//------------------------------//
// Chaos, Anarchy, and Choices 
// Story: Consequences 
// by shallow15 
//------------------------------//

It was clear, from the reports coming to Tempest through her earpiece, that things were not going well for STORM. All the agents and security forces, plus the various lockdown procedures were apparently unable to cope with seven superpowered teenagers and a bear.

Of course, the fact that Tempest had subtly undermined many of those self-same lockdown procedures might have had something to do with that.

“They're on Level One!”

“Well, keep them there! If they get out the Director will have our asses.”

There was an odd squelching sound over the airwaves, then:

“I just got hit with an exploding danish!”

Tempest felt a smirk come to her face, but she quickly forced it away. She rounded the corner and frowned as she spotted Spring Rain running towards her. He nodded as he got closer.

“I've got a squad heading up to Level One!” he shouted. “If we hurry, we can get them back under containment and – HEY!”

The “HEY!” was because Tempest grabbed his arm and dragged him into a nearby supply closet. She slammed him up against the wall. Hard.

“What the hell, Tempest?!”  

“You killed the nurse,” she said, her voice cold.

“Nurse?” Rain blinked. “What nurse? What the hell are you talking about?”

“The one Glitter Drops helped escape. The one you killed because the Director wanted it. Just like you killed Dropsy later that night.”

She didn't need to hear him say it. His face going pale was all she needed. She slammed him into the wall again.

“You little weasel! We came through training together! What did she ever do to you!”

“I was following orders! Don't pretend you wouldn't have done the same thing!”

“I wouldn't!” Tempest snarled. “She was my friend!”

“Wake up!” Rain shouted back. “No one says no to the Director! You know that! If I hadn't, I'd have wound up just like her eventually! I'm sorry I did it, but I had no choice!”

Tempest glared at him, her nostrils flaring. “Well, I'm giving you one right now.”

She let him go and stared him down. “Option One: You confess to what you did to the higher ups. You testify against the Director and you live with whatever consequences come after that.”

Rain returned the glare. “Fat chance,” he sneered.

Tempest's eyes narrowed and she reached into her jacket.  

“Which brings me to Option Two.”

She pulled out her sidearm and clicked the safety off. The sound filled the small closet. Spring Rain's eyes widened as Tempest pressed the barrel to his forehead.

“Time to make your choice.”