Transcendence Chapter 6

Story by Nex_Canis on SoFurry

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#6 of Jason Wolfe: Transcendence


**Chapter 6: Descent From the Past

Newroads, Rose Residence**

Warren was sitting on the on the back of an ambulance by the time Jason and Brett drove up to Jen's home. Police cars surrounded the red-bricked townhouse, investigators drifting in and out as they compiled reports. Neighbours had gathered around and were being interviewed by police while bystanders merely stopped and pointed, wondering what was happening.

Jason leapt out of the car leaving Brett struggling with the seatbelt.

"Warren!"

The big red dragon looked up and gave him a shaky smile. "Jason!"

A police officer stopped him. "Sorry son, this is a crime scene."

"But -"

"He's with me," Warren announced, leaping off the ambulance and throwing aside the blanket he had been offered. The officer nodded and went back to restraining the remaining civilians from barging into the crime scene.

"What happened?" Jason demanded.

"Damned if I knew..." the dragon growled. He had a nasty gash across his forehead with a rough bandage wrapped around it. The bleeding looked to have stopped but it was still a severe injury. "When we got home this evening, the house was trashed. Before I knew what was happened, I was out. I heard Jen scream before I passed out but that's about it.

"I woke up hours later with half my brain on the floor and I barely managed to call the cops..."

"Must've been a heavy hit to knock out a big gut like Warren," Optimist murmured.

"And remember he's a Marine," Pessimist added.

"Any idea who it might've been?" Jason asked, panic rising in his voice. Jen was one of his closest friends. He had already lost Kevin and Connor. He wasn't about to lose her too.

"If I knew, I wouldn't be here talking to these idiots," Warren growled, gesturing at the large number of policemen just standing around trying to look busy. "Anyone with half a brain would know it was the goddamn mob that did this..."

"The mob?" Brett asked, finally freeing himself from the convertible. "What makes you say that?"

Warren growled again, causing Brett to stagger back a little. "Think about it! One of their better drug mules gets thrown into rehab and now they're coming after the guys that sent him there!"

That made a lot of sense... in a clichéd gangster-movie sort of way. Cops send important mob member to some place and then mob retaliates by targeting the most important people in said cops' lives. There's an exchange of blackmails and shady deals, some attempted assassinations and eventually, the two sides agree to a trade...

... Which usually ends in bloodshed and gunfire...

But in reality...

"Why would they?" Brett asked, a little warily. "Was Kyle that important to them that they had to go kidnapping Jen? And what will it accomplish? They can't hope to ransom off her for Kyle because Kyle isn't under police jurisdiction. It just doesn't make sense!"

"It doesn't have to!" Warren snarled, balling his fists. "The fact is, Jen is gone and the prime suspects are the mobsters that Kyle was working for! You agree with me, right Jason?"

Oh crap...

It was the worst possible place he could be in.

Between his best friend and his mate...

"Be diplomatic," Optimist soothed. "We don't have enough evidence to say that one or the other is right and we don't even have the power to go out and do anything."

"Like hell we do!" Pessimist cried. "Jason still has Genesis and all he needs to do is give Dan and Chris a call and they'll come running!"

"What? And ruin their date?"

"You know as well as I do that Warren is right! Who else could it be!? It's way too organised. They knew where to strike, they were inside Jen's house and they targeted her specifically! It has to be related to Kyle!"

"I say side with Brett," Horndog offered.

Why...? Jason asked mentally.

"Well, because you're more likely to screw him than Brett."

WHAM! WHAM! CLANG!

Jason jumped slightly.

Optimist wasn't holding a Flying Frozen Tuna of Death anymore. Instead, he was wielding to icy, cold marlins connected by chains.

Huh?

"They're my Dual Harmonious Frost Marlins +1," Optimist explained, grinning broadly and hefting his two weapons deftly. "I was getting tired of getting hit on the head with a flaming frying pan and being penetrated by rubber phalluses. So I upgraded!"

'Dual Harmonious Frost Marlins...?'

"+ 1," added Optimist.

I am so going insane...

... but Optimist was right.

"Warren, we can't do anything about this... not yet," he said, gently wrapping an arm around Warren's shoulder. "Look... We'll take you back to our house. You're not thinking straight."

"Goddamnit!" Warren snarled, shaking violently. "Jen is gone, Jason... I... I can't just sit here and do nothing!"

"You are doing something. You're recovering. Now come on. We'll get someone to tell us what happened after they're done investigating. Right now, you need rest."

Warren followed Jason numbly back to the car. The anger boiling from the dragon was almost blistering to the touch. A small growl was quickly growing behind Jason as he drove and he had to resist not looking back at his friend. Just staring into those seething blue eyes almost burned his retinas.

He was tempted to give Dan a call but he resolved that this was one problem he could solve without his father and Robin.

If I can get Warren to calm down, I'm sure everything will be fine...

There's really nothing he can do...

But me, on the other hand...

It had been a long while since the Seraphic Swordsman had been seen in the streets.

Maybe it was time to make a reappearance... if just to find a good friend.

When Jason parked the car back in front of his old home, Warren was still fuming.

"He's really taking this hard..." Brett murmured softly. "Has Warren always been this defensive about you guys?"

"Yeah... Always."

Back in middle school, Warren had always been the brawn of the group. Kevin was the brains, Jen was much needed female influence and Jason... Well Jason was the trouble-maker. That was the time when Jason ran with a gang. Kevin and the others plotted intervention after intervention, trying to get Jason to pull out of the little mob that sold cigarettes, some mild narcotics and bullied kids for their lunch money.

Time and again, Warren came in to save Jason when he was being picked on and when the rest of the gang members were less than friendly to him. While Jason always snapped at the dragon that he could take care of himself, Warren constantly reassured him that he would always be there as a friend.

"He's protective of us," Jason admitted softly as they stepped up to the front porch and he unlocked the door. Warren was a few feet behind them, eyes gazing back in the direction of Jen's house. "He's always a fighter... he hates losing and hates feeling helpless."

Brett glanced worriedly at Warren. "That's both a strength and a weakness... Jason... If it comes down to it, are you prepared to knock him out if things get out of hand?"

Knock him out with what!?

He's fifty pounds bigger than me, military-trained and is pissed as hell!

"I'll loan you this," Pessimist said, offering him the Flaming Frying Pan of Doom.

No thanks...

"Let's try to calm him down first. But if it comes down to it... yeah..."

Jason pushed open the door to the sound of Brett gasping and moaning very loudly as a fox with a ridiculously large member pounded him on the TV screen.

Oh crap!

They had forgotten to switch off the television with Brett's movie in it!

Right after the call, Jason and practically bolted out the door without any regard for whatever else was happening. Brett had followed him and he had assumed the television with the explicit video had been shut off.

Apparently not.

Damnit!

He lunged through the door and leapt over the couch, scrambling for the remote. He hit the off button... or so he thought. Instead, he had hit the 'volume increase' button and Brett's moaned grew even louder.

"Yeah... That's it! Come on! Shove that dick in there! Yeah!"

The problem was, Jason couldn't keep his eyes off the screen. Seeing Brett's oiled, sleek, muscular body tense and writhe beneath that slim fox was quickly depriving his brain of blood in favour of filling his 'other lower brain'.

"Uh... Jason...?"

Eep!

He hit the off button this time and the screen flickered off. Brett and Warren were standing at the entrance to the lounge, both looking amused.

"Glad you approve, Jase," Brett sniggered, pointing downwards.

Jason grabbed a pillow to hide his erection.

His mind reeled...

Wait a second... Isn't this how porn movies start...?

The awkward guy is caught with a gay video on while having two other hot guys come over. There's some sly talk about 'never knowing' and 'experimenting' followed by quickly building music and then, suddenly, all three of them are on the couch, naked, bodies wrapped around each other, sweating, swearing and with cocks spewing cum everywhere.

"Now that's reality TV!" Horndog laughed.

"Um... I can explain..." he stammered.

"Not really feeling up to fooling around, Jason..." Warren murmured.

Phew...

"Hey... Where's the toilet?"

Jason pointed towards the stairs. "Up the stairs, down the hall to your right."

Warren headed away, thankfully not stomping through the house on a rampage.

Sighing softly, Jason collapsed back onto the couch with Brett sitting beside him.

"Jase... What's Warren's story anyway? I know he joined the Marines at an early age but why is he so defensive about you guys?"

"I really don't know, to be honest," Jason answered with a shrug. "All I know is that Warren has always looked after us like a big brother. Always told me that it was because his family is really patriotic. They still do the morning-national-anthem-at-the-flag routine."

"Huh?"

"You know. At dawn everyone gets up, gathers around the flag out front, puts their hands over their hearts and sing the national anthem."

Brett winced slightly. "Wow... That's archaic..."

"Warren thought so as well," he sniggered. "I think the only real reason he joined the Marines was to get away from his dad who kept calling him 'unpatriotic' because he hung around with Kevin - who has dealing with a lot of Alderon's 'enemies' - and me who was a gangster back then."

His Rottweiler chuckled and leaned into him. "Right. From what I hear, you were the patsy more than anything."

Yeah... I got blamed a lot...

... Lots of suspensions and detentions...

"What changed?" Brett asked. "With you I mean. Why'd you suddenly decide to quit?"

Thinking about those events, Jason recalled that he predominantly got tired of being the fall-guy for all the gang's little escapades. Every time they were caught, he'd be the distraction or the idiot that ended up holding all the illegal materials while everyone else got off free. Even if he was caught, no one ever came to his rescue and he was forced to take up the consequences by himself...

But the real reason was...

"The No Ones started talking to me," he replied. "I thought I was going crazy when R3 first started talking to me about destiny and all that junk. Didn't believe him at first until he started helping me escape all the teachers and the cops for when I carried junk..."

"You have a criminal record?"

"Not really. I was still a minor at that time. They got my file but there's no actual convictions..." Jason winced and stared at the blank TV. "God I was screwed up back then... All I wanted was for some place to belong... Someone to stand there by me when I fell down and defend me. When R3 started talking me... I guess I started realising that I already had that in my friends.

"It's why I moved out of the orphanage and stayed with Jen. I quit that gang shortly afterwards and started walking the straight path."

"'Straight' being the operative word."

Jason sniggered and wrapped his arms around Brett's shoulders. "And that's Number 3 on my list. You're always so witty you can brighten anything no matter how grim."

"So I guess you also realised that Warren was out there to protect you, huh? Your big bodyguard, right?"

"Pretty much," Jason replied with a grin. "Thing is, after all those times he's defended me and stopped me from going in too deep, I wanted to repay him somehow. Then the school shooting occurred and I ended up saving everyone..." He rolled his eyes. "After that, Warren just told me we were even. I honestly think that the shooting is what pushed him to become a Marine."

Brett smiled. "Sounds like a fair dragon, Jase. I think he's just really worried about Jen."

Hmmm... Speaking of which...

"He's been up in the toilet for a long while..."

Images of Warren passed out from his concussion bleeding on his bathroom floor filled his mind.

Worse...

Warren, terrible aroused by what he saw on the TV was pawing off in the bathroom...

"I'm going to go check up on him," he said, leaping to his feet.

"Whoa! Hold it right there!" Pessimist cried. "You want to check up on a guy that's jacking off!? That's just asking for trouble!"

"He could also be unconscious and bleeding!" Optimist shouted as Jason dashed up the stairs, taking two at a time.

"Nah," Horndog said dismissively, "he is so going to join that big hunk of dragon!"

Jason took a sharp right at the top of the stairs and barged into the bathroom expecting to catch the scent of dragon, arousal and cum.

He wasn't so lucky.

"Warren...?"

First thing he noticed was that there was a bloody bandage on the ground.

Second thing he noticed was that the window was open.

Third... Warren wasn't inside.

Oh no...

"BRETT!"

****

There was no way of knowing where Warren had gone. Maybe he had gone to the closest military base to look for backup or maybe he had headed to the police station to raid their archives, searching for something that would pin Jen's kidnapping to the mob. Alternatively, he could've just as easily gone back to Jen's house to search for clues... or someplace private to think.

But Brett had a pretty good guess.

"He seemed too convinced that the mob was involved," he said as Jason drove through the streets of Newroads. "And he kept pinning Kyle for it. If there's anywhere he'll be, it's with Kyle."

"Why would he go off on his own like this!?" Jason exclaimed, slamming the steering wheel slightly and causing a slight dent. "Why is he so obsessed!?"

"There's something else here, Jason..." Brett murmured. "Something else beneath just the need to protect Jen." He began ticking off points with his fingers. "Firstly, that wound he suffered looked bad but he discarded the bandage. Either he's suicidal or it's already healed. That's not natural. Secondly, someone should've seen him leave homes but no one did!"

He's right... Something's weird about this whole thing...

Jason parked the car in front of St. Amira's Rehabilitation Centre. The squat, high fenced building looked peaceful and quite blissful with its many gardens and crawling rose bushes that crept all over the red-bricked walls. However, in the dim light of the night, the centre looked like an asylum for the insane where mass-murderers would leap out of corridors and cells to feast on one's souls.

"Oh no..." he murmured.

The massive, iron gates barring their path were bent terribly out of shape like someone had just shoved them aside and slipped through. Whoever it was wasn't small either... It was a big hole...

No... Warren wouldn't...

He couldn't...

Is he a super too...?

But he's not registered...

"Come on, Jase," Brett urged. "You better also call Genesis in case we run into trouble."

Jason nodded and held out his right hand in front of him. He reached into his very soul, into the very fibre of his being and called the blade that had saved him so many times... and altered his life so drastically. In a flurry of white light accompanied by bright blue-white, glowing feathers, a gold and silver longsword appeared in his hand, Genesis.

At the same time, his entire body was coated in the flurry of lights and feathers, replacing his attire with a long, floor-length blue coat, black pants, a white shirt and a visor that concealed his features.

Once again, the Seraphic Swordsman had stepped out.

"Let's go," he announced.

They bolted through the gap in the fence and charged through the gardens.

Someone screamed.

A man.

Warren!?

Jason's legs took a life of their own and he charged far head of Brett. Being a super, he was naturally faster, stronger and more durable than other Animarians or humans. He burst through the double doors of the building, letting the sounds of struggle lead him up several flights of stairs and to a long, sterile hallway lined with countless, secured doors.

Other patients were banging on their doors, screaming for release and salvation.

Where are the security people? The doctors?

He slowed his pace, gripping Genesis tightly and trying to be as quiet as possible.

"Oh god! Please! Don't hurt me!"

That definitely wasn't Warren. The voice was lighter, a little higher but still definitely masculine.

"Shut up!"

That was Warren.

"Now listen to me, punk," Warren growled, spitting at the word 'punk'. "You're going to tell me what you know or I swear to god, I'll rip your insides from your gut and make you watch as I eat crush your still-beating heart in my hand!"

That was brutal...

... and didn't sound like the gentle giant that was his friend...

Maybe that's not Warren...

The only open door in the hallway had been sheered clear off its hinges. He pressed his back against the wall and slinked towards the door, glancing around the corner. Inside the room stood a towering Warren holding a terrified Kyle a foot off the air. Warren's arms were coated in shining metal and his face was contorted into a mask of rage.

Whoa...

... he is a super... but...

"I don't know anything!" Kyle pleaded. "Please! Let me go!"

"Your sister has been kidnapped by your gang! You know something!" Warren slammed Kyle hard against the wall, the impact shaking the plaster and creating a sizable dent. Kyle had the air knocked out of him and began whimpering. "Where did they take her!?"

I should step in...

"You're crazy!" Kyle shouted. "I don't know where they took her! I was barely a drug mule!"

"Liar!"

Jason stepped out from around the corner, bringing up his blade. "Warren! Put him down!"

Warren's rage faded, shock replacing his fury as his jaw dropped, eyes levelled at Jason. "Jason...? What are you doing here...?"

"Hopefully not to stick my sword in you."

Horndog grinned. "Ooh! Zing!"

Wha-CLANG!

Jason tried not to flinch when he saw Pessimist hit Horndog with what appeared to be a giant wok that was both on fire and crackling with lightning.

What the hell is that!?

Pessimist just grinned at him. "It's my Wildfire Wok of Wrath!"

...

A wok...?

"I like oriental food."

Oh god...

"Jason, stay out of this..." Warren growled.

He returned to the present and shook his head. "Warren, this isn't right and you know it. Put Kyle down..."

"You don't get it!" Warren slammed Kyle harder against the wall, growling at Jen's brother. "This bastard is in deeper than he lets on! He's Devries' biggest drug dealer!"

What...?

"How do you even know that?"

The big dragon snarled. "It's better if you don't know..."

Jason stepped into the room, never lowering Genesis. "You're not getting off that easily, Warren. You haven't been acting like yourself. What's this really about?"

"You won't understand..."

"Then make me understand!" Jason shouted. "Warren, you know what I'm capable of. You know about Genesis. You know what... What it did to someone I really care about... I'm not going to let this sword end the life of someone I care about."

Warren's blue eyes flashed. "Then that puts you at a disadvantage, right?"

Whu...?

WHAM!

Jason saw stars as he was slammed hard against the wall, Kyle struggled right beside him. He could barely breathe, his chest was constricting hard as Warren's massive metal-covered hand pressed him against the plaster walls.

He's fast!

But...

"Y - You're a super...?" he gasped.

Warren loosened his grip slightly. "No... Not exactly..."

"What...?"

Jason locked gazes with his friend pleadingly, begging Warren to just tell him what was happening. He didn't want to lose someone again... He didn't want to be forced to kill Warren to end some dark scheme...

"Jason... Just please... try to forget about this..." Warren begged.

He shook his head slowly. "I can't Warren... Just like you can't forget I'm still holding Genesis."

It took a moment for Warren to realise what he meant... Then he his drifted down slowly... and noticed the point of Jason's metal sword levelled directly at his heart.

One move...

...one stab...

Please Warren... Don't make me do this...

Warren roared in frustration and released them both, Jason slamming hard against the ground and gasping for breath. Kyle whimpered and scrambled to his feet. Jason immediately lashed out, imbedding Genesis into the wall a millimetre from Kyle's nose.

"You're not going anywhere," he snarled. He eyes Warren. "What's going on, Warren? How are you able to do all this? You're not a registered super."

"No... I'm not," Warren murmured softly.

"Then why do you have powers?"

Warren lifted his metal-covered hands. Slowly, the silvery coat melted off his claws like mercury, drifting in the air of their own accord and forming a solid, metal orb in front of him.

Whoa... He can control metal...

"I'm a Militarised Super," the dragon explained softly. "A guy that was turned into a super by the Alderon Government in the wake of Descent."

What...?

"Why would they do that?" Jason demanded. "It sounds like they're about to start the Hero Wars again!"

The Hero Wars was a terrible time in Enrian history when emerging superheroes were used by armies and countries to wage war upon each other. Countless supers died. There was no distinction between villain and hero back then. They were all just supers. Entire countries were devastated until Negative X took a chunk of land and lifted it into the air and declared it a sanctuary for all supers, Reprieve.

"What do you expect, Jason?" Warren demanded angrily. "Descent brought technology to make supers. Governments are pouncing on that opportunity." Warren's eyes snapped towards Kyle. "And so are organised crime bosses."

Jason gawked and shifted his gaze from Kyle and then back to Warren. "You were turned into a super?"

The dragon nodded grimly. "I can control all forms of metal plus most of the benefits of supers. I even had accelerated regeneration. Enhanced, strength, speed..." He chuckled a little bitterly. "... endurance and virility..." His eyes narrowed at Jason's sword. "Genesis isn't made of metal... is it?"

"No..."

It's part of my soul...

Warren sighed and shook his head. "Look... I'm technically not on holiday... Militarised Supers are everywhere. They're secret agents for Alderon and other governments. Everyone knows about the Hero Wars and they're all scared that will happen again and with Descent technology readily available, it would be those Wars again times a thousand.

"So, what they're doing is letting high-profile supers like the Blue Wolf to hog all the glory while Militarised Supers like me do the grunt work in the background. We go deep undercover, root out guys with Descent-tech and stop them from making more and more supers without us knowing about it."

Glaring daggers at Kyle, Warren said, "I came back here when I found out that Kyle was doing drugs with Devries. We know Devries is a major distributor of Descent-tech but we just can't pin him on anything. It's that deep. Devries probably knows we know too. That's why we moved Kyle here." Warren made a vague gesture around him. "He was going to be picked up by some of our guys to be interrogated.

"But I guess Devries knows we know... He's holding Jen so that we'll release Kyle."

Jason wasn't sure what to think.

On one hand, it made sense.

There was motivation why the mob would kidnap Jen. They knew Warren's guys were going to squeeze every bit of information of Kyle the next chance they got. With Kyle being a high in their ranks - apparently - he would know a lot.

On the other hand, he was on the verge of a brain overload.

This was a new level that he hadn't been expecting.

The government was making supers for their own army against crime!

And mobsters were doing the same!

There was an underground war of superpowers!

And Warren was part of it!

Focus!

"Is it true, Kyle?" he asked, turning to his friend's brother.

"Why would you think that!?" Kyle exclaimed.

Jason's eyes narrowed and he slowly pulled Genesis from the wall. "You know anything that gets sliced by Genesis disintegrates, right? No return. No recover. Nothing. Just absolute death. You really want to try lying to me?"

"Why would you trust him over me!?" Kyle demanded. "I helped raise you! Keep a roof over your head!"

Brett's voice cut in. "He's lying."

All eyes turned to the door where Brett stood, arms crossed and a little winded. He was grinning slightly. "Damn... Never thought there were so many stairs here... You supers are really something..."

He heard...

"You think he's lying?" Warren growled, that orb of metal transforming into a vicious spike that was levelled directly at Kyle.

"He never answered Jason's question," Brett answered. "Just questioned Jason's trust. Clearly avoidance."

"It's two against one..."

Kyle looked desperately towards Jason. "Come on, Jason! You know me! I would never do anything like this!"

Do I know him...?

The Kyle Rose I knew was different to this guy... That Kyle would never get into drugs or get himself involved with the mob regardless of how desperate he was...

But... Can I just dismiss the things he did do for me...?

He helped me through middle school... He paid for my high school fees until my dad came along...

How can I forget about all that...?

Jason lowered Genesis.

Kyle sighed in relief.

"Kyle..." he whispered softly. "I know you know something... Please... For your sister... Just... Just tell us. She loves you, Kyle... And I promise, if you tell us what you know, we'll get you out of here."

"What!?" Warren exclaimed incredulously. "We can't -"

"We will!" Jason snapped, glaring back at the big dragon.

They stared at one another for a long moment... before Warren nodded and agreed.

"I don't know anything," Kyle whimpered. "Only... There's a warehouse down at the docks. It's where we keep a lot of the stuff we're working with. You might be able to find something there..."

Jason nodded and held out his hand, helping Kyle to his feet. "Warren will get you out of here tomorrow."

"Thank you, Jason." Jen's brother was openly weeping. "You don't know what this means to me..."

"Don't make me regret it."

****

"I still say you shouldn't have let him go," Warren muttered, glancing out the convertible's window as Jason pulled over next to the warehouse that Kyle had indicated. "The guys I work for won't be happy we with the deal we made... Don't even know if they'll go through with it..."

Jason shut off the engine and just stared at the steering wheel for a moment. He could feet Brett's worried gaze on him. "The world isn't just made up of dark, light and the grey in between..." he said, remembering R3's words. "There's infinite colours in between. There's a lot of people out there, Warren... You can't just call them 'evil' or 'corrupt' because they're a darker shade than most."

He opened his door and stepped out, drawing Genesis, ready for a fight. Back in his superhero days, he had gone on raids just like this with Dan and Robin. Warren was a good replacement but Brett was his primary concern. He didn't want his mate getting hurt but his Rottweiler was coming whether he liked it or not.

"Kyle had better be right about this..." Warren muttered, stepping out of the car. "And... For what it's worth Jason, I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was... you know... a Militarised Super."

There was a pang of betrayal there but he understood why it was such a heavily guarded secret.

Why would the governments pass up an opportunity to make their own supers anyway?

If anyone was given the opportunity to create warriors with unfathomable powers, of course they'd take it. It was every pre-teen and teenager's dream come true.

"It's okay," he said, giving his friend a shaky smile. "I didn't tell you I was a super either."

"You did," the dragon answered, returning his smile. "When you took off your visor after Descent. What you did took guts, Jason. You broke down the barriers between supers and civilians even more. Just... you can't rely on the good in people all the time. All mortals are born in darkness... We're all evil deep down... We have to introduce the light."

"The world isn't made up of just light and dark," Brett repeated, taking the lead. "Come on you two. Let's find out what this place is hiding."

Jason seized his mate's shoulder and pushed Brett back behind him and Warren. "Why don't you let us take the lead? We're a little more durable."

"Not from what I recall from last night."

Okay... Ouch...

Warren sniggered as they approached the titanic, dark, looming warehouse. The dragon took one of the massive doors and Jason took the other, pushing their weight against it and prising them open. Jason was instantly hit by a distinct musky odour like the smell of old books mixed with mothballs. He gagged slightly and shook his head, clearing his nose in the process.

"God... What do they keep in here...?"

"Nothing good," Warren muttered, casting his gaze around the interior of the warehouse.

No one was around. It was pitch black save for the scant moonlight drifting in from the high windows and cracks in the tin ceiling. Crates were stacked upon one another, forming a labyrinthine maze that appeared daunting to navigate in the dark.

"Anyone else get that eerie sensation of impending doom yet?" Brett asked.

"Just you," Warren muttered, pulling out a small metal rod from his pocket. Apparently, it used to be one part of the fence in St. Amira's that he now carried around with him. It was only about as big as his hand but considering how the dragon could alter the shape of any metal at will, that was pretty damn scary.

On that note...

"Warren, ever thought about controlling the metal in people's bodies?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"Every person has a bit of metal in their systems. Iron, calcium, potassium... Stuff like that. You can control metal..."

Warren gave him a mischievous grin. "Are you volunteering, Jason?"

"As long as I get to stick my sword in you."

Horndog was just about to say something when Optimist and Pessimist hit him with their upgraded weapons. Jason almost felt sorry for the little guy but this was hardly the time to be thinking about hormones.

"How did it occur anyway?" Brett asked. "Did they inject you with something, expose you to gamma radiation or something else as crazy?"

Warren snorted and shook his head. "Nah. Nothing like those corporate supers who purposefully get tested on like that to get crazy powers. Besides, according to research all those C-Supers already have the superhero gene in them. The exposure to something just activates it and makes it take shape in some way. Descent-Tech implants that gene into people, making them super and activating it straight off. Big difference there. That's why M-Supers are a little more stable. You can predict what powers people will get.

"And the way I started wasn't anything really special."

Jason wended his way through the crates, splitting up with the others as the searched the warehouse for any clues to mob activity. He opened a crate and was assaulted by more of that ghastly smell. Inside were just some dirty clothes. Thinking there might be some drugs hidden amongst them, he shuffled through the clothing but only found more clothes.

"I was a pretty average Marine," Warren stated. "But I got flagged down for being an M-Super when I took down a whole squad during a training exercise."

"A whole squad?" Jason asked over his shoulder. "Wow..."

"You know... You really shouldn't be talking so loudly in the middle of enemy territory..." Pessimist warned.

Good point...

"My entire squad was down," Warren explained, rounding the corner and coming up next to Jason. He sniffed the air. "Whatever that smell is, it's making me sick." The dragon shook his head. "Anyway, I was desperate so I went around them and took them all out. Turns out that my entire squad was exposed to Descent-Tech. Small doses because if you're affected by large doses straight off makes massive negative changes."

Jason regarded his friend curiously. "Like what?"

"The Descent-Tech we salvaged from Reprieve and New Hope City were barely intact. Alderonian scientists tried to make it as close to the original as possible but it's nowhere near what the real Descent was like. You know Flame Runner?"

Jason did... Flame Runner had been his Social Studies teacher who had become a supervillain alongside Rex Cumulus and Titanitus. The trio had helped Kevin get to Negative X and, in turn, the Fear Malefactor, Bane Bloodbath.

"He was exposed to the perfect Descent serum..." Warren said, sniffing the air and shaking his head free of the putrid smell. "His body changed properly. But if we're exposed to high doses straight off the bat, the transformation screws up your head and your body. There is a hell of a lot of 'mutants' from early experiments. Not pretty.

"My squad was exposed bit by bit. And even then, only a few became Militarised Supers. Not everyone is receptive to it but it's a higher probability than if we just rely on genetics. Some still reject it outwardly and get terribly sick. And the transformation is a little screwy still."

"What do you mean?"

Warren sniggered. "What? You think I just decided I liked dicks, Jason?"

Jason froze. "Descent makes you gay!?"

The big dragon laughed. "No! It just makes you super horny! And the Marines is an all-guy organisation so... you know..."

Wow... That's some awesome drug...

"That wasn't the deciding factor, though," Warren admitted. "I gotta say, seeing how happy you two are, it really showed me that this world might just be ready for an influx of super-horny, gay superheroes..."

Thinking of himself, Connor and his father, Jason thought, Don't I know it...

"I think the smell is coming from over there," Brett said, pointing towards the rear of the warehouse. "I just hope it isn't a dead body..."

"Dead bodies don't smell like old books and worn leather."

I wonder why he knows what dead bodies smell like...

"You know..." Horndog began, grinning mischievously. "This is sort of a turn on, isn't it? All this danger? The possibility of getting caught? It's it what normally gets your loins stirring?"

Jason chose to ignore him but still took a longer than average stride to adjust himself.

"Aww, come on. Look, even Warren is getting excited."

He glanced over at his draconic friend who had to stop for a moment to realign his growing package for a moment.

Whoa that's big...

I wonder what's under those pants...

"No!" Pessimist snapped, hitting Horndog with his Wildfire Wok of Wrath. "You're in the middle of enemy territory! This is no time to be thinking of sex!"

Brett approached one particularly large crate and prised it open. Inside were just more musty clothes. "God! These things reek! What have they been doing? Collecting the clothes of the homeless?"

"Maybe," Warren murmured, rolling his shoulders. Small beads of sweat were starting to push out between his scales and even Jason was starting to feel an overwhelming heat rise up from his nether regions. "Um... We heard that in order to test their products, the mob has been trying to find 'volunteers'. The latest string of kidnappings could be related..." Warren reached around his collar and peeled it away slightly. "God... Is it hot in here or what?"

"It's freezing," Brett said, regarding him worried. "Are you alright? You look a little tense..."

"Just..." The big dragon swallowed loudly and Jason couldn't help but follow that lump run down from his friend's huge jaw to slide down that thick, muscular neck. He traced its path in his imagination to those highly defined pecs and abs to die for.

"Think about it," Horndog giggled. "Warren... Brett... Big cold warehouse. What do you say we turn up the heat?"

WHAM! WHAM!

Optimist hit him with his Dual Harmonious Frost Marlins +1. "As much as I am an advocate for reconnecting with Warren, this is not the time!"

"I'm just feeling a little... uncomfortable, right now," Warren murmured, his tail twitching and his wings shaking slightly. "Um... I think I need some fresh air... Yeah..."

"I think we all do..." Brett answered, regarding Jason. "You don't look so well either, Jase..."

Jason could barely speak because he was completely mesmerised by the movement in Brett's lips. There were on small slivers of arousal in his system but they were quickly growing. Horndog kept coming back for more, constantly insisting they do it right here, right now in the moonlight in this dusty warehouse. Their night together had been ruined when news of Jen's kidnapping hit so... in a way...

"I'm just..." he swallowed and took a deep breath, coughing lightly as more of that old-book smell hit him. "We need some air... Yeah... I'm feeling light headed..."

"That's because all the blood is going down there!" Horndog laughed.

Wham! CLANG! WHAM!

Neither Optimist nor Pessimist were showing any mercy.

Brett placed a hand on his shoulder. Bolts of arousing electricity washed through his entire system, shutting off much of his cognitive thinking. He could barely keep himself standing and was vaguely aware that Brett was saying something while HOP was waging war in his subconscious.

"Oh goddamnit!" Warren cried. His eyes wide and instantly turning towards the exit. "We gotta get out of here!"

Jason immediately grabbed his hand he instantly regretted the act as it put him in direct contact with Warren's muscular forearm. Feeling the thick, corded muscles there sent images of him and the big dragon naked, curled around each other, lips locked and -

No! What's going on!?

"Guys...?" Brett asked, befuddled. "What's going on...?"

"It's Descent-Tech!" Warren shouted. He looked like he wanted to pull away from Jason but neither of them were willing to let go. "It... It... shit... It's in the air... It's everywhere... Jason..." He added the last almost like a sigh.

"Wh - What is it...?" Jason stammered as his friend stopped trying to bolt for the door and moved towards him, wrapping one hand around his waist.

"It... It makes you really horny... Over-exposure..."

Some powerful magnetic force was pulling them closer to one another. Jason's heart was beating hard in his chest, pounding against his ribcage and pumping more and more blood into his dick and blurring his vision.

"Stop!" Optimist shouted. "Jason! There's Descent-Tech everywhere! It's probably in the rags!"

"Snap out of it!" Pessimist cried, trying to hit him with that Wok of Wrath. "You've got to get out of here before you do something you'll regret! Brett is standing right there!"

Their faces were just a few inches from one another and Jason could smell Warren's warm, peppery breath. It sent chills down his spine. His heart was shaking, screaming for him to stop, his mind was dulling the screaming with lust while his body just followed each of Warren's cues.

"Supers..." Warren moaned as Jason reached behind the big dragon and squeezed that huge, tight ass. "...flaw... Too much... Jason... gotta... stop..."

Optimist and Pessimist here bashing his skull but their words were getting duller and duller.

"You heard him!" exclaimed Optimist. "Think about Brett! Think about what this will mean to him!"

Jason stole a glance at Brett who just looked caught halfway between shock and total arousal. There was a quickly fading part of him that registered Brett was probably immune to Descent-Tech. He guessed that because he and Warren were already supers, they were immune to the mutagenic effects of Descent... but they suffered from the side-effect of uncontrollable arousal.

Brett could get hurt... We gotta...

"Brett..." he moaned as his chest pressed against Warren's and he managed to pull his head away from Warren's, tearing away the kiss that had been building between them. "Get out... before..."

"I'm not leaving you two!" Brett exclaimed, bolting forward and seizing their shoulders.

Big mistake.

Warren instantly lashed out, wrapping a massive arm around the Rottweiler's shoulders and pulled Brett right up to him, his massive lips wrapping around Brett's and the two becoming locked in a one-way passionate kiss, tongue and all. Brett looked completely mortified.

Jason moaned, half in regret he wasn't the one kissed and the other half knowing he was losing a battle against Horndog.

"That's it!" Pessimist shouted, stopping his assault on Jason's head and turning to Horndog. "We get rid of him, we'll be able to stop this!"

Optimist stepped up bravely beside his counterpart, squaring off a cocky Horndog. "You with me on this?"

"Bring it."

Horndog grinned broadly. "Think you can really go up against me when there's two horny, hot guys right there?"

Brett tried to pull away but Warren wrapped his long, muscular tail around all three of them, squeezing them tightly, his hug hands exploring Jason's chest while her ravage's Brett's mouth. His hips began grinding into them, rubbing Jason's concealed arousal.

Quickly, a musky, slightly bitter smell flooded Jason's nostrils and he became aware that he was smelling Warren's arousal. Brett's own scent mixed with it and he felt his mate's cock pressing against his and the big dragon's through their tight, stretched clothing.

"We can defeat you and we will!" Optimist shouted.

"Or we'll die trying!" Pessimist announced, swinging his Wildfire Wok of Wrath proudly. "You can't defeat us with our upgraded weapons!"

Warren pulled away from Brett with a loud pop as their lips came apart and Brett moaned. He was lost in the moment as well, the Rottweiler burying his muzzle against Warren's thick, muscular neck and licking the soft scales there. Warren's sky-blue eyes locked with Jason.

Four inches separated their lips.

No... No! If he kisses me... Horndog will win!

Three inches...

Optimist swung his Dual Harmonious Frost Marlins +1 expertly in his hands. "We got you, Jason! We won't let you down!"

Two inches...

Horndog snickered and opened his arms wide. "Well, then come and get me, boys! But know, I got an upgrade too."

... one inch...

Oh no...

Suddenly, an enormous phallic-shaped cannon erupted from somewhere behind Horndog, the titanic weapon dwarfing all three of his subconscious parts. The massive, metallic weapon was planted on a platform that looked suspiciously like a pair of testicles that were connected to the massive barrel through countless tubes pumping suspicious white liquid into the weapon.

Optimist and Pessimist dropped their jaws... and their weapons.

"Behold!" Horndog cried, his eyes wild with glee. "The Infinite Bukkake Cannon!"

...

...Crap...

Warren's warm lips slipped around his and he lost all resistances, pulling open his muzzle and twisting into his friend's kiss, running his tongue across those sharp fangs, along those slick walls and curling around Warren's tongue.

He moaned and felt Brett turn towards him, muzzling him and licking he lines of his jaw, begging for his share. Jason pulled away from Warren, eyes glazed over as he locked his lips around Brett's. A warm, padded hand slipped under his shirt, running through his fur, over his abs and making him shiver.

A loud, fierce growl emerged from Warren, full of lust and wanton desire. Sharp claws dug into the cloth of Jason's shirt and tore it to shreds. For the briefest of moments, Jason's entire torso was exposed to the biting cold of the warehouse but that was quickly washed away when Brett pushed in front of Warren, his hands roving everywhere across Jason's body, finding all the sweet-spots he had memorised and teasing them.

No... Got... to... get... out...

He mustered all his strength and managed to take a step forward, pushing both Brett and Warren back.

Yes!

A thick, scaly tail suddenly curled around his waist, pulling them closer together and the contact from their bodies burning through his entire system. Every inch of his flesh desired for more of these two, hot, muscular men. His brain yearned for Brett's comforting, loving touch - and his ass - while also lusting for Warren's rock-hard, corded muscles.

A moan slipped from his lips as Brett's gentle fingers found his right nipple, giving it a light twist. Shudders wracked his entire body, forcing his hips to gyrate into his mate. His hands moved of their own accord, tracing the defined lines of Brett's body, travelling along those thick, plump pecs, over the hard bumps of those abs and finally around that waist. His left had slipped around his mate, finding that cute nub of a tail and running his fingers constantly over it. He had discovered early on Brett loved it when people played with his tail. It was apparently very sensitive. His right hand deftly unbuckled that belt like he had done so many times before and pulled Brett's pants away.

"No!" Optimist shouted, charging valiantly at Horndog and his cannon. "I won't let you do this!"

"Optimist! No!" Pessimist shouted.

Horndog laughed and the Infinite Bukkake Cannon fired. Jason into Brett's thick, red cock as it came free, pulling away from the kiss and running his tongue all over his mate's massive, muscular neck, down those thick, round shoulders and along the massive bicep, tracing the contours with his lips and tongue.

Optimist got hit by a huge, overwhelming torrent of white, sticky fluids.

Pessimist screamed and bolted for his fallen comrade, discarding his Wildfire Wok of Wrath. "No!"

Brett's arm curled around Jason's neck, holding them tight as Jason took in his mate's scent, loving the imagery of well-seasoned steak he kept on getting from that smell alone. He was salivating madly, drooling all over Brett as his cock pumped out more and more pre, soaking his pants. Brett was no different, that slick, clear fluid dribbling down Jason's abs like a gentle trickle of water down a rocky stream.

Warren's head snake in over Brett's shoulder and found Jason's lips. That scent of steak was replaced by the spicy, peppery aroma of the big dragon. Warren was a little rougher, more sex-driven than Brett. Jason vaguely registered that it was probably the tainted Descent-Tech in the air. His friend's hands found his pants and just like his shirt, Warren tore at the denim and threw them aside.

Jason's hot cock pressed against Brett's and those mad shudders sent him vibrating against his mate.

Pessimist managed to get to the wad of cum and dug into it, finding Optimist and pulling his companion free. But it was too late, Optimist was grinning madly, clutching his erect cock in one hand and pumping it in a mad, sex-crazed lust. The smiley face on his shirt had changed into a big, cock.

"No..."

Jason moaned, trying to voice his resistance. They needed to get out of here! Warren was lost and Brett was caught up in the moment!

He was the only one that could -

Optimist suddenly pounced on Pessimist, shoving his cock right up the other wolf's ass.

"Jason!" Pessimist shouted as his ass was pounded. "Get out of here! Get out before - Ah!"

Pessimist's cock plopped out of that plump sheath and the imaginary wolf's eyes glazed over in lust as the red, frowning face on his shirt mirrored that of Optimist and Horndog's. He turned, passionately kissing Optimist as they were lost in the sea of lust that came over Jason.

The last of his resistances gone, Jason turned Brett around, eyes hungrily taking in that mountainous back and hands securely placed around those huge, vein-crossed thighs. He was panting, lusting and with each breath he took, more of Brett and Warren's scent drifted into his lungs as well as the hormone-driving Descent-Tech permeating the air. He massaged Brett's ass, slowly pulling the thick, firm cheeks further and further apart to reveal the bright, pink pucker beneath. Every part of him had to be touching his mate and he pressed his chest against Brett's back, moaning as that burning heat washed over his entire body from the contact. He ran his lips along Brett's neck, that steak-like smell driving him wild.

He was vaguely aware that Warren was savagely assaulting Brett's lips and removing his own clothing, that thick, muscular tail keeping them pinned against one another and those massive, webbed wings wrapping round them and encasing them in a warm, protective cocoon. Brett suddenly arched is back as the tip of Jason's cock pressed into his ass, pushing through that tight wall.

That consuming, overwhelming heat flowed through his thick, cock, pulsing with every heartbeat and spreading through his entire system. A growl built in his chest as he held Brett tightly across the chest and his fangs closed tightly around his mate's shoulder in a tight, mating bite. His thrusts drew him deeper and deeper into his Rottweiler, bringing a moan that reverberated even deep in Warren's chest.

The big dragon suddenly pulled away from Brett and dropped out of sight, his tail slipping away. Jason was vaguely aware that Brett was moaning and gasping as he hilted into his mate, Brett's warm, familiar slick ass wrapping around his cock in comfort and love. Then he became aware that Warren's scent abruptly grew stronger. He pulled his eyes away from his mate for the briefest of seconds and saw Warren's massive red-scaled thighs level with his head, that thick, ten inch dragon meat bobbing in front of his face.

There was a brief flash of clarity when he realised Warren was performing a handstand! His friend's muzzle was wrapped around Brett's cock, suckling at the tip was his saliva dripping all the way down Brett's own massive thighs. Not needing any further cues, his Rottweiler wrapped his lips around Warren's cock, sucking the meat with wet, sloppy draughts that brought long moans from the dragon. That familiar, thick tail curled around the three of them, holding Warren in place as Brett's arms held those muscular calves that shook with every suck Warren gave and took.

The pressure was building rapidly deep in Jason's cock and the heat pushing his body to boiling point. That growl in his chest was building into a howl. His teeth sunk a little deeper into Brett's hide, bringing a whimper from his mate. Hearing that sound only drove him further, his knot rapidly forming as he became desperate to tie with Brett.

His thrusts reach feverish paces, the sheer might of his thrusts shaking Brett's entire body, causing his mate's moans to shudder with every thrust. Warren was gagging loudly as Brett's cock was shoved deep his throat with every thrust and the pre dripping from the dragon's cock and all over his Rottweiler's chest was getting thicker. Their scents were merging with one another, becoming stronger and completely overwhelming, even pushing away the Descent-Tech.

Jason felt his knot press deep into Brett, his mate's tight ass gripping the base of his cock in a vice-like embrace. His breath locked in his chest as he thrust one last time and -

"FIRE!" Horndog cried with glee.

Jason arched his back, pulling his head away from Brett's shoulder and letting his how rip through his muzzle. Warren exploded at the same time, his thick, salty seed splattering all over Brett's muzzle and onto Jason's chest. Brett was close behind and he gave a cry of sheer ecstasy as his legs gave out from underneath him.

The three off them toppled on top of each other, emptying the contents of their balls into each other. Brett was shuddering as Jason couldn't stop thrusting. Jason felt his cock slosh through his own seed in his mate's ass as he continued thrusting wildly, still overcome with lust. Warren's seed shooting into his and Brett's face didn't help. He held onto his mate tightly, the electric touch fuelling his desire.

The cold of the warehouse floor was barely felt by them as he and Warren continued to empty themselves at Brett who was overcome with the exhaustion of afterglow. It felt like with every blast of his cock, he was getting rid of some of that heat but there was just so much... He was just too hot!

He needed to cool down...

... and there was only way to do that...

All thoughts became consumed in being with his mate and Warren.

Despite just having released... he still yearned for more.

He kept thrusting...

... and his entire world became consumed with sex.

****

"Jake! Jake!"

R3 the Writer of Reality stood on the edge of Howl Lake, watching impassively as Jason Wolfe, Warren Bladebreaker and Brett Sykes engaged in a lust-filled act that would have terrible consequences. It hurt not being able to aid them because of his deal with the Malefactors but, as always, he had a plan. He wasn't gazing into the reflective, almost glass-like surface of the lake. Rather, he was gazing through it at the countless possibilities his eyes allowed.

"Are you sure this is so wise, Jacob?" V10 the Valiant asked, worry marring her voice. "I trust your judgement, you know we do. However, the more you let this continue, the more D8 gathers support with the other No Ones."

"Is that such a problem?" he asked as Jason ejaculated for a second time into his already unconscious mate. Warren wrapped himself around Brett, pressing their cocks together and using his tail to jack both himself and the Rottweiler off.

"I don't want to see Enria destroyed, Jacob!" V10 exclaimed. "Jason is there! I'm sure you've grown fond of him as well! You can't seriously want D8 to destroy that reality!"

"A world permeating with darkness and incapable of learning from its flaws will only lead to its own destruction. Consider the governments that have not learned from the Hero Wars. Even without the darkness of the Malefactors, they conspire to bring an end to their world, depriving their own loyal troops of free will and forcing responsibility upon them.

"Is that a reality truly worth saving?"

V10 was silent for a long moment. Then... "If it wasn't, you would've initiated the Apocalypse Protocol already. You have a plan."

R3 smiled and nodded. "As wise as always, V10." He turned towards her, his gentle smile easing her. "Right now, Enria is a world of light and darkness. We must introduce colour back to that world. Light is the presence of all colour... Darkness is the absence. To make colour, darkness must separate the light."

V10 shook her head sadly. "I won't pretend I understand that, Jacob... But I trust you. Know that myself, L4, A11, T13 and I5 will stand to defend Enria even if D8 decided to destroy it. I am just hoping that you will at least abstain for the action. You know we cannot stand against you."

Inclining his head to the side, R3 said, "No. You can't. Because I have already won, V10. Be grateful for that."

"Jake! Where are you!?"

His eyes darted to the right, away from V10. "If you'll excuse me, Athena, this reality needs me."

"Of course, Jacob... Just remember it isn't the only reality that needs you."

A figure burst from the bushes and slammed into R3's chest, holding him tightly. The girl was probably no older than 18 with long, auburn hair.

"Jake! We've got to get out of here!" she pleaded. "Simon and Noah! Th - They're -"

"Vampire and werewolf," R3 answered in a calm tone, back to his persona here on this world. "I know."

"What?" the girl asked. "How could you...?"

He glanced around as the bushes around the lake shuffled. V10 was gone.

"For centuries, vampires have preyed on humans," he replied, gently pulling her away. "Werewolves had slaughtered mankind." Slowly, bright, angelic, white wings sprouted from his back, making her eyes go wide. "Rose... Did you think human's wouldn't notice? That we were completely defenceless?" He smirked slightly.

"Besides, the whole vampire-werewolf thing is like the 'it' thing this decade. But all the stories seem to belittle humans." He made two slashing gestures with his hands, two blades appearing in his grasp. One a jet-black blade with an inky black surface that looked like it was made of water and the other was glistening white and gold blade with a star-shaped hilt.

"Reality is a little tougher than that."

****

Jason was vaguely aware that he was cold... and that someone was poking his shoulder. There was a light buzzing in his ear occasionally cut off by a faint snap that sounded like someone was clicking their fingers together.

Murmuring softly, he opened his eyes and felt a mass of nausea wash over him. He held back his vomit and grimaced as bright light blinded him. Glancing up, he saw that someone was standing in that light...

A blue uniform... a golden badge... and a big frown on that round, human face.

He noticed that the badge had the initials NPD...

His mind snapped into action.

Newroads Police Department...

And he became aware that he was lying with his semi-erect cock up Brett's ass... naked... in a warehouse... covered in cum...

Oh no...

"Jason Wolfe...?" the police officer asked with mild disgust in his voice.

Beyond the officer... were more policemen... and a media frenzy. Journalists, TV anchor-people and reports were all their with a full battalion of their crew. TV cameras streaming live were zooming on them, he could just feel it and people were trying to get through to demand an interview from them.

He caught much of their murmurs now...

Shocked gasps of 'gay', 'poor role model', 'tresspassing' and 'public indecency' were thrown around a lot.

Warren grunted and sat up... but his face was instantly slammed with a frown the instant he saw everyone around them.

The police officer pulled out a pair of handcuffs. "You three are under arrest," he grunted, wrinkling his nose as approached. "And for godsake! Someone get these guys some clothes!"

Jason's mind went blank.

He wanted to faint, but he found himself oddly able to keep hold of his consciousness...

Oh no...

He caught sight of something... and grabbed it.

It was the metal rod that Warren held. The policeman hesitated.

"Put down the weapon, son," he warned, slowly reaching for his gun. "You don't want this to get any worse."

"You're right," Jason answered bitterly.

He swung the rod...

... at his own head.

SLAM!