Chereads / Magnus II / Chapter 8 - Stormy: A New Magnus is Born

Chapter 8 - Stormy: A New Magnus is Born

Toni remains in the Magnus Lair, sitting in the garage section, and still thinking about her dearly departed friend.

"I can't go on like this!" Toni mutters to herself, "I have to do something. I feel like I owe it to Harry!"

Toni continues to cry as she mutters to herself.

A warm hand comes from behind, being placed on her shoulder.

"Hey, I heard what happened. How are you holding up."

Dallas Lockyer, the father of Steven Lockyer, aka Omega Magnus, and the uncle of Toni, sits by her side.

"Uncle!" Toni exclaims, "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd take a break." Dallas says, "It's not easy trying to handle reconnaissance and information gathering at the same time."

The two sit in silence for a while, then Toni begins to speak.

"I have to do something. I have to help Magnus somehow. With Alexander Stephenson and Ariel out there along with this crazy cult, he can't do all this alone."

"You know your mum doesn't want you part of this crusade right?" Dallas asks.

Stefani Lockyer, Toni's mum helped Magnus prepare his vigilante operation to get off the ground. Toni however was forbidden by her mum, more worried about losing her precious daughter. Even though Toni had received the same training that Magnus had undergone unbeknownst to Stephen, Toni said that she only received the training for the sake of defending herself. She possesses the same speed, strength and reflexes that her cousin possesses, but had repeatedly been told by her mother to keep all that a secret.

"I know my mum doesn't want me to do any of this." Toni says, "But I can't sit idly by at the fact that my cousin is outnumbered. And I owe this to Harry."

"Is this about revenge?" Dallas asks, "I can tell you now that vengeance is a fool's game and it's a luxury that no one can afford."

"It's not about revenge!" Toni shouts, "I want to uphold my morals and standards. To keep fighting and standing up for my cause by being an example. That's what I promised Harry before he died."

Toni says this as tears stream from her eyes.

"Please!" Toni begs her uncle, "Let me help him!"

Dallas looks away, struggling to come to terms with what his niece wants. As he ponders, EJ walks over to the pair.

"I don't like putting Toni in any danger like that." EJ pipes in, "But at this point, Magnus does need the help, so I have to agree with Toni."

Dallas sighs, and turns to look at Toni.

"If your mother asks, I'll take responsibility." Dallas tells Toni. "Fortunately for you, me and EJ anticipated you'd want to get your way in sometime."

Dallas walks to the armory. A push of a secret button next to Magnus suit armory raises from the ground a second suit armory. In it contains another armor suit identical to Magnus'. Battle-hardened armor covering the upper body and lower body except the biceps and lower femur areas, twin gauntlets with cable launchers and electric weapons built in, high tactical footwear with knee pads and high tech sunglasses.

The only difference is the armor was made for a female of Toni's build, and rather than black and blue, the armor is black and red.

"Me and EJ had this made for you." Dallas tells Toni, "Just in case you decided you wanted in."

"You sure you can handle breaking this to mum?" Toni asks,

"Of course." Dallas answers, "Besides, what would she do without her big brother?"

Toni begins to suit up. After seven minutes, Toni is ready and all suited up. Looking like a female version of Omega Magnus, save that her armor sports black and blue colors and she sports her wavering, unbraided blonde hair with red lipstick.

"Oh yeah... What do we call her?" asks EJ.

Dallas looks Toni over, and thinks back on Toni growing up, her attitude and all that she has been through along with her experiences in life.

"To be honest, you come into everything like a wild storm." Dallas tells Toni, "Why don't we call you Stormy Magnus?"

Toni thinks to herself for a moment.

"I like it!" Toni proclaims happily, "It suits me well!"

"I know you're having a hard time keeping yourself controlled emotionally." Dallas continues, "So why don't you take a page out of Magnus' book and use sarcasm to keep yourself in check?"

"Yeah sure." Toni replies, "Though I've been told I act like a goofball sometimes."

"That'll work as well, believe me." EJ pipes in.

"Oh yeah..." Toni says, "With me, Magnus and Ariel around, don't you think referring to Steven as just Magnus is going to be confusing?"

"That's true." EJ answers, "Okay, from now on, we'll refer to you as Stormy, and Steven as Omega. Just use the first part of your names."

"So what now?" Dallas chimes in,

"Steven's headed off to see Ariel." EJ answers,

"I can investigate the criminal activity at the Gay Bar." Stormy says,

"Good idea. At least you're familiar with the place." EJ replies, "Geez, with two Magnus' out there, we're covering a lot more ground!!"

"When you're done, go check on Steven." Dallas tells Stormy. "I'm worried about him being around Ariel."

"Don't worry." Toni proclaims, "Ariel was choking me last time on her terms. The next time we meet, it's going to be on my terms!"

"But what do we tell Steven?" asks Stormy.

"Better to ask for forgiveness later, I guess…" EJ replies.