Reaper: Interlude #1-Armsmaster

"Colin?"

"Hmm?"

"Am I reading this report right?"

Colin Wallis, also known as Armsmaster, head of Brockton Bay's Protectorate Sector, swiveled in his chair. Standing behind him was Hannah, aka Miss Militia, his fellow colleague and one of the few people that he could call his friend. Armsmaster didn't miss the raised eyebrow as Militia leafed through his report of Lung's capture. Normally he might have been annoyed that someone was second guessing his work, but he himself could hardly believe what he had seen.

"That depends," he half smiled, "have you been faking understanding the English language?"

Miss Militia rolled her eyes, but couldn't fight off the small smile. He was usually so caught up in his work, it was nice that he joked like that once and awhile.

She just wished it happened more.

She focused her attention back at the report in question and once again rose a confused eyebrow. "Well this can't be right..."

"Colin, it says here that Lung suffered burns ranging from the 1st to the 2nd degree-"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Colin, Lung is a pyrokinetic. Even if someone controlled the flames better than him, he'd still be massively fire-proof, not to mention his regeneration would make it negligible at most."

Colin frowned.

"And it says later on," she flipped the report till came upon the page, "that his regeneration was 'quote-un-quote' receding at an alarming rate especially his eyes.

She looked at him, a frown hidden under her scarf, yet easily shown from her eyes.

"Colin, what exactly happened down there?"

Armsmaster sighed, I really just want to work right now.

Out loud he explained, "Lung did indeed suffer 1st and 2nd degree burns Hannah. I too at first thought that it was impossible, until I noticed the water."

"The water." She knew this part, but she wanted to hear it from him.

Armsmaster nodded, "The water. It was pooled all over the damned place and you could still see faint traces of steam in the air. What I believed happened and it should be all in that report right there, is that Lung was ambushed. Whether or not it was a rival gang, a new cape, or some sort of infighting, nothings concrete."

"But it says here," Militia shuffled more pages, "That you have a theory?"

"I was getting to that you know," Armsmaster growled out, though he didn't really mean it, "Anyways, after making sure that he was properly apprehended, I realized that he was slightly aware of what was happening around him.

"I had my suspicions but his testimony confirmed it, Lung chased some rogue after he or she attempted a hit on his life. Upon the end of the chase, Lung thought that he had the attacker cornered, unknowing of the trap he or she had set. Using the destroyed hydrant as a conductor, the assailant used some form electrokinesis, practically frying Lung to the point of unconsciousness and the destruction of his sight."

He shrugged, "From that point it was relatively easy to follow his trail of destruction back to his former base."

Miss Militia nodded, "And that's where your theory comes in."

"That's right. One unlucky punk from Lung's crew decided to stick around for god knows whatever reason. We found him rifling through an electronic safe, swearing up a storm before he noticed our presence. After arresting him and a proper interrogation from your's truly, the man admitted that the safe held over a third of Lung's finances and that while the gold and jewels were left behind, all of the paper cash and a few assorted items were stolen."

The Protectorate Head reclined in his chair, "Of course, now Lung can't and probably won't say anything to us about the contents of that safe, but I have it all set in my head. Lung begins some sort of hit on someone, the attacker ambushes him, ambush fails and Lung plays tag across the lower end of the docks. Lung is eventually incapacitated and the attacker, possibly assuming Lung's death, heads back towards Lung's base. He or she promptly empties the majority of the safe out, along with a few wallets and credit cards."

"And leaves behind the much more traceable jewels," finished Militia, "And according to the thug's testimony, his description is... rather lacking."

Armsmaster snorted, "If only he could describe more than 'ghost mask and black cloak'. Couldn't even get a name."

"Hmm, I see. Well, thank you for clearing some things up for me Colin," Militia gave him a nod and a hidden smile, "Try not to keep yourself up with your work."

"I make no promises," smiled Armsmaster.

Only after Miss Militia left, did Colin relax. It hurt, but he had not been entirely truthful with Hannah. Sure it was true that the electricity had done a number on Lung, but nothing that required the emergency room.

"No," Armsmaster thought, "That was all me. It was foolish to use such a powerful anti-regenerative when he was in such a state. If only I hadn't been so anxious."

With a sigh, Armsmaster turned back to his computer and began working on his Endbringer patternization system.

It was only hours into work, that Armsmaster realized that Hannah never stated what was bothering her with his report.