Chapter 302

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*- "Brims"*

This is the 302nd episode of *unORDINARY*.

## Synopsis

*Brims* wonders how he's going to start a new arrangement from scratch just moments before he notices someone about to touch down near him. X-Rei rains Lightning down on him in a righteous fury, only for *Brims* to dodge. She keeps up the offense but he sidesteps every attack and closes in for a successful counter with Flame Claw. Curious about this new playmate, he takes the time to try and get acquainted with her. She jumps and grabs his head, then attempts to fry him with high voltage. Fighting through the pain, he clucthes X-Rei's wrists in his burning hands and forces her off of him. *Brims* moves in to finish her, but he's stopped by Ponytail, who showcases impeccably-timed swordplay.

Wounded, but not downed, *Brims* recognizes the older vigilante from their previous encounter. Ponytail rushes in while dual-wielding energy katanas. Undaunted, *Brims* catches the swords with his bare hands. He tells the vigilante how lucky he is to have survived the last time, and zaps him off. Ponytail is paralyzed by the power once wielded by his partner. *Brims* prepares to fry him for good this time, but X-Rei jumps in to return the favor for her ally. To Brim's surprise, she takes the full brunt of the Lightning attack. She's unimpressed by the inferior application of Rei's power, and decides to school the killer with a practical demonstration of true Lightning. *Brims* tries dodging again, but the attack's range is too great. Realizing that this kid is unaffected by his electric attacks, he tries to fall back. But there are more surprises in store for him. He's hit several times by precision beam attacks, signaling the presence of even more interlopers. Another swift slash from Ponytail finally knocks *Brims* down.

After planting crossed energy swords in the ground dangerously close to their opponent's neck, the vigilantes prepare to interrogate their captive. *Brims* is slow to cooperate, and activates Flame Claw again. In response, Ponytail conjures two more swords drives them into the fiery hands, effectively pinning him to the ground. The vigilante warns him that he'll go for the legs next time. X-Rei bends down and unmasks the struggling criminal and gets a good look at the face of the man who killed X-Static. Despite her animosity, she keeps a level head. Ponytail pulls out his phone and begins recording.

Up on the rooftop, Nobody and Isen stand watch. The latter notes that the expert use of two abilities is familiar. Nobody also notices the parallels to John, and Isen wonders if there's some sort of connection. Nobody can't spare any thoughts to ponder the mystery, as *Brims* still needed to be watched in case he whipped out another ability of his.

After confiscating the parcel of amplifiers, X-Rei starts off the questioning by telling all she knows. *Brims*, like all of EMBER, works for the Bureau of Authority. They used their influence to secretly sell Ability Amplifiers to criminals, turn them loose on lower districts, and track the results without a care for the innocent lives they've destroyed. What's more, they kill and harvest the abilities of any vigilante they come across, and force the media to promote false stories. Ponytail asks where the primary experiments are taking place, and what their ultimate purpose is. Rather than answer, *Brims* suggests that Ponytail must really miss working with his old partner if he's picked up a lesser substitute. X-Rei grabs ahold of his face and unleashes a powerful surge of electricity, demanding that *Brims* quit stalling.

Isen and Nobody are unnerved by this uncharacteristic savagery. The former is glad that they're on her side, but his buddy can't find any comfort in that sight.

Ponytail reveals that he knows who *Brims* *really* is. His true name is "Byron", ironically serving in the Authorities's Anti-Terrorism department despite being a part of EMBER. Ponytail demands to know the location of their base of operations, lest the public learn that the Authorities they trusted to catch the vigilante killers were the cause of the problem in the first place.

Byron scoffs at their threats. He explains that it was his position in the Bureau that gave him more credibility than a pair of masked unknowns who attacked him on the job. At best, they could expect to be identified and arrested. But there was no room for leniency this night. Byron had no intention of dealing with them ever again.

On the rooftop, somebody quickly closes in on Nobody and Isen. Even Hunter isn't enough to help the duo react in a timely matter. By the time Isen yells out that they need to run, they are slashed by burning claws. The one ambushing them is the operative known as "*Fury*." Seriously wounded, Blyke screams out in pain, to the alarm of his allies on the ground below.

## Appearing Characters

* Remi/X-Rei
* Byron/Brims
* Kurt's Lackey
* Kurt
* Blyke/Nobody
* Isen
* Kuyo/Ponytail
* "Fury"

## Appearing Abilities

* Lightning (natural; converted)
* Flame Claw (converted)
* *Conjure: Blades*
* Energy Discharge
* Hunter