Memoirs of a RAFian

[redtailedsaffa]

Proteus is one of my favorite villains so far.

Oookay. I didn't expect that, either.

[Cloak]

Sorry, no chapter today. My internet is really p!ssing me off. What am I thinking? It'll just give me that Error 500 bullsh!t when I try to post it.

[Underseen]

It was a RAF bug that was just fixed for me.

[Cloak]

Still, I don't want to work for an hour or two just for it to flare up again. . . .

I might post the promised chapter (hopefully that I didn't break this thing in my anger), but later. I'm still somewhat ticked.

EDIT: Okay, came up with an idea for Book CLXXVIII -- "Dullsville".

Now, a new chapter.

CHAPTER NINE:
The RAFians Are Made

"Looks like Proteus did this one a favor," Parker said, scanning the charred remains of an older gentleman, whose short beard obscured his mouth.

"How do you mean?" Faerie asked.

"Looks like he's a cancerous growth on his --"

"We're being watched." Cloak said immediately.

"Proteus is nearby," Yarin said at the same instant.

And indeed he was. He wore a surfer dude with wavy blond hair and a skintight suit -- a walking stereotype of surf culture. He looked at the RAFians curiously. He did not know that they could determine which body he currently occupied.

"He's there," Faerie said,  pointing as her eyes narrowed. Always a danger sign.

Huh? Proteus thought. They can possibly mean me me, but this guy's mind has no memory of them.

"We know its you," Aquilai said, "Proteus."

But how? How did they know it was me? the overpowered teen thought.

"Leave the innocent," Cloak said. "Don't force my hand, Proteus."

Proteus tried to bluster, masquerade as his stolen body's rightful owner. None of the RAFians fell for it.

<You're not fooling anyone, boy.> Yarin said telepathically. <Drop the pretense.>

Proteus did drop the pretense, but not purposefully. More like he forgot to maintain it. He spoke as a corporeal intruder.

"It's you, wasn't it? You told them about me?" he said rolling the man's shoulders and pulling out, leaving the surfer severely weakened, but alive. Barely.

"Proteus," Cloak said, unaware of the disapproving, parental lilt to his voice. "What you're doing to these people is wrong."

Proteus took the rebellious teenager stance. The other RAFians looked unsure of Cloak's course of action. Lectures and teenagers mixed as about as well as oil and water.

"Proteus, I --"

"I don't care what you have to say!" he shouted, attempting to jump into Yarin, only to be flung violently away. He had bluish-white smoke steam from his psionic form in curls.

But he soon got up again and he wasn't too happy. An angry teen who could literally do nearly any thing he wanted -- not a really auspicious prospect.

[Underseen]

Its cool to see that as far as I know he can't posses people with the mark, but it would be an interestingly difficult fight if he could.

[Cloak]

No, he can't possess a Mark-Bearer. But that doesn't mean he's completely harmless against us . . . well, you guys.

[redtailedsaffa]

*shudders to think of the consequences*

[Cloak]

As you should, Saffa. Probably.

Anyway, it's a three-day weekend . . . so, I think you know what that means.

Warning: mild language at the beginning.

CHAPTER TEN:
Realitybending

"What just happened?" Parker asked.

"You totally pissed him off, that's what happened!" Faerie shouted.

"Is the shouting really necessary?" Cloak said, as Proteus made his move. He did not possess any of them -- as he couldn't -- nor did he possess anyone else. He just manipulated reality so that Faerie looked as if someone decided to paint her in a pointillist fashion.

This wasn't unnoticed by her. "Oh, I think shouting is very well necessary at the moment."

Then Aquilai took on the appearance as if he was rendered by Pablo Picasso. Cloak couldn't tell Aquilai's face from his gut. "Just our luck -- the kid's an art major."

But he wasn't through. Yarin was then in the attire of Whistler's Mother, in a rocking chair. "This isn't funny."

Then he turned his attention to Cloak. But nothing happened. Then his concentration seemed to waver from the others as he trained it upon Cloak.

Cloak understood at once what was happening. He was attempting to manipulate reality with Cloak as he did to the others. But he couldn't.

"You're wasting your energy, Proteus," Cloak said. "Your reality-warping abilities will never have any affect on me."

"Liar!"

"You see it with your own eyes," Cloak said. "The reason is simple. I'm not from this reality. I'm not from any reality really."

"I don't believe you." Proteus said, transforming four rocks into minute, identical copies of Faerie to attack her, causing her to complain, "I didn't even say anything!!"

"Believe it or don't, I cannot force you, nor I want to." Cloak said, addressing Proteus as tolerantly as he could.

"They're lies!" Proteus insisted, abjectly refusing to acknowledge limitations to his powers.

"Get over yourself, Proteus!" Parker burst. "The facts are facts. No matter if you decide to ignore them!"

Proteus glared at Parker. Suddenly the reality around and within Parker distorted, becoming surreal. The Walker tech wasn't sufficient enough to protect him.

"No!" Cloak exclaimed.

Proteus was literally tearing Parker apart -- physically, intellectually, and psychologically.

"Proteus, stop!"

[Cloak]

Well, let's see if I can post another chapter, we are ten from the end of this book.

CHAPTER ELEVEN:
Pull Yourself Together, Parker!*

"Proteus! Stop!" Cloak said, not even looking at him. His full attention went to Parker.

Eventually, everything reverted to normal. It wasn't that Proteus finally learned mercy. No, it was because he had decided to leave the area.

Cloak and the others were more concerned with their resident SPARTAN's well-being than chasing down Proteus.

Parker was shaking with minor convulsions, and it sounded like . . . like he was in tears. Cloak would not blame him if this was the truth.

"Parker . . . are you . . . are you okay?" Faerie said, with genuine hesitation and heartfelt sincerity. Not a tone she usually utilized.

Parker did not answer. He had a right to be surly, Cloak felt.

After a few moments, Parker stumbled to a tree, tore off his helmet, and promptly vomited all over the ground.

" Do you want talk about it?" Aquilai asked, with genuine concern.

"Not now," Parker replied, gruffly, "not ever."

Cloak glanced at Parker, feeling some responsibility for what happened. After all, he didn't have to say anything to Proteus.

But Cloak could easily see that Proteus was not a force to be reckoned with lightly. He wondered if he, and he alone, should go after Proteus. When it ca e down to it, Cloak was immune to all of Proteus's abilities. He was the best chance.

Still . . . he was a teenager, a minor. Perhaps he wasn't aware of his actions. Perhaps he thought nothing more than an interactive video game?

Cloak shook himself out of his relverie. Why was he making excuses for this monster? They should put him down like Van Pyrrhus, like Madre de Vampyra, like the Black Lanterns. . . .

But perhaps there was another way . . . if they could figure out his next move . . .

---
* I know, a bit "Dragon Ball Z Kai" as far as titles go.

[Cloak]

Well, a third chapter, then more, possibly, after a power nap.

Probably a brief one.

CHAPTER TWELVE:
Politicking Day is a Very Dangerous Day*

Meanwhile, Proteus was getting away, having chosen to wear a passing bicyclist in full bicycling regalia. He smirked impishly as he rode quickly beyond the eyeline of the RAFians.

So, he thought, this is bicycling. Not much to it, is there?

He rode for a time, before desiring another form. Lifting himself from this man's spandex-clad frame he pulled himself into a nearby collegian who had just struck out, romantically-speaking, with a peer. Well, that's why politics and religion are the stickiest places for conversation.

Anyway, Proteus, as with all the bodies he stole to wear, took control instaneously as soon as he was in. He had command over this collegian's memories, and he snickered and derided the recent ones.

"Oh, Nigel," he chided aloud with Nigel's voice. "Even I could tell you that you just don't talk with friends about such radical ideals. And I've been in a cylinder for twenty years."

He laughed Nigel's laugh, only tainted it with a malicious lilt. Then he decided to go a head and . . . uh . . . explore this new body.

But, before he could, he noticed a poster to his left. It was a political one -- "Vote Joe Savage", where "Savage" was pronounced "sa-vahge".

Seeing this Proteus's eyes burned a darker yellow. With a twitch, Nigel's body fell to the ground, like a pair of discarded jeans.

"Him," Proteus growled, and the street around him seemed to bubble red hot. Eventually, it reached a full-on boil -- literally boiling Nigel alive. Boiled by Proteus's wrath made tangible, made real.

"I'm imprisoned for two decades, and he only thinks of reelection?!" Proteus raged. The street was no steaming, and Nigel was already dead by this point.

"He will not get away with this." Proteus fumed and pouted. "He will not forget me. Not again."

Then the street returned to normal as he rode a tangible piece of reality like Cloak would right one of his energy discs. He had decided to find this Joe Savage.

Why was anyone's guess.

***

"Whoa," Yarin said suddenly, holding his head, as all six of his eyes winced in telepathic pain.

"What is it?" Aquilai inquired.

"Proteus," Yarin said, barely managing the pain. "He's really angry. Really focused on . . . on tjis Joe Savage."

"The mayor?" Faerie asked.

"The incumbent mayor," Cloak corrected. "There's an election going on."

"What on Earth could he want with him?" Parker asked, unable to keep the warble from his voice.

"I dunno," Cloak said. "But I'm sending for another two RAFians, for backup."

---
*"Rocko's Modern Life" reference.

[Underseen]

He is one of the most powerful humans we have fought.

[Cloak]

Metahuman, Underseen, metahuman.

Anyway, today's been a very creative day for me. Because after "Exhile" (remember, all titles are subject to change), there'll be:

• Book CLXXVII: Swarm of Super Men

The RAF must face a small army of Kandorians.

• Book CLXXVIII: Dullsville

RAF gets a "bug" which sucks all the creativity, all zaniness from it.

• Book CLXXIX: Technovampirism

The RAFians must deal with a malfunctioning, insane Galvan Mechamorph.

• Book CLXXX: Go To Hell

Several RAFians are forcibly transported to Hell, Demos's birthplace.

• Book CLXXXI: The Schism

An out-of-continuity book. Parker and Cloak's ideals come to a crossroads.

And I'm considering a "what-if" book. If you've a "what if" question, just PM me . . . if I get enough, I'll add it to the book queue, and the answer will be one chapter long. That is, if this idea pans out. . . .

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
RAFians Used Protect!*

"Sir," Cloak said, having trouble keeping the irritation from his voice, "I don't think you fully appreciate the danger you're under."

"I'm not interested in some fairy tale about a dangerous demonic thing." Joe Savage replied stubbornly. The man was at least late fifties, early sixties, and, quite possubly the most obstinate non-RAFian human Cloak had ever met.

The RAFians had decided to preempt Proteus's meeting with this idiot. They told him the truth -- all of it -- and he didn't believe it. Then again, he wasn't the mayor that gave RAF the level of government institution -- he was one of the opponents to that move.

"Listen, Mayor Savage," AniDragon said, calmly. She was one of the two backup RAFians Cloak asked for, the other was Cerulean. "Look at this reasonably --"

"I know my predecessor thought very highly of you freaks and aliens," he said crankily. "I do not. You may have limited government access, but that does not mean I have to kowtow to your every whim!"

"You don't know what this . . . this thing can do!" Parker said, very close to a yell. His helmet was off and there was an unnerving intensity to his eyes. "He can penetrate your mind with ruthless ease. You'll have no secrets from him. And I know you politicians always have skeletons in your closets that you rather not see the light of day."

Parker continued to look the mayor directly in the eyes, as he took a breath before pursuing his monologue, "He can also possess your body and the mere occupation of his conscious may cause it to burn up into nothingness. We've seen and examined the results of this. It appears you sould have not idea, not concept of what use he uses your body, unless your lucky enough to survive his -- its occupation of it."

Then Parker's eyes took on a dark, haunted look. "And that's not his w-worst power."

His voice involuntarily cracked a bit at that.

"Parker --" AniDragon began consolingly, but Parker shrugged it off, took a deep breath and continued.

"Possession and telepathy aren't its only powers." Parker said, though his voice sounded hollow. "Reality itself is a mere plaything to it. It can literally rip you -- mind, body, and soul -- apart and restore you, j-just to do it over again."

"And when does this issue come out?" the hardheaded politician said, already pretty much deciding not to believe a word of it. "No one's that powerful. Besides, I've my own security."

"You fool," Cerulean said, outraged. "You damn fool!"

"After all we've told you," Aquilai said, unable to stifle the disbelieving lilt to his voice, "you still thing your security, who haven't had any experience with such matters, can handle this?"

"Whereas we have had dealt with this kind of experience weekly to daily?" Yarin added. "You're not only a fool, but one that seeks his own destruction."

"We're wasting our time here," Faerie said. "He's already made up his mind."

---
*Frankly, I think it's obvious what this is a reference to. . . .

[Underseen]

He's such a typical politician.

[Cloak]

Yeah, and most politicians never have a change of heart. Not a genuine one, anyway.

*remembering the Republican nominees debate where some @ss booed a gay soldier and none of them had the balls to put him right. *

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
A Family Man

Outside his office, Faerie asked, "Well what do we do now? We know Savage," she deliberately pronounced it "Savage" instead of the usual "sa-vahge", "is Proteus's next target."

"But, it begs the question," Aquilai said thoughtfully, "the target for what exactly? Possession? Doubtful, because his other victims were victimized just because they were there."

"The fact of the matter," Cloak said, "is he has been targeted. Yes, the motivation is not clear and Savage hinself does not realize the gravity of the situation -- and, unfortunately, probably won't until it's too late."

"What are you suggesting?" Cerulean asked.

"That we provide him the protection anyway." Cloak answered heavily, knowing that it will be unpleasant. "Four at a time, in two-hour shifts. Round the clock. Remain unseen. Cerulean, Faerie, Yarin and I will take the first shift."

Parker wondered mildly if Cloak deliberately didn't give him the first shift, but his expression remained inscrutable, hidden beneath his helmet, concealing his uncertainty and reluctance to face Proteus again.

***

Meanwhile, Proteus headed, not for Savage's office, but his home estate. He quickly put on the guard to sneak onto the premises (though, technically, he needn't as reality bends to his will).

The estate was the epitome of opulence, excess and overindulgence. Everything within the overlarge estate was prohibitively expensive. It basically was advertising to everyone "I'm wealthy! Look at me! I'm wealthy off your tax dollars!"

"Figures," Proteus muttered with the husky guard's gruff voice. "Always had ambition, dear ol' Savage."

Upon entering and exploring a bit, he was finding the guard's body was starting to chafe. But he did not relinquish it. He needed time to look around, and he'd prefer to do that without a flurry of investigations and whatnot. He had to know what Savage had been up to in the intervening years.

"What are you doing here, Dan?" came a youthful voice.

Proteus turned and saw a teenaged boy, bit younger than he was mentally, about fourteen or fifteen. Proteus gathered from Dan's memory that this boy was Joe Savage's stepson, Tobey Ornotobi*, who refused to take his stepfather's name.

"Dan? Did you hear me?"

Suddenly, Dan's body spasmed. It was starting to deteriorate rapidly. Within moments, Dan's body burned out, revealing Proteus to Tobey.

"What did you do to Dan?!" he cried.

"He was merely a costume of meat," Proteus said, quickly and easily swooping down upon the boy, engulfing him and wearing him. "Ah, much like yourself now."

Proteus examined his new body and brain, commenting, "Oh, you're a strong one, aren't you? You'll last a long time. Dunno if I'll get tired of wearing you."

Then he examined some of Tobey's most personal memories and perceptions and conclusions. Tobey believed his mother's marriage was one of convenience, his mother needing the financial support and Savage needed a family angle, a completely politically-minded decision.

"Nice guy, wasn't he, Tobey," Oroteus said with an ironic smirk. He spoke that despite knowing for a fact that Tobey would have no memory of this and could not reply. Proteus was already pretty much deciding to spend a great deal of time wearing Tobey. He was the perfect disguise.

---
*"To be, or not to be", get it?

[Cloak]

Second chapter, methinks. May be brief.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
Places, Everyone! Places!

"Are you sure he's gonna show up here?" Faerie said through her comlink. She was stationed  in the catwalk, glammored invisible, something she didn't usually do these days.

"Probably not throough the basement," Parker said, as he lurked in there, in casual dress, but still packing heat. He decided to forgo his armor, withdrawing it into the special watch, as it had proven to ineffective against Proteus, wearing a brown boots, comfortable plaid shirt and well-worn blue jeans.

Cloak was disguised as a black-haired, somewhat hairy human with glasses and slightly wild hair in a stylish black cloak that caused him to melt into the shadows -- figuratively not literally. He replied, "Joe Savage is here. He's Proteus's next target. Logics follows he might show here."

Cerulean and AniDragon, both disguised as official-looking humans stood in the right wing of the stage while Aquilai and Yarin (disguised as a human production assistant) stood in the right wing.

"And if he does? Show up, I mean." AniDragon asked.

Cloak allowed a prudent pause, then replied, deadly serious, to AniDragon, "You know what to do."

There was a beat of silence before AniDragon said, "Oh."

"Now, everyone, be on the look out for anyone with glowing yellow eyes. He could already very well be here."

"He is not in my telepathic range yet," Yarin said.

"Be that as it may," Cloak said, "stay on your guards. Be alert, and be sure to report if you should spot him."

Then Cloak looked onto the stage as Joe approached the podium. It wasn't exactly a packed house, but about 90% of the seats were occupied.

Cloak narrowed his eyes, though the image-obsessive politician would not recognize him.

Joe started launching into a long-winded speech about deteroriating home values and such other political drivel. He made claims about how important family is and family values -- Cloak didn't believe he meant a word of it.