Week 13.2 – Plan B

Sorry for the late update, but I finally decided to fix something with the daily graphic that’s been bugging me for a while. It’s still not 100% there, but it’s closer.

Previously: Deus Ex Machina, in his civilian guise as Everett Cornwall, is visiting Acheron Boniface, known to the world at large as Invictus, in the clinic where he was taken after losing his arm in an incident with Twain. Everett asked Ron who he lost his arm. And now…

“I’m not sure what happened exactly,” Boniface said. “I caught that guy in the cowgirl outfit, and then he went all blurry, and then it felt like every nerve in my arm was being sliced apart. The pain was… Next thing I know, I’m on the ground and I’m not holding onto him anymore. I see some guy running off to get help, and then I woke up here.”

“And that’s it?” Everett asked. “Everything you can remember.”

“Yeah.” Boniface rubbed gingerly at his stump. “Itches.”

“You didn’t see what the cowgirl did?”

“Cowgirl was gone,” Boniface said. “There was just that guy in the suit, running away.”

“Interesting,” Everett said.

“You know what else is interesting?” Boniface said, still probing at his stump. “I could swear the bone has grown a little.”

***

The next morning was overcast as they drove back to New York. “So where are we going this time?” Digger asked.

“I told you, to get the mask,” Twain answered.

“And where’s that?” Digger asked. “Simple answer this time. No ‘You’ll see when we get there.’ No ‘We’ve got to steal three ingredients on the way.’ Just tell me where.”

[blockquote type=”blockquote_quotes” align=”left”]“Okay, that was too easy,” Digger said. “What’s the catch?” “What catch?” Twain echoed. “Simple question, simple answer. You said you wanted simple.” Digger looked out the window toward the approaching skyline. “I thought I did.” [/blockquote]Twain shrugged. “Chicago.”

“Okay, that was too easy,” Digger said. “What’s the catch?”

“What catch?” Twain echoed. “Simple question, simple answer. You said you wanted simple.”

Digger looked out the window toward the approaching skyline. “I thought I did.”

After a few minutes, Twain said, “Of course…” He drifted off.

“I knew it!” Digger said. “I knew there was a catch.”

“Not a catch,” Twain said. “A clarification. The mask is in storage, so we’ll get there too late to pick it up tonight. You’ll have to wait till tomorrow to start Plan B.”

“Which is?”

“It’s better if I show you,” Twain said.

“No, it’s not,” Digger said. “It’s really not. Tell me now.”

“Fine,” Twain said. “Basically, the mask makes you like me.”

“I don’t think anything on Earth could make me do that,” Digger said. “Even if I was drunk.”

Twain shook his head. “No, I mean it gives you my power.”

“What, the changing-clothes thing?”

“Yeah.”

“Why the hell would I want that?” Digger asked. “I mean granted, my powers aren’t the best around, but no offense,  I haven’t been sitting around thinking that all I need is the ability to change clothes to make me complete.”

“Of course you haven’t,” Twain muttered, staring at the road. “You’re too stupid.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Digger asked. “Why the hell would I want your lame-ass power?”

Twain’s jaw flexed as he ground his teeth. “Because,” he said, and pointed at the Drillers, “when you change, you won’t have those anymore.”

Digger looked at his hands. “The Drillers?”

“The seismometers,” Twain answered. “If you try to take them off now, you’ll trigger a signal that will kill the hostage. But if you use the mask to change, you’ll have no seismometers with no signal sent. You’ll be able to use your Drillers again.”

Is Twain telling the truth? And what difference will having the use of his Drillers make to Digger? Join us tomorrow for our next exciting episode!

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