In the sky above Fairwell, the bastard hovers. He's outfitted with Avean Cyber-Enhancements: a jetpack, an analysing eye lens, a control collar.



  Avean Scientist
Scouting Unit 57-Scion: Report.

Fuck
you

  Avean Scientist
Connection confirmed.

The Bastard's eyes are wrenched wide open, and his teeth are gritted hard enough to bleed. If he had blood.

  Avean Scientist
Command: please rotate 30 degrees to the left.

Hate
you

  Avean Scientist
Registered.
Initiating scan...

so
fucking
much

  Avean Scientist
Data received.
Analyzing...

Allen arrives from afar! They joyfully grab the Bastard by the shoulders.

MY KIN!!!

  Avean Scientist
Uh, uh, unidentified lifeform!!

Is this not a joyous day!?

FFfff--
fffFFUCk
OFF

The inexorable, averted!
This cool air between our wings...

Does it not fill your heart to know we now share it!?

Hhhate

  Avean Scientist
57-Scion, uh, please disregard... that thing...

Hm?
An interruption?

This won't do!

Allen peels the enhancements out of the Bastard's face, tearing away the lens and snapping the control collar. The cybernetics cling valiantly to the Bastard's flesh, but Allen just yanks a little harder and their grip loosens all the same. The sound of scraping metal masks the Bastard's screeches.

GHHHHHHHH!!

Bindings upon bindings.

I offer you reprieve!

  Avean Scientist
AAAHH! Alert, alert!!
Command: Uhh, resist--!??



Allen lets the useless crunched machinery hang in their palm. The Bastard tries to shove Allen away, but his twiggy little arms just bounce off their chest.

  Avean Scientist
Sco---ng un--t 57-Scion! Report! Uh, 5--- Sci--n-- t--!! --! -- ---- ..!!.. .. . .

Surely, that's better?

What did you--

You fucking--

Don't you fucking touch me!

Merely a moment's pain
exchanged
for the gift of freedom.

You want a fucking thank you!?

Not particularly!

SHUT UP!

I don't want to hear
any
of your fucking bullshit



Your "freedom" means nothing.

It's all still fucked.

You speak of cast-off fates.

The wheel is broken! The script, past its end!

What was is no longer bound to be!

Fucking
delusional.

You think--
My eyes see clearly, my kin!
LET ME FINISH!!!

You think this is--?



Everything you celebrate?

ARTIFICE.

This is a downward
fucking
spiral


The process
of collapse

Just you fucking wait--

You'll see.

Allen smiles all apple-cheeked and bright.

I disagree!

FGGHGHHGHGHG
You can't just fucking say that!!!!!

In any case!

As much as I do so enjoy catching up
I did have other intentions here.

Allen grabs the Bastard round his wrist and pulls him helplessly earthward.

Come with me!

Hey HEY DON'T YOU FUCKING--!!









Cliff is disturbed, Nix is furious, Rilly is confused, and Alma is mentally preparing herself for how much worse the property damage is going to get.

I return, dear friends!


Allen has brought the Bastard back to the Mundy household. He is wrapped in Allen's tail and seething. They have a hand firmly keeping hold on his wing.


And I bring to you my kin!





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