#Nobody's hand picked team of people tasked with fighting interdimensional threats

[cv-nobody-and-associates]

"Are we sure about this?" Delgra considered herself a very patient woman. Living for 806 years taught a person a thing or two about that. But with Beet asking the same question for the seventh time in the past few hours, she struggled not to snap. She sighed, placing one of her hands in front of her face. 

 

"Yes Beet, we're sure." She answered, doing her best to hide the irritation in her voice. She was leaning on a rather fancy computer chair that was at odds with their surroundings, a barren castle-like room that wouldn't have looked too out of place in Dracula. 

 

Beet was squirming in the seat, having finished working on the computer. His beetle-esque wings seemed to shiver nervously on occasion, and a frown formed on the boy's green-skinned face. 

 

The computer was one of the two pieces of technology in the room. Well, three if she counted LT, the cyborg third member of their team. He was sitting on the floor near the back of the room, his eyes fixed on the last piece of tech, that which was connected to the computer. 

 

Delgra wasn't sure what the proper term was. Stasis Chamber? Reanimation Receptacle? Quantum Field Stability Unit? Something equally sci-fi? 

 

Off the top of her head, "metal coffin" seemed the most fitting. It had a singular black pane of glass that served as a monitor, and was otherwise featureless grey steel of a little over six feet in height. 

 

"It's just protocol." She explained, smiling a little to put the young bug at ease. "We haven't heard from her for a pretty long time. Long enough that we got the signal from the base to come here." 

 

"Indeed." LT confirmed, not moving their gaze from the metal coffin. "Though I must say, my internal perceptions of her basement were...different." Delgra rolled her eyes whilst Beet seemed to straighten in his seat. 

 

"There's more!" Beet announced, happy for the distraction. Delgra gave a subtle wink to LT, who nodded back slightly in return. "It's an old spell on the door, it means we can only access this level. It responds to the signal on that rune! Cool, huh?" Beet said, turning and pointing at the watch Delgra wore. 

 

It's shining silver stood out against the deep maroon colour of her scaley skin. Upon it was, rather than a time display, was an image of a small symbol. A rune, as Beet called it. She was a fair bit out of touch with tech/magic combinations. All she knew was that it pulsed when it was held up to the door. 

 

"Does the rune respond to temperature?" LT asked, causing Beet to giggle in amusement. "It's odd that a draconic being like Delgra was asked to hold it then." 

 

"It's just an expression, LT!" Beet laughed. "Cool doesn't refer to temperature in all contexts. It's...it's like saying something is impressive." 

 

"Noted." LT nodded to Beet. Delgra got the sense that if their black metal helmet had a mouth, it would have been smiling. 

 

There was a sharp hissing sound that interrupted any further thoughts. The metal coffin was starting to open, screws at the ends slowly undoing themselves. 

 

Delgra backed up, taking a ready and tense stance directly in front of the metal coffin. 

 

"Okay team, form up." She said firmly. "LT, take left. Beet, you take right. We don't look if what comes out will be hostile or not, but knowing Nobody I wouldn't be surprised if it needs souls for breakfast." 

 

"Doubt it. The soul in there feels normal." Beet said. Delgra glanced over to her right to see Beet's eyes glowing green. He held his hands out, a spinning ball of energy in between them. 

 

"Vital signs match complenious humanoid." LT added. Delgra didn't respond, but she did raise an eyebrow as a metallic BANG rang out through the room. 

 

The walls seemed to shiver uncertainly, as though the entire room wasn't clear on how it was meant to react. A white mist filled the air, within which Delgra could see a figure collapsed onto their hands and knees. For a time, there was no sound aside from the figure's desperate, hungry breaths. 

 

They appeared to be female in form, Delgra noticed. A well-built form, not especially bulky but clearly with some muscle. Well developed as well, around early to mid twenties if she had to guess a human age range. They - she? - wore what appeared to be a one piece bodysuit that left their legs below the knee and their forearms exposed. 

 

The suit was black as night, save for the symbol of its creator - a pale white question mark - clearly visible upon the stomach. The figure's skin was stone-grey, and they had what appeared to be rather short, white hair. 

 

"W-what…" The figure slurred. Their voice was a little higher than Delgra expected based on their body, but it matched the form in that it was clearly feminine. The figure didn't even have a chance to look up before slender steel serpent-like appendages emerged from the coffin. 

 

The figure screamed in agony as the steel serpents seemed to connect to her neck. Her eyes went wide, and Delgra saw that they too were pitch black, though there was the exception of yellow sclera that couldn't seem to decide between a round humanoid eye shape and the narrow slits of an animal. 

 

[ERROR - SUBJECT INTERNAL STORAGE IS INSUFFICIENT. DATA TRANSFER FAILING] 

 

Delgra motioned for Beet and LT to assist in removing the silver plugs whilst she approached the figure carefully. Her nose appeared to be bleeding, and even when Delgra was right in her face she didn't seem capable of registering her presence.

 

"Can you hear me?" Delgra attempted. No response. Beet and LT struggled to pull out the plugs, managing to dislodge one from each arm. They moved to the slightly larger cable connected to the figure's neck. 

 

"My team and I are here to help you." She pushed on, hoping that her words were reaching the figure on some level. "My name is Delgra, and I'm going to make sure you come out of this okay." 

 

"Just a little more…!" Beet pulled on the neck cable with all his might, his wings carrying him off the ground and allowing him to pull it even more. LT was using a finger-mounted precision laser to carefully remove it from its matching socket on the neck. 

 

"GOT IT!" Beet staggered a little in the air as the cable tumbled back. Similar to the severed tendrils of a squid or octopus, it flailed around for a few moments before it seemed to be pulled back within the metal coffin. The figure's bleeding had stopped, and her head now faced clearly forward. Delgra took a few steps back. 

 

The figure was glaring. She didn't quite understand why, but she could easily see the hostility in her gaze. 

 

"Intruders...program interrupted…" She muttered, managing to pull herself to a standing position. Delgra noticed the figure's hands were curled into fists, so she held up her arms defensively. 

 

"Easy there, hun. You're in no shape to start a fight." She gave a small and patient smile. 

 

"Indeed. Scans indicate a lack of exterior damage, but you may still have some internal-" LT didn't get a chance to finish their diagnosis as the figure suddenly leapt towards them. They tried to move back, but the figure seemed prepared for that. 

 

The sleeve of her pitch black suit shifted, growing and forming a blade over her arm. She thrusted it forth, managing to tear through LT's armour. They made a sparking hiss sound in response, about the closest the cyborg ever got to grunting in pain. 

 

"Hey, stay away from him!" Beet charged, but again the figure's suit seemed to react. The figure had barely looked back before a series of tendrils spring from the blackness to stab at Beet, who managed to evade them with surprising grace. 

 

The figure's blade expanded out and changed shape, forming a rough grip around LT. With a yell, she flung him savagely at Beet, who was pushed onto the wall as he tried his best to steady his ally. 

 

"Guys, stay back!" Delgra called out. Beet looked ready to protest, but she was insistent. "I can handle this. Besides, orders were clear on not damaging her." 

 

"Looks like she didn't get the damn message!" Beet called. 

 

 Delgra managed to easily dodge an incoming blow, this one a simple punch from the figure's non morphed arm. She seemed surprised and nearly stumbled before pushing back and switching to a slightly more wary stance. 

 

"You're strong. LT'S armour was meant to be practically unbreakable." Delgra commented, taking a fighting stance. She and the figure began to circle one another slowly, each waiting for the inevitable end to their stalemate. "But you're not thinking, you're just reacting. That suit's faster than your thoughts right now. Your head's still fuzzy, isn't it?" 

 

The figure growled, but she made no gesture of denial. Her eyes narrowed, and Delgra brought her arms together for a block. The figure began to charge forth, until suddenly she stopped. 

 

Delgra's watch glowed a bright blue, the symbol upon it expanding and forming a pentagonal pattern with a single curved line within. 

 

The figure shifted immediately, falling out of any kind of fighting stance and instead standing upright with arms held at the sides. Delgra raised an eyebrow, but Beet seemed to catch on to something, pulling himself up. 

 

"Oh, I get it now!" He rushed over to more closely examine the symbol. Delgra shot him a worried look, but he ignored it. "That symbol doesn't just act as a signal to the house. It's a control seal!" 

 

"So it's controlling her?" Delgra asked. Beet shook his head. 

 

"No, this isn't complex enough for that. See how it only had a single line? All it does is calm and steady the target when activated. It would seem the watch has it keyed so it only responds to her." Beet explained. LT pulled themself up and stood by the other two. 

 

"A genetic lock, perhaps?" They speculated. "It seemed to activate upon eye contact with the target. A retinal scan may be involved." 

 

"I'm just glad it stopped the fighting." Delgra sighed. She noticed the figure in front of them all was now looking more confused than hostile. She seemed almost completely different, looking around the room uncertainly. 

 

"How are you feeling?" The figure's head quickly snapped back to Delgra, her expression nervous. 

 

"I...know that." She pointed at the symbol displayed upon Delgra's watch that had projected itself outward into a shield-like fashion. "Wait, no, sorry." Delgra raised an eyebrow as the figure apologised.

 

"The sigil is recognised." The figure said. "I am designated as the Nobody of project Alternate, Omega protocol variation. Identify yourselves with your given designations." 

 

"BugBoy." Beet declared first. 

 

"Lord Terronus" LT continued. 

 

"DragonGal." Delgra finished, holding her hand out. The new Nobody looked at it uncertainly. "There's nothing in the protocol that says we can't shake hands, right?"  

 

"I...I don't think so." She replied, before wincing. "Sorry, your statement is acknowledged and confirmed." She stated, swiftly taking Delgra's hand and shaking it in the gentlest way possible before releasing it. 

 

"You can relax, you know. She's not here to yell at us about etiquette or anything." Delgra chuckled, managing to draw a laugh out of the new Nobody in turn. 

 

"If you say so." She shrugged, seeming to relax somewhat. There was still a sense of stiffness to her movements, though Delgra guessed that might have been linked to the metal coffin and its confined space. "The instructions I was given suggested individuality wasn't permitted." 

 

"Pretty hypocritical, given she left to do some work on herself and not for a mission." Beet commented. The new Nobody- 

 

"You should probably her your own name actually, this is getting confusing in my head." Delgra sighed. The new Nobody paused for a moment. 

 

"I was given permission to do that much, I think." She said quietly. "I'll keep it simple - call me Nao." 

 

"Nao?" Delgra asked. 

 

"An abbreviation. For Nobody Alternate Omega, correct?" LT deduced, to which the newly dubbed Nao nodded. 

 

"That's right. It's simple and efficient." She hesitated before quietly adding, "Plus I like the sound of it." 

 

"As good a reason as any." Delgra nodded. "Welcome to the Realm Defence Squad, Nao. And whilst we're on the subject, welcome to Internia. Creatorverse, specifically." 

 

"I'm honoured, ma'am." Nao bowed briefly. Delgra wasn't keen on the formality, but she didn't want to start anything over it and so she endured with only a slightly uncomfortable expression. "I trust that given I'm awake, the original is absent?" 

 

"Correct." LT confirmed. "Nobody had not been seen in this Internia dimension for some time, and with her absence there has been an increase in interdimensional activity." 

 

"Really? How bad is it?" Nao asked. Delgra sighed for a moment before replying. 

 

"Nothing too difficult to handle, but we figured the extra hands would be useful." 

 

"And the powers!" Beet chimed in, prompting Delgra to nod. 

 

"And the powers." She agreed. "Plus, without Nobody there isn't anyone keeping watch over this city. A lot of crazy stuff happens here, even without extradimensional threats to worry about." She couldn't help but notice that Nao's expression had shifted, their mouth set into a frown that seemed to radiate a sense of shame. 

 

"I-I see." Nao stammered. "I'm sorry, but my powers are...incomplete." She looked down at her hands, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. Delgra raised an eyebrow. 

 

"What exactly do you mean by 'incomplete?'"? She asked. "You seem capable enough in battle." 

 

"I…" She seemed hesitant to explain, as though the state of her powers was embarrassing. "The original Nobody wasn't compatible with any kind of recreation tools, neither science nor magic. So my form is made from a series of beings meant to match her as close as possible." The suit Nao wore seemed to shift as she spoke. Whether it was Nao's unconscious reaction or the suit itself possessed some form of autonomy, Delgra couldn't say. 

 

"That explains the insufficient data thing." Delgra said. Nao flinched at her words, no doubt recalling the painful neck wires. "Don t worry about it. We don't need you to be on her level any time soon. For now, I suspect your current power should prove sufficient." 

 

"Thank you." Nao seemed to relax, prompting Delgra to smile. It was nice to see her at ease, she couldn't help but think. It was a good look for her. 

 

"So, wanna head out of this basement and get out into the city?" She extended a hand forth. Nao took it, a small smile on her face. 

 

"Gladly." 

 

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