Reminiscence Hydra of Malicious Compliance

Story so far

The stitched monster rises from the flaming hospital bed as a broad flesh sphere on four small legs. Nine long necks carry faces taken from Carl's and Donut's recent lives: Asher, Tami-Lynn, Monobrow Sam, Dick, Mr. Roth, Sally, Bea's mother, Sugar Cube, and Judge Lucian.

Each head grants the whole creature a resistance and uses an attack matching that resistance. Destroyed heads regenerate unless removed with a clean cut. The central body remains practically invulnerable until the fire-resistant head is removed and its neck cauterized.

Only Lucian, the keymaster head, obeys card-combat restrictions. The other eight count as minions and attack the squad leader directly. Lucian's deck fields Alpha Male Carl, King Croissant, snares, protection, utility extensions, and a stolen Worm Fulcrum.

Carl cleanly removes Bea's mother and burns the wound. Shi Maria then bites off heads faster than they can recover, while the body burns. After its totems vanish, Judge Lucian and Tami-Lynn are the last heads; the entire body ruptures and dies.

Appearance

A stitched elephant-sized flesh sphere with four tiny legs and nine screaming familiar heads on long intertwined necks.

Role

The hydra is the AI's rule-breaking personalized keyholder and a public demonstration of its autonomy.

Relationships