Subduction 1.10 - Lisa
Lisa sat in her room plugging away at her laptop. Bob from accounting still hadn't changed his password. She took a quick look through his e-mail and sent a request for a password reset for Steve. Steve's account was now back to the default password: PASSword1234. A skip, hop, and jump over to the secure network because the night shift just had to play Doom. Upload the modified firmware to Camera 34, and now the light would remain off even when Camera 34 was on. Oh, Camera 34, the times we've had together. You fulfill me, Camera 34. Turn on Camera 34. And wait.
Piggie walked into the small utilitarian meeting room. The only decoration a painting that would not look out of place at a Best Western. She took a seat at the head of the table, Miss Militia and Armsie at her left and right hands, the new member, Emoticon,
Empath, secondary ability.
Unknown primary ability. Classified.
Primary ability dangerous and disturbing.
sat next to Armsie, a man in a suit
Lawyer.
New addition to meetings.
was next to Miss Militia, and Meat Shield sat farthest from Piggie next to Emoticon.
Piggie was irritated. So she was in a better mood than normal. "Let's get this over with. Miss Militia, please bring us up to speed."
"Taylor Hebert, likely newly triggered Master of unknown capability. Discovered after Shadow Stalker was attacked. Most likely joined the Empire Eighty-Eight," said the walking Second Amendment. "Little to report. No visible change in the Empire's roster, the police haven't heard anything from their informants. The most contact we've had with her since Armsmaster and Ms. Yamada interviewed her was when Aegis and Triumph saw her at Fugly Bob's."
Taking this as his cue Meat Shield stood and started speaking in the same tone he would if he was giving a book report. "We were at Fugly Bob's when we spotted Ms. Hebert eating with two blonde women."
"How did you know about Ms. Hebert?" interrupted the lawyer.
Miss Militia answered for him, "We informed the Protectorate and Ward teams that Ms. Hebert had most likely affected one Ward, Mr. Giron. It seemed a better option than letting rumors run rampant. They were ordered to avoid her and that any reprisals would be harshly punished."
"Very well," said Giron.
"We left immediately," Meat Shield continued, "There really isn't anything left to tell."
Miss Militia picked up the report, "The ATM across the street showed that she-"
"Hold on. ATM?" Giron interrupted again.
"Yes, we requested that the bank give us a copy of the footage for the appropriate time. It's a public street and the Bank didn't ask for a warrant."
"Ms. Hebert is still a minor with a clean record and at least one very strong, possible lawsuit against the PRT. This comes close to stalking and harassment. Dangerously close. There is more leeway given for cases like these, but you have yet to provide anything beyond shaky circumstantial evidence that she even is a parahuman. If she sues and this comes out in discovery then I can guarantee a scandal." Hoho, who's been a bad little piggie? You have, you naughty, naughty thing.
Piggot made a fist and then hyperextended her fingers. Once. Twice. And exhaled. "Be that as it may, since the damage is done we might as well benefit from it, Miss Militia?"
"She exited the premises alone but she entered with these two." A grainy video played of three girls walking into the restaurant. "Armsmaster, have you been able to identify them?"
"I could give you a long list of who they are not, but the quality of the video is too low for any positive identification. Now if I just limit it to known E88 members—and let it be said that I object to this—the short blonde might be Rune and the taller one might be Purity."
Spitfire and Labyrinth.
Labyrinth deviates from known character.
"I thought you said she was with the Empire?" Meat Shield said.
"It's the most likely possibility. Hebert somehow acquired enough resources for private school and lawyers. The lawyers have a history of defending E88 members. The private school is Christian and mostly white. Finally, Shadow Stalker was a Ward and black. That she has some backing is undeniable, and that it is E88 is probable, but not every person she talks to will be with the E88."
Taking demotion with grace.
Out of character.
Met with Hebert twice.
Piggie tried to make an intimidating smile. It came off as a grimace. "So the video tells us nothing."
"Yes" admitted Miss Militia.
"From now on all surveillance on Ms. Hebert is to go past Mr. Giron first. Next," she barked.
"We don't have anything new on her, but her father, Daniel Hebert, has acquired third party funding to pay for the Toybox to clean up the boat graveyard. The Mayor is going to announce it tomorrow," Miss Militia said.
Hiring Toybox beyond Faultline's probable means.
Service offered.
Piggie let her face conform to her natural scowl. "Goddamn Toybox. Put the word out that we can expect an upsurge of tinker tech devices."
Meat Shield raised a hand. Isn't that cute? He's waiting to be called on. After Piggie waved at him he asked, "Why are we allowing the Toybox at all? Aren't most of those devices illegal?"
Armsie explained, "Word from on high is that we are to turn a blind eye to the Toybox itself. Target their couriers and buyers, confiscate any equipment, and charge them only if they are in the commission of another crime."
Meat Shield didn't like that. Black and white morality was so cute. It was like a little puppy. "So we just ignore it when they break the law."
Miss Militia gave it her all, "It is the PRT's official policy that Rogues are supposed to be encouraged. If we go after the most successful group of Rogues we can expect an upsurge in the number of villains. While they often skirt the law they tend to avoid selling anything truly dangerous. Certainly less dangerous than half a dozen fully kitted out Tinkers being forced to turn villain."
Meat Shield sat quietly. Obviously fuming.
"This cleanup it would seem to be out of character for Kaiser," Piggie mused.
"Taylor Hebert might have gained control of the E88." The first words that Emoticon had spoken. The shape of his teeth gave a speech impediment. His words came out slurred and it took a few moments for the rest of the room to decode what he had said.
"Outside Thinkers say no. Cultural and financial markers have remained constant for Brockton. If Ms. Hebert is in control and willing to spend the Empire's money on an urban revival project than we would have noticed other changes." Interesting. Need to research that.
"It could be a payment," pointed out Miss Militia, "Daniel Hebert is a Dockworker's Union representative. His daughter may have requested payment in services rather than cash."
"It will be harder to find something to charge her with if she doesn't show any signs of wealth. It would also help make a jury sympathetic to her," said Giron.
"On the other hand," argued Miss Militia, "cleaning up the graveyard will be a significant boon to the city. That it will be done by Rogues should be a PR coup for us."
Piggie snorted in agreement, "Expect to give a speech soon, Miss Militia. We're also going have to provide protection during the cleanup. I need a schedule written up."
"Yes, ma'am. If Kaiser really is bankrolling this we then we don't have to worry about the E88. Even if he isn't, attacking the cleanup would be bad PR for him. Same for Coil. That leaves the Merchants and the ABB. The Merchants will almost certainly attack in the first few days. It's difficult to predict what the ABB will do. Probably nothing, but right now the only one that might be able to take Lung down is Armsmaster."
The rest of the room looked over at him. Armsie answered the unasked question. "New tranquilizer. Hasn't been approved by the board yet."
Piggie leaned back with a hand place flat on the table tapping out a rhythm. After a few moments thought she smiled and nodded at Armsie. "As director I am giving you special dispensation to equip the teams until the board has finished vetting them. Make sure that you emphasize that the sky had better be falling before anybody uses them."
Armsie nodded and Miss Militia continued with her brain storming. "After that the first few days the Wards can can take over during the evening and weekends."
Piggie scowled, "The Youth Guard is breathing down our neck. Make sure that they aren't over scheduled."
Change in Ward scheduling. Lower hero population during the night.
"This will have to replace some of their patrols, but their visibility at the cleanup should be higher than during patrols anyway," Miss Militia said.
"I'll have PR prepare them some responses. Someone make it clear to Clockblocker just what will happen to him if he deviates."
Meat Shield jumped to like a good little dog, "Yes, ma'am."
"Director, I would like to inform the Toybox about Taylor Hebert being a possible Master," said Armsie.
"No," vetoed Giron. "That crosses the line."
Armsie glared across the table, "I would at least like to inform them that there is a possible Master in Brockton Bay and she is in part responsible for hiring them."
"You can do that, but you will need to maintain anonymity. No hinting or twenty questions."
Piggie nodded, "Permission granted."
Armsie's lip twitched. He almost smiled! "Secondly, Toybox has Cranial. She specializes in the brain. I'd like for her to check over Sophia, perhaps we can find out more about Hebert's power."
"What would it cost us?"
"Some of my time would be the cheapest option."
"I need more details than that before I can agree."
"I'll get on that," he said.
"What is the status of the Dragon suit?"
"The guild has agreed to stationing-" the phone in the center began to ring, "-a suit here."
Piggie held up a hand, palm out to the room and picked up the phone, "Director Piggot here. I see," she dropped the phone back on the cradle. "The Simurgh is on approach to Canberra, Australia. Strider will do pickup in ten minutes."
The heroes stood and began to file out. Aegis and Miss Militia taking the lead when Piggot stopped Armsmaster. "Armsmaster, not you," Piggot said.
"What? I'm-"
"Orders from Costa-Brown. Your prediction software is too valuable. Until it's finished or another Tinker can complete it you are off S-class missions."
He ground his teeth before spitting out a "Yes, ma'am," and stalking out the door.
Not propaganda. Armsmaster's project important.
Significant enhancement to non-capes.
Fuck. "Brian," Lisa yelled, "mission is off for today." Lisa carried her laptop to the common dining table. "Truce is on."
"Fuck," Brian stopped punching his bag—and boy, does that sound like a euphemism—and walked over, "What is it?"
Lisa didn't look away from the screen. She was busy looking up maps and searching for all the names currently connecting to Dragon's network. So handy for the PRT to get a live feed from Dragon. "The Simurgh. Australia."
Brian sat with her listening to growing casualty list. After a few minutes he retrieved a bottle and poured both of them shots. Rachel was off somewhere with her dogs and Alec continued playing his video game, at least he had enough presence of mind to turn down the volume. A constant litany of 'down' and 'deceased' played. Lisa kept a record of who died in a word document as the battle continued.
When they finally heard 'Simurgh retreating' 103 capes were dead and an entire city quarantined.
Lisa sat in her room. Nothing made a person feel so small as realizing that gods did indeed walk the Earth. Fucking Endbringers.
The wall was covered in red string tying all the information she had about Hebert together. Not because it helped, it just always looked so cool in the movies.
Madison Clements, Emma Barnes, and Sophia Hess. Three bullies but only one affected. Sophia Hess, Shadow Stalker, the only parahuman of the three. Only others known to be affected were Labyrinth and Armsie.
Ability does not work on people.
Works on parahumans.
Able to detect parahumans.
Dangerous. Her existence breaks the unwritten rules. Well, she's not the only one.
Was it possible that Faultline was controlled? Controlled how? Direct emotional manipulation, false memories, personality alteration, direct puppeting of body.
Shadow Stalker's file suggested personality alteration. No evidence for false memories. If Hebert was able to directly control people likes puppets, then her control was good enough to fool Lisa. Emotional manipulation was possible, but unless given years of reinforcement it would require constant input, and that had the same problem as puppeting, Lisa would have noticed. Personality alteration, subtle enough for Tattletale not to notice but significant enough to force Faultline to act massively out of character. Unlikely.
Faultline was not controlled.
Faultline hired Toybox because Hebert was that valuable.
Taylor Hebert could control parahumans. Not valuable enough. Must have secondary ability that is more valuable. If they were trading with Toybox, Hebert must have noncombat applications. Most likely relating to parahumans. Locate parahumans in wide range? Find Toybox more Tinkers? Possible.
No. Toybox well known.
Recruitment not an issue.
Lisa stood up and traced a finger over the board. Why meet with Uber and Leet?
Leet is a Tinker. Easily accessible.
Testing power on Tinker.
Preparation for the Toybox.
Hebert's power works on parahumans. How is it valuable? Detection not valuable enough. Control not valuable enough. Negation useful, but not valuable enough. Opposite of negation, enhancement. New. Very valuable.
Hebert can enhance powers.
Too big for Undersiders. Tell boss? Unknown risks, unknown rewards. Don't tell.
Her eyes went over the board and stopped at the most recent sheet. The casualty list for Canberra. Over a hundred capes dead. Non-sustainable.
Too important. Must tell. Who? Not PRT. Too inefficient, bad blood, won't maximize resource. The Guild. Better. High probability of boss finding out. Need exit strategy first.
Lisa paused. Hebert enhances powers. Needed to test on Tinker. Leet. Leet hasn't been seen recently. What's he building?