So. Coil at my left, Kaiser way over there on my right, and various villains or mercenaries around. My backup was sitting around outside, waiting for the place to catch on fire. I didn't have any intention of actually setting the place on fire, but I was fairly certain if I had to, things would be reallybad for my immediate future.

I had no illusions. I knew I was strong, but I also knew I wouldn't be able to match all the firepower in the room. Even if I somehow did, I couldn't handle the retribution later. At least, not on my own.

Whatever that lingering bit of ego I got from Dracul.

Still, this was a point where the inherited instincts I got from the vampire god were coming in handy. Just somewhat wish I could remember more than impressions of how he handled things. I say 'somewhat' because then I'm pretty sure I'd remember a whole lot of other things, too. Like murdering scores of people. Not something I wanted bouncing around in my head.

Annoying vagueness aside, there is such a thing as too much detail.

Had enough problems with the vague parts, sometimes.

Coil looked me over. "Are you certain you want a hero here, Kaiser? How did she even learn of this meeting?"

I returned the stare, looking at him cooly. "How many stretch limos go to a bar while a city is under terrorist attack, Coil? I have given my word to be civil, here. I don't really care to be categorized. I'm not going to pretend to be just like any of you. But my main concern is ending Bakuda, not taking her in. I'm not here to play our little games." I let my smile grow predatory. "After that, well, we'll see how things are."

Kaiser, if anything, seemed amused. "As long as the knight here remains civil, so can we. And it may be useful to have a neutral party to bring information to the Protectorate. Are you willing to speak for them?"

I shook my head. "For myself. I live here, and I'd rather enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. Bakuda is a rather loud and disruptive bitch. I am not going to tolerate a murderer of children in my city. I won't sell anything I learn of you to anyone. I. Want. Bakuda." I dragged my fingertips across the table. The act left gouges.

Oops. Too much pressure.

A number of villains, including Kaiser, nodded at that, even as they winced at the sound of ripping wood. Purity especially, I noticed. These guys may be thugs, criminals, and some of them no doubt willing to do terrible things to get things done. But even they had standards, however few, and I'd pressed right on the point.

Coil hadn't nodded, I noticed. He'd need a different strategy to handle. If he was really Coil at all, and not a body-double or something.

And that made me wonder if anyone here was really who they appeared to be, besides Purity.

Kaiser looked around the room. "First of all, we are here to discuss the ABB. This campaign of theirs is reckless. Under ordinary circumstances, I would be content to sit back and watch them self-destruct. However, the work Bakuda is undertaking has done severe damage to our businesses and infrastructure. She's bombed schools, clubs, and Brockton General. She also destroyed three office buildings and inflicted severe damage to several apartment buildings. Our best guess at the death toll right now is four hundred, with at least three times that wounded."

Coil nodded. "For the moment, I propose a truce between ourselves and with the law. We hold our territory, defend our own against attack, and protect our businesses. Until Bakuda is killed or captured, and the ABB disbanded, none of us move against each other. We share intelligence with ourselves and, should we find out where Bakuda is holed up, we give that data to the Protectorate." He paused a moment. I got the feeling he was smiling beneath that snake-like mask. "No sense in taking unnecessary risks. The gang members and conscripts will be worn out quickly enough as it is."

"Acceptable." Kaiser said. "Now, does anyone have any information as to where Bakuda is?"

Not-Samedi held up his hand.

Coil nodded at him. "Trickster."

"Our group, the Travelers, were heading through the docks district yesterday, before all this started. We caught sight of some of the ABB driving a van toward the corner of York and Woolwich. We didn't think anything of it until they just vanished. One second there, the next, gone."

I licked my lip and considered. Teleporting trick? Or something else, perhaps?

Coil stroked the front of his mask, likely trying to rub his chin through it. "There isn't much out there, now that Lung's burned down half the district." He sat for a moment, thinking. "Ah. Now I understand. She's hiding inside a pocket dimension. Material goes in one way, she creates the bombs, drops them off elsewhere to be used. All the while being safe. Clever."

The depot Oni Lee talked about. Which the Protectorate was likely trying to hit right now.

Kaiser tilted his head. "Dimensional technology is not Bakuda's speciality."

"True." Coil murmured. "However, it is something of a speciality of Toybox's Tinkers, and they aren't that difficult to get word to with the right connections. And as a Tinker, Bakuda would have quite some interest in that. If nothing else, they can provide supplies that might be useful. And while the ABB is not all that rich, if she spent a significant amount of her resources, that could be enough to buy a pocket dimension."

Kaiser nodded at that. "So the question is how does one hack their way into a pocket dimension?"

Coil looked around the room. Nobody stepped forward. "I suppose we will have to check our own connections for that." A bit of wry amusement passed around the room.

The woman wearing the welding mask leaned forward. "We are mercenaries. As much as I detest what the ABB are doing right now, we may be found on opposite sides if they hire us. Being open for opportunities is the only way we can get by."

"Stay after the meeting, Faultline. We'll discuss an arrangement." Kaiser said.

Grue spoke up then. "We'll work reconnaissance. Sooner or later, Bakuda will need fresh supplies, food if nothing else. We haven't got much, but we do have ears on the ground."

I made a rather bloodthirsty grin. I didn't have to fake that. "And I shall explore my own avenues. She's pissed off a lot of people. Someone's bound to be willing to talk."

Kaiser nodded. "Very well. Everyone to business." He rose to his feet, gesturing for Faultline to come with him. They went and took a booth in the back.

I rose to my feet, moving toward the Void Sword. Coil gently touched my gauntlet. "Please, wait outside a moment. I wish to speak with you."

I gave him a nod, taking my blade back in hand and pressing it to my back, over my cloak. It held in its place by my will. Handy. Not that I'd normally need it, but much of this was misdirection. I stepped outside, breathing the clear air.

The night was still full, but it would be morning soon. Had it only been a day since I was watching a movie with Amy and Vicky? These guys move fast when pressed. I just met with the Undersiders yesterday.

I'd have to keep that in mind when it came time for me to take these people apart. They've been a cancer in my city for far too long.

My city. When did I start thinking of it as my city? Well, nevermind that, that's not important. I was fairly sure that everyone would be better off with me leading things, officially or not, than having Kaiser and Coil fighting to control everything.

I knew my dad was worrying with me running around, but there wasn't much I could do about it. I wasn't about to just stand by and watch people die. I'd just have to be careful not to take any stupid risks while dealing with Bakuda.

I gave the Merchant's leaders a facade of complete indifference as they came out. Skidmark moved right up to me.

"Who the fuck do you think you are, shitstain?" Yeesh. His breath reeked. I was half-tempted to look behind me and see if any birds fell out of the sky because of that smell.

I tilted my head. "I believe I am your better. And considering you named yourself 'Shitstain' I'd suggest you be on your way before I decide you need to be neutered to calm down." I gently tapped the hilt of the Void Sword.

He lunged at me, a faint pressure telling me he was using his power to do...something. Probably to try and enhance his shove. His power was to make fields of force, attraction or repulsion, but he had the ability to layer them to enhance their effectiveness. I caught his fist with my left hand, dissipating the energy he was trying to put into the move. Then I picked him up by the neck, one-handed, and threw him away from me. Skidmark went flying through the air about ten feet before landing in the mud.

Squealer and Mush helped him to his feet, hollering. Skidmark slaked some of the mud off himself. "You little bitch! I'm going to-"

"You will do nothing, Shitstain, except leave. You have wasted my time and wasted the oxygen of the people of this fine establishment. The only reason you still have your head is because I don't want to sully my blade with your blood." I growled. I then shifted my gaze to Squealer. "You can dofar better than him. I suggest you look into a new lifestyle."

Squealer snarled at me. "We don't have to take this from you!"

I simply stayed impassive. "Your choice. I am done with you."

The three Merchant leaders staggered off. I turned to see Coil standing next to the door to the bar, looking at me intently.

I made a small shrug. "He pissed me off."

Coil made a small chuckle. "His very existence does, for many of us. I've been looking into your activities with some interest, my dear. I must admit I didn't expect someone who's been working with the Protectorate to just walk into a meeting with the local villains as if she owned the place and take a seat for herself."

"Bakuda needs to be stopped." I tilted my head. "I'm willing to be civil when the situation calls for it. I'd rather see this city prosper more than anything, but first there needs to be a city. If it keeps going like this, there might not be."

Coil nodded. "In that case, would you consider working for me? I have Brockton Bay's best interests in mind. The anarchy of how things are right now is temporary. Once things are more calm, the factions will move against each other. Someone with your talents might find a great deal of wealth and influence here, and I would like to offer you that opportunity."

A job offer? Seriously? The man who helped cover up my murder and recruited my murderer using that as blackmail material is offering me a job? If he knows who I am, then that takes such a huge amount of chutzpah. If he doesn't know, then his reputation's overblown.

So why offer?

Ah. Better to keep an eye on me, either to keep me from being a threat or to turn me into an asset.

I licked my lips. "Allow me to consider my options, hm? I'd rather not make a snap decision while the city just may explode around us."

A small laugh came from under his mask. "Very well." He reached into a pocket and held out a card. Supervillains have calling cards? Huh. Learn something new every day. "Let me know when you change your mind."

'When.' Not 'if.' Cocky bastard.

I strode away from the bar, moved far enough to not be in immediate sight, then burst into bats. I handled the confusion long enough to get to Vicky's hiding spot. She'd taken a place roughly half a mile away, on a porch. She was sitting on a lawn chair, looking bored.

"Nice to see you were paying close attention." I said dryly.

She shrugged and grinned. "Fire? Kinda obvious. I'd have flung my way over there the second I saw smoke. Beyond that, this is the only spot I could find that wasn't suspicious."

I nodded slowly. "Okay, good point. You know anyone who can poke at pocket dimensions? The villains seem to think Bakuda's hiding in one that Toybox provided."

Vicky shook her head. "Maybe Myrddin could, but I don't know of anyone offhand."

I grimaced. "Well, damn. I think we should take a look at the entry point I heard. Might be something. Corner of York and Woolwich."

Vicky grinned, getting to her feet. "Good. Race ya!"

She rocketed off into the sky. I shook my head, smiled, and followed in my bat form.

So we arrived at the corner, Vicky and I looked around. It wasn't exactly remarkable, being a blackened street corner surrounded on all sides by burned out buildings. Place looked a fair bit different after Lung got finished with it.

"So what are we looking for?" Vicky said.

I shrugged. "No idea. Where do you go to find a hole in dimensions, anyway?"

She rolled her eyes. I looked up and down the street, frowning a bit. There had to be something.

Needed to find it. If we didn't, we gave Bakuda that much more time to kill more people. Had to find that hole in...

I was tingling.

Vicky looked at me. "Uh...Red? Your hair's turning white."

I blinked. I took a bit of it from where it came out the back of my helmet, bringing it in front of my eyes. The tingling intensified. I focussed my will on that tingling sensation, and my hair returned to its normal, dark color.

"Well. Guess my power's messing with me. Not really helpful, though." I said with faint humor.

Vicky cracked a smile. "Yeah, well, too bad it's not helping us get to the crazy little bomber bitch. You sure you can't just rip a gate open or something? I half expect it from you by now, little miss bloodsucker."

"Course I can't just-"

And my mind filled with an idea, a tiny echo of the vampire god. Just enough of a hint to make me stop dead in my tracks. Just like that, I had an idea of how I just might be able to reach where Bakuda was hiding.

Just one problem. I had to go back into Winslow.

Vicky's mouth dropped open, seeing my expression. "You got something, don't you? You know grab-bag capes aren't supposed to keep going back for seconds and thirds at the power buffet table!"

Oh goddamn it.