The sun was shining, the birds were chirping and the tantalizing scent of bacon was wafting up from downstairs. And I hated it.

I hated it because I had to pick out a new selection for the school day, a selection with which I couldn't accidentally turn Emma into a smear on the hallway floor when she inevitably tied her usual bullshit. I had to do that when all I wanted to do do was go down and eat. But no, I couldn't do that otherwise I would get whatever random selection popped out of my mental rolodex; and that was just a recipe for disaster.

Grunting, I weighed two selections from my rolodex in my metaphysical hands; balancing the pros and cons associated with each before choosing one and placing it into my slot with the rest of the selections I had carefully chosen for today. No ZERO FUCKS though, it had been a mistake in choosing that selection and I didn't need a repeat of pimp slapping Emma just yet.

Opening my eyes, I looked to the foot of my bed to see Angelica; her one eye staring up at me. I stared back until she ducked her head, however we both looked to my door as one when a muffled crash of metal on metal and tile echoed up from downstairs.

Smirking, I uncrossed my legs and entwined my fingers as I got out of the half lotus position I'd taken to sitting in when choosing my selection. It didn't really do anything and it was just a way to sit but like going for my run it had become a part of my morning rituals.

Stepping down to the floor, I pulled my comforter tight to straighten out any creases before whistling and beckoning to Angelica I left my room to head downstairs; the tan furred dog hopping off my bed and following after me. She'd been a bit squirly the night before what with her needing a bath; but the stuff in her fur from her meat suit had started solidify and stink, which was a big no no once I'd gotten home with her.

Sure, the pet store I'd made a stop at had been one thing, dad had been another; but the idea of her sleeping on my bed like that had been something else all together.

Walking into the kitchen I found dad on his hands and knees, a rag in one hand as he wiped up what looked like bacon grease off the floor. Hesitantly, Angelica edged past me to where I had set out a food and water bowl for her; then, she looked to me and only when I nodded did she start to eat.

It was rather annoying, how she differed to me with almost everything- but whatever; I didn't pay it any mind as I grabbed a rag off the counter and knelt down to help dad clean up.

Then, once the mess had been cleaned, we had a nice, peaceful breakfast. He talked about the contract for the cleanup work for the docks that the Union was going to bid on and and I told him about my night; even running back upstairs to grab the Miss Militia autograph I'd gotten for him.

His red face and embarrassed flustering had definitely made it worth it. It felt like we were a family again.

+X+X+X+X+

Two meetings two mornings in a row and both about the same cape; it was dealing with the chief when he had a political bug up his ass all over again. God, what a tiresome drag that had been…

Staring at Armsmaster as he stood at the head of the conference table, I really had to try hard not to speak up and tell him that he was starting to remind me of an old patrol partner that had been really into MMO's. First the man started grinding the day before to utilize his stat boost. His: Optimum Peak Performance Level; is what he had called it when I'd asked him about it in the gym.

And now he was obsessing with a weapon. Really, the parallels were just so obvious.

Hopefully though, with his analysis data he would at least go back to shutting himself up in his lab- if the scientific jargon he was spouting was any indication. Letting me use the machines without having to listen to him critiquing my reps or quietly- but not too quietly -gripping about how the machines could be improved.

"-furthermore, analysis of the weapon Indominus created during our battle with Lung revealed a potential weakness in the event conflict becomes necessary. Due to the way it's molecular composition is structured, an intense and sudden temperature change may be able to destabilize it and cause it to lose cohesion. However, I would also like to note that also due to the structure the material should be brittle and potentially be prone to fracturing along high stress areas. Thus I must conclude that the weapon is reinforced by her own powers, although this also means it could destabilize and come apart if separated from her presence for a long enough period of time."

Honestly, I wouldn't have been surprised if he had installed an internal oxygen supply in himself so he could talk without having to take a breath. Glancing down at my helmet I began rubbing at a new spot with my polish rag; it didn't really do much, but it gave my hands something to do and gave me an excuse to not look like I was paying attention.

"And there is one final thing, in the brief time I was able to analyze weapons sword form I was able to determine that it had a stable and non-degrading monomolecular edge. When combined with the strength she had displayed It is my official recommendation that only Mid to High Brute rated parahumans or equipment be utilized in engaging her lest they are liable to not survive such an encounter without immediate medical treatment."

And~ as of last quarter power testing my armor put me in the Mid level brute rankings, great. "Why thank you Armsmaster, because the thought of going against a little girl who could tangle with Lung wasn't unsettling enough without the assurance that you would be one of the first ones into the meat grinder if she went off the rocker." At least that's what I would have said that had I not held my tongue, yet another thing being a detective had prepared me for.

"On a brighter note, however; I conferred with Dragon on the data I gathered and she believes a new type of body armor may be able to be developed. It would use an impregnated resin to help the material maintain its stability, but overall it would potentially surpass the capabilities of our current stock… and that concludes my report."

"Very well, keep me informed of Dragons progress on that armor if you would Armsmaster." Piggot ordered, "Miss Militia, how did things go on your end?"

Turning my chair I shifted my attention to Hannah, watching as she leaned forward in her seat and clasped her hands on the table. "I can concur with what bettery reported before she went into testing, with the addition that she seemed... jaded."

"I see, and are you able still able to recall what she looked like?"

Hannah shifted in her seat and if I didn't know better I would have said she was disgruntled, uncomfortable at the question.

"Somewhat," she finally answered, "As soon as I was able to I contacted Dragon so she could utilize her facial recognition software. But my efforts were only able to reduce the margin of error by twenty three percent. As to the rest of our interaction; I should have my full report finished within the hour."

It was now Piggots turn to look disgruntled, and she expressed it a lot more than Hannah. "Unfortunate, but some success is better than none and that is concurrent with what the think tank reported about her Stranger power. Perhaps more exposure to her would help?"

"...Perhaps." She answered neutrally and raised her clasped hands in front of her mouth.

I almost stopped polishing my helmet. Well now, wasn't that interesting; how she was holding herself, her tone of voice pretty much translated to a flat out No. Idly, I wondered if anyone else had spotted it and glanced around the table, looking for tells.

Armsmaster… maybe, he relied too much on his lie detector as a crutch; despite admitting that it had its own weaknesses.

Robin… maybe, the Speedster had his moments but he was still fairly young and Jessica was practically sleeping in her chair after the power testing she'd been through. Ethan on the other hand… I watched his eyes flicked to Hannah. Yeah, he may be an insufferable man child but he was certainly far sharper than people gave him credit for.

I looked to Piggot to see her scrawling something out in her padfolio, her fingers holding a little too tightly around her pencil and her skin looked just a little clammy. She probably needed to get hooked up to her dialysis machine so not likely...

Stopping in front of a nondescript, grey metal door with a number twelve painted on it in black and viewing window set into it at average eye level I sighed. It never did get easier, kid's without super power and kids with super powers; seeing them sitting on the other side of the table always struck just a little too close to home.

I pushed the door open and Grue, the suspected leader of the Undersiders looked up and I saw he'd gone with the plain, motorcycle type, half mask in place of the motorcycle helmet he'd come in with. I got a good look at him as I walked around the the other side of the table.

He was tense, it was emphasized in his thick in the upper body; he'd probably worked in heavy lifting for some time. Then there was the critical and examining look in his eyes; smart, or at least streetsmart. But damnit, I'd eat my shoes if he was any older than seventeen, eighteen, max.

"The number you gave us for your lawyer went through," I told him, noting how his body relaxed a little, as his hands unclenched a bit; a few scars on his knuckles fading out of relief. "He should be here shortly but I hope you don't mind if ask you a few questions first." I held a hand out preemptively as the kid- and he really was just a Kid; albeit, not as much as Indominus -narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "Off the record, of course. I'll leave if you dont want to talk."

Slowly, the Kid considered me before nodding. "You can ask.

"Right, its just the one…" Puting my hands on the table and clasping the together I leaned in, "Why?"

"Excuse me?"

"I mean why did you choose to become a Villain," I clarified. "Why didn't you choses the rogue or hero route, if that isn't too much to ask."

The kid was quiet as he considered me and the caged clock high up on the wall behind him ticked past twelve twice before he answered. "I did try, I came here and offered to join the wards in exchange for legal assistance but the guy I met with told me you couldn't."

Deep in my gut I felt another weight settle in to weigh me down. It was a different system but it was still failing people all the same. "...I see, and by any chance do you remember the name of the clerk or officer that you met with?"

The kid leaned back a little more, his eyes locked on mine through my helmets eye slit. "I thought you said you only had the one?"

"Its important," I returned.

He shrugged, "Wilkes Something, I think." He answered after a moment, "...Why?"

"One more question first, if you don't mind." At the eventual incline of the kids head I continued, "The legal assistance, what was it? I don't need any specifics, just a general idea.

The Kid was slower to answer this time, a lot slower, and the second hand passed by twelve several more times. "I was trying to get custody of a younger family member because they were in a dangerous environment. Now, why don't we tell me why you asked about who I met with," he asked, no, demanded, his eyes hard- but also curious -as he met mine. There'd also been an edge to his voice, frustration, anger maybe… If so I could even feel for him, I was angry to.

"I asked so that I could know who needed to be fired." I tapped once on the table and shook my head, "Something like helping to remove a cape's sibling from a hostile environment is something that is readily within the scope of what lengths the PRT would be willing to go for you to sign on to the Wards program. From what you just told me you became a criminal in order to help a family member because you got shafted due to someone's negligence or incompetence. Two such things I know Director Piggot does not tolerate."

The Kids gaze gained a new intensity. Anger, oh yes; but there was something else… A wisp of black floated up between us, and looking down I watched as more wisps of deep black smoke began seep out of the sleeves of his grey shirt. I raised my gaze back to meet his and after a bit the wisps that were gathering above us in a cloud began to dissipate, then ultimately disappear.

The atmosphere of the room descended into a thoughtful silence, and rather than break it or leave I just sat and waited to see if the Kid had any more questions. The minute hand of the clock on the wall ticking by until there was a knock on the door and it opened; revealing a certifiable ambulance chaser if I ever saw one. His combed over hair was even swept a little out of place as he stalked into the interrogation room and started making accusations of prisoner abuse and brutality and lawsuits.

I just ignored him though; walking past him as he spouted inane legal babble that wouldn't have held up in front of any experienced judge.

Opening the door and stepped out into the hallway-

"Hey," the kid called out.

Throwing my arm out to stop the door I looked over to my shoulder to him, "Yeah?"

"You might want to look into what your Psycho Stalker does when she's out on patrolling on her own." Reaching down and to the end of his handcuffs chain he lifted up his shirt to expose his stomach. "That crazy bitch shot me with a broadhead a few months back."

Narrowing my eyes I looked a little closer at his stomach and sure enough, in the line between the two abbs was a starburst of purple scar tissue. Well shit, "And by Psycho Stalker you mean-"

"Shadow Stalker," he confirmed, "me and my team ran into her twice and the second time she did this." He gestured to his stomach. "Tattletale said I interfered with her power or something so it was personal."

Lovely, and wasn't that just something else to look into. "When."

The lawyer opened his mouth but the Kid shot a look at him that shut him up before turning back to me. "Mid February. After you guys forced her into the wards for crucifying that one skinhead."

I shouldn't have been surprised that he knew about that, all the Empire grunts probably did since it had been one of their number… but goddamnit. "Thank's for letting me know, I'll look into this and someone should be by later to take a few pictures of the wound. Do you mind giving them a statement?"

Smiling, the Kid shook his head. I let the door swing shut behind me, my thoughts turning to what I needed to do.

Not sure with a few parts of this, supposed to be shorter and I got a little mixed up with chronology of the next snip.

Note: Jessica is Battery. (unless I missed her name when I looked)

Note: Not sure if canon or fanon but i'm going with the Cop/detective backstory for Dauntless. He's a bit older, late thritys to mid forties so he has a fair bit of prior experience to becoming a cpae since he became a cop fairly early on.