True to his word, breakfast actually was a hearty country affair. His uncle Harvey had taken the chickens with him, but when Ryan went to raid the basement he found an honest-to-god cellar door in the floor of the food aisle half-covered by a stack of MREs. Underneath was a space filled with cartons of eggs and meat stuffed inside a neat row of impressively large coolers packed on all sides with dirt.

Thank you, Uncle, for being crazy enough to dig out a meat-hole in your basement. Ryan thought as he brought enough choice fixings up to feed a family of five.

I'll have to phrase it like that when I see him. See what he says.

Sadly, despite his promise to provide, it only took one batch of burned bacon before Lucas took over. The big man was a much better cook than Ryan and soon had the entire home smelling like a proper, pork-filled Sunday brunch.

All throughout, Renee and Ryan exchanged information with Lucas pitching in every now and again. He learned her power was actually sensory amplification, which is what had allowed her to dial up the pain when he’d been on the table. She winced admitting to it, but given that she’d been under control at the time Ryan quickly forgave her. Renee’s face was grateful, and the conversation moved on.

The atmosphere relaxed a bit when food was served, that unsettling awkwardness all new people have in an unfamiliar place with strangers soon melted away under an avalanche of eggs and bacon.

Ryan was grateful for it. Because there was little in the way of good news to go around.

Marcus had indeed hired Stella - and a number of others - to take malcontents or seemingly random people into custody. The goon squads, as Renee referred to them, would get paid for every head they brought in and a substantial bonus if their capture had a new power not already on the books. Any laws broken in the retrieval of their target were summarily and formally forgiven on delivery.

"They keep the ones that are brought in at that big religious high school on Miller road. Saint something or other." Renee said as she tore into a folded piece of toast stuffed thick with scrambled eggs.

"Supposedly there is at least one other location, but that's the one we delivered to. At least, that was how she said it went normally. For you-" she pointed a finger from her makeshift sandwich at Ryan. "- they wanted to meet immediately. Even brought a healer for your injuries. They were suuuper pissed when you got away."

That made sense. Word, or at least, a rumor, had gotten out about how long it had taken him to wake up. From what Renee had told him, the longer someone had been cocooned up the stronger their superpower was on the other end. The hard and fast rule people used divided them up by number of weeks spent asleep and 'evolving' before they finally emerged.

Week 1s, or "first stage supers", generally only one power. Week 2s, or "second stage", had stronger powers, multiple powers, or had changed into other races like Lucas and those elves. Week 3s, or "final stage" … well, rumor had it they were the stuff of comic books. Powerful as hell and tougher than angry nails made of 'fuck-you-ium'. Final stagers all had multiple powers that were usually complementary or fed off one another.

That said, they were exceedingly rare. Each successive day, much less week, was rarer to find than the last. Most of the town for example were first stagers - though Renee had it on good authority that Marcus was second. No final stage super had been officially spotted in Arborville that Renee or Lucas knew of, despite the mayor's attempts to find one. Apparently outside of here they were busy conquering or ruling the capital cities or entire regions. Like the ruler of what used to be Chicago, a battle-rapper who was said to use his own lyrics as literal weapons.

Now I get why Mike and the others thought I'd be able to fight back against Marcus. They figured I'd outclass him and be able to fix things immediately. Ryan chewed on that thought. Savoring the idea like those old strawberry candies you found in a dentist's office but not anywhere else.

Eventually, sure, he might be able to. But he'd have to survive long enough to get there. My power is slow burn and long term. Like a snowball going downhill. Have to avoid the trees until I can just roll over 'em or they'll smash me apart.

Something about the mayor's strategy was bothering him though. Why would Marcus put a bounty out on supers who could be powerful enough to just walk up and kill him? Wouldn't that just piss them off? If final stage supes made everyone else look like bunnies in a bullfight… why risk making enemies of them?

Unless he isn't worried about their power for some reason. Stella could basically control minds just by opening her gob. Maybe he's got a similar power?

"What can the mayor do? Does anyone know?" Ryan asked curiously. Lucas looked up from his precious and still-sizzling next round of bacon to hear her answer.

Renee just shook her head. "Don't know. Anyone who does isn't talking, either. He keeps a tight circle. The only talkative one is that McCarthy guy." She belched suddenly, an impressive timber erupted out that seemed to surprise even her. Covering her mouth and flushed cheeks quickly with a napkin, she moved on before either could comment. "Why? He's not like Stella, you can't just drive through his house. Marcus has half the town on his side. Not to mention the police."

"No, he isn't. But we might be able to save some of those he's already taken." Ryan responded, plans already beginning to form in his head.

"We?" Renee asked with a touch of distance and skepticism in her voice.

"We." Ryan affirmed confidently. "You wouldn't be telling us all this if you didn't need us for something. Lucas's wife and kids are most likely in there, so I know he's coming. Or, rather, I know he'll go in with or without me." He glanced over at Lucas for confirmation, to which the wolf-turned-chef just nodded and went back to ensuring nothing but porcine perfection left his pan.

Probably helps him to focus on something besides them right now. Ryan realized before turning back to Renee and putting his fork down. Lord but he was stuffed. Then he leveled her with a gaze that Kurt had given him more than once. Compassionate, yet firm.

"So? Who is it?" Ryan asked in a gentle voice. He didn't really want to know, but there was no getting around this awkward conversation. If they were going to work together, they each had to know the other's motivations. Best to just get it over with up front.

Renee looked over his shoulder for a second, a flash of anger in her eyes at the personal nature of his inquiry. Then she looked at Lucas's back and her eyes softened some. A moment later cold determination took over, though there was still some lingering anger in her words.

"They took my sister. She was visiting on break from school when everything happened. My parents got bumped to a later flight, so we were waiting at the airport when…" Renee grabbed a piece of toast and let the meaning hang in the air. Nobody voiced the obvious conclusion. Planes didn't fly well with unconscious pilots.

"Then Stella caught me. And... kept me. Said she needed a break from her sausage fest. I haven't seen Sarah since." There was no tremble in Renee's voice, though Ryan imagined it to be a near thing.

A moment or two passed as the dour mood from that revelation filled the room.

The silence was summarily broken by Lucas dropping a sizzling pan of bacon on the table. He put a comforting hand on Renee's shoulder, sayin nothing and just offering her his presence. Her hand reached up to cover his. Silence punctuated by the snap-pop of bacon reigned as they shared a look of mutual loss, understanding, and conviction.

Ryan waited until they looked back towards him to reach for a slice. An orchestra of pig-fat-fueled indulgence resounded throughout his mouth. After slamming nothing but protein bars, it was all he could do not to cry openly. Ryan nonchalantly reached for another.

"Alright then. We'll get her back too." He announced, deciding two more slices would be a just amount to retrieve instead.

"That sounds great, but what about you? Why're you helping us? I already told you that your friends got away after we captured you. Aside from the one… pinned under the engine block… that is." A touch of guilt rose up in her voice at the end there. Ryan had already told her of Smith's power and how he'd survived worse, but she still felt bad.

"Because I hate bullies. And our dear mayor is only going to become more of a tyrant the longer he's in power. He's hurt my friends, tried to kill me at least twice, and… might have my father. If he were just the same brand of ass as other politicians, I wouldn’t care. But he’s treating our town like his own personal third-world fun house.” Ryan could feel himself start to get heated the more he spoke. This was all beginning to feel really… personal. His predator eyes settled back on Renee. Time to be honest, he decided.

“I’m going to free as many as I can from that school. Then, I’m going to see if I can't unseat Marcus. Which, I am aware, probably means killing him. Arborville can elect another once he’s gone but I’m not going to wait around for a farce ‘election’ he’d probably win anyway. The whole world may be getting more fucked on the hour, but if I can fix our little corner of it… I will.”

By the time he finished, both Lucas and Renee were watching him. The big man’s face had approval written all over it. Renee’s expression was appraising, yet cautious.

“What makes you think you can? You still haven’t told us what your power is.” She pushed her plate back a bit and folded her arms over her chest. “I know his.” Renee nodded at Lucas then turned her blue eyes on him. “But all you’ve shown me is the heavy metal toy out front and those big bad kitty eyes.”

Ryan couldn't resist. He batted his eyelashes at her and looked bashful. Sensing he could push it a bit further, he pawed at the air. Lucas choked on a slice of bacon and she rolled her eyes, but a smile crept up on her face anyway.

Truth is, he'd been dreading this question. There was no way around it. He knew sharing knowledge of his power - or at least, the true extent of it - wasn't a good idea. Even less so with a power-hungry madman going all concentration camp on anyone with a cute face like his.

His power was unique. Based on the description, it had literally no limits. Ryan could potentially alter anyone or anything into any… thing. If something happened, if he were coerced, blackmailed, or even - apparently - mind controlled… He could make someone else into god only knows what. Maybe an actual god.

Thoughts for later…

Point is, his power made him the next best thing to invaluable.

Which made him a target.

And that made him wary.

If he had a simple method of forcing silence, like some magical way to keep people loyal, quiet, and working harmoniously towards his goals ,- that'd be one thing. But Ryan had already tussled with mind control once. Not really a route he was not willing to go down. He was also pretty sure magic wasn't real, short of whatever Ann could do.

All Ryan had was trust. Which could make or break him. Literally.

Show some, get some.

"I can change things. People, objects, it doesn't seem to matter. As long as I eat and have the energy-" he gestured with a slice of bacon for emphasis before chowing down. "- I can do stuff like this." With a thought, Ryan moved his diamond skin down to cover his entire arm. It shone brilliantly in the light, reflecting the glorious bacon on the table for all to see from a prism's worth of angles.

Renee's eyes went wide. Lucas let out a long, slow whistle. "Change… how?" She asked in a low voice.

"However I want. As long as the cost isn't too high, that is." Ryan carefully swapped his fork from the diamond hand to the one that wouldn't crush it accidentally. Ruining your host's good silverware was terrible manners and this house had everything.

Wonder gleamed in Renee's eyes. Followed by curiosity, then hope, and finally understanding. A million questions ran across her face, even as she tried to control it. When her emotions were under wraps, she locked eyes with him. Lucas's face remained, as ever, implacable.

I'm starting to see why he became a wolf..

"So… people? What would the cost be... for me? You said it takes energy. What do you want? How do we do this? How---"

Ryan cut her off. "I'll explain the rest in a moment. For now, I just need to know if you're with me. You've heard what my goals are and I'm a long term investment kind of guy. All I need to know is - are you in? I'm not asking for - nor do i expect - some fairy tale life-long commitment. Just trying to free them could get us all killed, or worse."

Quick pause for effect…

He looked at Lucas then back to Renee, trying to read them. He kept his posture open, but firm. Resolute.

"So. How 'bout this. We handle the school thing first and see where we're at after. Regardless of what happens, I'll keep your secrets as long as you keep mine. Deal?" Ryan asked.

He was trusting two complete strangers with a secret that could get him killed. And to go with him, likely, to kill other people. All on the shared goal of rescuing their various families.

Put simply, it was a hard ask.

"Deal." Lucas responded with the gravitas of a quiet, hard man.

"Deal. But don't change me without my permission." Renee followed with a coy finger up in warning.

Ryan grinned and extended a hand first to Renee then to Lucas, shaking each in turn. "Deal."

Grabbing some more of that delicious, oh-so-greasy bacon, Ryan settled in for more conversation "Alright, now that that's settled... here's what I'm thinking."

*************

They decided to spend at least the next day getting ready. Sleep was good stuff. And the actual time of the attack would be based on what Lucas found while scouting anyway. No running in blind with only a 30 minute stakeout. That was for idiots. Or people with really decked out cars.

The big wolf finished his impressive helping of breakfast and then left for the school to learn what he could. Ryan offered him BGM, but since it was just about the furthest thing from 'stealthy' one could possibly find on four wheels, Lucas politely declined. Ryan had the feeling it was also because the wolfman was faster on foot than any vehicle was likely to be on wartorn roads, but he didn't voice it.

Lucas didn't ask for much in the way of upgrades before he left, so the aftermath wasn't that bad. When Ryan returned from the restroom however, Renee turned out to be a different story.

"You want what?" Ryan asked, incredulous. He'd gotten a good night's sleep - finally - and felt better than he'd had since waking up in the hospital. Still, was she serious?

"I want Stella's power." Renee repeated, staring deliberately at him in the morning sun. "Look, the plan is to break in and get them out. What if someone raises the alarm while we're trying to escape? Or goes off on their own and gets caught? I'll take the compulsion off as soon as we're out, but until then…" she trailed off, her eyes going back over the field of mostly eaten crops.

"... you want some way to control them." Ryan finished, grasping where she was going now. There were any number of stories about prisoners becoming more of an obstacle or risk to their own rescue than their captors were. Maybe she’s right.

"I know it sounds cruel. And I know I just got out from under someone abusing the very same thing I'm now asking you for, but… if it works then this whole thing will go much smoother. And we’ll all be safer for it." Her tone wasn't quite pleading, but it did seem to implore him to understand.

Ryan crossed his arms and put his hand on his chin. He wasn't against the idea outright, but there was still the question of whether or not he could even do it. Superpowers were expensive. His first addition, diamond skin, was so costly he could only make it in 1% increments. I wonder what a full superpower like that would even cost?

Mentally shrugging, Ryan pulled up his power and gave it a look.

Cost to grant Renee the superpower "Suggestion": 17,500 points.

Warning: The energy capacity of 'Renee' is insufficient by 50 points for the power selected. Adding a power beyond capacity may have deleterious effects on the organism.

Increasing that is going to be expensive… Capacity only goes up by 1 each time. Feeling like he was about to be let down, Ryan tried to envision the cost to add the power while increasing her capacity to match.

Total cost to grant Renee the superpower 'Suggestion' and increase energy capacity to a suitable level: 27,725

"Hah… well, that settles that. I can do it, but the cost is ridiculous. Way more than I can afford." Ryan said with a touch of disappointment. It wasn’t as bad as he’d thought it could be, but it was still an extra two digits too high. I was expecting over fifty.

"How much?" Renee pressed. She knew how his power worked. That he needed energy to make changes and that he only had 230 to play with. They’d talked about it well into last night before he’d finally succumbed to exhaustion.

"Almost 28 thousand points."

Renee looked crestfallen for a moment. Then her expression turned thoughtful. She brought a finger up to her full lips. "So all we need to do is get you enough juice in one gulp to boost me up…"

She hadn't shied away when he'd shared how absorbing other people - corpses - gave him a large boost. At least, not outwardly. Renee was cute, and smart. He was starting to learn she was also a tough bitch in her own right.

"Even if I could channel all that, best case, that's still more than a dozen… 'juice boxes' -" Ryan brought two fingers up on each hand and made the little rabbit / quotation gesture at the nickname Renee had come up with for the dead bodies he used as fuel. "- at once. Not to mention last time I channelled that much energy it was a whole world of hurt that blew Michael’s arm off."

The pair leaned back in their chairs on the front porch and thought on the problem. It was a nice day. Not too cloudy, not too warm. Wildlife running about doing its thing. Pyro-pigeons, it turned out, were voracious eaters. They seemed to particularly like mosquitoes and would dive about them - igniting them even if they missed. Then the birds would land and enjoy a nice, crisp snack. Unfortunately for the bugs, it seemed they had not evolved with everyone else. Probably for the best. Last thing we need are ants with frickin lasers on their frickin heads.

Fire vs flammable wings made for a rather one-sided fight. One that did not feel the least bit of pity out of Ryan for the tiny bloodsuckers. Especially since the birds still had no interest in humans. Go nuts, you flying turd buckets.

A pair of the flying fire starters swooped close to the tree he'd seen the owl roost in the night previous with its kill. It proved to be a fatal mistake. Fire had not made the birds any faster nor did the owl seem particularly against adding a little barbecue to its life.

Without his new eyes, Ryan wouldn’t have even seen it happen. Four sharp talons tore the wings clear off one of them and released. The now-flightless flaming turd dropped straight to the ground as its buddy beat a hasty retreat. A beat later, the four-winged owlbug began kicking dirt on it to smother the flame. Once its food was done being smoked, it began to eat.

Now, pigeons get an understandably bad rap. They're scavengers. Pests. Annoying, disloyal-even-to-their-own-kind rats with wings who ate trash and generally ruined the day of everyone around them. According to his Uncle Harvey, it's because the blighted things were trash.

Apparently, evolution had taken that feedback and made some… bravery improvements.

Trumpeting a high-pitched battlecry the once-routed flaming bird came streaking back and slammed the owl into the shed, crashing them both through a rotted knot of wood. A fiery cage match erupted immediately after. Squawks of pain, confusion, and triumph were heard as the building itself began to smoke.

"H-hey! Damnit! Get the hose, I'll go get them out!" Ryan pointed towards the side of the house near them and then sprinted to the shed.

Frenzy reigned on the farm for the next five minutes until the fire - and the firebird - were flushed out.

"That… was the most ridiculous thing I've ever been a part of." Renee declared, the ends of her hair scorched and fully half of her body soaking wet.

"Yet." Ryan corrected, his face covered in a mess of singed feathers, dirt, and straw. It took a full ten seconds for him to pull himself up off the floor.

"The most ridiculous thing… yet " he affirmed as he caught his breath. Both of them laughed, then began to gather themselves up. A charred board from the rafter fell and bounced off the generator. As one, they stopped. Then stared at it.

Both had forgotten it was there until just now.

"Ryan… are you maybe... thinking what I'm thinking?" Renee asked with just the barest hint of

glee disguised in her voice.

*************

A much needed shower and a bit of cajoling later, Ryan decided to try Renee's possibly insane plan. It was a simple suggestion, really. Something he might’ve tested already if he hadn’t been so busy trying to survive.

Her idea was to have Ryan absorb all the electricity in the generator and use it to upgrade her. Flow it from him to her new power. On the surface, it sounded logical. Food was energy, so was electricity. One required him to eat, the other could be acquired any number of ways.

Once could also electrocute me.

Whatever Ryan absorbed entered him as it was. It was only changed and converted into something useful once it was inside his body. In the past, that meant a high level of pain as his brain recognized the unknown sensations as very bad things that Ryan should be avoiding - not welcoming. So if he stuck his finger in the proverbial socket...

“You do realize this might kill me, right?” Ryan asked offhandedly as they got set up next to the generator. “How many volts does it take to stop a heart?”

“Oh don’t be a bitch, boss.” Renee quipped happily as she picked up the shock plates of the defibrillator he’d found in the basement. She tapped them together and stood off to one side, her eyes bright. She knew he was just as excited as she was.

“If you zonk out I’ll bring you right back, promise!” Another tap emphasized her last word.

Ryan rolled his eyes, but grinned nevertheless. Renee’s cheery mood was infectious and if this worked... Change my big toe into a plug, find me some solar panels and go super saiyan by sundown. Be funny if it gave me over 9,000 points.

They positioned an inflatable mattress in front of the generator. Figuring the risk of them falling during this little experiment was considerable and they’d rolled around on the floor of the shed enough earlier. Once prepped as best as they could, ensuring that there were no other channels for the electricity to flow through, Ryan sat next to Renee on the edge of the inflatable and prepared to take her hand in his own.

"Are you ready?" Renee asked, letting a coy smile slip over her lips. "I like a man who knows what he wants, you know."

"And I like my ladies electric." Ryan quipped back. “Or was that electrified?”

Renee’s face paled a bit, Ryan laughed, then he activated his power.

Transfer 27,775 points worth of electricity from this generator into giving Renee the superpower 'Suggestion' and increased capacity? Yes, or no?

Caveat added: Renee's 'Suggestion' power will not work on you. Additional cost: 50 points.

Sorry, cute stuff. Ryan thought as he put his hand on the generator and made the change. He hadn't told her about the caveat, nor did he plan to. If it came up… and he hoped it didn't… he'd deal with it then. I may have woken up in a cocoon yesterday, but I wasn't born then.

A torrent of energy crackled down his arm, blisters forming along his skin in arcing lines that traced and branched out from his veins. Rather than pain Ryan felt his muscles - even some of his skin - lock up wherever the electricity traveled. Heat rushed down his arm, into his chest, mixed with… something. Then he grasped Renee’s outstretched hand and the blister-bolts shot down his other arm towards hers.

She immediately began to scream. While not unexpected, it was alarming right up until everything in his vision went black.

……...

"Ryan, wake up!" Came a muted voice through the fog. The voice was familiar. Upset.

Scared?

"Get up, Ryan! Lucas is hurt!" The voice was getting louder. As if the person shouting were getting closer. Or he was.

"Ohh… this is going to hurt, Ryan. I'm sorry in advance, but we need you!" The voice sounded concerned. Then a line on his forearm lit on fire.

"Yeeeaaagghh--oowww! Holy f-----" Ryan was up instantly, bringing a string of profanity with him that could've made his new orc cousin blush.

Renee let go of his arm. Her nails leaving clear red marks where they'd dug into blistered skin.

"What the hell was that for?!" Ryan demanded angrily, his mind still not quite processing his surroundings.

Rather than respond, Renee pointed a finger at the bedroom door. Ryan was in his cousin's room, he realized. His eyes tracked to where her finger was pointing.

Lucas was leaning against the doorway. One enormous claw trembling as he held himself up on it. The other claw was gone. Nothing but a poorly bandaged stump extended partway from his shoulder. Blood-soaked fur covered his chest and Ryan could see the telltale signs of gunshot wounds. Some hadn't penetrated. Some had.

The wolfman could speak in his wolf form now, but this was the first time Ryan had heard him do so. His voice was vaguely doglike. Rough as gravel poured onto a dirt road.

"Should have… listened. Sorry."