Spider 19
This is intolerable. This is demeaning.
How did she expect me to take this? Certainly not lying down, that's for sure!
What, as if she expected me to just accept this and move on? Hah! She's got another thing coming for sure!
This… this betrayal cannot possibly go unanswered.
When one thing is offered, then summarily withdrawn, that's just—and she calls herself a mercenary? A neutral party?
Hah! More like a lying liar who lies! A villain of the highest degree!
Or is that lowest… the lowest degree!
I should fight for what was promised to me! For my rights!
Faultline will rue the day she chose to cross me!
Taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap…
{when you offered a drink why do you get a full water bottle and i get a petri dish question mark}
Seated across the large table from me, Faultline lifts an eyebrow. "Do you want to drown? Because I'm pretty sure you trying to drink out of one of these would somehow result in you falling in and never getting out."
…okay she might have a point there.
I mean, not that I think that I'm that clumsy, but if the straw didn't work then…
Wait, can I even use a straw?
We had retreated back to the warehouse we'd initially set up in on the first night of our arrival. I, personally, would have made tracks for home as soon as possible but apparently this was standard operating procedures for Faultline's Crew.
Or as Gregor had explained it, "When one normally attempts to avoid a pursuit, distance is usually the best way to do so. Many know this and often times they are successful. The heroes also know of this and so they focus their attentions on the longer range. They patrol their city borders, they seek for unusually determined outgoing traffic, they warn colleagues in likely destinations."
He'd chuckled. "So, we stay put. We keep our movements unhurried and relaxed. We have prepared locations far enough away from our targets to avoid casual discovery, but close enough so as not to fall within their active search areas. Faultline will know the appropriate time to move. She generally does."
So now the crew is off in their 'living corner'—reading, relaxing, or whatnot. Newter simply looks bored and slightly upset about something. Spitfire's music player is on speaker, just loud enough for the sound to drown out our conversation without carrying outside the walls, giving the two of us some semblance of privacy.
I sullenly dunk my head over the relatively short lip of the plastic tray and start sipping at the shallow pool of water, staring at her in defiance.
I'm not giving in, I'm drinking to prove a point.
And it's a good point too. It'll rock her world. She won't know what's up or down after I'm done proving it to her.
She's eyeing the petri dish with its rapidly falling water level. "Thirsty?"
Oh yeah, she's definitely intimidated. I jab the now-empty dish away, sending it sliding across the table.
Hah! I win! She hasn't even touched her own bottle—wait, where was I going with this? Bad me! This is not a drinking contest!
Don't let her see confusion. She's the one who has to explain herself to me. I don't owe her anything. She owes me. I hold all the cards here.
…Literally, since I yoinked Newter's set when he wasn't looking. Apparently I have hammerspace now and they were a convenient practice tool for me. Also, it's payback for all the times he stole my one-liners. He'll get his deck back once he admits his error.
Faultline stares right back. Hitting me with a piercing glare… that seems to see all… that seems to know all…
Does she know something I don't? Can she tell what I'm thinking? She's a mercenary, she could be crazily good at negotiations.
I'm not exactly the best myself. It's part of the reason why I stopped talking to Dad. It's hard to justify decisions and actions to someone that can shut down your every argument. Much easier to ask for forgiveness than permission anyhow.
Still, I learned something from all those faltering attempts. I mustn't show confusion. Mustn't show nervousness.
Taptaptaptaptaptaptaptap…
God damnit leg, stop bouncing. No not you—which leg is even doing that? I have too many legs! It's over! I'm exposed! I'm done for!
The woman sighs. "I suppose it's futile to use the silent treatment on someone who doesn't even speak. Fine, I'll start."
Wait, what?
"So, you're probably wondering why I'm keeping you near us."
Did—did I just win the opening intimidation game?
…How?
I mean, yes! I'm not fidgeting, I'm impatient. Yes, let's go with that…
Wait, what did she just say? I mean, yeah I have wonders—I mean, concerns! I could be Home-home right now! Dad could have taken me to the heroes and explained everything! What gives?!
"Two reasons. The first is that once you had demonstrated sapience I couldn't help but see parallels between you and another group of capes."
Oh, oh I remember this!
{newt said monsters}
"The public refers to them as monstrous capes. The PRT refers to them as Anomalous Case 53. On the surface, we're talking about parahumans whose powers gave them altered appearances; deviations severe enough that they have no hope of maintaining an identity separate from their cape life."
{spider}
"Exactly, at first I thought you might be a rather extreme case of one. However, there's more to being a Case 53 than just a non-standard form, and fortunately you don't fit the criteria."
{fortunate question mark}
"Yes, you are very fortunate that you aren't one. There's something wrong about Case 53's. I don't mean them, personally, but how they came to be. They all suffer from retroactive amnesia—they don't remember anything of their lives before they became what they are—and they all possess a tattoo, or rather, a brand that marks them. It makes me think that there's something artificial about them, perhaps that they were experimented upon, and that offends me."
{so gregor and newter dot dot dot}
"I'm helping them. Trying to rediscover their past. Trying to find out more about what—or who—made them. Don't call it a personal quest, rather say it's like a long-term contract."
Okay, so… I might be unlearned about the world, but I'm not that dumb. It seems pretty obvious that Gregor asked her for help and she jumped at the chance to provide it. She can call it a contract, call it a mission, but it's totally a personal quest. She's clearly sympathetic towards his plight and wants to help him.
And she wanted to use me towards that end as well.
{you thought i was c53 and wanted to keep me}
"Precisely. You could have been another clue, another piece of a puzzle so large we haven't even found an edge-piece yet."
That's… rather blunt.
Grrr… 'kay, fine. I can understand that. I don't like it, but it makes sense.
I suppose if I'd actually been an amnesiac it would have helped along with this… indoctrination. Unfortunately for you, lady, I do have an actual past plus connections I'd like to maintain, thank you very much.
Moving on.
{two reasons}
"Secondly… how much do you actually know about parahumans? We have powers beyond human ability, yes. But you know not all capes are created equal?"
Do I look like a cape geek? I mean, c'mon… I'm a spider. Everything I know about capes has been through social osmosis. I mean, it's not like I've had a chance to research this stuff after I woke up like this; this phone you gave me doesn't even have internet!
She nods, "I suppose I won't need to bore you with the details then."
Wait, wait! Bore me! I need details! Did you not hear me?! I absolutely said I don't know the—I just sat there and stared at her, didn't I?
Oh crap, um… um…
"Needless to say—"
TIME OUT!
I should have done that earlier! Oh God, what do I do? Wait, the answer is simple, I just need to ask my question. Okay, what are the details?! Phone! Phone!
…I can't move. Why can't I move?! Does one of the crew have a sudden paralysis ability I haven't noticed until now? This was a trick! A horrible, horrible trick!
...wait. I'm dumb.
Time in.
"—your powers are an absolute game-changer and even if the details aren't quite known, your interference against New Wave and the Empire can't go unanswered. That means…"
Okay, okay… no need to panic. Need to ask her about powers. That sounds like tremendously important information. Okay…
Taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap…
"...includes the Empire, the Protectorate, hell—even the ABB has a bounty on your head for some reason."
…taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap…
What are the powers? Why are the powers?
…taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap…
Why do my powers make me a game-changer? What makes me so special?
"...has also been some reaching out by parties who normally like to fly under the radar, offering tremendous sums of money in exchange for any…"
…taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap…
Why does this mean I can't go home? Is it dangerous for home? Is it dangerous for me?
"...not what I want for anyone, much less you. Believe it or not I'm doing my best trying to…"
Is my Dad in danger? Wait wait wait!
"—and so you can understand why I felt the need to keep you out of the city, at least until things calm down a bit."
Why do my… wait, what?
What did she just say? I missed it. Say it again?!
I hate typing! Send! Send!
ERROR ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀxɪᴍᴜᴍ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ʟɪᴍɪᴛ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴇxᴄᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ. ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇs ᴛᴏ 160 ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴏʀ ғᴇᴡᴇʀ.
Goddamnit, stupid piece of—
SPIDER KICK!
Faultline follows the phone with her eyes as it slides across the table, then turns back towards me. "I understand you're not happy. I wouldn't be happy in your place either. But I suppose this means you have no more questions?"
Burn. In. Hell, text-to-speech app.
She slides her seat back and stands up. "Then I'll give you some space to think things over. You're welcome to join us once you've made a decision."
W—wait! No, shit. Phone! Phone! Bad me! Stupid me!
BLINK!
Um.. umm… is it still working?
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
{wait}
Gaaah, volume's too low! Where's the button where's the button… there!
Clickclickclickclickclickclickclick.
Resend!
{WAIT}
/╲/\╭ºo_oº╮/\╱\
Faultline sits across the table from me, arms crossed and head tilted back to point at the ceiling. Her eyes are closed.
This time, Gregor is seated beside her, though his focus is squarely on me. My phone rests securely under one of his large hands.
"You have the attention span of a goldfish," she complains. She drops her head and leans forward. "Let's try this again. You are a Trump. It means that your power is to interact with other powers. That is incredibly rare, and Trumps tend to break any established rules."
She leans back and shifts her glare towards Gregor, who dutifully slides the phone towards me.
"You may respond," he tells me.
Um… um… maybe I should get her to explain—
"It means you're fucking special," Faultline snaps.
Gregor holds up a hand in chastisement. "Now now, Miss Faultline, it will be your turn once Miss Tee has had a chance to ask her question."
Gee, I'm so sorry! I don't exactly have the ability to do touch typing! I may have a lot of legs to play with, but I'm still doing hunt-and-peck!
{who is after me question mark} I type, then grudgingly slide the phone back to Gregor.
He simply nods, then turns back to his nominal boss. "Now, you may speak."
The stilted conversation continues in this manner for a good while. Gregor carefully moderates the discussion to ensure I get a chance to speak when I need to, then takes the phone away to ensure I'm actually paying attention and not missing anything by trying to interrupt.
The man has the patience of a saint. He sits through repeated explanations over and over with more grace than the person giving it, and at some point he slips away to grab a pad and pen and actually starts taking notes that I can later boop into my new pocket.
Faultline's explanation can be summarised down to a few key points:
• Powers that can make a cape get stronger over time are a Big Deal.
• Powers that can duplicate or steal other cape's powers are an even Bigger Deal.
• Brockton Bay PRT had tried to clamp down on the news, but most people In the Know were already aware that something had gone down in their offices and were looking to find out more.
• The Empire was looking for me because I made them look bad.
• The ABB was also looking for me because reasons. Faultline's theory was that they'd just heard the E88 was doing it first and wanted in.
• The recent fight with the heroes here may or may not hit public awareness in the next few days, but it had definitely put a target on my back as far as the Protectorate was concerned.
To summarise the summary: EVERYONE wants a piece of me and going back to the Bay with all of this hanging over my head would suuuuuuck.
"For that, I want to apologise." Faultline pinches at the bridge of her nose and takes on a somewhat pained expression. "I didn't really need your assistance—that was just an excuse to get you out of the city and hopefully let the heat die down. I thought I was doing you a favour.
"There wasn't supposed to be any interactions with the locals on this job. The plan was to be in and out without anyone the wiser. Our inability to remain under the radar is my failure as the leader. Now, unfortunately, the heroes are aware of you and they'll most likely tie your activities to ours."
Shit. Before all this I could have pleaded neutrality, or at least painted my actions as the honest mistakes of a panicked cape (which I totally was and still am!). Now she's telling me the heroes are gonna think I'm part of a gang?!
{you can explain cut ties or other. keep them from think i'm a villain}
"I'm a mercenary," she snaps. "Villain or hero I work for whoever holds my contract. I'm neutral."
{neutral mercenary who is breaking word. said you take me home after finish here.}
"That's—" she pauses, then frowns. "That's not entirely inaccurate. But trust me when I say I'm not making that decision lightly."
She holds up one hand. "Right now you're a subject of interest to the Protectorate. I don't know what the fallout of this particular event will be, but unless they overreact and think you're the next coming of Eidolon, it's most likely not as bad as what's going on back in Brockton."
That's probably true. I mean, even if I attacked a hero, most of the fighting was done by Faultline and company. I'm just a tiny spider. They'll probably overlook me.
Still, there was one thing nagging at me. I wave towards Gregor until he hands me the phone again.
{why so important i leave bee bee. why not just stay and hide question mark}
She scowls. "Of all the people looking for you, one stands out the most. Coil. The man's a snake, almost literally. He pays to keep my crew on-call and he's very careful not to hire me for any jobs that cross my lines. That said, I have zero doubts that the moment he thinks we can't provide any further use he'll try to burn us."
"You are very careful around him," Gregor observes, his first actual intrusion into the conversation. "I have often wondered why you even bother. He cannot possibly be worth the stress dealing with him puts on you. "
"He pays really, really well," Faultline promptly admits. "We're in no way dependent on it, but his retainer alone gives us a rather large cushion in our budget and he's always willing to pay a premium whenever he hires us directly."
She sighs. "As an employer, objectively there are few better out there. As a human being, I have concerns. He was fishing for information on you even before the New Wave versus Empire fight and I have no idea how he knew about you that early.
"I cannot stress enough how much that bothers me. It suggests he has resources and informants beyond anything I would expect from an organisation of his size. Especially since his group is almost considered a non-faction in Brockton Bay."
{havent even heard of him}
"Exactly. Somebody who wants to keep a low profile, yet possesses the funds necessary to keep a group like mine on-call for months at a time? They're the kind of person who likes taking others by surprise. And I hate being surprised."
{so he's sneaky, but what makes him more dangerous than a dragon question mark}
"Probably nothing, I'm most likely overreacting. But," Faultline stabs her finger into the table. "When someone who is that determined to stay hidden suddenly starts devoting resources on anything, my first instinct is to get whatever it is out of their way. Even if only so I can dangle whatever it is in front of them and use it to hike up my rates."
{and if he hires you to bring me in question mark}
"Then I hike up my rates to levels even he should balk at. But he probably won't. He knows my stance on Case 53's and you're close enough to qualify until proven otherwise. It's a line he won't cross unless he decides to burn that bridge completely. And he doesn't know that you're not actually a Case 53."
{but if he did think it was worth it question mark}
Faultline grins, though it's a rather sad and tired looking smile. "I did say it would be problematic to keep you in Brockton Bay."
/╲/\╭ºo_oº╮/\╱\
{i want you to take me home}
"Even knowing the risk?"
{it's not any safer for me here than there. especially if the protectorate is after me anyway}
"Very well. Then I have a suggestion, if you'd trust me with this information."
{what question mark}
"Give me your father's name and I'll do my best to help you two reconnect."
{unwritten rules question mark}
"Yes, that's still a thing and I'd understand if you turned down this offer. But in the slight chance that something goes wrong, I can get word out. He won't have to wonder what became of his child. Think of this service as an apology."
{i'll think about on the drive back}
"You have a few days before you have to make a decision. We're not leaving anytime soon."
{what}
"Newter thinks he's spotted a member of the Triumvirate flying around."
Wait, what?!
"We… may have drawn more attention than I thought we would."