Kaiser was brooding. He should be ecstatic but all he could see on the horizon was danger. The ABB was destroyed, unable to stay together as a gang without their parahuman bosses. The Merchants were little better, with Squealer finding being the 'boss' a lot harder than she thought. The new Undersiders were just an annoyance yet and Coil's men were normals. There was a rumor of another group, but they were total unknowns. Some sort of villain vagabonds. That left Faultline, but she was a mercenary. He could buy her compliance if need be.
No, the real problem is that the Protectorate and Wards went from a nuisance to a serious threat for control of the city. And he needed to curtail his ex-wife's heroic endeavours, otherwise they would gain another powerful parahuman. He may even need to come to an accommodation for that jackass Redoubt in Montana to bring in his four Parahuman white supremacists. And that could be a problem of another sort.
He looked up to see Hookwolf walk in, wearing a trenchcoat. "Kaiser," his lieutenant said formally, then cracked a smile. "You look like you are reading an obituary. Defeating the Endbringers is always a good thing."
"Not when its attributed to a new, powerful Protectorate hero that lives in my city. She can raise the dead! That means we can't even start a covert war against the local team and expect to whittle them back like I did when I took over after the All-Father." Kaiser was seething that. He wanted that power on his side. What he could do with unkillable people like Hookwolf, Crickett and Stormwolf was very enticing.
"So are we going to just quietly consolidate our power?" Stormtiger asked curiously.
"Yes. Start telling our people on the street to not be as obvious about things. We aren't hiding, we are just not being blatant any more. We may have to set up some traps and kill some of the heroes," their leader mused. "Lung was always so useful for killing annoying problems."
"You think they are coming for us," Hookwolf said, frowning.
"Who else is there to take out? The Merchants are a joke, the Undersiders almost invisible, Faultline is barely a villain and does only mercenary work. We've got some lone wolf villains, but they are getting pretty scarce. If they smash us, they have uncontested control of the city. My city!" He was nearly growling at this point.
"We'll figure it out. Armsmaster knows to not to push too hard and it'll become outright war. We may have to rally with the other gangs though." Kaiser drummed his fingers on his desk. "In fact, I think we should discuss this with them immediately. A truce or mutual defense pact."
"They'll backstab us at the first chance."
"At least they won't do it immediately. The Protectorate is about to steamroll us from the front," his leader noted.
That got an unhappy nod from Hookwolf.
"I don't like this," the male teen in biker leathers said as he double-checked the street in front of the bar. A bitterly cold wind blew off the Atlantic, carrying some snowflakes that hinted at least one more snowstorm for the year.
"No choice, really. Kaiser's the leader of the last major gang in Brockton Bay. And if he's worried about the Protectorate taking him out, he's probably got a good point that the rest of us will just get crushed," the blond 'jester' said to him. He green eyes were checking things out just as much as he was.
The next girl was very stocky and did not even more than glance. "This is stupid."
The ren-faire reject with a white porcelain face mask nodded. "It's not good. I mean, he could just be using this to kill us all."
"Don't even breath a word of that, Regent," his leader stated grimly. "That could set them all off. And I have no desire to be ground zero of a super villain battle."
They took the stairs down into the bar and into a back room where the deaf waitress took any orders (almost none) for the gathered gang leaders. Kaiser sat at the head of the table, while his Menja and Fenja sat at either side. Hookwolf was standing behind him. Then to the left was a visibly distraught woman in skanky clothing that just barely covered herself enough to be considered 'legal'. An imposing automaton of brass stood next to her. A woman wearing a welding mask sat along on that same side of the table. Grue led the rest of the undersiders in, seating opposite Kaiser with Tattletale at his side. Finally, on the last side sat two new people. The two young men looked to be in charge of a new gang in the area called The Travellers. The leader was actually wearing a top hat and suit, along with a red mask, while his companion wore a heavily padded outfit and a square mask.
And an empty chair in between the Travellers and Kaiser, which got Tattletale to wince ever so slightly.
Kaiser was sipping a beer as they waited. No one was chatting between the teams, but when the clock showed 8:15 PM, Kaiser slammed a metal gauntlet on the table.
"It appears Coil decided against joining us this evening. I guess that is his answer," Kaiser said grimly. He would have to crush the upstart for flouting the truce meeting. "We are here, because for the first time we are in an unusual situation. The Protectorate is in a position where they can potentially pick us off one at a time. And I don't feel the need to enjoy the hospitality of the state."
That got a dark chuckle from the villains.
"Do you have anything that makes you think that Armsmaster would go after us all like that?" Faultline asked Kaiser.
"Armsmaster? Probably not. He understands how the world works. The problem is that his newest additions do not seem to want to play by the rules. They captured Oni, then Lung, effectively destroying the ABB as a gang. Then they took out Skidmark and Mush, weakening the Merchants even more." Kaiser stared at Squealer until she broke eye contact. He then turned to Grue and Tattletale. "Or will Grue just be the next leader that disappears with his right hand... woman?"
Luckily Grue's outfit hid everything his whole body, his billowing black smoke escaping through the vents near his face. It made the white, painted skull stand out even more on his face and made him look quite imposing. "So what are you proposing?"
"I think he's proposing we watch each other's backs," Trickster said carefully. "We're just here as a friendly head's up for now that we are in the area, but we might be useful to help out. If we get help in return."
"So are we teaming up to attack the Protectorate?" Squealer asked, sounding remarkably together and not her normal vapid self.
"No, because that will just get them to bring in out of town resources. Like the Triumvirate. Because now we have two 'indispensable' heroes here. Unlike Panacea, Futurias is willing to enter combat," Kaiser stated flatly.
"And what about your Purity? She was one of the 'heroes' that helped bring in Lung," Squealer said, glaring at him angrily through her slipshod.
"She is no longer part of the Empire Eighty-Eight," Kaiser said, blades of his armor and mask actually growing an inch as he seethed in anger. "So she's just a lone heroine on a crusade against evil. No threat."
"Villains playing defense isn't going to work," Tattletale said as she drummed her fingers on the old, wooden table. "We're the ones robbing and stealing. So they are going to be responding to our attacks."
"We need to for a least a little bit, Then we need to kill at least three of the local Protectorate," Kaiser said bluntly. "And we need to make sure that Futurias is killed. Or captured."
"Killed will get a lot of other villains and heroes angry at us. Captured and forced to leave Brockton Bay?" Faultline said, cottoning onto his plan.
"Yes. Suggest that a more major city needs her assistance. And that if she comes back, we will kill her." Kaiser's fist clenched, grating metal on metal from all the blades.
Slowly all of the villains nodded. It was then the signal to break up.
Grue led his team out first and down into the second alley on the right where a van was parked. He turned and looked at everyone. "Let's just be upfront about this, this is going to suck."
Tattletale nodded. "Kaiser was putting up a good show there, but Purity has essentially already joined the Protectorate. And whatever leverage he had on her is gone. He's livid."
"So what are we going to do? Just more jobs for the boss?" Regent asked as he bounced the head of his scepter off his shoulder.
Bitch just grunted.
"What we are going to do is recruit. I'm going to approach Spitfire about joining us. We need the firepower and it'll give us a boost of credibility," Grue explained.
"Fuck that. We don't need anyone else," Bitch snapped out.
"Bullshit. Can your dogs take on four brutes that get into fistfights with Lung? And survived?" Grue actually loomed over the stocky girl in her mismatch clothing. "Or do you want them fucking dying on you?"
"Well, you always have more dogs. But I thought you cared for them?" Tattletale said snidely. "And don't even think about trying to drive her out. Our team has to grow. Unless you'd like to find out what prison is like?"
"Hell no. They might send me back to Canada. And I ain't doing that. I vote that we recruit Spitfire," Regent said.
"I'll keep my ears open for other possibilities," Tattletale said. Which really translated with talking to their true employer about hiring out of town help.
Skitter was debuting (again) after being grounded. Her father, one Danny Hebert, had been furious and had nearly stopped her from joining the Wards after her stunt in going along to Australia to fight the Endbringer.
It was only her threatening to go hero on her own that stopped him from trying to deny her outright. He had ground her, one week of only school and staying up in her room to do school work and read. No library visits, no friends over and no TV. (The TV was no real loss to her actually.)
But now she was allowed to head back to the PRT headquarters and finish getting processed. The biggest thing she missed is that she had not been allowed to go on runs. So she was now going all out on her way. She had to do little doglegs at intersections to not get side-swiped by fast moving traffic on the cross street.
Skitter zipped to a stop in front and then walked in the front revolving doors. She was waved over to a receptionist in uniform, but not armor.
A female PRT officer looked up. "Skitter?"
"Yes, ma'am?" she answered politely.
"Go on in, they are expecting you." The PRT officer nodded at the Wards elevator.
The ride up was as smooth as ever. At the top she stepped out into the empty corridor. "Here goes nothing," she muttered to herself.
"Boo," Gitanica said in a bored tone from right at the side of the elevator.
"Whaaaaa! Don't do that! How did you do that?" Skitter demanded, her arms up to be ready to ward off an attack.
"I can be really stealthy if I need to. Nobody expects the giant girl to be able to shrink," Gitanica said. "Skitter..." How was she supposed to bring this up?
"Yes?" Skitter thought this was strange of the normally crass and brash girl.
"You are going to really meet all of the Wards now and we're not going to keep masks on. It's a trust thing. The problem is, I think you are going to flip out on one of the Wards. And you'd be justified. But I want you to promise me to not immediately quit the team. A punch... well, it's not good but it might do you some good. But if you can't let this go, you probably aren't cut out to be a hero," Gitanica said.
"What!?" What the fuck?
"You consider me your friend? Right?" Gitanica asked. At the hesitant nod, she continued. "You are going to hate one of them. Probably more than you know. But I can't explain until afterwards."
"I'm not going to quit now. I promise. After all, I can help save lives. But I want that full explanation afterwards," Skitter demanded.
"You'll probably get it sooner than you expect. Come on," her friend said as they walked down the corridor.
Gitanica opened the security door. The view window was shuttered, just in case. There should not be any tours, but it was better safe than sorry.
"Oh, it's the new girl," Shadow Stalker said snidely. "Can we get this over with already?"
"Shadow Stalker, we are trying to do the introduction thing, where we are welcoming our new team mate here," Aegis said in a frustrated tone. He peed off his mask. "I'm Carlos."
"I'm Dean," Gallant said after removing his helmet.
"Dennis," Clockblocker said
"I'm-" Vista was starting to say after doffing her helmet with its distinctive visor.
"WHAT THE FUCK? HEBERT?" Sophia Hess shouted angrily.
"Sophia? Sophia Hess is a fucking Ward?" Taylor asked in shock. She should be more surprised, but somehow it all made sense.
Both of them (and in fact everyone) had already removed their masks.
Taylor was already starting to turn away.
"Taylor... You said you wouldn't just leave," Gina said worriedly.
The lanky young woman stopped, fists clenched so hard that she felt like she would pull some muscles. She turned back around. "Fine.
"Um, would someone explain? Like now?" Carlos demanded. Shit, this is not what he was expecting.
"Guys, meet the girl that Sophia here sent to the hospital with a mental breakdown due to her bullying," Gina said as neither Sophia nor Taylor were talking, as they were far, far too busy glaring at each other.
"Oh. Fuck. Um. Are you two going to try and kill each other right now?" the leader of the Wards asked.
"No," the both stated at the same time. Then they turned back to glare at each other.
"Um, I'm Missy," the unmasked Vista said.
"And I'm Chris." He chuckled. "I guess you already know Gina."
"Well, I'm getting a soda and some of the cake. Because it's chocolate," Gina said as she moved over to the kitchen counter by the den area.
Cake sounded wonderful. And chocolate was her favorite. Taylor headed over.
"So, Taylor, right? How's your practice going on speed?" Dennis asked carefully.
"I, uh, got grounded for a week." Taylor could feel her cheeks heat up because of her embarrassment. "Dad was really upset that I went to the Endbringer fight against his orders."
"It was your first day as a Ward. No one would have even cared if you hadn't gone," Dean said, giving her a smile of encouragement.
"But I was helpful. I even found everyone with my bugs so Futurias could bring them back," Taylor explained. "So it was the right thing. I'm not made of glass and I don't need protecting."
Sophia was now looking away. "Fuck. I owe you my life?"
"Huh?" Dennis asked. "Were you in that group that had the big wipe?"
"Yeah. Felt invincible. Heck, I thought I could ride out the explosion, but it shredded me. I think. All I know is that I woke up and everyone started attacking the Simurgh again. And my fucking crossbow did jack and shit." She hated this. Owing her life to Hebert?
"Get a lance like Dauntless?" Gina asked. "Stick it in them phased and let go?"
"I might try it on Leviathan." The dark-skinned girl had a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Missy and I just ran rescue, but we did manage to get the last stragglers out," Carlos said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Yeah, we were a pretty good team there," Missy said brightly.
Sophia put down her half-eaten cake. She then walked over and stood in front of Taylor. "You get one free shot. No dodging, no powers."
Carlos opened his mouth, then closed it without ordering them to back off.
"That doesn't make up for anything," Taylor snapped back to her.
"No. I still think you're a pussy and I expect that you'll drop out in a month. But I bet it would make you feel better," her tormentor explained.
It really would, Taylor thought to herself.
"No gauntlet!" Carlos called out.
Taylor nodded. "Of course." Said gauntlet removed and tossed onto the couch. The hardened chitin knuckle-guards would have been just like brass knuckles.
Sophia just stared at the other girl, eye to eye. A small sneer on her lips. She wouldn't have the guts-
The sneer is what tipped Taylor over the edge. She was not a pushover any more. She saw red for just a second, lashing out in a perfect punch to Sophia's mouth.
Crack. Sophia was actually lifted off the ground four inches and slide four feet on the ground after she landed.
"That... was actually a little more than normal human. Is she still alive?" Dennis asked as he went over and checked on her. "Shit, I think her jaw is broken."
"Dean?" Carlos asked the other older teen.
"On it." He had his cell phone out and calling his on and off again girlfriend.
Crap, Taylor thought. Was she going to get into trouble over that?
"There you go. You have a bit of a concussion, but that should fade in a day or so. How the heck did you get a broken jaw in your own headquarters?" Panacea asked her, then looked at the rest of the Wards.
"Our newest member had some issues to work through. Shadow Stalker offered to let her hit her once. And Skitter laid her out. Bam. One shot," Dennis said.
"New Member? Oh, you must be Skitter then," the white-robed girl said to the lanky and gawky looking girl who was not wearing a mask.
"Um, yeah. Sorry about that, but she pissed me off," Taylor explained. "I'm Taylor, by the way."
"Call me Amy," the healer said.
"I only wish I could have done it," Glory Girl said with a smirk on her face.
"In your dreams, Gonorrhea Girl," Shadow Stalker snarled out. Shit, Taylor hit harder most adult men she fought.
"That's so last week. Can't you even think up any new putdowns" Glory Girl sniped back.
The rest of the wards were busy eating cake and drinking soda. Dennis had even pulled out his stash of nacho chips and was sharing with Chris and Missy.
"I can't believe I forgot to take a picture," Dennis lamented.
"Fuck you, Dennis," Sophia snapped back.
"You're not my type. I like my girlfriends to be sane," he quipped back.
That got some laughter from Gina, Missy and Chris. Carlos was too composed to actually laugh, but he had to hold back his smile.
"You're off patrol duty for tonight, Stalker. I'll send out our rookie to go out with Gina and your Protectorate babysitter," their leader informed her.
"Fine. I've got trig in the morning and I'm barely keeping up there."
"Patrol?" Taylor asked.
Gina nodded. "Yup. Not that its been much. All the villains have been laying low." Probably working on a plot, she idly thought to herself.
The rest of the welcoming party for the wards (plus two) went without a hitch. Amy even giggled at some of Dennis's antic. Finally she nagged her sister to take her home.
"I have to get up early in the morning to make a round of the hospital," Panacea explained even as she pulled her hood back up.
"And you're like the only Empathy healer in the whole world? Sheesh, that sucks. And they make you come by every other day?" Gina asked.
"Empathy healer?" Panacea shook her head at the weird turn of phrase. "Well, I'm the only one that can do it."
"Yeah, but what if you got sick?" Gina pushed on with her view.
"I don't get sick. Ever."
"Or hurt? Or had to go on vacation? Or visit family out of town? They aren't going to expect you to drop everything and come back, are they? I mean, it's their job," Gina asked.
"I... guess? Hadn't really thought of it that way. But we need to go."
"Hold up for a second, Ames. I need a private moment with my beau here. I've been missing him for the last-"
"Four hours? Fine, I'll wait." Panacea seemed upset at the turn of events. But not surprised at all.
With a snap, a new figure appeared. "Gitanica? Shadow Stalker? Are you ready for your first patrol?" Futurias asked. "We're supposed to be back by seven o'clock, when Charged State, Aegis and Vista are due to go out on team building patrol."
"Um, Futurias? I guess I'm... subbing for Shadow Stalker," Taylor explained with a little helpless shrug.
Futurias looked over at Carlos, who nodded. "She's on sick leave tonight. Sorry, it just happened."
"A duel?" Futurias asked interestedly.
"No, just a punch," Gina said. "Pow! Right to the kisser. I bet you SS doesn't think she's weak any more."
'Fuck you, Gina,' Sophia thought to herself. Even if she was right.
"Masks on and let's go. We are wasting daylight," Futurias ordered as she lifted off the ground to float easily.
"Right, right. Don't forget your gauntlet, Taylor," Gina called out.
Everyone shouted out goodbyes and the trio headed disappeared in a flash of black inkiness.
"Positions, everyone. We are go," the spotter on the roof said, watching their target appear. He ignored the giantess and the bug-themed girl.
"Good, Victor. We'll cause the distraction right on time. Get into position," Kaiser ordered over the radio.