Ch. 07: New Powers

*Author's Note: I'm going to be upfront in saying, I kinda rushed this one. That's mainly because I held on to this one chapter for so much longer than I should have. It was Jill's parts that kept me from finishing because I'm just terrible at writing exposition like this. I hope it's still good, consider this my apology, and I promise to have better chapters after this.

New Powers

Matt, Carrie and Jacob were on their knees, Jacob forced to his knees by the badger.

Jimmy was the only one still defiant. He didn't particularly like or respect the boss. Still, he was only able to afford his lifestyle from working for this stuck-up self-important...

Jerome stood before his three highest ranking captains, and this newcomer, this pest who had crept into his territory. The doberman straightened his dark blue suit before he approached his captains. The dog cracked his knuckles loudly as he finally spoke "I suppose you three have a very good reason for calling me all the way down here."

Jimmy was the one to answer, "We've caught your little rat, Marks. And I must say, it was easier than pushing over some old lady for her purse." The bat grinned "He put up a fight for sure, but nothing we couldn't handle."

Carrie scoffed, "He kicked Jimmy's ass, and I was the one that had to restrain him."

The bat rolled his eyes, "Yeah, only because I went easy on him!"

Jerome looked at the rat before his shiny suede shoes. The dog had to look, something about him... He shook his head before looking at his captains, "And why is this vermin not dead?"

Matt was the one to speak, "He's young, but he has potential. It'd be a waste just to kill someone like him. I believe he can be useful to us, Mr. Marks, sir."

The dog glared back down at the overgrown rodent, "And suddenly my organization is a charity?" He said it in a low growl, before he tipped the rat's muzzle back to look in his eyes, "And I hope for both your sake, and my captain here, that you are indeed someone we can use."

Jacob had no chance to answer before he was hauled up to his feet by the large canine.

Jerome lifted him clear off the ground, the rat grunting at sudden pressure to his throat.

Jacob was a strong 5'8, but against this monster canine at 6'6", he was a mere child.

Jerome relaxed his grip on the rat's esophagus, "So, how about it? Will you work for us?"

Jacob couldn't help but be a little defiant. He chuckled in the big dog's face, "That all depends, do I have to kiss your toes, boss?"

Marks wasn't offended at all by the defiance, he gave a soft chuckle, "Nah... I'd make you suck on something, but I'd have to yank out your teeth first." He simply let Jacob go.

The rat dropped to the concrete floor, coughing and massaging his own neck.

Jerome brushed his suit as if touching the rat made him feel dirty, "So then, give me your best shot." The dog let his driver take his suit off for him so he could show off his thick biceps and defined chest, "See if you can make a dent in me. Don't even think of using your power either, or I'll have Ms. Leacher there rip your throat out."

Jacob watched as Jerome turned to face him, as the other Marksmen formed a circle, the three highest ranking behind him each taking a step back. The rat got to his feet. He balled up his fists before he swung at Jerome.

The dog did not even try to dodge. He stood in place, ears twitching and mouth forming an evil smirk as there came an awful sound.

Jacob hit Jerome with all the force he could muster in one punch.

CRUNCH!

"Agh! God! Fuck!" Jacob fell back, his fingers on one fist completely busted, broken, bones sticking through his skin. It was as if he had just punched a brick wall.

Jerome unbuttoned his vest to show off his tattoo right over his heart. His whole body had the appearance of being stone, while still appearing to be organic. The dog's eyes glowed as he laughed cruelly, "That's right, this is my shard's power. I don't even have to think to activate it, it is always active... makes bathing a bitch, but it's a hell of a defense." He rapped on his own chest and gave off the sound of knocking on a cinder block. "My body turns to stone, the instant someone, anyone tries to hit me." He reached down and held Jacob's busted fist, "But you'll walk it off, you're one of us, I'm sure you've already seen one of our many benefits."

Jacob grimaced from his hand being touched, but the dog was right. A soothing burn surged through his arm as the shard healed his injury.

Jerome threw off his vest, leaving his full upper body exposed, "Feel all better yet?"

The rat grunted as his hand had fully healed.

Jerome grinned, "Nice, now, hit me again, and this time, you can use your power on me."

Jacob nodded. He took off his own jacket and left it on the floor. He closed his eyes, when they opened they were glowing. His right hand turned completely black, it stretched across the floor before it took hold of Jerome.

The dog barely reacted to the shadow arm wrapping around his torso.

Jacob reeled back with his opposite arm taking the form of a shadowy tendril, then lashed out.

Jerome slipped from Jacob's grasp, then blocked the attack with his stone bicep.

The tendril seemed to dissipate after being blocked.

Jacob smirked suddenly.

The tendril grabbed hold of Jerome's fist, then Jacob was able to force it back, striking the dog clear across his own muzzle.

Jerome grunted from the blow. He stepped back to hold his cheek. Pulling back his hand, he saw blood, not a lot, just a scrape, but still the rat had made him bleed. He started to laugh then, "You used my own force, you made me hit myself... cheap shot, but clever."

Jacob did not know whether he should take that as a compliment, but he did feel good for showing some ingenuity.

The dog wiped his cheek, "It takes a real hard motherfucker to make me bleed, and you pulled it off with your second attack. Yeah, I think we have a place for you... if you will join us."

The rat really did not know what he should feel. He had been raised to know what was right, what was acceptable, but this... joining criminals, thugs who make a habit of hurting people, innocent people. He had to really think about this, "And if I refuse?"

Jerome fixed him with a glare, "Then we will have you executed so you don't meddle in our affairs anymore... simple as that."

Jacob glared back at the big dog, "Not really much of a choice, but I guess I'll go with the one that keeps me alive. I accept, but, you will leave my friends, anyone else close to me, you'll leave them alone, and I'm not hurting anyone if they don't deserve it. That's my terms, alright?"

The dog had to laugh darkly at the balls on this guy, to make demands to a crime lord, surrounded by his own people, "Fine, but you will follow orders, and if I, or any of my marksmen detect a hint of rebellion from you, or your 'friends', you're dead." He looked to his highest ranking officers, "And if that is all, I'll take my leave."

With that, Jerome returned to his limo. After he got back in, the limousine drove out of the warehouse, flanked by his entourage on their motorcycles.

After the boss left, Jimmy came up to Jacob, a sympathetic wing wrapped around the rat, "And I guess you'll continue to stay with me until you get settled in, big boy."

Carrie scoffed and she just left, "Whatever..."

Matt tapped Jimmy, "We'd better go now. Sophie's daycare will be letting out soon, so I gotta be back there."

The bat laughed, "Aww, such a good daddy."

The badger chuckled, "Yeah, yeah, let's got out of here."

Jimmy led Jacob out, "Come on, Jake."

...

Meanwhile, Jill woke up following her recent ordeal in her grandfather's armory.

The ferret girl had passed out immediately following the intense burn of that shard entering her body.

GASP!

Jill sat up in her bed with a gasp, a paw on her chest. She felt her normal plush brown fur that covered her body, then she felt the tattoo. The strange mark that now adorned her right breast. It felt cold and rough like scales. She looked up when she heard movement.

Desiree sat with her girlfriend in bed, "Jill, are you alright?" She said eyes staring right at the new marking.

Jill smiled and she held her girl close so their muzzles touched, "I'm sorry if I scared you, Des... how long was I out?"

"Not very long, Ms. Jillian." said a third voice. It was Hidaya, the pretty meerkat joining the pair on the bed, "Truthfully, you took to the shard far better than I did. You're lucky you had your brother."

"And where's Junior?"

Desi snickered, "Well, he and the guys are all waiting outside, on account that shard thing destroyed that pretty blouse you had on."

Jill seemed to only just realize she was here between her girlfriend and this new female she'd just met, and her tits were literally out for them both to see. "Huh..." She said as a blush formed, "So... my tits... did-"

Desi did not hold back, "Oh yeah, all the guys out there? They saw your perky girls way the fuck out! And that zap must've been something, 'cause your nips are still hard as fuck, Jilly!" She didn't even hold back the laugh as she shamelessly pinched her lover's left nipple in front of Hidaya.

The meerkat couldn't help but snicker at the beaver's blatant behavior in this situation, "Well, if it's any consolation, your brother only held you before he realized what he was touching."

Jill shrieked, "Junior touched my tits!?!"

Desi chuckled "Not on purpose, baby! Junior just saw his big sis pass out, he was the one to check you to make you weren't hurt." She grabbed both of the ferret's perky pair, "Gave you a good squeeze too, blushed brighter than the pink in his hair the whole time he held you."

Hidaya added, "And your father was quick to cover you before you suffered any further indignity, darling."

Jill subconsciously covered her breasts at the thought of her brother holding her, even if by some accident. They'd always had a close relationship, but not that close. She had to ask then, "So, was the thing even successful? Do I have power now?"

Hidaya answered her, "You do, it's only a matter of seeing what you can do. Every shard is different, and each power is unique."

Jill nodded, "Okay..." She looked at herself half-naked in bed, "So how do I test it, to see what I can do now?"

The meerkat spoke, "That depends, our power typically only manifests when we are in danger, though we are able to access it anytime we want. We will have to test you before we proceed with any plans on saving your Jacob."

Jill shrugged, "Well okay then, so what do I do?"

...

Jacob and Jimmy both made it back to the bat's apartment.

The Mexican vampire was quick to discard most of his clothes, leaving himself in form-fitting speedos which did nothing to hide his bulge, or his ass.

Jacob uncomfortably shuffled as he watched the nearly naked bat sprawl himself across his couch, legs open, that bat's package in clear view from where he stood. The rat was raised to be tolerant and open-minded, but this bat continued to push those limits.

Jimmy looked at his house guest, then gave his friendliest grin, "Come on, Jake, we're just a couple of the boys, hangin' out! Let yourself go a little."

Jacob wanted to outright refuse, instead he just chose to tease his host, "You just want a little eye candy, don't ya?

The bat snickered, "Well, ya can't blame me, you're a handsome fella, I have no shame in tellin' you that!" He made a scout's salute, "I still hold to my promise, I'll fully respect your personal space, but, ya can give me this at least."

Jacob gave the idea a chance to roll around, to see if he could find the cons to this... there were plenty, but, it was honestly flattering that someone, a male someone, considered him handsome. He tugged on his leather jacket, "So, down to my briefs, but that's it! No dicks hangin'!"

Jimmy smirked back at him, "Nah, no dicks."

Jacob exhaled before he started to undress then, his first time in a while doing so for anyone, definitely a first in front of another guy. He took off the jacket, then his shirt, his brown boots, and finally his jeans. Underneath all those clothes, the rat had a great build, from his years as a bouncer. He had a full six-pack, tight abs, tight pecs, his arms and legs weren't thick, but big enough to show he had some muscle.

The only thing he left on were his briefs, which he had worn overnight since he so quickly became a guest to this lecherous bat who currently looked at him with the creepiest grin.

Jimmy's expression changed when he saw Jacob look right at him, he cleared his throat, "Fuck, I knew you were cute, but shit..."

The hetero rat couldn't stop himself from starting to blush as he let the bat ogle him, "Thanks, that is very refreshing to hear from you."

Jimmy tried to adjust his thirsty expression he had right now. He didn't want Jacob to be that much more uncomfortable. The bat picked up his phone, "Uh, excuse me, I'm gonna go uh... make a quick call."

Jacob stayed where he stood but watched how the confident bat stumbled his way out of the living room, like a part of him were suddenly... The rat stopped himself before he could think of that. Then he felt himself start to have a similar reaction, "Hey, no, you stop this, you're not supposed to like this!" he scolded his own body functions.

After a minute or so, Jimmy came back, in which time, Jacob had taken a seat on the bat's other couch.

Jacob stared back as the tall, he had to admit himself, handsome black bat made eye contact.

Jimmy coughed to clear the awkward air between them, "I hope you don't mind, but I've uh, called in some of my side booty."

The rat laughed, "What?"

The bat nodded, "Yeah, I mean, come on! My girlfriend's pissed at me, so she clearly ain't givin' me anythin', and you're still off limits, that's what we agreed on... I'm havin' some of my side booty over tonight! I know ya won't want to see that, so you can stay out here on the couch, if that will make you comfortable."

Jacob shrugged, "That's a weird compromise, but thanks for trying."

Jimmy laughed at that, "Yeah... damn you're fuckin' cute!" He finally just said it.

That broke the tension enough that the two just started to laugh.

...

Back at Prescott Manor, Jill sat in the middle of her grandfather's armory.

Hidaya stood over the young ferret, watching her as she handed a rock to Jill, "Okay, take this in your hand, and give as good a squeeze as you can."

Jill personally felt very silly, she had been here all day, trying to find out what her new powers were, and nothing had made it come out. She'd tried shooting energy from her body, she tried to light things on fire, she did anything she could. This was the last thing.

Jill closed her eyes, and she squeezed the rock, a hard sedimentary rock taken from the yard just outside. The rock gave way. She squeezed harder and she could feel it start to crumble. Then, she pictured that kangaroo, the one that hurt Jacob, who electrocuted him. That rock was crushed in her grasp, turned to gravel in her paw.

Hidaya nodded, "That's good, but it is still a rock, that could just be lucky."

She left, then came right back carrying a lead pipe, taken from the car garage. "Okay, this is lead, a very tough metal. Try squeezing this, whatever you were thinking of? Keep thinking on that!"

Jill nodded as she took the pipe from the meerkat. Jill thought again to that night, she saw in her mind, that badger who talked down to her when she tried to defend Jacob. The pipe bent like wet cardboard. Her eyes glowed as she tore through solid metal like tissue. Her eyes returned to normal and she saw what she had done then started to smile.

Hidaya gave the ferret a gentle hug, "Super-strength, as simple as they come, but for you, it's perfect. You did good, Jill."

Jill felt herself start to cry, she didn't know from what: joy that she could do something like this now, stress that now her normal life could be considered over, or rage at the people who hurt her friend. She just let her emotions go, holding onto Hidaya as she sobbed.

...

Meanwhile, as one person was just beginning to discover her new power, one was up, and understandably upset.

CRASH!!!

The doctors, nurses and other staff in the room all moved as quickly out of the way of objects thrown by the irate otter.

Sam glared at the head doctor of their organization's infirmary, formerly his father's organization, formerly... "What do you mean my father is gone?"

The cowering doctor shivered in fear as he tried to explain, "Mr. Montague, sir, when you came into contact with that shard, the radiation from the blast, it burned through Montague Sr., your father... it melted his heart, he was dead before he hit the floor."

Sam slammed the counter in anger, tears filling his eyes, "No! Stupid old fool! He had to know, he had to know standing so close would..." He gripped the doctor's counter, barely looking at the medical equipment he'd spilled or broken, laying on the counter, on the floor, at his feet, some in pieces. "Fuck!" He cursed with another slam, "I need to be alone..."

The old mouse doctor clicked his tongue as he attempted to calm down the otter, "I know your losing your father, especially like this, it's going to be hard-"

PUNCH!

Sam turned right around, striking the mouse doctor with a right hook.

The doctor's neck turned with a sickening crack, the punch left a visible dent in the side of his face, the doctor dropped to the floor as life flickered out of him, just like that.

The nurses present all screamed at seeing the otter murder the mouse in anger.

Sam glared at the rest of them, "I said leave!" he said, ignoring the fact he just killed a civilian.

The rest of the medical staff quickly vacated the room, while the furious otter looked at himself, the new tattoo that now adorned his chest. He felt it, cold and clammy, like scales.

He thought of his target, the traitor, she's the reason for all of this, his father died because of her, he convinced himself as he began to calm down.

"I will find you, little traitor."