19.x (Bonus Interlude #1; Blasto)

Worm, Chapter 19.x (Bonus Interlude #1) Summary:

Rey, also known as Blasto, a bio-tinker, hesitantly approached Accord’s Victorian-style home. Accord, a meticulous and impeccably dressed villain, greeted him, offering a deal: in exchange for Blasto’s help in eliminating the Nazi capes who destroyed his lab, Accord would provide him with a state-of-the-art laboratory and half of Blasto’s territory after the job was done.

Accord led Blasto to a pristine basement lab, a stark contrast to Blasto’s usual cluttered and aging equipment. This lab was a dream, fully stocked with clean, high-quality tools and materials, including neatly ordered bins of chemicals and troughs of rich earth.

Accord presented Blasto with a database and samples he’d acquired, originally intended as a bargaining chip. The database contained PRT records on numerous parahumans, including detailed power analyses. Among the samples were tissues from various capes and, most surprisingly, a fragment of the Simurgh’s feather.

Blasto, observed by Accord’s ambassador Citrine, began experimenting. He explained his usual method of creating plant-animal hybrids through a process of budding and culling, using special seeds that acted as stem cells. His ultimate goal, however, was to replicate an Endbringer, using the Simurgh’s tissue as a base. He suspected Accord anticipated this, providing the samples for that purpose.

As Blasto worked, splicing the Simurgh’s feather with other tissues and creating a homunculus lab assistant, Citrine revealed she was bored and tried to engage him in conversation. Rey, although he preferred to stay quiet, talked to her about his work. He explained that he considered that what tinkers did was more art than science.

The news on a nearby TV showed the Slaughterhouse Nine attacking Boston. Blasto, focused on his work, barely reacted. He continued developing his Endbringer replica, naming it Morrígan, and monitoring its growth. He had also sprayed himself and his lab with pheromones to control his creations.

The situation escalated when Bonesaw and Damsel of Distress, members of the Slaughterhouse Nine, infiltrated the lab, killing Accord’s ambassadors. Bonesaw, intrigued by Blasto’s work, conversed with him while Damsel was quickly dispatched by Defiant, formerly known as Armsmaster. Defiant, in a biohazard-safe suit, engaged Bonesaw in a brutal fight.

Blasto, caught in the middle, realized he had to choose between his own survival and preventing Bonesaw from causing further harm. He decided to help Defiant, knowing it might cost him his life.

Bonesaw, despite being impaled and dismembered, continued to fight, using her altered body and knowledge of diseases. She also injected herself into Rey’s body, controlling him like a puppet. Defiant, hindered by a strange white smoke, was unable to reach Bonesaw.

Blasto, under Bonesaw’s control, opened the Morrígan’s tube prematurely, hoping it would intervene. However, the creature was not viable and died instantly. Bonesaw, using Blasto’s body, collected samples of other Slaughterhouse Nine members, including a crucial seed from Blasto’s own creations, before escaping into the subway system with him as her puppet.

Defiant, freed by Dragon, surveyed the aftermath. They had lost two suits and were unsure what Bonesaw had taken, but they had killed four members of the Nine. Dragon revealed they had also captured Manton, the Siberian’s controller, effectively ending the Siberian’s threat.

Despite the losses, they considered it a partial victory, a step closer to stopping the Slaughterhouse Nine. They prepared to mobilize, determined to continue the fight.