Chapter 9
Taylor stared at her father who was whistling cheerfully as he busily bustled about the kitchen he had been suspiciously cheerful this entire morning, a notably dramatic change from from the anger, forced cheer, and occasional flashes of murderous rage.
Danny slipped some pancakes and bacon onto Taylors plate as he walked back into her bedroom. Taylors phone buzzed jolting her from her inner examination of her dad, glancing at her phone she read a text from Tattletale, or rather, as she mentally corrected herself, Lisa.
Hey Taylor, your dads going to take you power testing today at the PRT testing arena, I was hoping, that If I show up, you can get him to, you know, not kill me and eat me.
So, when her father walked over and asked,
"Are you ready to go see just what powers you have?" Taylor was not particularly surprised.
Scene Break
Emily Piggot stared at the email from the BBPD in front of her, it contained the details of what Piggot could only describe as the utmost brutality.
Images of limbs ribbed from torsos, of heads crushed like ripe watermelons, of entrails strewn around crime scenes like some sort of obscene party decorations.
The Clements, The Hess', and the Barnes family. Every single member of each family had been brutally butchered, and if the timing and brutality of the crimes hadn't been enough of a clue, the dragon with outstretched wings daubed on the front door of each crime scene would have been a rather specific hint.
And the worst thing about this?
It wasn't the murders themselves, granted they were gruesome and needless, but Emily had seen worse, and would see worse crimes committed by Parahuman and human alike.
What really got at her, was the fact that the chief director had declared both Nidhog, and his apparent daughter off limits.
No PRT of Protectorate official was supposed to come with in 1000 yards of either of them while acting in an official capacity. They were not to surveil with of the Heberts, they were not to contact either of the Heberts through any form of electronic, written, or telecommunication.
And of course, as a law abiding, career and results focused women, she would obey the instructions of the chief director.
That didn't mean, that like many other high ranking officers of the PRT, she wouldn't start compiling a file on how best to kill, capture, or otherwise contain Nidhog now that his identity was known.
Even if it meant breaking a few rules of the more unwritten type along the way.
Scene Break
Coil stared at the readout in front of him, the information in the latest report one of his moles in the PRT had sent him was… interesting to say the least. It shed just that little bit of extra light over Nidhog's personality.
Coil, even if he wouldn't admit it to anyone, was just a little afraid of what would happen if Nidhog learned just who had delayed Panacea, and who had subtly encouraged for Shadow Stalker's handler to, shall we say, gloss over the vigilantes aggressive tendencies.
Coil really needed to get Tattletale.
Scene Break
Danny stared as his daughter ran up and hugged the parahuman he had learned was named Tattletale.
This was also the same Cape he had casually almost throttled to death when he had caught her and her team in Taylor's hospital room.
And now his daughter was hugging the insect like she might not hold a grudge?
Danny rubbed at his temples as a headache rapidly blossomed behind his eyes. It wouldn't be an issue once she got a much better handle on her powers, but for now, this casual friendliness needed to stop, and it needed to stop now.
Lisa shivered as she felt claws of ices trace delicately down her back. She looked away from the deceptively strong, but skinny girl and saw the face of doom approaching, red eyed and utterly without mercy, its steps crunching against the grass and cement of the PRT power testing arena she quickly disengaged from Taylor before bowing to Danny, low and as sincerely as possible.
"Nidhog, dragon of the end times, I request a boon that I feel you will most likely grant based on the information I have to present you."
Lisa winced as her power fed her what exactly Nidhog felt about that.
'doubtful'
'irritated that she had the guts to actually come her and try and demand something from him'
'only willing to entertain listening to you because Taylor is here, and he doesn't want to brutally her murder in front of Taylor'
'if she doesn't have a good reason for so brazenly approaching, she will be killed no matter who's watching'
Lisa took in one deep, shuddering breath, and followed Danny as he walked over to the other side of the stadium, and as she explained, and as Dannys face grew darker, and more angry, Lisa found herself being glad that she had used the restroom before going to this meeting.
Scene Break
Taylor watched as Lisa gave her quick wave before she walked away as fast as her quivering legs could carry her, and as her father walked over, his face stormy, Taylor merely cocked her head and remained quiet.
Danny took a few deep breaths before finally speaking.
"Now that business is out of the way, do you have any last questions before we begin training?"
At Taylor's hesitant look Danny nodded encouragingly.
"Any question you want Taylor, the rule from yesterday still applies. Ask, and I will answer honestly."
Taylor though about some of the questions that had occurred to her since her last discussion with her father for a few moments before she spoke.
"Why are you known as the fourth Endbringer? Didn't they appear after you did?"
That question had honestly bugging her for a while now. Danny just gave a brief chuckle.
"Thats a pretty good question. When I triggered, I hunted for Scion for a while, and as I told you, in the process destroying a fair chunk of Alaska. After that I eventually figured out how to control my powers. It was a little more then a year later when I first encountered Alexandria. The first time I faced her, she kicked my arse."
Danny paused, and raised one finger dramatically.
"But the Second! The second I came back and kicked hers! After that I went underground for a while, popping up here and there, beating villains and heroes to a bloody paste, after a last appearance in 1989, in went underground until 2003, a few short, months after the Simurgh's first appearance. This was the first time I fought the entirety of the Triumvirate. Less then a year later, I then fought one of the first iterations of the Slaughterhouse 9."
He was about to speak even more, but Danny obviously realized that he had already more then answered the question, so instead he just coughed awkwardly before clapping his hands together and smiling brightly.
"So, ready to start training?"
Taylor nodded.
Scene Break
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Topic: Nidhog murders
In Board Places US Brockton Bay
Bagrat (Guy in the Know)
Posted xxx
So, for those of you who don't know, the villain Nidhog, commonly known as the '4th Endbringer' has returned to Brockton Bay, there has not been any hint as to why, since any sign that the PRT, or anyone else trying to unmask Nidhog is considered to constitute suicide by pissing a very large dragon off. (That means you VoidCowboy)
As far as the murders themselves go, the reason they are considered to be committed by Nidhog, or at least an affiliated person or group was the rampant dragon painted in blood on the front door to every crime scene, shown in the link below.
[link]
Quite frankly guys and gals of PHO, I'm at a loss. Things are heating up in Brockton Bay. I wish I could say the gangs would be smart enough to leave a monster like Nidhog alone, but quiet frankly with specimens like Skidmark and battle maniacs like Lung, Brockton Bay is going to be in for a tough few months, so if you have vacation time, or have a house in another city, now is absolutely the time to use it.
RevanMF42 (self proclaimed Sith Lord)
Posted xxx
Bagrat, and what about the rest of us? I pretty damn sure the entire population of of schools like Winlow and their parents cannot just drop what they're doing and leave. Besides what if Nidhog decides to expand? He's beaten the Triumvirate, the slaughterhouse nine, hell, he's gone 1 on 1 with the Behemoth and the Levithan for Scion's sake! How do we protect ourselves from that!?
Mouthpiece of the PRT (PRT spokesperson)
Posted xxx
The PRT would like to say that there is no real cause to panic. Nidhog has habitually limited attacks to government installations such as police, fire, or state, as well as any organistons that host parahuman members. Normal people are not likely, I repeat, not likely to be targeted by the Parahuman S-class threat known as Nidhog.
Brocktoniteteen22
Posted xxx
Woooowwww… Im surprised you could say that with a straight face.
REALLY!? After Bagrat JUST got done with telling us how Nidhog, or at least someone that works for or with him, just kill three families and left a calling card.
Want to try that again?
XxxVoidCowboyxxX (Verified tinfoil hat) (Verified suicidal idiot) (Verified speeeecccciaaalll)
Posted xxx
XXX REMOVED BY MODXXX
XXX REMOVED BY MODXXX
TinMother (Mod)
Posted xxx
Really? Take a year-long ban for sheer, suicidal stupidity.
Posting clues or conclusions about the identity of a human villain, called the dragon of the apocalypse, the 4th Endbringer, and who you just read about killing almost a dozen people after chewing through almost the entirety of the Brockton Bay cape population.
Oh, and those last two tags? They are a special present so that even when you get back onto PHO, you can remember just how close you came to a gruesome, flame and talon induced death.
SleeperofEternities (Verified Smaug, re-verified badass)
Posted xxx
Thank you for that timely warning Tin Mother.
However…
The Dragon of the Endtimes does not tolerate fools, most especially fools that might harm his family.
So I suggest, Cowboy, that you take that warning to heart, and leave Brockton Bay. As I have got your name from a simple backtracking of your I.P., I suggest you take this last warning. Otherwise I might end up with crispy void snack.