Kapitel 32: Ch-31: The Awakening
The evening passed at the hospital, gradually giving way to the quietude of night. Insects chittered sporadically, filling the silence with their rhythmic hum.
Six hours had slipped by since Jacqueline was admitted and received a transfusion. Her vitals had returned to normal, but she remained unconscious, much to the frustration of the doctors who had expected her to wake up hours ago.
James remained vigilant, seated on the same chair, his eyes fixed on his sister. Trepidation etched his features, and occasionally, he would rise and pace around the room.
Anyone could easily feel his anxiety by looking at him.
Ethan stood by the window, his eyes fixed on James as he paced beside Jacqueline's hospital bed. "James, she's tough. She'll come around. Just needs a bit more time, is all."
James stopped pacing, and nodded, though the tension in his shoulders didn't ease. "I know, mate. Just... hate seeing her like this."
Ethan offered a reassuring nod. "I get it. But she's in good hands. And we've done everything we could."
Kkkrreak!
The door opened, and a middle-aged doctor entered with a clipboard, his expression sympathetic. "Mr. Falsworth, her vitals are stable. It's not uncommon for patients to take a while to regain consciousness after significant blood loss. But don't worry, she's out of danger."
James looked at the doctor, his eyes searching for any sign of doubt. "So she's really going to be okay?"
The doctor nodded, reassuringly, "Yes, she just needs rest. You'll see, she'll wake up soon."
Ethan clapped James on the back. "See? Told you."
James managed a faint smile, his eyes still worried. "Yeah. Thanks, mate."
After the doctor did a simple checkup and walked out, Ethan also excused himself. "I'm going to check on Edward. He's been through a lot too."
As Ethan left the room, he made his way directly to the bathroom, hoping to find a moment of privacy, so that he could finally access his rewards.
The hospital corridors were quiet, which was opposite of what was going through his mind. Closing the bathroom door behind him with a soft click, he leaned against it, relaxing slowly.
He pulled up his system panel and navigated to [Gacha] and his mind wandered.
The presence of Union Jack and Baron Blood had shifted his perception of this world. It wasn't just the MCU; it was interwoven with elements from the comics or perhaps even the TV shows, 'What if this is one of the 'What if?' universes?'
This realization brought a mix of excitement and dread. Also, Jacqueline being Union Jack's sister in this universe instead of his daughter might just be one of many things that was different in the universe, compared to the original source material.
The future knowledge he possessed now seemed more like a slight advantage rather than the definitive guide he once believed it to be.
Ethan knew he couldn't go at it alone. The strength of characters in Marvel's comic universe, especially in this era, was daunting. And especially, Mr. Sinister, whose existence was confirmed by Alfred, highlighted the dangers lurking in this world. Ethan's current power level was no match for such formidable foes. To survive and succeed, he needed allies.
Summons would be the best option but considering his current condition, that option didn't seem viable. With only enough currency for one spin, he hoped for a miracle, something that would save his ass if he suddenly came across some absurdly powerful character.
With a deep breath, Ethan opened [Gacha], clicked on [Spin x1] and the wheel spun.
Rrrrrzzzzzz! Click-click-click! Whirr... Whirr... DING!
The wheel stopped, and a reward notification appeared: [Congratulations, you have obtained item card "Neuralyzer"]
Ethan stared at the screen, looking at the iconic tool from one of his most liked franchises, Men in Black.
The Neuralyzer, while not an offensive weapon, could prove pretty useful in many situations. Especially, when he needed to hide his presence or powers, or even undo some decisions.
'Cool!...If I remember correctly, it had a dial to set the amount of time that needed to be erased. That's going to be useful. I could just say something to someone, observe how they react and then 'kachow!' back to the beginning.'
Ethan had just gotten the neuralyzer, and already, his mind buzzed with plans on how to use it strategically. A tool like this could help in more than one way.
Knock! Knock!
The sudden sound at the bathroom door interrupted his thoughts. He frowned. "Oi, there are other ones free. Use those," he called out. Silence followed. Then,
Pew! Pew! Pew!
Silenced shots rang out and bullets tore through the wooden door, hitting Ethan's back. The impact was absorbed by his [Slime] suit, leaving him unharmed.
But confusion flashed across his mind. John was dead, and his vampire minions wouldn't use guns. 'Could it be Hydra?' There was no time for speculation. His hands moved instinctively, retrieving his dual M1911s from [Inventory], their muzzles silenced by [Slime].
{Shadow Sense} had already pinpointed the enemy's position; he just needed to look cool while firing.
He backed up against the toilet, aimed the guns and then kicked the stall door open, his muzzles flashed slightly as he walked out firing.
Time seemed to slow as the Jacketed Hollow Point .45 ACP bullets left the muzzles, spinning through the air.
In that moment, Ethan saw his attacker clearly: a busty blonde woman in a nurse's garb, holding a silenced Walther PPK. Her finger tightened on the trigger, a frown forming on her face.
Time resumed its normal pace as Ethan's bullets accelerated, they struck her with precision, tearing through her heart, liver, lungs, stomach, and finally, her brain.
Her body stumbled back, her arm flailing upward in a reflexive spasm, firing the pistol in her hand. The bullet tore through the ceiling, leaving a jagged hole in its wake. Her muscles tensed, then relaxed, and she collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud, her body crumpling like a puppet with its strings cut.
Clink! Clink! Clink! Clink! Clink!
Spent brass shells hit the tiled floor, bouncing and rolling in every direction, their metallic clangor echoing off the walls. A crimson pool spread beneath her lifeless body, its edges creeping across the tiles like a dark, viscous tide. Ethan didn't spare her a glance and instead looked at the Exp notification that flashed before his eyes.
His mind already fixed on another thought as he dashed out of the bathroom.
'Shit!...Are they okay? I hope they are. I've gone through too much trouble to cultivate this relationship and I don't want to lose my first hard-earned minion to some cannon fodder.'
The hallway was eerily quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the fluorescent lights overhead, as Ethan sprinted toward Jacqueline and James's room. 'Was she the only one? That would be weird.'
A heavy gust of wind startled him, passing by him swiftly. 'What was that?' He spun around, but the empty hallway offered no explanation. Shaking off the unease, he refocused on his mission and reached Jacqueline and James's room in seconds. He burst through the door, his heart racing with anticipation.
Inside, James stood alone, his mouth slightly agape, and his eyes wide with shock. Three men lay on the floor, unconscious, their limbs splayed at odd angles. Jacqueline's bed was empty, the sheets rumpled and abandoned.
"James! What's going on? Where's Jacqueline?" Ethan's voice sliced through the silence.
James turned to him, shaking off his stupor. "I don't know what happened, Ethan," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "One minute Jacky was lyin' there, unconscious, and the next, these blokes burst in and started firing. I was about to move, but... but then she suddenly sat up and vanished. The next second, these fellas were on the floor."
Ethan's mask eye holes narrowed. "She moved that fast?" he asked, his voice low.
James nodded, still in shock. "Faster than I could see. Like a bloody whirlwind."
Ethan lowered his guns, his mind racing. "Right, we need to find her. She's awake, but something's clearly different."
James, regaining his composure, grabbed his coat. "You're right, mate. Let's move. We can't let her get too far."
Ethan sprinted out of the room with James close behind. Their frantic footsteps echoed through the silent hallway, the only sound in the deserted corridor.
Ethan's mind raced with excitement, recalling the earlier gust of wind. 'That must be her...Damn! I'm excited to recruit a speedster. Hopefully, she doesn't get nerfed just for the plot like the CW Flash.'
Then, he pushed aside his geeky enthusiasm and focused on tracking her.
As they raced through the hospital corridors, Ethan noticed a peculiar trail of tiny flames that seemed to lick at the ground, leaving a pathway of soft, golden light.
The doors they burst through swung open with a soft creak, as if someone had recently passed through them in a hurry. Papers swirled around their feet, caught in a miniature whirlwind that seemed to follow the same path as the flames.
Following the tracks, they burst through the hospital doors, and James's eyes widened as he took in the scene before him. Jacqueline, still in her hospital garb, was holding a man by his throat, who was suspended in mid-air. The trail of flame ended behind her and her eyes were blazing red, her mouth agape, and her fangs fully extended. The man's face had turned blue as he struggled to breathe.
"Jacky, stop!" James screamed, his voice fading in the distance. Jacqueline turned to face them, her eyes flashing with intensity.
She tilted her head sideways, her gaze fixed on James with an unnerving stare. Then, in a swift motion, she broke the man's neck and let his body crumple to the ground.
Before the body could even hit the pavement, James was in the air, suspended in the same position as the man before. Jacqueline's grip on his throat was like a vice, her fingers digging deep into his skin causing James's eyes to bulge as he struggled to breathe, his face turning red with desperation.
Ethan stepped forward, his voice calm and even. "Jacqueline, let him go. You don't want to do this." His words were laced with a subtle urgency, but his tone remained steady and soothing.
"J-Jacky... please," James gasped, struggling against her grip. "It's... it's me... James. Snap... out of it... sis."
"Jacqueline, listen to James. You're stronger than this. Let him go."
Jacqueline's eyes flickered, the ferocity in them wavering. Her grip loosened slightly.
"Jacky... we're... here for you," James continued, his voice strained. "You... don't have to... do this. We can... help you."
Her eyes began to change, returning to their normal state, and her fangs retracted. She released James, who dropped to the ground, gasping for air.
Jacqueline stared at her hands, horrified. "What did I just do? I... I'm a monster."
"No, you're not!" James said, catching his breath and standing up. "You're my sister and we'll get through this together."
Ethan nodded, his thumb pointing at James as he said, "He's right. We'll figure this out. You're not alone in this."
They guided Jacqueline to the backseat of the car, and once inside, Ethan closed the door and then turned to talk to James.
"James, what about those dead and unconscious attackers back at the hospital?" Ethan began, voicing his speculation. "Could be Hydra. What do we do about them?"
James' eyes narrowed as he thought for a moment. "I'll call up the intelligence. They'll handle the scene." He paused, his voice lowering. "But we need to keep any mention of Jacky's transformation under wraps."
Ethan's masked face moved down once in an agreeing nod. "Right. Let's make sure there's no trace of her turning into a vampire or showing any new powers. We should go back and clean up the trail of flames and get the bodies out of the room."
"Good call. Let's move quick before anyone else stumbles onto it."
With that, they left Jacqueline safely in the car and headed back to the hospital. As they entered, Ethan began, "James, you can take care of the flames and traces of her running. I will take care of the bodies."
James agreed with the plan easily, mainly because Ethan had already shown him about his ability to store things in shadows.
They moved through the hospital, their footsteps echoing quietly in the empty hallways.
James went straight to the trail of flames, putting out the last sparks with ease. He worked carefully, making sure to leave no trace of the supernatural fire or any other traces of her movement.
Meanwhile, Ethan went to the rooms where the bodies lay and transferred each of them to his inventory. As for the pool of blood left by the dead woman, he decided to leave it for the intelligence agents to handle. Afterall, leaving the scene too clean might also raise suspicion.
As they finished their tasks, they met up again in the hospital lobby.
James spoke, his voice steady. "Mate, got a team coming in to handle the scene. They'll take care of everything. We just need to get Jacqueline out of here."
Ethan nodded, his masked face apathetic as always. "Good, I'm done too. Let's move, then."
.
.
.
As they drove home, James couldn't help but notice Jacqueline's quiet contemplation. "Jacky, you okay?" he asked, trying to sound casual and downplay the earlier situation.
Jacqueline turned to him, her eyes still troubled. "I don't know. I feel like I'm losing control. And what I did back there... it was like I was a different person."
James' eyes softened, "We'll sort it out, Jacky. We'll help you get a grip on your powers," he said in a low voice.
As James spoke, Jacqueline's gaze drifted to Ethan, who was looking out the window.
"Thanks, James," Jacqueline said, her voice soft. "But who's your friend?" She nodded towards Ethan, her eyes fixed on his reflection in the glass window. The mask covering his face seemed to gleam in the dim light, making her wonder what he looked like underneath.
She felt a spark of curiosity about this stranger. Before losing consciousness, she had seen him disappear from his place and reappear from the shadows, behind John. She was curious, was he like her? Could he help her understand her powers, maybe even teach her to control them?
"This is Ethan," James replied. "We've been mates for a while now."
Ethan nodded, turned back towards her and spoke with slight enthusiasm, "Hi, Jacqueline. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Ethan," Jacqueline replied, her eyes still fixed on the mask. "So, what's with the mask?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Ethan chuckled. "Just a little something I wear to keep my identity hidden. You know, for safety reasons."
Jacqueline raised an eyebrow. "Safety reasons? What do you mean?"
Ethan turned to his side, his gaze drifting back to the rushing scenery outside as he spoke in a slightly serious tone. "Let's just say I've got my reasons for keeping my face covered."
Jacqueline's mind raced as she gazed out the window, the city lights blurring together in a kaleidoscope of color. She wanted to know more but she paused that line of thought and instead focused on something more important - Ethan's perspective on her situation.
"So, Ethan, what do you think we should do about my... situation?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes fixed on his masked face.
Ethan turned back, his voice tinged with excitement. "Well, I think if we can use your speed to our advantage, we could really make a difference in the war effort. Just imagine it - we could help turn the tide of the war, save countless lives..." He spoke, intentionally keeping mentions of her vampirism out of the conversation.
Jacqueline's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze fixed on Ethan's face, his mask gleaming with intensity in the dim light. "What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued, her mind racing with possibilities.
The enthusiasm in Ethan's voice grew, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Think about it. With your speed, we could help fight the Nazis, save the Jews from concentration camps... we could be the game-changers the Allies need. We could make a real difference, Jacqueline."
James shot Ethan a warning glance, his expression conflicted and his eyes flashing with concern. "Hold on, mate. That's a lot to take in. We need to think this through, consider the risks..."
But Jacqueline's expression had already changed, her eyes sparkling with determination, her voice taking on a resolute tone. "Now that I have this power, maybe I could help people, rather than just sit and curse myself for being a monster. Maybe I can use this to make a difference."
James sighed, his expression a mix of frustration and worry and his voice laced with a hint of desperation. "Jacky, we've got to be cautious. We can't just charge in headfirst. We need a solid plan, a strategy... And what about the risks to you? We can't just brush those aside."
Ethan turned to James, while adding five stat points to Charisma. He dismissed the skill notification that flashed before his eyes as his voice took on a persuasive tone. "We can minimize the risks, James. We can work together to make this happen. And think of the lives we could save, the difference we could make."
But before he could answer, Jacqueline nodded, "I want to do this. I want to help. Let's do it."
James could only sigh, as he buckled under his sister's decision…
______
A/N: Btw, they both are intentionally not mentioning about her vampirism so as not to aggravate her self-loathing even more. They know she is one but Ethan only focuses on the convincing her to join the team talking about the "good" her powers could do.
While James is thinking about his sister's safety even though he knows she has become a monster, but he has hope, especially after she controlled herself and she is his last family member left.
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Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein