only just beginning, blondie,” Beth scoffed, “Or should I say, Pamela? I knew you looked familiar, but I can't remember everyone I've killed. There's just too many to count these days. You and that birdbrained bitch beside you are two thorns in my side…well, she is anyway. You've got a face that is just begging to be ridden. Oh, the things I am going to do to you! Anyone that can survive what I did to you should make for a fun toy. I'm going to enjoy breaking you in, Pammy.”

“Jake,” Courtney whispered, staring at her beloved before snapping, “You brought him here of all places?!”

“My pet needed a walk, so what?” Beth scoffed, “Besides, the look on your stupid face when you see him is priceless. Act as tough as you want, I know you're still the same pathetic, sniveling little secretary I hated!”

“We were friends!” Courtney snapped.

“No, no we were not,” Beth laughed, “I hated you then, and I hate you more now. You kept me from being with Jake, but I tried to be a good friend and step aside so he could be happy. If it wasn't for you, he wouldn't have nearly died that night! Do you know why he went to see Goth that night? It was to end it with her!”

Pam's eyes widened as she realized the parallel between their worlds went deeper than she realized. “What?” Courtney asked, “You're lying!”

“She's not,” Pam said, her tone grim, “Courtney, Jake was frequenting Rebecca in our world in secret. The night that everything began to change was the same night he went to break up with her in our world. He submitted to her in ours, but he must have refused here. He loved you too much to continue, but Rebecca has never taken rejection well.”

“He…he was cheating on me?” Courtney whispered.

“That's right, bitch, you weren't enough for him!” Beth mocked, “Even before all of this, you couldn't give him what he needed! You're too weak and pathetic; always have been, always will be.”

“Don't listen to her,” Pam said, “If that were the case, he wouldn't have held strong on breaking up with Rebecca, Courtney.”

“Oh, bullshit, Pammy,” Beth rolled her eyes, “That little wannabe over there couldn't hold him down to save her life! Me, on the other hand, I was more than enough for him. I'll show you firsthand what a real woman can do once I've dealt with your shitty little friend. We've talked enough for now, though. You can watch while your new bestie is eaten alive! Kill them!”

That was all it took for the hell to officially break loose. The infected that had been standing lunged forward. They were closer than Pam would have liked. Whatever strain her powers put on her, she had to push through it. Courtney was in a state of shock at the moment from the revelation and Beth's hateful speech. Just like the floor above, there were several racks surrounding them. Pam summoned her strength and grabbed hold of Courtney's arm. She launched them upwards and onto one of the racks above. The infected beneath then charged and began ramming into the racks. They shook and rattled, but they held firm. Pam looked down and frowned when she saw them begin to climb.

“Courtney, snap out of it,” she said, “We have to work together here.”

A snarl came from below them, and Pam pointed a finger to send a bolt of arcana through the infected's skull. Just the simple act of casting two spells was already causing her head to hurt. She couldn't do this alone. Courtney shook her head and did her best to collect herself. Pam wasn't sure if it was working, but more of those things were climbing and getting closer. Pam had to fight through the pain to stop them. She held her hands together and winced as she summoned a lightning bolt between her palms. She leaned over the ledge and lined up her shot. Pam flung the lightning bolt down and watched it cut through seven infected as it chained between them. She stumbled after tossing it, but she was grabbed by a gloved hand on her wrist. She turned around to see Courtney standing there and keeping her from falling.

“I want to make her pay,” Courtney said, grabbing a birdarang from her belt.

“We have more pressing things to worry about right now,” Pam countered, gesturing to the swarm of infected beneath them.

Courtney looked around and spotted something in the distance. “Can you keep them busy and distracted?” she asked.

“It's difficult, but I think I can manage,” Pam replied, “What are you thinking?”

“I've got a plan, but be ready to take cover when I tell you,” Courtney said, grabbing her grappling gun and stepping away, “Just don't get yourself killed. I've already lost the person I love, but we're going to get you home to yours.”

“This is a half-cocked plan, isn't it?” Pam sighed.

“It's the best shot we have,” Courtney shrugged, “I learned from the best.”

Pam watched as Courtney swung off the rack and into the distance. “She's more like Jake than she knows,” Pam sighed as she willed her emotions to come forth.

Splitting herself took more effort and caused more pain than she expected. Rage, Courage, and Sorrow all managed to break free, but the three of them looked as worn down as she felt. It didn't matter; they didn't have to win, they merely needed to hold out and buy time for Courtney. Pam jumped down into the horde waiting below alongside her duplicates. It took everything she had to summon enough energy for her first attack. A surge of arcane energy swelled up within her as she thrust her fist down when she hit the ground. A massive shockwave of energy shot out of her and sent several of the infected flying backwards, tipped over one of the racks, and pushed Beth back. A handful of the infected were eliminated, but her primary objective had been to give herself and the others space.

Rage landed beside Pam and immediately launched into an offensive. Her body ignited, albeit much dimmer than usual, and she roared as she charged forward. Flames erupted from her body as she grabbed one of the faces of the infected and threw him to the ground. She plunged her hand into the stone floor and summoned several pillars of fire that ripped out of the ground. They surged and cut through swaths of the infected, but Rage began to flicker as her attack continued. The dampeners were taking more out of her than she wanted to let on. She pulled back on her attack and growled as prepared for her next move.

Courage conjured a sword and shield for herself. Ordinarily, the green apparition would have swelled in height, but she tried to reserve her energy. Courage raised her shield and placed the tip of her sword on the edge. One of the infected rushed towards her, but Courage bashed her away with her shield. Her glowing blade extended and pierced through the skull of another one. She swung her sword in a careful and deliberate arc that cut through another handful of the monsters as they started to close the distance. If they weren’t careful, they’d be surrounded again in seconds. Courage stood her ground and tried to prepare for a defensive maneuver.

Sorrow, one of Pam’s more subdued emotions, landed with her shoulders hunched. The more timid and reserved emotion stared at Beth for a moment as the infected drew closer. Pam could feel the heartache coming from herself, but she knew that misery often birthed great power. It was rare for Sorrow to come forth, but she held onto the hope that it would perform better than expected. As more and more of the monsters circled in, Sorrow extended her arms and screamed. The blue clothed duplicate exploded as her shriek filled the basement. The shriek alone stunned everyone, but she burst into thousands of glacial needles that swept through the swarm and even forced Beth to cry out and take cover.

“Ack, what the fuck?!” Beth screamed as she got back to her feet, “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you, Pammy?”

“She needs a lesson in respect,” Rage groweld, tossing the body of another fallen infected to the side.

“No,” Pam said, flinging a bolt of lightning into another infected, “She needs to be stopped.”

Pam felt lightheaded and dizzy as she looked at Beth. “You’re bleeding, Pammy,” Beth cackled, stepping forward and drawing her pistol, “Is the wittle witch having a hawd time casting her spells? Stupid, arrogant, girl, you know you can’t keep it up! I’ll tell you what, if you get on your knees and beg then I’ll go easy on you for your first night as my new bitch!”

Pam brushed her knuckles across her lips and looked down to see blood. Her nose was bleeding from the continued strain. Her knees felt weak; the strain of using her powers was quickly catching up with her. Splitting herself into duplicates had taken more of a tole on her than she anticipated. She saw Beth raising her machine pistol, but she was struggling to move. She took a step forward and staggered. The sound of the gun going off spelled doom, but thankfully the bullets were stopped by a large green shield. Courage had stepped in to save her, but she could tell she was fading fast. Rage had slowed down as well, and her flames were beginning to smolder. 

“Pam, now!” Courtney shouted as a loud crashing sound came down around them.

“What?!” Beth screamed, scrambling as half a dozen barrels came tumbling down, “You little bitch! Jake, move, you idiot!”

“Look away,” Courage said, shielding Pam with what was left of her power, “Rage, do what we have to do.”

A series of birdarangs flew through the air and punctured the barrels. Pam knew what was happening by the smell of the oils, but she didn’t want to see it. It was painful, but she was thankful that all she could see was a vibrant shade of green. Rage erupted in a fiery blast that caused a thunderous explosion. The remaining infected were burned, charred, and sent hurtling into the far corners of the warehouse. Beth had tried to run, but she was caught in the flames and sent flying back. Jake howled as he tried his best to follow his mistress, but she was too far for her to save him. Whatever was left of his life was snuffed out in a painful and fiery demise. The flames began to die down, Courage and Rage flickered and disappeared, and Pam dropped to one knee as they returned to her.

Courtney landed beside her and surveyed the floor. The explosion had done a great deal of damage. Racks had been overturned, items were scattered around the basement, and there were smoldering embers and charred bodies everywhere. However, many of the items were still intact. Courtney bent down to check on Pam, “Are you alright?”

Pam put a hand on Courtney’s shoulder and let her help her up. She stumbled again and put a hand to her head. “I’ll be fine,” she said, “I hadn’t expected this level of resistance and pain when we planned this. I-”

“You miserable little shits!” Beth’s voice cut her off, “You killed him! You killed Jake! I am going to make you both suffer for this!”

“Shit,” Pam cursed, looking over at Beth, “I can’t keep fighting. We have to find the relic and get out of here.”

Beth pushed the rubble from around her. Her coat was burned, the mask she wore was singed along with her hair, and she was struggling to move. She grabbed the syringe from her belt and injected it into her leg. Beth doubled over and cried out as another dose of the serum swam through her system. She was clearly hurt from the explosion, potentially disfigured by the look of her, but the serum was already beginning to work its twisted magic. Pam could see the burns on her body, but the exposed skin that wasn’t burned was turning pale. Black veins crept up her neck and could be seen on the parts of her mask that weren’t destroyed. She was twisting into the monster than she’d become on the inside in seconds.

“We don’t have time,” Courtney said, launching a series of birdarangs from her belt that exploded on impact, but did nothing to Beth, “I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to run. I don’t know what a second dose will do to her, but she’s changing into something worse.”

“This is our only chance,” Pam said, standing and forcing herself to prepare for a fight, “Go, get out of here while you can. I won’t lose my chance at getting home.”

“Time to die, worms!” Beth shrieked as her body stopped convulsing and twisting, “I am going to enjoy this!”

Suddenly, a brilliant ball of light began to form between Beth, Courtney, and Pam as Beth started to charge at them. She stopped to see what was happening, wondering if it was another Pam’s tricks. However, Pam was just as confused as Beth. She could feel magic coursing through the air as the bubble expanded, but it wasn’t her. She didn’t know what this was. Two silhouettes took shape in the bubble as the light began to dim. Pam stared in shock and awe as she saw who it was. Standing between them was none other than Rebecca, and more shockingly, Jake.