Chapter Text
Wednesday Addams stands in the catacombs beneath her ancestral home, her eyes fixated on the latest upgrades she's made to her creation.
The Exo-Suit, once a crude assemblage, now stands transformed into sleek metallic body armor, adorned with a pair of deadly talons and retractable wings—a detachable steel harness allowing her to take flight. Her fingertips delicately brush over the feather-like edges of its wings, appreciating her craftsmanship.
As she looks around, Wednesday takes in the catacomb's sinister charm. She draws a deep breath, and an otherworldly chill fills her lungs, seeping into the very marrow of her being. The scent of decay hangs heavy in the air, a mélange of rot and forgotten memories, invoking a somber melancholy. Each breath brings forth the taste of mortality, mingling with the dampness of the soil, reminding all who dare enter of life's ephemeral nature.
In this forgotten realm, bathed in the pallid moonlight's feeble glow, shadows dance in macabre delight among the carcasses of ancient tombs. Weathered stones bear faded epitaphs of lives extinguished long ago, a testament to the Addams family's enduring legacy. Ghostly phantoms seem to linger in the dimness, their ethereal forms emerging from the sepulchers, trapped between the realms of the living and the dead.
Though the more modern members of the family rest in the nearby cemetery, the Addams clan follows a unique tradition every ten years. They gather to dig up their oldest deceased and transport them here for safekeeping. This practice was born from a dark history, as puritan barbarians once desecrated the remains of Gomez's great-great-grandparents, severing their connection to the mortal realm. While the offenders paid for their sins, the fear of such an act recurring remained etched in the family's memories.
Amidst these sacred grounds, Wednesday has chosen to store her creation. Seeking the blessing of every ghost and spirit that inhabits this place and her parents, she tucked the modern set of lights, power tools, and materials into an unused corner of the cavern. There, a small working table also accommodates Pugsley's projects.
A smile graces Wednesday's lips as she reminisces about how it all started—the Battle of New York, as the media dubbed it. When aliens invaded New York, the entire family rushed to witness the aftermath. For Wednesday, witnessing such an event was an intriguing prospect, even if it meant enduring the almost eight hours confined in the family car with her parents' brand of affection.
As her family strolled around, capturing images of the devastation left by the alien invasion, Wednesday focused on searching for any remnants of the extraterrestrial beings. Equipped with her specialized autopsy kit, she hoped to find something of interest. Unfortunately, all the corpses had been removed before they arrived.
Nevertheless, the trip proved fruitful in another way. While government agents tried to clear her family from the site, Wednesday skillfully sneaked to where the remains of the alien vehicles were being stored. Workers carelessly discarded glowing power sources in an unguarded pile. She couldn't resist the urge to claim at least one of these fascinating devices for herself.
Listening to the foreman's instructions on how to dismantle the alien ships, Wednesday became engrossed in the details. The desire to possess various items grew with each word he spoke.
Eventually, government officials swooped in like crows on a corpse, disrupting the workers' operations. Amidst the commotion, Wednesday managed to seize a few items she had set her sights on. Upon returning home, her family praised her for obtaining such intriguing souvenirs, but she hardly paid attention to their accolades. Her focus was entirely on the alien devices.
Rushing to her laboratory, Wednesday devoted herself to learning as much as she could about the newfound technology. She became so engrossed that sometimes she even forgot her writing hour, a rarity for her. This newfound challenge captivated her like nothing before.
For someone as capable as Wednesday, who had revived the dead and mastered various disciplines, boredom was a constant companion. However, the prospect of the unknown, the desire to learn and explore more, was too enticing to ignore.
Eventually, her research hit a roadblock, pushing her to seek help from her family. Uncle Fester and Pugsley attempted to gather information, but it was Grandmama who used her magic to pinpoint the locations of other stored alien devices. With the family's assistance, Wednesday successfully stole more technology, though the government had wisely kept the elements separated.
Determined to track down the missing pieces herself, Wednesday conceived an idea for a propulsion wingsuit to aid her endeavors. Despite initial failures, she persisted, determined to succeed in her quest for knowledge. The thrill of flying under the pale moonlight and the challenge of the endeavor were simply irresistible to her, even if it meant coaxing Pugsley off the roof of the house for experimentation.
As Wednesday delved deeper into her pursuit, her indignation grew over those who possessed the technology without understanding its value. With a resolve strengthened by fury, she became even more resourceful, striving to outwit those in power and locate the scattered pieces for herself. The idea of tracking the energy signatures held the potential to open up an entirely new world of possibilities. Wednesday's determination knew no bounds, and she embraced the pursuit with a passion like none other.
Progress was slow but steady. Wednesday Addams eventually managed to create a functional suit, though it was simpler than she would have preferred. Nevertheless, it served its purpose well. The suit underwent numerous iterations until it outgrew her laboratory. After careful consideration, Wednesday decided to request permission to use the catacombs and cave system beneath the house for discreet entrance and exit points. At times, when there was nothing else to do, Wednesday would don her suit and fly under the moonlight, accompanied by the spirits of her ancestors.
With this new routine, Wednesday embraced her double life. Mornings were dedicated to attending the Normie school like any other teenager, while evenings were devoted to working on and upgrading her project. She still set aside an hour for writing at night and made sure to spend time socializing with her family during breaks. Her weekends were dedicated to chasing after the missing pieces or clues leading to new vaults. Rinse and repeat, her life became a careful balance of both worlds.
But as she mined every useful piece available in New Jersey, progress hit a wall. It was time to move on to a different hunting ground. Wednesday knew she wasn't ready for the big leagues, the realm of Iron Man's armor was still far beyond her reach. So, she sought a place where an Outcast like herself wouldn't stand out, yet there was enough technological presence to make her efforts worthwhile. A location between her hometown and a bustling city seemed ideal.
Her answer came as a consequence of defending her brother Pugsley from those who thought they could harm him with no repercussions. By proving them wrong, her parents decided to transfer her to a new school in a different state, a booming city where Outcasts like her were not just accepted but needed. Grandmama's spell confirmed the presence of multiple energy sources in this new city—Jericho City.
Yes, Jericho City would serve her purposes well enough. Here, Wednesday Addams would continue her quest for knowledge and power, honing her skills while navigating the intricate balance between her ordinary teenage life and her extraordinary, secret endeavors.