Danny opened the door to his home and held it for Alec and Taylor to step in.
"What the hell?" Taylor called out as she looked around.
One wall had all of the pictures and paintings removed and now had printouts, photos and hand scribbled sticky-notes covering it with strings running from them.
Lisa looked up from where she put a picture of Rebecca Costa-Brown. "Oh, hi guys. Got an emergency thing that's going to affect the team."
"Pfffff. Whatever. Is the PRT about to attack us or something?" Alec asked as he dropped his shopping bags and flopped onto the couch and turned on the TV and his prized game system.
"Yes."
Taylor and Danny shared a worried look.
"Why do you think that, Lisa?" Danny asked as he dumped his shopping bags next to the rest of them.
Taylor sat down next to Alec, but looked over to where Lisa walked over to her notebook and her printer at the kitchen table.
"You guys have heard of Canary, right?" she asked the other three.
The father-daughter duo nodded, while Alec ignored her.
"She's being illegally convicted and sent to the Birdcage as an example, legal precedent and warning to human masters. Like Danny and Alec, with a side splash to regular masters like you, Taylor," Lisa explained.
"How can you illegally convict someone?" Taylor asked as her face turned very serious and unhappy. Her father?
"By biased judges, suppressing evidence, tampering with the jury, making sure the least effective defense counsel is picked and not allowing you to even speak in your own trial. Oh, and a massive public relations effort to make it all look plausible and reasonable," she replied.
"That does sound bad," Danny admitted. "So you got an inkling with your power and started to dig? How much of this is admissible?" He started to study the wall of 'evidence' closely.
"Damn little," Lisa said. "And the thing is, she's only guilty of accidental injury. If she were a brute that had just accidentally kicked him in the balls too hard, she would have done more damage. The jerk's traumatized, no doubt. But she does not deserve life imprisonment with the worst criminals in the world as punishment. Hell, she'd probably get six months in minimum and a year or two of community service about the accidental use of dangerous powers if she wasn't a master that sorta looks like the Simurgh." Lisa curled her lips into a snarl. "She's nearing suicidal thoughts right now. Not that she is even allowed to physically move or talk."
"We are not breaking her out. That would just make us criminals and they would try to convict her harder with us as accomplices," Danny said firmly, though his voice sounded... angry .
"I'm thinking that's like a last ditch plan and only if we all agree. Got some ideas for a couple of legal angles. Lawsuits that target the judge (for discrimination against a parahuman) and against the defense for being hostile to the defendant," Lisa said. "I need to talk to some lawyers though, see what we can do."
"Can we go to news reporters?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah, that'll work," Alec said in a sarcastic tone as he actually listened carefully.
"We can, but we need to do it in a way that no one can easily counter," the intuitionpath said.
"We could protest very publicly in front of the courthouse. Drop some anonymous tips to the TV and papers. But that only works if we disclose that I am a human master," Danny said with a deep frown.
"But if we don't do anything now, Dad, they'll throw you in prison if you make a mistake while you are mastering... well, anyone," Taylor said as she thought it over. "But it needs to be more than us."
"Ooh, smart. We have another two other masters in Brockton Bay already, both heroes. We should try to talk to them." Even if one of them was Glory Hole. Gah.
"Who?" Taylor asked.
"Glory Girl and Gallant. That aura of hers affects emotions and he shoots kinetic blasts that play with emotions," Lisa explained as she put up another picture.
"So he's not a Tinker at all?" the other girl asked.
"Can he actually help us being a Ward?" Danny asked as he narrowed his eyes in thought.
"He could be ordered to not go to Boston, but they can't stop him from talking or protesting. As much as they wish they could." Lisa took a breath. "So... we need to talk to New Wave."
"We should let Arthur do that, as he's talked to them before," Taylor said.
"Point. I'm going to call him now," Lisa said. She dialed and waited for him to pick up.
It went to voicemail.
"Argh. He's in a tinker fugue," she said in complaint.
Rows of lights flicked on silently, filling the large room with green-tinged white light. A balcony ran across an upper level and a control room 'booth'. The room had areas marked off for vehicles to park and a communal kitchen and meeting table with a large 'A' on it. Exercise equipment filled another area and stairs in the corner led up and down.
"Hmm. I guess that can work," Arthur muttered to himself. He stretched and popped his neck. Then he pulled out his cell phone and noted a few messages.
Lisa twice, then Taylor. All they wanted to know is when he would be done. He sent them a quick text message (yay, all modern and stuff!) The smartphone started to ring immediately.
"Hi, Lisa," Arthur said as he rolled his eyes.
"Done already? I thought it was going to take longer. Oh, nice! You synergized your cybernetic Trump power with your Tinker power," she started to say in a rapid pitter-patter.
"Yes, the base is done. What's the emergency? The texts sounded urgent."
"Yeah, we're basically going all political. I found out that Canary is being railroaded as an example of how serious the PRT is against human Masters. So her accidental injury with a parahuman power is going to get her sent to the Birdcage."
"What? That's bullshit," he replied.
"Exactly. So we want to get New Wave in our corner because of Carol Dallon and her law firm. And since you have a somewhat friendly relation, it's better for you to talk to them," Lisa explained. "I'm hiring a lawyer to start on the legal action. How long do you think it will take you to talk to them?"
"I'll call them immediately," he promised. "Keep me in the loop, even if it's just texts."
"Right. Gotta go, ta ta." Click.
Arthur just shook his head even as he had his phone call the urgent line for New Wave.
"This is New Wave, Lady Photon speaking," she answered.
"Lady Photon, this is Cybernull," he explained even as he felt the disconnect between names. "Apexius has become aware of a very serious legal issue that we feel is of life and death importance. We'd like to talk to you and Brandish about it, because we have information that Canary is being railroaded into the Birdcage over exaggerated claims and charges."
"Do you have proof about this?" she demanded.
"I'm pretty sure Thinker powers aren't ironclad evidence, especially if the PRT is the one doing the railroading," Arthur explained.
"You know where my sister's family home is, right? Can you meet us there in half an hour?" Lady Photon Asked.
"I think so. I need to get more information, so I'm going to bring a couple of people from Apexius along."
"See you at one o'clock then."
Arthur quickly sent a few messages and hashed out who was coming.
Brandish looked up from the large kitchen table as the doorbell rang.
"I got it!" Vicky called out as she trotted over to open the door. "Hey, Cybernull. This is Lady Stinger and Rabble Rouser, right?"
Cybernull shook her hand in greeting. "Right. Tattletale is busying hiring another lawyer and has Regent with her."
Lady Stinger shook hands and then stepped back to let her father do the same as they closed the door behind them.
"Nice to meet you," the older man said. He looked over to his daughter, who nodded. He took off his hat and pulled down his scarf. "Hello, Carol."
"Danny Hebert?" she managed to not quite choke out.
Cybernull looked between the two Heberts as Taylor reluctantly followed her dad in unmasking.
"Um, why are you unmasking?" Vicky asked with wide eyes. Her sister who sat at the table matched her surprised expression.
"Because we want to explain why this is so important," Danny said. "This is my daughter, Taylor."
"And why is it so important," Lady Photon asked.
"Because they are trying to set a precedent that any use of Master abilities that hurts someone is grounds for sending them to the Birdcage. Tattletale is a very strong Thinker and figured out that Canary did not mean to hurt her ex-boyfriend after a concert," Danny explained.
"And dad is a human master, even if he uses it on willing friends," Taylor said as she slipped a bit and showed her fear.
"My daughter's power isn't very heroic looking at first glance either, so I'm more than a little worried."
Sarah Pelham nodded and waved for them to sit down around the table. "So you said that Tattletale figured it out with her Thinker power, so most of what you found isn't admissible? What do we know at this point?"
Her sister nodded intently.
"The government is purposefully railroading her by portraying her as an extremely dangerous Master. They aren't even allowing her to talk to her own lawyer, much less defend herself," Taylor said in an angry tone. "They picked a lawyer that is barely competent and is letting the judge and prosecution run roughshod over him."
"We have information that we can't admit to that has the Justice Department and the PRT actively collaborating to make sure that she does not get a fair trial and tampering with the jury." Danny nearly snarled at this. "They made sure everyone on the jury has lost family or been attacked by a parahuman. Most of them by Masters."
"Holy shit," Vicky said, her eyes even wider now.
Cybernull nodded. "And that brings us to ask you guys for help. Specifically you, Glory Girl. We need public heroes that are Masters to stand up with us when we set up a protest in front of the courthouse in Boston."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but Vickie isn't a Master," Sarah said as she shook her head.
Amy looked to her sister who looked as pale as a sheet. "Vickie?"
"Mom? Auntie? I-" She gulped loudly. "I am a Master."
"What? Vicky, we got you tested with the PRT," Carol protested.
"I mastered Amy and some of my friends." Vickie looked near panicked. "I've been working very hard to stop doing it, but it's tough to do."
"Amy?" Carol asked in a tone that chilled you to the bone.
"Cybernull fixed it. And everyone seems to be recovering as they weren't affected as much as me," Amy explained as she hunched her shoulders inward.
Their mother whirled around and pointed at Cybernull. "And why didn't you point this out to me, their mother?" she demanded.
"I informed Amy privately about it as I cured her depression and kept quiet at her insistence," Cybernull said in a low, slow tone of voice. "I suspected it might be Glory Girl, but Amy wanted to deal with it herself."
"And the more people who knew, the worse it would be," the youngest daughter explained. "So I talked to Vicky and we are working on it. It's mostly fixed anyways."
Sarah rubbed her temples as she thought. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hebert, but I don't think New Wave can help you."
"Then I'll go by myself," Vickie said in a quiet, determined voice. "New Wave is all about responsibility. This is me, owing up to my mistake. Being a hero isn't about punching people. Well, only punching people."
The two older generation members of New Wave shared a look.
"She's right," Mark said as he stepped out of the kitchen carrying a freshly cooked pizza. His brother-in-law stooped to follow, holding two pizzas. "We've got food. But I think New Wave needs to be involved."
"What do you mean, Mark?" Carol asked.
"How accountable to the law can we be if the law is being broken to imprison parahumans," he explained as he set the food down. "It is a New Wave thing."
"This could really blow up in our faces," Sarah said.
"It could have blown up in the worst manner. What if that was Vickie that was going to be sentenced to the Birdcage?" Neal countered.
"Shit. We have to do this just to defend ourselves and New Wave, Sarah." Carol looked pissed off and ready to punch (or stab!) someone.
"You're right. It's also the right thing to do. If Vickie wants to go public on how her powers work, then we should back her up. Neal, can you call our kids over?" She turned back to Danny. "Let's hear what you have and make some plans."
The three members of Apexius nodded.
"We need to do something about the defense lawyer," Taylor said as she started to go down the list they had worked out beforehand.
Weld looked around at the small crowd of protestors early in the morning. It still creeped him out that they could not arrest the Fallen non-parahumans. He blinked as he saw a Brockton Bay Transit bus (marked 'Special Event') come to a stop across the street and its passengers started to exit.
"Um, Bastion? We have capes exiting that bus-" the large teen called out.
Bastion turned around. "Brockton Bay? Be ready for- Belay that, they are bringing out signs," the leader of the Boston Protectorate called out. This was supposed to be a quiet morning and a photo-op. "I'm going to go over there and try to make sure it doesn't turn into a scene."
"How did we end up with Bastion being here?" Regent asked curiously as he twirled his rebuilt taser.
Tattletale smirked. "He's here for a photo op and to do a little team bonding with the Ward as leader of the Boston Protectorate."
Gallant stepped out of the bu and looked over. "His name is Weld. A Case 53 that is made of metal."
"How does that even work?" Lady Stinger asked as she tried to get a view over her father and his Backup.
"How do any super powers work? They just do," Rabble Rouser said as he settled his hat on his head and made sure his prescription goggles sat correctly. His scarf fluttered in the Atlantic breeze.
"Here comes New Wave," Gallant said, pointing up the road.
The news trucks and reporters started to converge.
The eight flew down the road at a sedate pace, with Manpower, Flashbang, Brandish and Panacea kneeling on a glowing platform created by the youngest member, Shielder. Lady Photon, Laserdream and Glory Girl flew in formation around the blue platform.
"Okay, will someone tell me what the hell is going on?" Bastion asked as he finally crossed the street.
"We are here to make a public statement about the injustice happening within the courts here," Lady Photon said as her feet touched down.
"What the hell does that even mean?" Bastion asked bluntly as he folded his arms to frame the emblem on his chest, a castle wall slash shield design over his metal grey armor.
"It means that Apexius and New Wave are not going to let Canary be convicted of a misdemeanor and get sent to the Birdcage," Rabble Rouser said in a loud voice. "It is a crime what they are doing to that girl. It is a shame on the courts that they are doing this."
"That could be my dad," Lady Stinger shouted out.
"Or my daughter," Brandish said as she glared at the Protectorate hero.
"Or me ," Gallant said as he stepped out of the crowd.
Bastion just stared at them as if they were insane . "Unless you have a permit for a rally, you are not allowed to just show up."
"We've got permits for the whole week," Tattletale called out, holding up a clipboard.
"I need to see those," Bastion said as he noted police cars and even PRT trucks coming down the road.
She held up the papers so he could see them, but did not hand it over. Something he noticed.
Bastion also noted all the TV news cameras watching him. "It does appear to be in order. You are on the wrong side of the street. Do not block traffic or you will be cited for disturbing the peace. And even possibly arrested."
"Quit being a jack-booted thug and start being a hero!" Regent shouted from the back.
Rabble Rouser turned the two teams. "All right! JUSTICE FOR CANARY! BIRDCAGE FOR REAL CRIMINALS!" he shouted out.
Everyone picked up the chant as they started to cross the street under the shocked gaze of the locals of Boston.