SCAU WORM : Within the Apple Ch4C

*****

Yikes, that’s some power right there, Xander thought idly as he examined the mental assault he was under.

He didn’t think that she was actually intending to attack him, from her body language she was pissed off but holding back, a lot like Buffy might when he pushed her buttons. For all that, however, her power… it had to be her power, after all… was vicious and pissed off.

“Potent,” He said aloud, nodding as he walked around the girl, examining her briefly before glancing aside to see others pulling instinctively away from her, terror in their expressions. “And you’re broadcasting. Impressive power.”

In an instant it was gone, and the young superhero was looking embarrassed and guilty.

“Damn power,” She muttered under her breath, “I’m sorry, it got away from me.”

Xander winced, shaking his head, “No control?”

“Some, but it acts out if I lose my temper or just get emotional,” Glory Girl said. “It sucks.”

“I can imagine,” Xander said.

And he could. There was a reason why children needed proper training to handle their magical power, especially as they got older. Emotional magic was dangerous at the best of times, and could be utterly lethal with shockingly little intent if an untrained witch or wizard lost emotional control.

“What control methods do you practice?” He asked idly, more curious than anything.

She looked at him, confused, “Control methods?”

The complete lack of any hint of understanding in her voice made Xander want to swear.

“Seriously?” Was all said aloud.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” She objected, looking confused.

“You seriously don’t do training in how to control your powers?”

“Of course we do,” Glory Girl rolled her eyes. “We do all kinds of power testing after we trigger, learning the limits, but powers aren’t something you just grind at until you get better.”

“They’re… not?”

“No. Most capes have pretty much instinctive control over their powers and what they can do almost from the moment they trigger. They do learn more about them as they go along, but powers don’t just change because you work out,” Glory Girl scoffed. “There’s decades of research proving that.”

This is a very strange world, Xander thought, making a mental note to look into those claims for himself.

“Very curious,” He said softly. “This is a strange world indeed.”

Glory Girl shot him a look, “What was that?”

“Nothing,” Xander said, head turning sharply as he felt… something along the edge of his legilimency range. “Hang on a sec, would you?”

Glory Girl frowned, about to ask him why, then she heard a scream from down the street and spotted a grungy looking man bolting in their direction while someone screamed at his back.

“Mugger,” She muttered, lifting into the air. “I’ve got this.”

“No need,” Xander said, dropping his wand into his hand and flicking it casually.

A red bolt lanced out from it, curving through the air to miss a couple gawkers who’d stumbled into his direct line of sight, and struck the mugger dead on in the chest. He just stopped running and collapsed, his momentum carrying him forward to the ground where he hit in a painful looking crumple.

Glory Girl stared.

“You didn’t… kill him did you?” She asked.

“Just a stunner,” Xander said, walking toward the fallen man. “Don’t suppose this guy is that Empire AT-AT guy?”

She blinked, following him, “What? I mean, no, I doubt it. Looks more like a Merchant. And it’s Empire Eighty Eight, not whatever it is you just said.”

“You call em what you want, I’ll do the same,” He shrugged as he got to the man.

Kicking him over onto his back, Xander revealed the stolen bag along with a filthy looking knife that he booted casually away.

“Accio weapons,” He said with a gesture, pulling another two blades, a rusted looking revolver, and what looked like an old, and probably rotting, blackjack.

A gesture sent them to ons side in a pile as he heard Glory Girl on the radio or phone or whatever she was using again.

“Vista, Glory Girl. Yeah, Mugger on the Boardwalk, mind sending the cops. No, just me and Magus, the mugger looks like a Merchant but not one of their capes. Thanks.”

She disconnected and turned back to Xander, “Magus, the police will be by shortly. How long will he be out?”

“Few minutes, less than half an hour with how I hit him,” Xander shrugged, eyes on a puffing woman running up to them. “Your bag, Ma’am?”

“Y… yes,” The woman gasped, bending over and breathing deeply as she looked to Glory Girl, “thank you so much.”

“Don’t look at me, I was going to beat purple,” Glory Girl grinned, “Magus here put him down before I could, though.”

“Magus…?” The woman looked over to Xander, who just smiled and waved. “No mask?”

“And cover up thisface? Perish the thought,” Xander told her, hand over his heart.

Glory Girl snorted, but only after turning purple trying not to, and the woman laughed a little more easily, though she still shot him confused looks.

“The police will be here shortly, Ma’am,” Glory Girl said, glaring at Xander from the corner of her eye, “would you mind waiting so you can give a statement?”

“Of course,” She nodded in understanding before glaring down at the man on the ground, “Anything to get him off the streets for a little while at least.”

“He might wind up in the lockup for a decent amount of time,” Glory Girl said with an annoyed shrug, “Merchants don’t have much pull, and I doubt any of them will care enough to break him out.”

“Hmmm…” Xander flicked his wand at the pile of weapons curiously, “revelio.”

The woman and Glory Girl fell back a step as the weapons began to glow different colors.

“What are you doing?” Glory Girl asked.

“Just checking something,” Xander said. “The knife has blood on it. Human… and… revelio… not his. That gun doesn’t look like it can fire, but the blackjack… yeah, blood and bits of skull bone and I do believe some brain matter.”

“Oh ew!” Glory Girl reacted before thinking, taking a step back, then frowned before stepping in again, “You think he’s killed someone?”

“I think the cops should do lab tests on the knife and blackjack,” Xander replied. “Might be able to close a couple cold cases.”

She nodded grimly, “I’ll let them know. They’ll want a statement from you too…”

“I can hang around,” Xander shrugged.

“good.”

*****