InFAMOUS One-Shots

To the Accused: Part 1 (Reader)

     At first, it was nothing for you to worry about.

     The strange girl you met was young, and you were sure she was only bluffing. Celia Penderghast was a conduit, and you knew of her close relationship with Augustine. There was little about the DUP you didn't know, and you often used it to your advantage. What you had gathered was Celia was no more a threat than the other three conduits she set loose on Seattle, and you didn't bat another eyelash at it. You focused on minimizing the damage the conduits caused in the city, because their damage was exposing many innocent conduits to the DUP. Many people had been rounded up - most of those hadn't even activated their powers yet. They weren't a threat to anyone, and you tried your best to assist them in any way you could.

     But when more DUP soldiers were dying, you felt the need to investigate.

     There were several DUP checkpoints around the city, many destroyed by the conduits who claimed to free the ones hidden in cages. The shards were missing from them, so you linked the power source as one motivation to the destruction. However, what you couldn't grasp was the vast amount of destruction. If they wanted the shards so badly, then they should've only destroyed the system, not the entire checkpoint. Soldiers were torn to shreds, innocent civilians caught in the crossfire slaughtered.

     In this particular checkpoint, all the clues seemed to be leading to you.

     Celia was a paper manipulator, and she recognized your love for animals. Each time, she'd leave a different origami animal for you. You grew increasingly weary as these animals would end up in your wake. You needed to keep an eye sharp for those who might attack. If you saw Celia... Run.

     You glanced over your shoulder, noting the grouping of people at the recently destroyed checkpoint. It was only a few minutes old, so you had to rush home. They couldn't have gone far after destroying it.

     Just as you thought that, you heard a fluttering noise. The clashing of paper was what grabbed your attention the most. You froze, eagerly throwing your gaze around the street and the roofs. You saw nothing of note, so you rushed down the sidewalk, ready to run if need be. Your eyes didn't rest as you stormed down the pavement, searching for any hint or clue as to where she might be. Celia was fast - faster than any normal conduit was. You saw how Hank and the other two conduits were in combat, you having witnessed their training firsthand alongside Augustine. They were quick, teleportation powers and all. You've seen them rush their opponents with lightning quick reflexes, and smash in faces with the power of an elephant. That was not something you were ready to deal with, and, if you already knew how they were, you couldn't imagine Celia's speed. Paper was incredibly light and versatile, and so was Celia.

     You heard the crackling sound of fire, warped behind a vacuum like sucking. You had heard the sound before - it was the sound of Hank's own teleportation abilities. Celia got the other three in on it. But Hank is with Augustine... How could he...? The realization clashed through you like the tight edges of paper. It couldn't be Henry. It was someone else entirely, someone who may not know who you are - someone who would blindly kill you without knowing who you really are. Abigail, Eugene, Celia - the three of them hated you. As much as you were displeased by the misinformation spread to them about your position, you could accept their hatred for the safety of their kind. Now, with their eyes glued on you, you couldn't step outside your apartment without fear... and this new smoke conduit? Who the hell is this person? Did they have the same abilities as Henry? If they were hunting you alongside Celia with those abilities, then there was very little you could do. Paper was flammable, after all.

     I've had enough taste tests of their combined abilities to know I don't want a second portion. You heard shuffling in the alleyway.

     You stopped walking, lifting your head to the rooftops. Up high, leaning over a railing, stood two figures. One wore a paper bunny mask, and the other wore a good over his head. Celia and Eugene. "Look, you two, I don't want to fight! Stand down, and we can go on our way!" Neither of them moved, continuing to stare down at you with a furious glare. You understood the hatred. It came from a right place. "Listen, Celia, Eugene. Think about all I've done to keep you two safe! In Curdun Cay, we protected you from the people out here who want to hurt you! Think about that! I was in charge of external security, the guards who kept people out of the facility! People protested every day outside to kill off all of you! My security guards stopped them!" Eugene spoke up first after your speech, "You watched as we were tortured and forced to fight each other!" You had no retort. He crossed his arms, his pixelated wings expanding around him. He's ready to fall. At me. Celia laughed at your silence, expecting as such from you. She twirled a paper airplane in her fingers. Weapon. For when I run. "You should have killed us all when you had the chance!" Celia paused, then snarled, "Just like you did to the rest of them." The rest of them?!