The Conspiracy begins to unravel.... And there is mostly action....
Have an excerpt:
“And is this pottery suspicious?”, Hermione asked Teddy.
“It is another case, I can’t tell you,” Teddy glowered.
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Well, we’ll be extra careful, just in case.”
Blaise scoffed. “Not that any of you Gryffindors know how to be careful.”
Luna shook her head. “Love, I’m not a Gryffindor.” Blaise arched an eyebrow at her.
They went into the shop and started their usual routine. Luna had just noted a bobbin lace pattern that reminded her of occamy nests, when Hermione came to her side and began to talk about how she hoped that her miscreant of a brother would not crash the costume party which was the cue that she had detected wards with her probing.
Teddy who stood at the back of the shop assistant shortly changed his hair colour to blue, but controlled himself before the shop assistant turned to look at him. Luna bought some lace to divert suspicion and Hermione kept talking about her imaginary brother and his party crashing until they had left the shop.
Read it on AO3.
Header is by @nikitajobson (and for chapter 51 of this monster fic...)
August 21st (today!) is Fanfic Writer’s Appreciation Day!
Chapter XX: “Unleashing Haran, Part II” from Beneath the Armor, Volume I
Excerpt: “...as the horned alien disappears from [Talia’s] limited peripheral vision, she feels a pull from the Dark Side. Like a weathered war veteran, it whispers that she should just kill him as an extreme precaution of self-defense. Anyways, what is one less slaver to worry about? No one in this galaxy would miss him.”
Chapter XIX: “Unleashing Haran, Part I” from Beneath the Armor, Volume I
Excerpt: “After a few moments, he notices one man, a stalky-looking merc with a bushy beard that matches his hair on top, shove his way through the confused guards. He points up, straight at the security device that Din is using to keep tabs on them. Then, the man slides off an impressive-looking blaster rifle from his shoulder and aims it at the device. In less than a second, the footage turns fuzzy.
Watching them wasn’t really interesting anyways, Din thinks while removing his pistol from his holster again.”
The noise from downstairs gets quieter as they climb the stairs. Once they get into the office, America logs into the meeting, and Russia pulls one of the extra chairs behind America's deck. Once they are both seated, America joins the discussion. After a moment, all the other countries' webcams pop up on the screen, and he can hear them talking.
"Hi!" America chirps as Russia waves.
Soviet looks annoyed, "Russia."
"Yes, papa?"
"You were supposed to call me as soon as you arrived," his father scolds.
"Oh. I apologize, papa. It got chaotic, and I forgot," Russia responds sheepishly.
His father sighs but didn't make any more remarks. Then, UN begins the meeting. "Alright, before we begin, does anyone have any attacks or disappearances that must be discussed?"
America raises his hand. "Yes, America?" asks UN.
America clears his throat before speaking, "so, long story short, my states have personification. Anyways, Texas was attacked a week ago, and New York was attacked earlier today."
"They didn't disappear?" asks UN.
"No," America answers, "they're okay, just a little shaken up."
"Wait!" UK interjects, "why wasn't I ever informed about the states?!"
"Can we focus on the attacks, please? Thank you," Russia snaps after seeing how uncomfortable America had become. He gets a relieved smile for his efforts. Then America continues, "anyhow, we saw something that was... scary, to say the least. See, this thing mimics faces. I don't think it can talk, though. It also runs on all fours."
"And its whole body turned white after it hit the ground from being thrown off of New York," Russia adds.
"Thank you for this new information," UN states, "does anyone else have anything to a-"
UN is interrupted as the door swings open, hitting the wall hard enough to put a dent into the drywall. "Dad!" a state shouts, terror in her voice.
"Oklahoma! What's going on? We are in-"
"I know you're in a meeting, but this is important!"
America moves to stand, and Russia decides to follow suit. "Where are you going!?" UK demands, but the only response he gets from the two is a glare from Russia.
"New York is with Jersey playing cards in the rec room, but he's also standing outside! We don't know whats going on!" Oklahoma shouts as Nevada scrambles in behind his sister, panting. "S***," America cursed, "tell your siblings to go into lockdown. Come on, Russia, and grab a gun!" he shouts over his shoulder as he runs out.
Russia rushes out of the room behind America. He could faintly hear UN try, in vain, to call them back to explain what was going on. As soon as Russia is downstairs, America hands him a loaded shotgun from the mudroom's safe.
America slowly opens the door, gun in hand, and tells the states to close it behind them and be ready to barricade it. Once outside, Russia frantically scans their surroundings for movement.
Rustling leaves draw Russia's attention immediately, but America signals him to stand down. Instead of a monster bursting from the trail, it's a small group of kids. All four look startled, Russia notes.
Texas runs up and pants out, "We were over there, but someone lookin' like Yorky came over, but he was alone. Then his flag started changing. I ain't got my gun, so we came runnin' back. Pops, you gotta hurry! 'Bama and Mississippi are still in the field!"
"Go inside. Quickly!" America demands before he runs down the trail that the four had come from. Russia struggles to keep up, his height being the only reason he didn't lose sight of America, who is light on his feet and clearly knows every pebble of this path like the back of his hand.
Suddenly, the narrow trail opens to a large clearing with cut grass and horse stables. Turning around, Russia sees Alabama and Mississippi cornered by something with an appearance reminiscent of America. He catches Alabama's eye, and the pair of states make a run for it, trying desperately to reach America and Russia.
Unfortunately, they aren't so lucky. The creature lunges, grabbing Alabama, snatching him away from Mississippi. Mississippi shrieks in fear before almost pouncing at the thing, but America beat him to it. America shoots a round into the air to startle the monster, and then he rushes at it with a war cry. Russia runs forward and grabs Mississippi, dragging him back to keep him out of danger.
"Let go of my kid!" America screams at the creature. It turns to face America, and Russia took a chance and shot, not wanting to it disappear with Alabama still in its grip. The shot struck true, embedding itself into the creature's side, causing it to let loose a blood-curdling shriek, dropping Alabama. It hisses before lunging at America, only snatching his gun and disappearing, leaving a black puddle behind.
"We need to go. NOW!" America demands, leading the way back down the path as all four of them take off in a dead sprint, Russia is the last to enter the trail.
Just before the road opened to the front of the house, Alabama tumbles, letting out a shout when his ankle twists on his way down.
"'Bama!" Mississippi yells, stumbling to a stop, and Russia almost tumbled over the two. His eyes shoot up from the boys to the house when gunshots ring out from its direction.
He sees the monster standing in the middle of the clearing in front of the house, spraying slick, black goo with every hit it takes. Mississippi throws Alabama's arm over his shoulder and drags a groaning Alabama back to the house. Russia runs behind them with America.
The monster stands in a pool of black goop, wearing a strange amalgamation of both Russia's and Alaska's flags. Then, it suddenly appears in front of Russia, forcing him to stop. It throws its head back, revealing a mouth just under its chin filled with glistening, jagged, yellow teeth and a wriggling black tongue.
Panicking, Russia pulls the trigger of the gun. The thing shrieks and writhes as its blood spatters all over Russia, who stands frozen in terror. Then, someone grabs his wrist and yanks him back and toward the house.
The next thing Russia knew, he is being thrown inside, landing on the mudroom floor with a loud thump. America slams the door shut and locks it. After all the states are accounted for, America pushes a bookshelf in front of the entrance to barricade it. The only opening that remained unblocked is manned by Texas, who keeps his gun trained on the monstrosity outside.
It is only then that Russia realizes just how badly he's shaking.
