Chapter 13: Controlling the Swarm and Moral Distinctions
The tension in the high school auditorium was thicker than a bad plot twist. The Maurits teenager, cornered, his rage boiling over, was losing control. Rats, hundreds of them, swarmed from every corner, their tiny eyes gleaming in the dim light, their collective squeaking a terrifying symphony of vengeance. Nick, despite his Grimm abilities, was struggling. How do you fight a swarm of rats? And how do you fight a kid who's been pushed to his absolute breaking point?
"Alright, System, Maurits pacification. Anything to calm him down, or, you know, make the rats take a coffee break," Adam mentally commanded, watching from a discreet distance. "And something for the rats themselves. A frequency? A scent? Anything to make them less 'attack' and more 'scurry away politely'."
The Library, as always, had answers. A specific, high-frequency sonic pulse could disorient rats, making them flee. And a calming agent, a rare herb, could temporarily soothe the Maurits' overloaded emotional state, allowing him to regain control. Adam, ever prepared, had already acquired a miniature sonic emitter from the Library shop – disguised as a very fashionable pen. He subtly activated it, a faint, almost inaudible hum emanating from it.
Wanda, meanwhile, was a silent, powerful force. As the rats surged forward, she extended her hands, a faint crimson glow surrounding them. She didn't destroy the rats; instead, she created subtle, almost imperceptible psychic barriers, guiding them, nudging them, making them veer away from Nick and Hank, directing them towards the exits. Simultaneously, she focused on the Maurits, a gentle, soothing psychic wave emanating from her, subtly dampening his rage, calming the storm within him.
The Maurits, mid-woge, suddenly faltered. His eyes, wild with fury, softened for a moment. The rats, instead of attacking, began to scatter, confused by the strange, high-pitched hum and the invisible barriers.
"What the…?" Nick muttered, seizing the opportunity to move in. He saw the Maurits, his woge receding, his face a mask of confusion and exhaustion. Monroe, who had joined them, looked equally bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
"That was… unexpected," Monroe said, shaking his head. "Like the rats just decided they had other plans. And the kid… he just… calmed down."
Nick, looking at the Maurits, finally understood. This wasn't just a monster. This was a scared, angry kid. He used a non-lethal restraint, apprehending the Maurits without further harm.
[MISSION COMPLETE: Maurits apprehended. Non-lethal resolution achieved. Reward: 150 System Points.]
[GRIMM ETHICS: Differentiating natural Wesen behavior from human crime. Host's guidance valuable in this complex case.]
Adam felt a profound sense of satisfaction. One hundred and fifty System Points. And a life saved, a lesson learned. "See, Wanda? Sometimes, the best way to fight monsters is with a little empathy. And a really good sonic emitter," he quipped, watching the police lead the Maurits away. "Nick's learning. He's starting to see the grey areas. Which, in this world, are pretty much everywhere."
Later, back in the Library, Adam and Wanda debriefed.
"It is… complicated," Wanda said, her gaze distant. "The boy was wrong to kill. But he was also… hurt."
"Yeah, well, 'hurt people hurt people,' even if those people are rat-Wesen with a penchant for unleashing swarms," Adam replied, though his tone was serious. "This is what being a Grimm is really about, Wanda. It's not just about hunting monsters. It's about understanding them. About finding justice, even when it's messy. And sometimes, it's about being the invisible hand that nudges things in the right direction."
He looked at the System Shop, mentally browsing for new items. "I'm thinking a new book on Wesen psychology. Or maybe a calming charm. For Nick. He's going to need it. This job is going to give him an ulcer. Or, you know, a very complicated relationship with rodents." He grinned.
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