Sooo…. I kinda got tired of Incarnations, I might come back to it, but for now, consider it closed. But, mostly because I was hoping for another season of Lucifer, and partially inspired by a few other one-shots from different mythos, myothsees? Is it like moose where the singular is also the plural? Anyway, Oc or Si in this case, where as per the usual with my way of doing things, throw in one change, and then see what spirals out from there.

Deal, or no deal?

Danny Hebert entered the restaurant, and his eyes immediately found the person he was supposed to be meeting.

If it wasn't for the clothes he was wearing, the man he was meeting could blend into any crowd. He was white, had short cropped salt and pepper hair, and was just over six feet tall. His age. Could have been anything from his early twenties, to a well preserved early forties. As Danny got closer, he could examine more details.

The other man was wearing a black eyepatch over his left eye, what looked like leather gloves, and very nice grey suit, highlighted by a blood red tie. As Danny slid into the seat, he smiled genially and extended his hand.

"Hello Mr. Hebert. My name is Nikolas Scratch. It is a distinct pleasure to meet you."

Danny shook Scratchs' hand as he sat down, and did his best to mask a massive twitch as he noticed Scratches tie had shifted a noticeable few inches to the left, and seemed to have bulged outwards despite the fact that the sitting man hadn't moved other then to shake Dannys hand.

Scratch idly tapped one the fingers of one hand, creating a metallic rapping against the table as he stared at Danny.

"Sooo Mr Hebert…" He drawled, an unknown accent creeping up on certain syllables. "What is it you want? I know the mayor is the one who referred you, but did he explain anything more about the whole process of making a deal with me?"

Danny shrugged, his eyes hardening.

"My daughter, she… She isn't well."

He ran a hand through his thinning hair as he sighed.

"To more honest, she's dying. Roy knew I was getting desperate, so he took me aside one day, and told me that you could help, but only if I had already exhausted every other avenue, because what you charge to help."

Danny winced briefly as he realized he might have offended Scratch, but the younger man just waved a hand nonchalantly, still smiling.

"Thats usually how much people know coming in. The real cost isn't the money that I charge, since most of the time I don't even charge money, usually just a favor or two. My power itself requires a sacrifice of something valued Mr Hebert. To give you an example,"

Scratch flipped up his eyepatch to reveal a cavernous and empty socket. He left it up for a few moments before flipping it back down.

"Shortly after I first received my powers, I realized just how vulnerable and desired a person with my powers was going to be, and since I was broke and alone, that left me with only a few viable routes. In the end, I was driven to find safety and security, so I sacrificed my eye, and a few memories, and in return my power gave me a limited pre-cog power. Over the years, Ive continued paying my power for more and more upgrades to it, until I now have a power that I would rate personally as an 8 on the PRT's power scale."

Scratch noticed as the older man paled slightly, and immediately went to reassure the man.

"It doesn't have to be a body part of course, most of the people who make a deal tend to use money, it just happens that you'd need a lot of it."

Danny quirked an eyebrow, prompting Scratch to continue.

"My power works on how valuable I perceive the wish being made, which is why most of the time I do my best to understand the psychology and the background of both the wish being made, and the person making it before finalizing the deal. That is why in this case I'm doing my best to determine wether or not you are actually able to afford the wish, and giving you other payment options if not."

Danny sighed and nodded, rubbing his brow, Scratch rubbed the back of his sheepishly.

"Just making it totally clear, you can sacrifice anything towards the wish, metaphorical or literal."

And then abruptly the man, who had up until that point, had been a slightly awkward, kind seeming young man, seemed to shift and change, his smile becoming predatory, the light in his eyes dying until it resembled glass.

"So, now that you know the price Mr. Hebert, tell me, what do you want?"

Danny swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.

"I want Taylor to be healthy, I want to strong and complete again. I want her to never be hurt again. I want her to be able to be the kind, smiling girl from before her mother died… And I never want her to be hurt again. By anything."

Scratch gave a low whistle as he sat back in his seat. His tie, Danny noticed, had settled back into the middle of his chest, and seemed to have wilted a little, its color becoming a little duller.

"That is a hefty request Mr. Hebert. And it comes with a commiserate price. Are you prepared to pay the price for that?"

A fire was lit deep within Dannys eyes.

"Absolutly. All I ask, is if I it requires my life, that I get 24 hours to say goodbye to Taylor."

Scratch stuck out his hand and grinned, each digit of his outstretched, gloved hand alight with a greenish white bale fire.

"I think that sound perfect to me, so, you life for your daughters health, both mental and physical, as well as her continued well being. And enough power, that she is never hurt again. The only caveat is that you receive 24 hour in which the price is deferred so that you can say goodbye. Agreed?"

Danny shook Scratches hand, the fire on each finger spreading out to wrap around Dannys hand.

"The deal is sealed Mr. Hebert. Starting now, you have 24 hours to say goodbye."

Scene Break

Scratch rubbed his eye patch irritably after Hebert had left. The deal he had made with the other man had taken it out of him, especially with differing the price for twenty four hours, it would continue draining him until the 24 hours were up.

But the sheer sacrifice that Hebert had been willing to give, his entire existence, his future choices. All of it was being sacrificed on the altar for the sake of his daughter.

A shiver of pleasure arced up Scratches spine.

The feeling of that deal being finalized had tasted wonderful.

Suddenly, a spike of pain shot through Scratches empty eye socket as a vision of the future shoved itself into his mind. As it ran out, Scratch had to sneer, it seemed the local Protectorate had surrounded the exit to the building. They had let Hebert go, but immediately after he had left, the entirety of the Protectorate, and a number of Wards were arranged around the building.

Nikolas Scratch sighed as he stood up, brushed some non-non-existent dust off of his suit, and made for the door.

Chapter 2 - the Protectorate

Colin Wallis, also known as Armsmaster sighed. He had been busy tinkering when the Director Piggot had called in an all hands meeting, which required all Protectorate members, and a majority of the Wards to be present. What the Director had not done was tell him why she had called the meeting.

He entered the conference room, and gave a nod towards the few Protectorate members present that he also respected. He also gave a nod towards Aegis, present in his role as leader of the Wards.

At the front of the room Piggot stood up, and spoke.

"Thank you all for responding so quickly, I just received word from the chief director."

Collin felt one of his eyebrows rise underneath his helmet as he considered the fact that the chief director had called in this tip. Piggot brought up a small remote, pressing a button that caused one of the recessed televisions in the wall to switch on, its screen displaying a surveillance photo of a young man with an eyepatch and short, almost military styled hair. The director pointed at the picture on the T.V.

"This, is the S class threat, Jack Scratch."

Colin blinked. His data was well up to date on all S class threats both at home in abroad, mostly because there was only around a dozen, let alone singular parahumans who qualified as S class threats, and this person was not on any of the lists he had access to. Piggot continued to speak over the mutters of the capes in the room.

"The reason Jack Scratch is considered an S class threat is because of their ability to make a bargain, the price goes up and down according to the wish. There have been multiple examples of bargins being struck for Para-human powers, or increases to already existing powers among other things."

Aegis raised one gauntleted hand to ask,

"Excuse me Director, because while this ability does seem incredibly useful, why is this guy an S class threat? It sounds like one of the Wards could apprehend this guy."

Piggot shot a gimlet glare at the young teen which quailed any further question before she responded to the question.

"The reason being is Scratch is able to get new parahuman powers for themselves, according to the information we currently have, he is at least a Brute six since he has ripped through containment foam and shown an immunity to small arms fire. Scratch also has a high thinker rating, currently rated at a 7 for the simple matter that Scratch seems to be able to perceive any danger to themselves a maximum of an hour in advance depending on how many Parahumans are present. Not to mention their trump 10 ability since they are able to grant, increase, and otherwise manipulate Parahuman powers."

Piggot leaned forward, honest concern leaking onto her face.

"I caution all of you, those abilities that Ive listed are a minimum of two years old, in the intervening time, we have no idea just what powers he might have bought. We are beginning deployment now, the parahumans will deploy last in order to put off tipping him for as long as possible."

Scene Break

Aegis watched as the Scratch, the man in the suit, casually stepped out from the restaurant where he had been meeting with the civilian.

Scratch casually turned to observe the dozens of PRT troopers blocking off each side of the street, and the Protectorate members arrayed directly across from him. And then he couldn't help but shiver as Scratch grinned and began tugging off the leather gloves covering his hands, revealing both hands with metallic skin, immediately Armsmaster came over the radio with a warning.

"Be cautious, subject has metallic covering on both hands, possible striker or changer powers."

And then Scratch brought both his hands together in a thunderous, screeching clap of metal on metal, that somehow caused every Trooper nearby to collapse.

Scene Break

Scratch grinned. That had been a Shaker power that he had finally managed to amass enough funds to get, he had had to sacrifice one of his hands to round off the cost, but still, a couple bars of gold and he had another replacement, the shaker ability manifested when he clapped his uncovered hands, in a sphere around him, every unpowered human would fall unconscious, he could do the same thing in a smaller area if he snapped his fingers.

Now, how to deal with the rest of the Protectorate, there was always scorched earth, but that was for villains, and unless they pushed or tried to break the unwritten rules, it probably wouldn't be necessary.

Always nice to have backups though.

Scratch pasted a wide smile onto his face as Armsmaster stepped up and spoke, his voice being amplified by a riot speaker in his helmet.

"Parahuman Jack Scratch! Surrender now! Any further aggressive action will result in a lethal response!"

Scratch just continued to smile as he slipped his gloves back on over his metallic hands. All around him there was a sound of heroes readying themselves for battle, Militia on the top of one of the PRT APC's, armed with a heavy caliber rifle. Velocity, already in his Breaker state off to one side, ready an waiting for action. Triumph, his lines of fire clear, poised for one of his sonic screams to soften the villain up, Scratch was sure that the rest of the Protectorate were there somewhere, but they were the only ones visible. On the Wards side, Shadow Stalker was visible, her crossbow already cocked and drawn, Aegis floating up in the sky with Kid Win on his hoverboard. Gallant was over to the side next to Armsmaster while Vista and Clockblocker were just visible on top of a roof top across the street.

So many heroes, so little time.

Scene Break

Clockblocker was on the roof of the building across from the bar the Heroes had arranged themselves around the building, he had felt his jaw drop when Scratch had clapped his hands together, and every person who wasn't a Parahuman had dropped like a rock.

He had glanced to check on Vista, the younger ward was frowning furiously.

He leaned over and whispered to her.

"Whats wrong?"

Vista whispered back without taking her eyes of her opponent.

"He has a bubble around him that I cant manipulate."

Clock swore under his breath, the reason either of them were even on the field was the hope that the combination of their powers would be a able to give the others enough time to weigh down the villain with as many restraints as possible.

He looked to Vista and shrugged.

"So, are we just going to sit here and watch then?"

Vista shrugged back.

"Unless you have a better idea?"

Clockblocker sighed as he turned back to watch the coming fight.

Scene Break

Scratch smiled as Armsmaster stepped closer.

"Armsmaster, I consider this an act of war by Protectorate. Are you sure you want to double down, and make me take you seriously?"

The hero nodded solemnly as a bead of sweat rolled down the side of his neck.

"I do. We have been ordered to take you in, or take you down."

The man in the grey suit nodded affably.

"I see, I see. Might I ask, who gave the order fo you to come apprehend me?"

Armsmaster's head cocked to one side.

"If I answer that, could you answer a few questions?"

Scratches smiled went wider then what Armsmaster would have thought possible.

"Sure. Why not. I'll go first. Who gave the order for my apprehension?"

"Director Piggot. What power did you just use on the PRT troopers?"

"A shaker power that I got a few months ago, non lethal, lasts a couple hours. Who gave director Piggot the order?"

"It came directly from the offices of the Chief Director. What other abilities have you gotten in the last six months?"

"My… Thats a large bored question isn't it? I improved my thinker ability, acquired the Shaker ability that you just witnessed, and a mover ability. How did the Chief Director know where I was?"

"I don't know. Mover albitiy?"

"Yep want to see it?"

Armsmaster rushed forward, just in time for Scratch to disappear, popping like a soap bubble.

End of Chapter two

So, Didn't quite do it for me on the first chapter, 2nd was better.

Powers are currently broken down as follows.

Trump 10: Can alter fabric of reality as long as the price is met, includes granting Parahuman powers and resurrecting the dead. Only reason it isn't Trump infinite is it requires the price which scales up or down to how valuable he perceives wish as.

Brute 6: Strong enough to get through containment foam and tough enough to tank a round from a fifty cal.

Thinker 5/8: Lie detector. Got it early on in his career to help with determining value of a wish. Secondary thinker power is a precog ability that gives him a minimum of thirty second warning but scales up for the number of parahumans engaging in aggressive action up to a limit of thirty days.

Mover 6: Can teleport to a single point fixed point from anywhere in the world, requires a 24 hour cool down. Can move the teleportation marker once a week.

Shaker 5: Short or medium range ability that knocks out non-parahumans for around an hour.

Also, want another chapter of this? Have a cauldron, a Taylor, or a Sophia if anyone wants another piece.