The Art of War (Worm AU)

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Chapter 9
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"The fates lead the willing, and drag the unwilling."

-Lucius Annaeus Seneca.

November 21, 2010

The Farm was shut down.

We celebrated with nachos and pizza.

I'd trusted my father when he said he'd do it. Gina hadn't just take my word for it though. She's kept her ear to the ground in the community. When girls who had been taken started turning up it seemed she'd finally been one hundred percent convinced of my good intentions.

The girls who had been released however had all been too scared to tell anyone what had happened to them. Not ideal, though more or less what I had expected. At least hopefully now that they were back with their families they could begin to heal. The ones who had families anyway. Assuming their families took them back.

It wasn't a perfect solution but it was still a good thing that we did. Crime was one thing but there was such a thing as a line. I could only pray there was nothing else as bad as The Farm in the ABB and I debated with myself if I should make an effort to find out. The truth was… I didn't want my image of my father shaken any further if I found even more skeletons in his closet.

I'd only had alcohol twice in my life. Right then and there I was contemplating what a shot of vodka would taste like.

"Penny for your thoughts Kat?" asked Gina around a mouthful of chips.

The Tan siblings, Edward and Gina, were both seated on the couch in my apartment living room while I had taken possession of the love seat. Some brainless Aleph movie about capes was playing on my too-large television while we stuffed ourselves with junk food and soda. I'd invited them over to celebrate and because… well, after a month and a half in Brockton Bay they were the only people I had that I considered friends. With the two of them I at least knew for sure they weren't being friendly with me out of a desire to get in good with the gang.

"Wondering if alcohol or drugs even have any effect on me anymore," I commented, sipping on a cherry soda.

"Why wouldn't they?" asked Gina.

"I heal really really fast. Anything I take would be broken down in seconds. Probably," I said with a shrug.

Gina thought about it for a moment. "That would suck," she concluded.

"I hope you're not planning on testing that theory out anytime soon. With the drugs I mean," Edward said, a note of worry in his tone.

I huffed a little bit in laughter at that. "Naw. The Fukunagas raised me better than that. Scared me stiff with horror stories about drugs since I was a kid. I've never even tried weed and don't ever plan to."

"Who are the Fukunagas?" asked Edward, his interest obviously piqued.

I smiled a little as I remembered my time with them. "The Fukunagas are this nice older Japanese couple that took me in and raised me for the last five years. Conservative and strict but kind and loving. They never had kids of their own so I think they started thinking of me as theirs. Kami knows that's probably the only reason they put up with me when I drove them completely crazy from time to time."

"Drove them crazy?" said Edward. "No offence but I have a hard time picturing you as the misbehaving type."

Gina snorted at that. Yeah that was sort of a ridiculous comment to make now wasn't it? Wanted felon that I – or Kuro – was after the stunt we pulled.

I sipped on my bottle of cherry soda before replying to him. "You're right I've always been kind of the good girl type. Follow the rules. Get good grades. Do my chores on time. All of that good stuff. I've always been the model child people expected me to be," a smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I looked at the two of them. "Except for one thing."

"What?" asked Edward, looking metaphorically on the edge of his seat.

I grinned. "Boys. They could never keep me from going out with my friends and boyfriends. The Fukunagas thought that I should remain an unspoiled shrine maiden until I was thirty or married. Drove them nuts."

Edward looked both fascinated and stricken. "Boyfriends?"

Gina snorted.

"I meant whoever I was dating at the time. I'm not a slut," I said, acting overly dramatic by widening my eyes pitifully and bringing my hands to my chest as if I had been mortally offended by his words.

Edward went red. "I- I never meant to imply-"

"Sure you didn't," I said to him with a wink.

He seemed at a loss for words after that. Thankfully for him his sister decided to take up the conversation.

"If they were so nice how come you left?"

I winced a little at that though I tried my best to hide it. Truth was I'd had a pretty nice life in Tampa all things considered. Coming to Brockton Bay hadn't really been my choice at all.

After debating it I realized that these two already knew I was a cape. And were my co-conspirators in a felony. I could share some of what had happened.

"I triggered," I said, trying to seem nonchalant. "It was messy. Some people got hurt by accident. Then the local Protectorate was looking for me. That wasn't the type of thing the Fukunagas were really equipped to handle. So I got sent here."

Gina nodded slowly at that. "I think you mentioned that you have family here in the Bay, right?"

"Yeah," I said as I reached over to the table in front of the TV for another slice of pizza. "It's why I moved here."

"You mean cousins and such?"

"Naw. Just my dad."

Gina was looking increasingly suspicious now. "Is he the reason all the Azn bangers started treating you like a queen the second you showed up at the school?"

I stopped with the slice of pizza halfway to my mouth. Just like that I realized that the conversation had wandered into dangerous territory. Edward looked a little confused at the sudden tension in the room while Gina was intently scrutinizing me. I brought the slice of pizza to my mouth and took a bite to give me time to think.

I didn't want those two knowing that my father was Lung. Gina especially was still understandably twitchy and uncomfortable about my obvious connections to the ABB. If she found out that Lung was my dad… that might just be a bridge too far. Not to mention admitting something like that would essentially be outing him as well. No. I definitely could not tell them that my dad was the leader of the ABB.

Still, during my research on capes it had come up that similar powers ran in families. New Wave was proof of that. Most people wouldn't see an obvious connection between me and Lung on casual observation. However, I had explained my powers to Edward and Gina. I'd told them how my power scaled up, making me denser and stronger as I fought with no upper limit that I knew of. Would that be enough for them to make the connection? Shit. I really should have thought of all this through better before unmasking myself to the two of them.

Thankfully I was stopped from having to answer when we were interrupted by the front door opening.

When I saw who strode into the living room I couldn't help but feel a little nervous. It was my father in casual civilian wear, followed closely by his right hand man Yao Lang. I also couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

"Don't you knock?" I asked them, irritation tinging my tone.

Kenta looked over everyone in the room before answering me. "Door was unlocked."

"Didn't we have a talk about being more security conscious some time ago, Shiba-san?" chimed in Yao Lang helpfully.

I didn't deign to entertain that comment with a reply. Instead I risked a glance at my friends seated on the couch. They were suddenly both very tense, especially Gina. They both looked at Kenta with wariness and just a bit of fear. I tried to look at things from their perspective. A very muscular, giant of an Asian man with his arms covered in tattoos had just barged in uninvited. He had a very intense presence and seemed about as friendly as a carnivorous lizard. If I wasn't his daughter or a cape I probably would have been really intimidated by him just barging into a friend's house while I was visiting too.

Not to mention what else was probably going through their heads at the time. It didn't take a genius to figure out this was something related to the gang.

"I need to talk to you Katsuko," Kenta said while looking at me. The final unspoken word to that sentence, alone, was clearly heard by everyone present.

I glanced at my friends, uncomfortable with just kicking them out. Ever eager to be helpful Yao Lang spoke up. "I'll have one of the guys drive your friends home and make sure they get there safe."

It was a bit odd and disrespectful that they were talking to me like the other two weren't even in the room, but to be honest it was more or less what I would have expected. I didn't even have to look over at Edward and Gina to know they would not want an ABB chauffeur to drive them back home. With a resigned sigh I accepted that my afternoon with my friends was now officially over.

"No driver," I said firmly to Yao Lang. "Just put them in a cab and pay for it. That will be enough."

Yao Lang just nodded to me and pulled out his cell phone. I turned to my friends and gave them an apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry guys. I promise I'll make it up to you but you need to go now. I'll see you both in school, all right?"

Edward looked to be somewhere between petrified and in awe of the two dangerous looking men who had just barged into my apartment (Again, without knocking. I was going to have to make it clear to them that wasn't cool). Gina for her part looked like she was mad but was far too intimidated by the men in the room to do or say anything about it. I tried giving them my most reassuring look but I don't think it did all that much to allay their fears.

"Why don't you two come with me?" said Yao Lang with a friendly professional smile. "I'll escort you downstairs."

With a nod of encouragement from me the two of them reluctantly stood up and gathered their things before following Yao Lang out of my apartment. The door closed behind them and suddenly I was alone with my father. I couldn't help but fidget a little. We hadn't really talked since the whole blackmail thing was supposed to go down days ago. As had become more common of late I wasn't sure of how to act or how I should talk to my father.

He walked over and sat down on the couch my friends had just vacated so we were facing each other at an angle. My father wore his usual hard, expressionless look. I tried my best to meet his gaze with confidence as he looked me over with his characteristic intensity.

"First off I wanted to talk to you about what you did with Medhall," he began in Japanese.

I swallowed thickly. "Yeah?"

My father nodded slightly. "We already received the first of the payments as you know. Tommy Oda now says we're in the clear. This will be a steady source of income for us for years to come."

It took me a moment to remember that Tommy Oda was the ABB's lawyer. I nodded at that. "As long as it got me what I wanted, I'm glad," I said, a touch of bitterness in my tone. I still hadn't completely forgiven my father for such as place as The Farm existing in the first place.

Kenta ignored my tone and pressed on. "You did good Katsuko. You impressed me. I'm… proud of you."

Just like that any lingering hostility that I was feeling at the moment was washed away. Instead a tide of emotions swelled up in my chest. Suddenly I felt like a little girl again, eager and desperate for her father's love and approval. I looked away, rubbing my eyes as I tried desperately not to start tearing up. I couldn't remember the last time my father had said something like that to me.

"Thanks dad," I said, feeling emotional and way more happy than I should have over something so simple.

Kenta just nodded, taking my reaction in stride. After giving me just a moment to compose myself he plowed ahead with the next topic. "I need to talk to you about the nature of your involvement with my gang moving forward."

I tried my best to push aside the emotions I was feeling with fairly decent results. Now wasn't the time for that if this is what he wanted to talk about. "What about my involvement? I don't particularly want to be involved with it actually. No offense but if there's anything else like The Farm going on I don't want any part of it." I tried to hide my distaste but in the end, I didn't.

Lung seemed unperturbed. "I told you when you first arrived didn't I? Because you have powers you will be compelled to use them and I will not accept you using them to pick fights unless you are a part of my gang. You are part of the ABB whether you want to be or not."

Damn it. I did remember that conversation. Especially the part where I would inevitably end up getting into fights because I wouldn't be able to control myself. I understood that being recognized as part of the ABB probably meant I would be safer when that eventually happened. Capes were compelled to use their powers. Everything I'd read confirmed that fact. However I wasn't entirely comfortable with the thought of being known as part of the ABB.

"Do I really have to be?" I asked him.

"Yes," he said firmly.

"But I don't really want-"

"Katsuko," he said sharply, cutting me off. "This is not a discussion. You are part of the ABB now. Is that understood?"

We locked gazes then, staring each other down. Pitting our wills against each other. After nearly a full minute, however, I was the one to look away first. Looking down at the ground in between my feet I couldn't help but feel a bit resentful.

"Yes father. I understand," I said quietly, giving in and accepting his decision.

"Good," said Kenta, his posture relaxing slightly. "Are you ready to hear what your options are?"

I nodded, keeping my gaze on the ground.

"Your first option is to become a rank and file member of the ABB. This is the option with the least involvement for you. Basically I'll only require you to show up in order to defend the interests of the gang. That means fighting Parahumans who threaten us or attack us. Basically you would just need to be on call whenever you're needed. There would be no need for you to know or even really be involved in the business side of things."

That… actually didn't sound nearly as bad as what I'd feared. I wasn't really afraid of fighting other capes. In fact I knew part of me craved it in a way. If that was all my dad really wanted me to do… that wasn't so bad. Sure it would still make me even more of a criminal than I'd already made myself. But as long as I kept my secret identity I could still finish high school and get a scholarship to go to college like I'd always planned. That also meant I could mostly avoid the more unsavory and morally ambiguous aspects of gang life.

"What's the second option?" I asked in a calm, detached tone of voice.

"Your second option is this," began Lung, leaning forward a little. "You take a more active role in the gang. You learn the business. You learn the people. You learn to run it. I will expect more from you. And in return you get to have a say in what goes on in the gang."

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly going dry. Shit. I couldn't help but wonder if Lung knew me better than I had previously assumed. Getting to have a say in the gang… it was a big deal. One, because maybe it meant that I could stop any of the truly evil bullshit that my dad might have rationalized himself into doing in his crusade to rule this shit hole of a city. And two, if I knew what was going on I wouldn't have to live with this gnawing doubt that maybe my own father was secretly a monster doing truly horrible shit behind my back.

I wanted to think that Lung was, if not a good man, then at least like a conqueror of old. Harsh, barbaric even, but fair. With a code of behavior and lines he wouldn't cross. Like a Roman. Blood soaked conquerors, yes, but they were also a principled people who brought many benefits to the people they conquered and ruled. That was a sort of thing I could possibly respect. That sort of person I could definitely respect. That sort of person I could even… love, as family. But was he really that kind of man? Could he be that kind of man?

"You would still have final say in all things," I said, half-question and half statement.

"Yes," he said unapologetically. "But I will listen to you. And so will the others. You have already begun to prove yourself."

I thought about it, my indecision clear on my face for all to see. This was… not an easy decision. While there were some compelling pros for the second option that tempted me there were also some very glaring cons. One it would almost certainly sink me waist deep into gang life… a life that was almost certainly a deprived, vicious place. Not where I would have ever pictured myself ending up even two months ago and not a desirable lifestyle. Even if I could make it better it probably would always have an element of exploitation and other unpleasantness. Not to mention the fact that I might be throwing away my future if I did that. Would I really be able to finish high school with high grades and get into a good college if I was trying to make a street gang as least-bad as it could be? Somehow I had a hard time reconciling the two in my mind.

"Katsuko," said Kenta, pulling me from my thoughts. "Tell me, what do you think is the biggest problem in my gang? What do you think is my largest obstacle to victory?"

I blinked at that, a little blindsided by the abrupt change of topic. "Why are you asking?"

"Humor me."

I gave him a queer look but decided to play along with what he asked. I've always been a bit of a nerd when it comes to history and the classics, both Eastern and Western. Instead of reading Harry Potter I grew up reading The Art of War and The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. It was with that background and perspective that I now contemplated my father's question. We were quiet for a long time, Lung patiently waiting while I gathered all my thoughts and impressions about everything I'd seen into a coherent answer.

"Ideology," I finally declared.

Lung raised an eyebrow at my short statement and made a motion for me to elaborate. This was a topic I was confident in and that I felt passionate about. I did so gladly.

"The ABB needs a narrative," I began animatedly. "A reason for people to support them. The E88 has one. So do the heroes. Just think of historical conquerors. People need a reason to fight for you Lung. Most often than not that reason is an idea. A vision. Something bigger than just themselves. Without that a gang will never be more than a collection of morally dubious people all looking out for number one."

Lung crossed his arms and sat back on the couch, seemingly giving my words serious thought. I played with the hem of my shirt and tried not to fiddle too much as he contemplated what I'd said with a small crease to his brow. I believed wholeheartedly in what I'd told him, but had I done a good enough job laying it out to convince him?

"What do you think it should be?" Kenta said at last.

"What?" I asked with a little bit of confusion. "You mean your vision for the gang?"

"Yes."

I opened my mouth before snapping it shut with a click. "I… don't know."

"But you do think you could come up with something good," Lung said. It was far more a statement than a question.

"I don't know… maybe." I said with an awkward shrug.

"Then I expect you to present your proposals to me this weekend."

"Wait… what?"

Lung ignored my flabbergasted expression and rose to his feet. He walked over and patted my shoulder a little awkwardly before leaving his hand there and looking me in the eye. "You did good Katsuko. I'll see you again soon." With that he turned and headed for the door.

He was already opening the front door when I regained my wits enough to say something. "Wait, I never agreed to the second option!"

Lung turned around just enough to look at me with a quirked eyebrow. "Yes you did. If you don't realize that then maybe you're not as smart as I think you are."

I just stared after him, speechless, as he exited my apartment and closed the door behind him.

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