Other Fan Fiction ❯ Lad 14 ❯ A Bloody Mess of Truths ( Chapter 5 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
The next morning the former SG woke up feeling more back to her old self. She was someone before the SH, and the slavery. She didn't think she'd ever feel anything close to a normal loved child again, but even if the people around her had their own motives for treating her the way they did she was willing to take it for what it was wroth. She didn't feel scary, or shunned anymore. She was wanted by people that cared something about her now. It saw sad that she might have to leave them so soon, but she wouldn't have to suffer leaving a world where no one cared about her.
She didn't change out of her baggy white nighty to head out the door to come to Peacock standing right at her door. It was odd that she was up so early, being know to over sleep - and already clean and dressed. "Morning," she said with a big sly grin. "Good morning...," Marie rubbed her eyes to make sure she was seeing right. Was Patricia white and blue now? Aside from the big red bow. "Patricia... What happened to you?" "I got a make over. You like?" she asked and took a pose. "If you like it, Patricia," she said with a soft smile. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?" "Nah, I'm not hungry for that stuff," she waved her light blue gloves in dismissal, then threw them around the sleepy girl. "I'm starving for the dish in front of me. Despite how unappealing it looks in this night grown." Marie frowned and pushed Peacock away sharply. "Excuse me! At least one of us can stick with a color scheme," she countered pointing at the red bow. "And, don't talk about my like food." Peacock chuckled with her sly expression unchanged. "So, I get a rise out of ya when I talk about your fashion sense, huh?" Marie glared at her as she got up close. "You know, this whole issue wouldn't matter if you just took it off, and --" Peacock was cut short by a surprisingly powerful slap. "You will not talk to me that way!" Marie growled in a low tone. The cyborg's Argus eyes glowed in a heat of anger, and she grabbed Marie and slammed her into the wall. "I'm making you an offer you can't refuse. I'm not gonna let ya," she hissed, then licked the dazed girl's cheek with a snake shaped tongue. "Patricia... stop..." the girl whimpered, making her snicker. "I...said... STOP!" She suddenly kicked her friend in the stomach with a blood blade on his foot. They both feel to the cold white floor, and Marie withdrew the blood back into her leg. "I don't know what kind of make over you had, but you need it undone!" she yelled as she got up and limped into her room. After she closed the door, and turned Peacock was right in front of her. She didn't waste time grabbing her and throwing her on the bed. "Well, I tried to play nice...," she growled out loud. Marie watched the bleeding wound heal as Peacock neared her. "Patricia, what have you done to yourself?" "You're not the only one that deserves healing powers! I have everything I deserve for being the hero!" she said making her way on the bed. "Well, I'm about to...," She grinned widely as her expression darkened. "Patricia, what-- why--?" Marie tried to move away from her, but Peacock jumped on her and pinned her arms down. "How naive can you be?! I've been fiending for you right in front of your face, Marie! Now we have some private time, and I wanna make use it doesn't go ta waste!" Peacock's blue sockets glowed with excitement! She shook her hat off and leaned into Marie. "I don't want to do this," Marie replied, but with no weakness in her tone. Peacock pause with a sneer. "Get of me!" The pinned girl suddenly jerked up, and bright blood shoot out of her chest and flung Peacock completely off the bed. She booted Peacock out, making her land on her face with her butt in the air, and threw her hat out landing it on her butt. "And stay out!" came with a nice door slam. "Good grief..." Peacock said holding up her chin, and tapping her finger on the floor.
After Marie got dressed in her causal hospital wears, she went to go visit Painwheel. She was still in the room before, but in a different position. She was sitting up with her arms and legs bound in a hard chair with pillows to sit on. She was also awake, and she glared up to Marie as she walked inside her space. She had on a face mask that was pumping stunned gas, instead of oxygen. "If you'd agree to settle down they wouldn't do these things to you," she said walking up to her smiling. "Shut up," Pain demanded. "I want to know your real name," Marie said, unmoved. Pain didn't answer as she continued to glare. "Oh, I'm introduce myself, first. My name is Marie. Bloody Marie, to some. I don't remember my last name," Another pause. "Coral..." Pain finally said. "Coral... That's a nice name!" Marie said smiling big. "I'm sorry about what happened to you. You don't have to worry about Valentine anymore. She's dead, now." "She lives on in you," Coral hissed looking back over to her. "I didn't choose this, but it is befitting that she be apart of me now. She helped me kill some of the Medici, but had foreseen her betrayal. It was only a matter of time, but Patricia interrupted that fate," she explained. "Why did you choose the SH?" "Revenge. I am a war orphan for a different country, as is Patricia. We were brought her as child slaves from our war torn land for the Medici family, but I escaped. A ran away, and Patricia was brutally mutilated and left for dead." Marie closed her eyes and sat on the bed facing her. "Why did you destroy Lab 8, then? They helped her, didn't they?" Coral asked softening her glare. "I didn't. Double and Valentine did that, very much against my wishes," she replied glaring down to the floor. "They told me you were kidnapped. They already know everything about you." Coral looked over to her in surprise. "If you want to blame me for what happened to you, go ahead and hate me. Put all of your hate into me, so when I die you can free from it." Coral looked at the sad albino and slowly shook her head. "I... I... can't." Coral looked down as purple thick tears escaped her eyes. "I can't hate you..." The blood powered girl looked over to her as she sobbed. "I only hate the people that took away my life. It wasn't your fault. I can only hate Lab 0, but this isn't just about me. The other girls they done horrible things to. I... must destroy them!" she yelled in fury, and the gas kicked in and weakened her. "Can't you just go home?" Painwheel shook her head. "My parents wouldn't take me back like this. I'm a monster now... And Filia, everyone at school... My life is over," she whimpered and continued to cry. "There's nothing I can tell you. I'm going to complete the revenge I sought to get as Skull Girl..." She looked back up to Pain. "But, unlike me, you can go back home and try to pick up the pieces, Coral. I have no home to return to. If something happens to Lab 14 I'll have nothing." Coral quieted her sobbing and looked over to Marie with a weak smile. "I guess... I don't know."
"Who's Filia?" Marie smiled wanting to change from a less depressing subject. "My friend... but I like her... I think I like more than that." Coral answered looking away blushing. Marie smiled big, and kicked her feet. "Tell me about her," she egged on. "Oh, well, she's very pretty. She was naturally popular, but she hung around me sometimes. We didn't start talking until she had ....relations with my boyfriend at the time." Marie blushed a little. "Relations with your boyfriend? You became her friend after that?" "We didn't care about each other. After I told him I wasn't putting out he kept me around for looks then ran off with whoever," said said looking over with a smile. "I still broke up with him after I caught him with Filia in the bathroom. Everyone was going to find out, and I would have looked stupid if I hadn't ended it there." "But, didn't they know about the other things?" "As long as it wasn't right in everyone's faces, like at school, it could be marked as a rumor. That was too obvious, and disrespectful to let pass." "Well, you had a great head on your shoulders about it." "I was upset, though. It made my feel like I had no chance with Filia," Coral said as she looked up and tilted her head. "I found out Filia's major relationships were with girls, and she just played around with boy between serious relationships." "...Oh..." was all the albino could manage. "She has a good track record with her past girlfriends. There's only 3, but I like to take things slow. She did apologized for what she did, and explained that he said it would be ok. I told her what I just told you, and she never spoke to him, again. He became one of the scumbag of the school." She looked back down with a big smile. "We became close, but then Samson happened, and she lost her memories. Then, I got kidnapped," she ended with a frown.
"So you want revenge on Lab 0. I'll help you, if you like. It would be good to take them down now before the new Skull girl arrives, and they kidnap more girls." Marie got up, and started removing Painwheel's bounds. Painwheel stood up slowly removing the gas mask. "Let's roll," Coral said smiling down to the shorter teen. An alarm went off, and they instantly knew make a run for it. The nearest window was in the room across the hall so they took the risk of someone being in there, and broke through it. A nurse screamed at the sudden rush, and they jumped out window -Painwheel first. She took flight with Marie and they headed towards Lab 0. An hour later, the alarms blared with a call for all active subjects to report to Assembly Room 54. Peacock, understanding she was an active subject, reported as the others did. A short female red headed doctor, a long with Dr. Preston's assistants were present in front of the group. "There are so few of you... We have a lot of work to do," she commented. "Some were sent to the other lab," the assistants said in unison. "Project: Painwheel from Lab 0, and Subject: Bloody Marie have left the lab. Bloody Marie has released Painwheel without permission, and it is assumed that they have headed for Lab 0. You will be given what you need to be able to find them. Bring them both back ALIVE. Does everyone understand?" she called out, and they all nodded.
Meanwhile - After a short pass for food, Pain and Bloody Marie stopped right in front of the hidden entrance to Lab 0. The lab building was built into the side of a high cliff, surrounded by a tree and glass field. Painwheel opened to door, and both of them walking into what seemed like a dark cave. They walked right into a vat room from the cave to see mangled young ladies in them. Marie's face frowned up in disgusted, and Painwheel glares with her red eyes glowing with rage and sorrow for the girls. "They might be preparing for the next Skull Girl, already," Bloody assumed out loud. Coral fought the strong urge to destroy the room as they kept walking to another door the lead to a large hallway. A doctor turned to corner as they walked out, but Painwheel shoot him dead with spikes. They came from the direction the doctor was coming from, and looked into some of the small windows as they went. "Brain Drain runs this place. He was right over me when they activated me, so he could be over another subject, right now," Coral said as they looked. "He's a big guy with his brain exposed. You can't miss him." They saw horrible things in those rooms, but they didn't see Brain Drain so they went to the next floor. On an upper floor, DB was looking over another subject as Painwheel assumed. "Brain Drain, guess who's back," a female nurse purred walking in, and up held up one of the spikes found in the doctor's body. "Ah... Painwheel." "I suggest a proper welcoming home party," the sadist nurse recommended and he nodded. "Do as you please, but bring her to me as alive as possible." "Understood."
When they got up to the 3rd floor, some brutal science projects where waiting for them. "Welcome back, Painwheel. I see you brought a friend! It's early for a sleep over," a dark green hair doctor said mockingly. "We don't appreciate what you did to Dr. Killina, but Brain Drain wants you alive. He didn't say anything about your friend, however." The brain washed girls made their way other to Painwheel and Bloody. "Do we have to kill them?" Bloody asked looking over to Pain. She didn't answer in time before they unleashed their various attacks. Marie and Coral both managed to avoid the wave of attacks, and the doctor through a surgical knife, that landed in Marie's thigh. The girl fell, grabbing her wound, and another wave of attacks went for her. Painwheel jumped in the way and blocked and attacked with her spinning wheel. "You can't hold back, Marie!" she yelled with her eyes glowing again. Marie removed to knife, and her blood ran from the wound much more than normal. She opened up a chest wound, back wounds, and various other places. "I won't." The both went in to attack the girls, and they flew like rag dolls! They shared relief that they didn't have to use powerful attacks and kill any of them. They had no means of showing the doctor the same mercy.
The doctor made his escape just before the team was done clearing the room. They immediately gave chase to him, but had to duck out of the way of more attacks waiting for them. These were all guards in armor, so it was ok to kill them. The guards all had heavily powered guns, but they were no match for a woman's revenge! Marie used a blood shield to stop the bullets, and ripped the doctors to pieces with long bladed blood whipped. Coral ruthlessly dismember the useless guards with spikes and wheel a'blaze! "I'm sure that was just to waste our time to buy them more time to prepare something more powerful!" Bloody called down, and Pain nodded in agreement. They hurried to the next floor, which was empty. Bloody moved forward, but Coral stopped her and looked around the dimmed room. They suddenly heard a clicking sound, and a light grenade went off. They both screamed, and sleeping gas bombs came in. Blood elevated herself with blood spider legs, and took Pain with her. More guards come down, and started firing them, and Pain was in a good enough position to blade with her wheel. Pain jumped from Marie's hold and flew over the smoke to attack the guards, while holding her breath for as long as she could. Marie attacked from up high with raining spikes bursting from her chest. She could only shot one round and remain above the gas.
They finally got to a floor where the elevator started, and made a break for it, instead of taking more stairs. Coral hit the bottom for the highest floor they could go to without a key. Other plans were clear for the duo when the elevator stopped on the 5th floor - 3 floors away from their goal. They took place on behind the opening and when the doors where forced open Marie the Pain stabbed the person that opened it, and ran out. "I'll bet you 2 think you're smart," BD's new right hand nurse side down to them. She was on top of a large metal monster of Lab 0's proud creation. In the transparent doom on top of if a decapitated girl's head was connected to the machine, making her a cyborg. "Subject 4 - 57, kill the albino, and weaken Subject 0 - 84!" the nurse commanded and jumped off. The girl's eyes flew open and she let out a pained scream as the terrible body powered up. Coral was on the break of tears for the girl, and Marie stared in disbelief. "We must kill you. I'm sorry," she said as they both got ready to find. Marie was the one she had to kill, so she slammed a giant fist down aiming at the her. Bloody Marie almost didn't make it, but she retook a higher position, but not as high as before. "Wow... Subject 4 - 57, change of plans. Subdue them both!" the nurse called out, and the girl screamed again. Painwheel jumped clean into the girl's head casing and started attacking it! "Coral, look out!" Marie screamed, as the girl went to slam of hand on the offending opponent. "I said don't kill her, you fool!" the nurse yelled. Coral avoided the slam, but it didn't leave a break on the globe. Coral sneered turning to the nurse. She jumped down charging for her, and Marie followed suit thinking Coral had some sort of plan. The attractive nurse threw syringes at them in a very familiar way which didn't win her any points! One of them hit Marie, but she violently ejected it with an exaggerated goosh of blood. The controlled girl turned around to grab them. With great timing they moved, and it was just in time for the nurse to be grabbed by her. She let out a scream, and the girl's head twitched at the sound, and the nurse ended so violently crushed her head flew into the air. "Great idea, Coral," Marie said smiling, and she smiled back. They both turned to the girl, who was now weeping. The girl let out a roaring scream and went for both of them. They moved out of the way of the wall, and the large cyborg broke through the bricks. "We should just hope that did it for her," Coral said sadly. They both headed up the stairs where BD awaited them.
They had to walk up the other stairs and break through the locked levels to get to him, which they did with ease. "Brain Drain!" Coral roared when she broke busted the door into his large office. "Painwheel," he replied unamused. "It's certainly a shame my finest, most beautiful creation had to come to this." "Shut up!" she yelled enraged. She made a charge for him, but Marie grabbed her and spikes shoot from the floor. "That's fine," she sneered, and aimed her arm at him. Spikes flew straight at his form, and the made contact, but didn't penetrate. "Is that all you've got? Is that all your revenge amounts to?" he groaned bored. The subject looked down and stared at her feet shaking with rage. Her wheel slowly started spinning, as if on it's own. Marie moved away from her, but she could feel her sister Skull Blood boil as Coral's did. In full rage, Painwheel screamed out with her wheel at full speed and blue energy circling her. The energy got into the walls and red thin lasers were made apparent. "Must... unlock... NEXT LEVEL!" she screamed. Her energy grew and broke the laser operation, along with the other electric parts of the room. "Now, now, Painwheel," BD called over, but she was too far gone to listen. Lights were exploding, papers were flying and furniture was moving. BD moved towards the window, and the was all it took. Coral lounged at him with a new level of speed. He flew in the a book case covered wall, and the books didn't have time to fall before the girl had him up by his jacket. "You think--" He was thrown into the air, and Coral charged at him with sparks fling on impact. When she got above him she turned and grabbed him with very spikes he put inside her, and tore into his body with her wheel. When they landed she picked up his disconnected head. "You're going to pay for all the lives you've ruined!" Painwheel held him over her head as she resumed her energy rage. "Painwheel, wait!" he cried out, but it was no use. She screamed out, and the energy over took her more so than before. BD's brain exploded inside it's shell, then the head exploded and it flew to pieces.
"Coral, you did it!" Marie yelled to her. She ran closer, and yelled "Coral, you'll die if you don't stop! What about your family, and Filia? They don't want you to die, and I don't, either!" the younger teen plead to the enraged Coral. Coral screamed again, and covered her face. "Coral!" "Marie!" Marie couldn't help but walk forward to her, even though she didn't know what she could do. A familiar voice suddenly yelled "YO-HO HO!", and Marie hit the ground as a cannonball flew across to room, and hit Painwheel dead on. The first hit lowered Pain's power, and she stared in the direction the cannonball came from. After an "AVAST!" cannonball she fell over and her energy stopped completely. Marie ran over to her and picked her head up. "Coral?" Marie asked quietly. Peacock and Corkscrew walked over to them as Painwheel come to. She blinked at them, then looked over to Marie and smiled. "Thank you, Patricia," Marie said smiling up to her. "Yeah, yeah! We need to get outta here or we're gonna be pancakes a long with the rest of this dump!" Peacock pulled a large clock from under her hat, and it was counting down from 60 seconds. Marie looked down to Coral, who was looking up at her, and they both looked over to the large window behind them. "I'll go first, this time." Marie used her blood to punch the glass of of the window before she made it out, holding Coral - Peacock, and Crock' followed the girls out the same way. Peacock grabbed the group with extended arms, and jetted them to a safe distance. She took them a few seconds away, and the alarm went off in perfect timing. Marie held Coral up so she could see the explosions coming from the base of the building, and onto the upper levels. Lab 0 collapsed within itself. Coral smiled brightly and tears ran from her eyes. There was knowing they could do for those kidnapped girls except give them a quick end. She looked up to the sky and sighed, then nodded to Peacock. She pulled out a cigar, and threw Painwheel a smirk as she started smoking. Crock' pulled out a syringe gun and shoot Marie in the back. "Oww!" She looked back to Crock in annoyance than pulled the needle out of her back. "Not this again..." Coral looked at Crock before she was shoot in the shoulder.
The albino was the first of them to wake up hours later - right at dinner time. She was surprised that she wasn't strapped to something this time. She looked over to Coral, who was out. She get out of bed and walked to Coral's side. She wiped her eyes with a long sleeve... Long sleeve? She just relieved she and Coral were clean, and she pulled back the covers to see they were also both wearing clothes then they had when they left. Marie gripped her stomach when it growled in pain. She didn't think about how she had loose a lot of blood using her abilities until now. Marie opened the door to see Crock, and Peacock already standing there with a rolling tray of food. The 2 watched Marie eat like she hadn't eaten in days, and Painwheel was no better when she came to. "What am I, house keeping?" Peacock groaned slowly eating her food so she watched them. "Hmm?" Pain looked over to her with her mouth full of food. "Now that Lab 0's gone what will you do now?" Marie asked as soon as she was done chewing a big bite. Painwheel had to think for a moment before she looked over with a smile. "I think I'll go home," she said before putting away more food. "What if you're folks don't take you back?" Peacock asked with a bored look. "Then, I'll go look for Filia," she answered sadly. "Patricia..." Marie warned in her tone. "No, it's fine. There is a possibility they won't take me back, so I shouldn't go home expecting the best. It's the same chance Filia won't want me, either." She looked back to Marie with a big smile. "But, I have to try." The brightness made the younger one smile back, and they continue to scarf down the food.
When they sun was down Peacock, Marie, Dr. Preston and her assistants, and Dr. Elise were present for Painwheel's departure. "I wish you well, Pa-- Coral," Preston said smiling. "If you ever need anything you know where to find us!" Dr. Elise cheered. "I'll miss fighting at your side, Coral," Marie offered peacefully. "I suppose you're impressive..." Peacock shrugged with a cigar sticking out of her mouth, but smiled at the end. Coral smiled as she took in all the good energy of well wishing. "Thank you, everyone!" Marie looked down, then gave Coral a sudden hug. "Be careful," Marie said before letting go. Coral paused then turned away with a big smile. "I will!" With the she took to the air heading home! "I don't feel like this is the last we'll see of Coral," Dr. Elise said brightly to Marie, and she attempted a sad smile. "Wither all goes well, or not." Preston said, and they all followed her back into the lab.
"I'm glad she's gone. She was a major distraction," Pea said eyeing Marie, and sliding her hand up the back of the girl's dress. "That's it!" Marie said moving away from her. "I don't know what you think you're doing, but it's not cute or flattering!" The doctors turned around to them in still surprise of what was going on. "Oh, get off it, Marie. I'm the strongest there is, remember? Don't act like you can do better than me!" she pridefully announced pointing a thumb at her in a full-on cocky pose. "Fine, then. I want a rematch!" she huffed glaring fire into the former red head. "Huh?" the cyborg paused for a moment, than laughed out loud. "A rematch? What makes you think you can bet me, doll face?!" She got in Marie's face, but Marie pushed her back, and pinned her to the wall with blood spikes. "This is a new Bloody Marie," she sneered. "Let's have to rematch tomorrow!" Dr. Elise cheered, and Dr. Preston looked over to him "Where?" she asked curiously. "OUTSIDE!"
The next day, the two girls where once again facing off against each other. The sun was at high noon, and Marie made sure to eat enough to fuel herself. Preston, and Elise were 2 among other doctors to witness the battle. They were a good distance from the lab, but it was in visible distance. Peacock still mentioned her blue appearance, with the red bow. Marie had on a backless black top with spandex short, and white gloves. Shoes would get in the way of what she needed to do. She knew the spot was clear of anything that would stick her feet beforehand. Peacock grinned wickedly with a shadow over her eye sockets as she huffed big smoke clouds from her cigar. "I think we should make this interesting," she offered her hand in a sadistic hiss. "If I win, you shut up and spread 'em on command, and I don't wanna hear any lip about your damn 'standards'," she demanded. Marie winced in disgust. "If I win, I don't want you to ever talk like that again! You'll also change to a healthier diet of REAL food. And, you'll stop staying up late, and sleeping in late, too," she countered and Avery popped at the top hat with a sign saying "I'm cheering for you, Marie!" to which she smiled. Avery may have changed colors, too, but it was good to know it was still itself - unlike her friend. Peacock missed the sign by the time she looked up, but scoffed with a shrug. "It doesn't matter what your terms are. It's not like you're gonna win," she said in her famous cocky tone.
"Are you 2 ready?" Preston called out, and they nodded. "Fight!" she announced and Pea jumped over to Marie, and shoved her head in her hat. The bear trap jumped out right in front on Marie, and she moved back. She grabbed Peacock out of the air with metal arm and slammed her onto the ground. She winced in the slight pain of wounds forming on her back, and blood bubbled out of them, but didn't run out like usual. She had to let Patricia go, and withdrew her arm. In giving to girl time to get up she could conjure up enough blood to make a decent attack. Peacock, unfortunately opened her hat. "ARGUS AGONNNNNNNNNNNY!" she yelled firing her eye lasers. Bloody Marie pulled a shield in front of her made of thicker blood than she'd remembered having before, and her arm for just-in-case reinforcement. She figured it had to do with her food intake, and she was thankful to figure that out now. The thicker blood was slower in move, however, so she had to think of a fighting strategy to accommodate that.
Peacock ran over to her, and as soon as Marie's guard was down she was hit in the face with a pie, and kicked into the air by a board with a fist Peacock had the power to manifest. Peacock jumped in the air after her, and pulled her into the Ball of Violence. Poor Marie flew out of the clouded assault and landed on her back. She wasn't able to be grabbed as SG, so this was all an unpleasant surprise. Marie got up, as Pea made her way to her. "My turn!" she called out and grabbed the mostly blue-scale girl by the face with her metal and through her into the air. "This is from a friend!" she announced crouching on her hands and knees. Thin wipes of blood spun around in a small fan that got bigger and wider and her opponent successfully landed in the blades. The move landed multiple hit, and Patricia landed face down when the attack was done. "Ahh... " She got up, and Marie noticed her voice didn't sound normal. She looked over to the doctors, but they didn't react. Marie got down on one hand and knee and wiped a slug-hammer shaded attack on blood at Patricia, which also successfully hit. "BADDAH - BOOM!" she teleported to get right up to Marie. She got on knees with a cigar, and attacked her with a hard smoke cloud. It didn't hurt Marie much, but pushed her away just enough for the perfect bagging grab. "In the bag!" Patricia mercilessly stomped on her until the bag popped blowing her a distance away. "Eyes of ARGUS!" she fired at the girl again, and this time fully landed the laser assault. Despite the pain Marie jumped back on her feet, and the cartoon teen flagged for air plane Georges' to kamikaze Marie. "And, they're off!" sounded off mini bombs in cars to ram themselves into her, but she blocked well this time - holding the blood as a shield while standing. Marie made blood come from the Argus wounds, and she launched long narrow spikes at the blue Patricia. Her pained cries sounded off from the direct hit, and it clearly wasn't her voice. "Meet the PHAT MAN!" she yelled pulling out Lenny from behind her back. The albino used her blood to form legs and walk backwards while keep her eyes on the toon antics, as Peacock tried to shoot Lenny closer to her with her canon, and ball shooting gun. Lenny blew up too soon, but a canon ball hit Marie and knocked her down. Marie threw her arm again, but Peacock get away with her "Hocus Poke You!" The Skull Blooded girl ran for Peacock, but she teleported behind her too soon! She was thrown into a bag, and heard "All together now!" before she more feet hit her then just Patricia's. She was hit repeatedly with a bat, and as if things couldn't get more painful she was blown up. Marie laid there trying to move, and Peacock remained turned away from her. "I couldn't grab you before, as the Skull girl. This grabbing feels good, but the next grabbing will feel even better!" she called over to her hopeless opponent. Marie slowly moved to get up. The pain and heavy blood didn't make it easy, but she made it to her feet. Peacock turned to her surprised, and grinned big. "You don't give up! That's a vast improvement from the you before!" Marie sadly looked down from the comment. She felt bad for running away, and the Skull Heart was to make up for it. That's why she was here right now. "I'm not going to stop getting up," she said with a smile pulling itself onto her face. "Marie..." Dr. Elise looked to Dr. Preston concerned, but she didn't react to his look. She launch her fake arm and shoot Patricia out far enough. She retracted her arm at good speed, and knocked her back with a well cocked back bloody spiked punch! She used her back blood to throw her into the air, and land another spinning wheel attack.
Peacock let out a very unlike scream from the attacks, and landed soundly. "What's going on?" Dr. Elise called over. Peacock slow got onto her feet, and half of her face was ripped off. "Bloody... Marie..." come out of Peacock in 2 voices - her own, and a darker hideous something else. Peacock's arms busted into purple tentacles waving wildly about. "Ok, this isn't in her.." another doctor said looking at the files of Peacock's blueprints. "Of course, it isn't!" Dr. Preston yelled. "What do we do?" Dr. Elise looked up to her in panic. "Now I understand why you were so persistent with trying to violate me," Marie hissed seeing the tentacles. "Well, not quite. I was acting on your so-called friend's will. I saw no harm in seeing how far she was willing go, but you are very strong willed. You even attacked her!" 'Peacock' laughed out loud after that comment. "Patricia would never want to hurt me, like that!" she countered. " 'Like that', you say? Then do tell, how would she want to hurt you?" it tilted it's head with the big sharp grin never leaving it's face. "She attacked me because I was the Skull Girl, and that's what she was made to do by Lab 8. She has no more reason to hurt me!" "You hurt her. You killed her Dr. Avian, and destroyed her new home of Lab 8. As if running away when she tried to stand up for both of you wasn't enough!" "Patricia, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have ran!" she cried out. "Too little! Too late!" It extended it's tentacles to slam an attack at Marie, but she managed to move out of the way. "After all you had done, I figured I would do this poor soul a favor, and give her what she wanted," it purred walking closer to Marie. "She was holding back, but I unlocked her animalistic side. You didn't see anything she truly isn't." The blooded girl groaned in pain straightening herself up, and using her blood to steady herself. She didn't know what to believe at this point. Patricia always seemed a head of things, some how. She was always so quite to do anything, no matter how much trouble it get her in. That's how she ended up being Peacock. If it weren't for how things went they would probably still be slaves, or dead somewhere by now. "There's nothing that I can do to take back the chain of events that have lead up to now," she whimpered as the blood patched on her body. "I can't fix how broken she, I, or anyone else is." Her face began bleeding from the mouth, nose, and eyes. "Our childhood was raped from us, but we still have our teen years to enjoy as our new selves." The blood took the shape of markings on her white face and neck. The blood in her mouth coated over her teeth and made her k-9s bigger and sharper.
"You don't scare me," it hissed at the form the girl she weakened was taken. "I'm not here to scare you. I'm here to kill you, and retrieve Patricia," she responded. Tentacles went fling at Marie, and she surprisingly dove into the attack. She cut the tentacles with blooded blades on her arm, and fired the metal arm to grab her chest. "I know this isn't the end for me, because my end is marked to another task," Marie said pulled the girl close, and stabbed the corrupt side of her face with one blood spike, and exploded into more spikes making the thing fly back. "Let her go!" she yelled going in for another attack The monster started wiggling wildly as it's form was starting to break down. "Let me outta here!" the real Peacock yelled pushing her hatless red head up, with the help of her oversized off-white gloves. "Patricia!" She spun around throwing a very heavy wipe attack that knocked them into the air, and Peacock freely jumped out and landed on her feet. She was in her white undershirt, bloomers, and purple boots. She and Marie smiled at each other, before the thing got their attention. "Damn you, Skull Girl!" the 'suit' form of a hollow Peacock yelled out. The form burst into tentacles as it did before it ate the Argus girl. "You finish it, Patricia." "Gladly!" Eyes formed out of thin air and formed a circle around Peacock's face as she leaned into position. Eyes kept forming aiming at the wiping tentacles. "Glare of Thousand Eye'd ARGUS!" she screamed and all the eyes firing at once. "ARRRRRGGGHH!" The thing released a blood churning scream before it was reduced to a massive blood spray.
The girls walked over to the bloody mess and picked up Peacock's dress and hat. "I think this outfit's done. Ah well. I have more." The dress survived in whole, but it was too covered in that thing's blood and she didn't to want to deal with having it cleaned. "The hat seems ok, though," Marie said looking it over, and turned it up-right. "Peacock! SQUEAK!" Avery yelled excited popping out of it. It jumped out, and hugged Peacock's face. Peacock laughed and hugged the bird, as the others ran up behind them. "Boss, you're back! We're all back to normal!" Andy cheered, with them all being in their rightful colors. "Gang!" She turned to them and they all group hugged. Preston and Elise walked over to them confused, but happy they were all ok. "Great job?" Elise said with a thumbs up. "Yes, a great job was done," Preston confirmed. Marie walked past them and putting the toon girl's hat on her head. She went into Dr. Elise's arms where she comfortably passed out. "We'll send someone to clean this up. Let's go back," Preston said and lead the way back to the Lab. "I'm sure you and Marie will have much to discuss when she wakes up," Dr. Elise said when they got back inside. "Why? What happened?" Peacock asked frowning. "A lot of things were said and done over the time that parasite had control over you. She understands it wasn't you, but some things came out I'm sure she'll want to address," Preston answered.
She didn't change out of her baggy white nighty to head out the door to come to Peacock standing right at her door. It was odd that she was up so early, being know to over sleep - and already clean and dressed. "Morning," she said with a big sly grin. "Good morning...," Marie rubbed her eyes to make sure she was seeing right. Was Patricia white and blue now? Aside from the big red bow. "Patricia... What happened to you?" "I got a make over. You like?" she asked and took a pose. "If you like it, Patricia," she said with a soft smile. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?" "Nah, I'm not hungry for that stuff," she waved her light blue gloves in dismissal, then threw them around the sleepy girl. "I'm starving for the dish in front of me. Despite how unappealing it looks in this night grown." Marie frowned and pushed Peacock away sharply. "Excuse me! At least one of us can stick with a color scheme," she countered pointing at the red bow. "And, don't talk about my like food." Peacock chuckled with her sly expression unchanged. "So, I get a rise out of ya when I talk about your fashion sense, huh?" Marie glared at her as she got up close. "You know, this whole issue wouldn't matter if you just took it off, and --" Peacock was cut short by a surprisingly powerful slap. "You will not talk to me that way!" Marie growled in a low tone. The cyborg's Argus eyes glowed in a heat of anger, and she grabbed Marie and slammed her into the wall. "I'm making you an offer you can't refuse. I'm not gonna let ya," she hissed, then licked the dazed girl's cheek with a snake shaped tongue. "Patricia... stop..." the girl whimpered, making her snicker. "I...said... STOP!" She suddenly kicked her friend in the stomach with a blood blade on his foot. They both feel to the cold white floor, and Marie withdrew the blood back into her leg. "I don't know what kind of make over you had, but you need it undone!" she yelled as she got up and limped into her room. After she closed the door, and turned Peacock was right in front of her. She didn't waste time grabbing her and throwing her on the bed. "Well, I tried to play nice...," she growled out loud. Marie watched the bleeding wound heal as Peacock neared her. "Patricia, what have you done to yourself?" "You're not the only one that deserves healing powers! I have everything I deserve for being the hero!" she said making her way on the bed. "Well, I'm about to...," She grinned widely as her expression darkened. "Patricia, what-- why--?" Marie tried to move away from her, but Peacock jumped on her and pinned her arms down. "How naive can you be?! I've been fiending for you right in front of your face, Marie! Now we have some private time, and I wanna make use it doesn't go ta waste!" Peacock's blue sockets glowed with excitement! She shook her hat off and leaned into Marie. "I don't want to do this," Marie replied, but with no weakness in her tone. Peacock pause with a sneer. "Get of me!" The pinned girl suddenly jerked up, and bright blood shoot out of her chest and flung Peacock completely off the bed. She booted Peacock out, making her land on her face with her butt in the air, and threw her hat out landing it on her butt. "And stay out!" came with a nice door slam. "Good grief..." Peacock said holding up her chin, and tapping her finger on the floor.
After Marie got dressed in her causal hospital wears, she went to go visit Painwheel. She was still in the room before, but in a different position. She was sitting up with her arms and legs bound in a hard chair with pillows to sit on. She was also awake, and she glared up to Marie as she walked inside her space. She had on a face mask that was pumping stunned gas, instead of oxygen. "If you'd agree to settle down they wouldn't do these things to you," she said walking up to her smiling. "Shut up," Pain demanded. "I want to know your real name," Marie said, unmoved. Pain didn't answer as she continued to glare. "Oh, I'm introduce myself, first. My name is Marie. Bloody Marie, to some. I don't remember my last name," Another pause. "Coral..." Pain finally said. "Coral... That's a nice name!" Marie said smiling big. "I'm sorry about what happened to you. You don't have to worry about Valentine anymore. She's dead, now." "She lives on in you," Coral hissed looking back over to her. "I didn't choose this, but it is befitting that she be apart of me now. She helped me kill some of the Medici, but had foreseen her betrayal. It was only a matter of time, but Patricia interrupted that fate," she explained. "Why did you choose the SH?" "Revenge. I am a war orphan for a different country, as is Patricia. We were brought her as child slaves from our war torn land for the Medici family, but I escaped. A ran away, and Patricia was brutally mutilated and left for dead." Marie closed her eyes and sat on the bed facing her. "Why did you destroy Lab 8, then? They helped her, didn't they?" Coral asked softening her glare. "I didn't. Double and Valentine did that, very much against my wishes," she replied glaring down to the floor. "They told me you were kidnapped. They already know everything about you." Coral looked over to her in surprise. "If you want to blame me for what happened to you, go ahead and hate me. Put all of your hate into me, so when I die you can free from it." Coral looked at the sad albino and slowly shook her head. "I... I... can't." Coral looked down as purple thick tears escaped her eyes. "I can't hate you..." The blood powered girl looked over to her as she sobbed. "I only hate the people that took away my life. It wasn't your fault. I can only hate Lab 0, but this isn't just about me. The other girls they done horrible things to. I... must destroy them!" she yelled in fury, and the gas kicked in and weakened her. "Can't you just go home?" Painwheel shook her head. "My parents wouldn't take me back like this. I'm a monster now... And Filia, everyone at school... My life is over," she whimpered and continued to cry. "There's nothing I can tell you. I'm going to complete the revenge I sought to get as Skull Girl..." She looked back up to Pain. "But, unlike me, you can go back home and try to pick up the pieces, Coral. I have no home to return to. If something happens to Lab 14 I'll have nothing." Coral quieted her sobbing and looked over to Marie with a weak smile. "I guess... I don't know."
"Who's Filia?" Marie smiled wanting to change from a less depressing subject. "My friend... but I like her... I think I like more than that." Coral answered looking away blushing. Marie smiled big, and kicked her feet. "Tell me about her," she egged on. "Oh, well, she's very pretty. She was naturally popular, but she hung around me sometimes. We didn't start talking until she had ....relations with my boyfriend at the time." Marie blushed a little. "Relations with your boyfriend? You became her friend after that?" "We didn't care about each other. After I told him I wasn't putting out he kept me around for looks then ran off with whoever," said said looking over with a smile. "I still broke up with him after I caught him with Filia in the bathroom. Everyone was going to find out, and I would have looked stupid if I hadn't ended it there." "But, didn't they know about the other things?" "As long as it wasn't right in everyone's faces, like at school, it could be marked as a rumor. That was too obvious, and disrespectful to let pass." "Well, you had a great head on your shoulders about it." "I was upset, though. It made my feel like I had no chance with Filia," Coral said as she looked up and tilted her head. "I found out Filia's major relationships were with girls, and she just played around with boy between serious relationships." "...Oh..." was all the albino could manage. "She has a good track record with her past girlfriends. There's only 3, but I like to take things slow. She did apologized for what she did, and explained that he said it would be ok. I told her what I just told you, and she never spoke to him, again. He became one of the scumbag of the school." She looked back down with a big smile. "We became close, but then Samson happened, and she lost her memories. Then, I got kidnapped," she ended with a frown.
"So you want revenge on Lab 0. I'll help you, if you like. It would be good to take them down now before the new Skull girl arrives, and they kidnap more girls." Marie got up, and started removing Painwheel's bounds. Painwheel stood up slowly removing the gas mask. "Let's roll," Coral said smiling down to the shorter teen. An alarm went off, and they instantly knew make a run for it. The nearest window was in the room across the hall so they took the risk of someone being in there, and broke through it. A nurse screamed at the sudden rush, and they jumped out window -Painwheel first. She took flight with Marie and they headed towards Lab 0. An hour later, the alarms blared with a call for all active subjects to report to Assembly Room 54. Peacock, understanding she was an active subject, reported as the others did. A short female red headed doctor, a long with Dr. Preston's assistants were present in front of the group. "There are so few of you... We have a lot of work to do," she commented. "Some were sent to the other lab," the assistants said in unison. "Project: Painwheel from Lab 0, and Subject: Bloody Marie have left the lab. Bloody Marie has released Painwheel without permission, and it is assumed that they have headed for Lab 0. You will be given what you need to be able to find them. Bring them both back ALIVE. Does everyone understand?" she called out, and they all nodded.
Meanwhile - After a short pass for food, Pain and Bloody Marie stopped right in front of the hidden entrance to Lab 0. The lab building was built into the side of a high cliff, surrounded by a tree and glass field. Painwheel opened to door, and both of them walking into what seemed like a dark cave. They walked right into a vat room from the cave to see mangled young ladies in them. Marie's face frowned up in disgusted, and Painwheel glares with her red eyes glowing with rage and sorrow for the girls. "They might be preparing for the next Skull Girl, already," Bloody assumed out loud. Coral fought the strong urge to destroy the room as they kept walking to another door the lead to a large hallway. A doctor turned to corner as they walked out, but Painwheel shoot him dead with spikes. They came from the direction the doctor was coming from, and looked into some of the small windows as they went. "Brain Drain runs this place. He was right over me when they activated me, so he could be over another subject, right now," Coral said as they looked. "He's a big guy with his brain exposed. You can't miss him." They saw horrible things in those rooms, but they didn't see Brain Drain so they went to the next floor. On an upper floor, DB was looking over another subject as Painwheel assumed. "Brain Drain, guess who's back," a female nurse purred walking in, and up held up one of the spikes found in the doctor's body. "Ah... Painwheel." "I suggest a proper welcoming home party," the sadist nurse recommended and he nodded. "Do as you please, but bring her to me as alive as possible." "Understood."
When they got up to the 3rd floor, some brutal science projects where waiting for them. "Welcome back, Painwheel. I see you brought a friend! It's early for a sleep over," a dark green hair doctor said mockingly. "We don't appreciate what you did to Dr. Killina, but Brain Drain wants you alive. He didn't say anything about your friend, however." The brain washed girls made their way other to Painwheel and Bloody. "Do we have to kill them?" Bloody asked looking over to Pain. She didn't answer in time before they unleashed their various attacks. Marie and Coral both managed to avoid the wave of attacks, and the doctor through a surgical knife, that landed in Marie's thigh. The girl fell, grabbing her wound, and another wave of attacks went for her. Painwheel jumped in the way and blocked and attacked with her spinning wheel. "You can't hold back, Marie!" she yelled with her eyes glowing again. Marie removed to knife, and her blood ran from the wound much more than normal. She opened up a chest wound, back wounds, and various other places. "I won't." The both went in to attack the girls, and they flew like rag dolls! They shared relief that they didn't have to use powerful attacks and kill any of them. They had no means of showing the doctor the same mercy.
The doctor made his escape just before the team was done clearing the room. They immediately gave chase to him, but had to duck out of the way of more attacks waiting for them. These were all guards in armor, so it was ok to kill them. The guards all had heavily powered guns, but they were no match for a woman's revenge! Marie used a blood shield to stop the bullets, and ripped the doctors to pieces with long bladed blood whipped. Coral ruthlessly dismember the useless guards with spikes and wheel a'blaze! "I'm sure that was just to waste our time to buy them more time to prepare something more powerful!" Bloody called down, and Pain nodded in agreement. They hurried to the next floor, which was empty. Bloody moved forward, but Coral stopped her and looked around the dimmed room. They suddenly heard a clicking sound, and a light grenade went off. They both screamed, and sleeping gas bombs came in. Blood elevated herself with blood spider legs, and took Pain with her. More guards come down, and started firing them, and Pain was in a good enough position to blade with her wheel. Pain jumped from Marie's hold and flew over the smoke to attack the guards, while holding her breath for as long as she could. Marie attacked from up high with raining spikes bursting from her chest. She could only shot one round and remain above the gas.
They finally got to a floor where the elevator started, and made a break for it, instead of taking more stairs. Coral hit the bottom for the highest floor they could go to without a key. Other plans were clear for the duo when the elevator stopped on the 5th floor - 3 floors away from their goal. They took place on behind the opening and when the doors where forced open Marie the Pain stabbed the person that opened it, and ran out. "I'll bet you 2 think you're smart," BD's new right hand nurse side down to them. She was on top of a large metal monster of Lab 0's proud creation. In the transparent doom on top of if a decapitated girl's head was connected to the machine, making her a cyborg. "Subject 4 - 57, kill the albino, and weaken Subject 0 - 84!" the nurse commanded and jumped off. The girl's eyes flew open and she let out a pained scream as the terrible body powered up. Coral was on the break of tears for the girl, and Marie stared in disbelief. "We must kill you. I'm sorry," she said as they both got ready to find. Marie was the one she had to kill, so she slammed a giant fist down aiming at the her. Bloody Marie almost didn't make it, but she retook a higher position, but not as high as before. "Wow... Subject 4 - 57, change of plans. Subdue them both!" the nurse called out, and the girl screamed again. Painwheel jumped clean into the girl's head casing and started attacking it! "Coral, look out!" Marie screamed, as the girl went to slam of hand on the offending opponent. "I said don't kill her, you fool!" the nurse yelled. Coral avoided the slam, but it didn't leave a break on the globe. Coral sneered turning to the nurse. She jumped down charging for her, and Marie followed suit thinking Coral had some sort of plan. The attractive nurse threw syringes at them in a very familiar way which didn't win her any points! One of them hit Marie, but she violently ejected it with an exaggerated goosh of blood. The controlled girl turned around to grab them. With great timing they moved, and it was just in time for the nurse to be grabbed by her. She let out a scream, and the girl's head twitched at the sound, and the nurse ended so violently crushed her head flew into the air. "Great idea, Coral," Marie said smiling, and she smiled back. They both turned to the girl, who was now weeping. The girl let out a roaring scream and went for both of them. They moved out of the way of the wall, and the large cyborg broke through the bricks. "We should just hope that did it for her," Coral said sadly. They both headed up the stairs where BD awaited them.
They had to walk up the other stairs and break through the locked levels to get to him, which they did with ease. "Brain Drain!" Coral roared when she broke busted the door into his large office. "Painwheel," he replied unamused. "It's certainly a shame my finest, most beautiful creation had to come to this." "Shut up!" she yelled enraged. She made a charge for him, but Marie grabbed her and spikes shoot from the floor. "That's fine," she sneered, and aimed her arm at him. Spikes flew straight at his form, and the made contact, but didn't penetrate. "Is that all you've got? Is that all your revenge amounts to?" he groaned bored. The subject looked down and stared at her feet shaking with rage. Her wheel slowly started spinning, as if on it's own. Marie moved away from her, but she could feel her sister Skull Blood boil as Coral's did. In full rage, Painwheel screamed out with her wheel at full speed and blue energy circling her. The energy got into the walls and red thin lasers were made apparent. "Must... unlock... NEXT LEVEL!" she screamed. Her energy grew and broke the laser operation, along with the other electric parts of the room. "Now, now, Painwheel," BD called over, but she was too far gone to listen. Lights were exploding, papers were flying and furniture was moving. BD moved towards the window, and the was all it took. Coral lounged at him with a new level of speed. He flew in the a book case covered wall, and the books didn't have time to fall before the girl had him up by his jacket. "You think--" He was thrown into the air, and Coral charged at him with sparks fling on impact. When she got above him she turned and grabbed him with very spikes he put inside her, and tore into his body with her wheel. When they landed she picked up his disconnected head. "You're going to pay for all the lives you've ruined!" Painwheel held him over her head as she resumed her energy rage. "Painwheel, wait!" he cried out, but it was no use. She screamed out, and the energy over took her more so than before. BD's brain exploded inside it's shell, then the head exploded and it flew to pieces.
"Coral, you did it!" Marie yelled to her. She ran closer, and yelled "Coral, you'll die if you don't stop! What about your family, and Filia? They don't want you to die, and I don't, either!" the younger teen plead to the enraged Coral. Coral screamed again, and covered her face. "Coral!" "Marie!" Marie couldn't help but walk forward to her, even though she didn't know what she could do. A familiar voice suddenly yelled "YO-HO HO!", and Marie hit the ground as a cannonball flew across to room, and hit Painwheel dead on. The first hit lowered Pain's power, and she stared in the direction the cannonball came from. After an "AVAST!" cannonball she fell over and her energy stopped completely. Marie ran over to her and picked her head up. "Coral?" Marie asked quietly. Peacock and Corkscrew walked over to them as Painwheel come to. She blinked at them, then looked over to Marie and smiled. "Thank you, Patricia," Marie said smiling up to her. "Yeah, yeah! We need to get outta here or we're gonna be pancakes a long with the rest of this dump!" Peacock pulled a large clock from under her hat, and it was counting down from 60 seconds. Marie looked down to Coral, who was looking up at her, and they both looked over to the large window behind them. "I'll go first, this time." Marie used her blood to punch the glass of of the window before she made it out, holding Coral - Peacock, and Crock' followed the girls out the same way. Peacock grabbed the group with extended arms, and jetted them to a safe distance. She took them a few seconds away, and the alarm went off in perfect timing. Marie held Coral up so she could see the explosions coming from the base of the building, and onto the upper levels. Lab 0 collapsed within itself. Coral smiled brightly and tears ran from her eyes. There was knowing they could do for those kidnapped girls except give them a quick end. She looked up to the sky and sighed, then nodded to Peacock. She pulled out a cigar, and threw Painwheel a smirk as she started smoking. Crock' pulled out a syringe gun and shoot Marie in the back. "Oww!" She looked back to Crock in annoyance than pulled the needle out of her back. "Not this again..." Coral looked at Crock before she was shoot in the shoulder.
The albino was the first of them to wake up hours later - right at dinner time. She was surprised that she wasn't strapped to something this time. She looked over to Coral, who was out. She get out of bed and walked to Coral's side. She wiped her eyes with a long sleeve... Long sleeve? She just relieved she and Coral were clean, and she pulled back the covers to see they were also both wearing clothes then they had when they left. Marie gripped her stomach when it growled in pain. She didn't think about how she had loose a lot of blood using her abilities until now. Marie opened the door to see Crock, and Peacock already standing there with a rolling tray of food. The 2 watched Marie eat like she hadn't eaten in days, and Painwheel was no better when she came to. "What am I, house keeping?" Peacock groaned slowly eating her food so she watched them. "Hmm?" Pain looked over to her with her mouth full of food. "Now that Lab 0's gone what will you do now?" Marie asked as soon as she was done chewing a big bite. Painwheel had to think for a moment before she looked over with a smile. "I think I'll go home," she said before putting away more food. "What if you're folks don't take you back?" Peacock asked with a bored look. "Then, I'll go look for Filia," she answered sadly. "Patricia..." Marie warned in her tone. "No, it's fine. There is a possibility they won't take me back, so I shouldn't go home expecting the best. It's the same chance Filia won't want me, either." She looked back to Marie with a big smile. "But, I have to try." The brightness made the younger one smile back, and they continue to scarf down the food.
When they sun was down Peacock, Marie, Dr. Preston and her assistants, and Dr. Elise were present for Painwheel's departure. "I wish you well, Pa-- Coral," Preston said smiling. "If you ever need anything you know where to find us!" Dr. Elise cheered. "I'll miss fighting at your side, Coral," Marie offered peacefully. "I suppose you're impressive..." Peacock shrugged with a cigar sticking out of her mouth, but smiled at the end. Coral smiled as she took in all the good energy of well wishing. "Thank you, everyone!" Marie looked down, then gave Coral a sudden hug. "Be careful," Marie said before letting go. Coral paused then turned away with a big smile. "I will!" With the she took to the air heading home! "I don't feel like this is the last we'll see of Coral," Dr. Elise said brightly to Marie, and she attempted a sad smile. "Wither all goes well, or not." Preston said, and they all followed her back into the lab.
"I'm glad she's gone. She was a major distraction," Pea said eyeing Marie, and sliding her hand up the back of the girl's dress. "That's it!" Marie said moving away from her. "I don't know what you think you're doing, but it's not cute or flattering!" The doctors turned around to them in still surprise of what was going on. "Oh, get off it, Marie. I'm the strongest there is, remember? Don't act like you can do better than me!" she pridefully announced pointing a thumb at her in a full-on cocky pose. "Fine, then. I want a rematch!" she huffed glaring fire into the former red head. "Huh?" the cyborg paused for a moment, than laughed out loud. "A rematch? What makes you think you can bet me, doll face?!" She got in Marie's face, but Marie pushed her back, and pinned her to the wall with blood spikes. "This is a new Bloody Marie," she sneered. "Let's have to rematch tomorrow!" Dr. Elise cheered, and Dr. Preston looked over to him "Where?" she asked curiously. "OUTSIDE!"
The next day, the two girls where once again facing off against each other. The sun was at high noon, and Marie made sure to eat enough to fuel herself. Preston, and Elise were 2 among other doctors to witness the battle. They were a good distance from the lab, but it was in visible distance. Peacock still mentioned her blue appearance, with the red bow. Marie had on a backless black top with spandex short, and white gloves. Shoes would get in the way of what she needed to do. She knew the spot was clear of anything that would stick her feet beforehand. Peacock grinned wickedly with a shadow over her eye sockets as she huffed big smoke clouds from her cigar. "I think we should make this interesting," she offered her hand in a sadistic hiss. "If I win, you shut up and spread 'em on command, and I don't wanna hear any lip about your damn 'standards'," she demanded. Marie winced in disgust. "If I win, I don't want you to ever talk like that again! You'll also change to a healthier diet of REAL food. And, you'll stop staying up late, and sleeping in late, too," she countered and Avery popped at the top hat with a sign saying "I'm cheering for you, Marie!" to which she smiled. Avery may have changed colors, too, but it was good to know it was still itself - unlike her friend. Peacock missed the sign by the time she looked up, but scoffed with a shrug. "It doesn't matter what your terms are. It's not like you're gonna win," she said in her famous cocky tone.
"Are you 2 ready?" Preston called out, and they nodded. "Fight!" she announced and Pea jumped over to Marie, and shoved her head in her hat. The bear trap jumped out right in front on Marie, and she moved back. She grabbed Peacock out of the air with metal arm and slammed her onto the ground. She winced in the slight pain of wounds forming on her back, and blood bubbled out of them, but didn't run out like usual. She had to let Patricia go, and withdrew her arm. In giving to girl time to get up she could conjure up enough blood to make a decent attack. Peacock, unfortunately opened her hat. "ARGUS AGONNNNNNNNNNNY!" she yelled firing her eye lasers. Bloody Marie pulled a shield in front of her made of thicker blood than she'd remembered having before, and her arm for just-in-case reinforcement. She figured it had to do with her food intake, and she was thankful to figure that out now. The thicker blood was slower in move, however, so she had to think of a fighting strategy to accommodate that.
Peacock ran over to her, and as soon as Marie's guard was down she was hit in the face with a pie, and kicked into the air by a board with a fist Peacock had the power to manifest. Peacock jumped in the air after her, and pulled her into the Ball of Violence. Poor Marie flew out of the clouded assault and landed on her back. She wasn't able to be grabbed as SG, so this was all an unpleasant surprise. Marie got up, as Pea made her way to her. "My turn!" she called out and grabbed the mostly blue-scale girl by the face with her metal and through her into the air. "This is from a friend!" she announced crouching on her hands and knees. Thin wipes of blood spun around in a small fan that got bigger and wider and her opponent successfully landed in the blades. The move landed multiple hit, and Patricia landed face down when the attack was done. "Ahh... " She got up, and Marie noticed her voice didn't sound normal. She looked over to the doctors, but they didn't react. Marie got down on one hand and knee and wiped a slug-hammer shaded attack on blood at Patricia, which also successfully hit. "BADDAH - BOOM!" she teleported to get right up to Marie. She got on knees with a cigar, and attacked her with a hard smoke cloud. It didn't hurt Marie much, but pushed her away just enough for the perfect bagging grab. "In the bag!" Patricia mercilessly stomped on her until the bag popped blowing her a distance away. "Eyes of ARGUS!" she fired at the girl again, and this time fully landed the laser assault. Despite the pain Marie jumped back on her feet, and the cartoon teen flagged for air plane Georges' to kamikaze Marie. "And, they're off!" sounded off mini bombs in cars to ram themselves into her, but she blocked well this time - holding the blood as a shield while standing. Marie made blood come from the Argus wounds, and she launched long narrow spikes at the blue Patricia. Her pained cries sounded off from the direct hit, and it clearly wasn't her voice. "Meet the PHAT MAN!" she yelled pulling out Lenny from behind her back. The albino used her blood to form legs and walk backwards while keep her eyes on the toon antics, as Peacock tried to shoot Lenny closer to her with her canon, and ball shooting gun. Lenny blew up too soon, but a canon ball hit Marie and knocked her down. Marie threw her arm again, but Peacock get away with her "Hocus Poke You!" The Skull Blooded girl ran for Peacock, but she teleported behind her too soon! She was thrown into a bag, and heard "All together now!" before she more feet hit her then just Patricia's. She was hit repeatedly with a bat, and as if things couldn't get more painful she was blown up. Marie laid there trying to move, and Peacock remained turned away from her. "I couldn't grab you before, as the Skull girl. This grabbing feels good, but the next grabbing will feel even better!" she called over to her hopeless opponent. Marie slowly moved to get up. The pain and heavy blood didn't make it easy, but she made it to her feet. Peacock turned to her surprised, and grinned big. "You don't give up! That's a vast improvement from the you before!" Marie sadly looked down from the comment. She felt bad for running away, and the Skull Heart was to make up for it. That's why she was here right now. "I'm not going to stop getting up," she said with a smile pulling itself onto her face. "Marie..." Dr. Elise looked to Dr. Preston concerned, but she didn't react to his look. She launch her fake arm and shoot Patricia out far enough. She retracted her arm at good speed, and knocked her back with a well cocked back bloody spiked punch! She used her back blood to throw her into the air, and land another spinning wheel attack.
Peacock let out a very unlike scream from the attacks, and landed soundly. "What's going on?" Dr. Elise called over. Peacock slow got onto her feet, and half of her face was ripped off. "Bloody... Marie..." come out of Peacock in 2 voices - her own, and a darker hideous something else. Peacock's arms busted into purple tentacles waving wildly about. "Ok, this isn't in her.." another doctor said looking at the files of Peacock's blueprints. "Of course, it isn't!" Dr. Preston yelled. "What do we do?" Dr. Elise looked up to her in panic. "Now I understand why you were so persistent with trying to violate me," Marie hissed seeing the tentacles. "Well, not quite. I was acting on your so-called friend's will. I saw no harm in seeing how far she was willing go, but you are very strong willed. You even attacked her!" 'Peacock' laughed out loud after that comment. "Patricia would never want to hurt me, like that!" she countered. " 'Like that', you say? Then do tell, how would she want to hurt you?" it tilted it's head with the big sharp grin never leaving it's face. "She attacked me because I was the Skull Girl, and that's what she was made to do by Lab 8. She has no more reason to hurt me!" "You hurt her. You killed her Dr. Avian, and destroyed her new home of Lab 8. As if running away when she tried to stand up for both of you wasn't enough!" "Patricia, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have ran!" she cried out. "Too little! Too late!" It extended it's tentacles to slam an attack at Marie, but she managed to move out of the way. "After all you had done, I figured I would do this poor soul a favor, and give her what she wanted," it purred walking closer to Marie. "She was holding back, but I unlocked her animalistic side. You didn't see anything she truly isn't." The blooded girl groaned in pain straightening herself up, and using her blood to steady herself. She didn't know what to believe at this point. Patricia always seemed a head of things, some how. She was always so quite to do anything, no matter how much trouble it get her in. That's how she ended up being Peacock. If it weren't for how things went they would probably still be slaves, or dead somewhere by now. "There's nothing that I can do to take back the chain of events that have lead up to now," she whimpered as the blood patched on her body. "I can't fix how broken she, I, or anyone else is." Her face began bleeding from the mouth, nose, and eyes. "Our childhood was raped from us, but we still have our teen years to enjoy as our new selves." The blood took the shape of markings on her white face and neck. The blood in her mouth coated over her teeth and made her k-9s bigger and sharper.
"You don't scare me," it hissed at the form the girl she weakened was taken. "I'm not here to scare you. I'm here to kill you, and retrieve Patricia," she responded. Tentacles went fling at Marie, and she surprisingly dove into the attack. She cut the tentacles with blooded blades on her arm, and fired the metal arm to grab her chest. "I know this isn't the end for me, because my end is marked to another task," Marie said pulled the girl close, and stabbed the corrupt side of her face with one blood spike, and exploded into more spikes making the thing fly back. "Let her go!" she yelled going in for another attack The monster started wiggling wildly as it's form was starting to break down. "Let me outta here!" the real Peacock yelled pushing her hatless red head up, with the help of her oversized off-white gloves. "Patricia!" She spun around throwing a very heavy wipe attack that knocked them into the air, and Peacock freely jumped out and landed on her feet. She was in her white undershirt, bloomers, and purple boots. She and Marie smiled at each other, before the thing got their attention. "Damn you, Skull Girl!" the 'suit' form of a hollow Peacock yelled out. The form burst into tentacles as it did before it ate the Argus girl. "You finish it, Patricia." "Gladly!" Eyes formed out of thin air and formed a circle around Peacock's face as she leaned into position. Eyes kept forming aiming at the wiping tentacles. "Glare of Thousand Eye'd ARGUS!" she screamed and all the eyes firing at once. "ARRRRRGGGHH!" The thing released a blood churning scream before it was reduced to a massive blood spray.
The girls walked over to the bloody mess and picked up Peacock's dress and hat. "I think this outfit's done. Ah well. I have more." The dress survived in whole, but it was too covered in that thing's blood and she didn't to want to deal with having it cleaned. "The hat seems ok, though," Marie said looking it over, and turned it up-right. "Peacock! SQUEAK!" Avery yelled excited popping out of it. It jumped out, and hugged Peacock's face. Peacock laughed and hugged the bird, as the others ran up behind them. "Boss, you're back! We're all back to normal!" Andy cheered, with them all being in their rightful colors. "Gang!" She turned to them and they all group hugged. Preston and Elise walked over to them confused, but happy they were all ok. "Great job?" Elise said with a thumbs up. "Yes, a great job was done," Preston confirmed. Marie walked past them and putting the toon girl's hat on her head. She went into Dr. Elise's arms where she comfortably passed out. "We'll send someone to clean this up. Let's go back," Preston said and lead the way back to the Lab. "I'm sure you and Marie will have much to discuss when she wakes up," Dr. Elise said when they got back inside. "Why? What happened?" Peacock asked frowning. "A lot of things were said and done over the time that parasite had control over you. She understands it wasn't you, but some things came out I'm sure she'll want to address," Preston answered.