Skyllian Five Story Arc: 6.3

Night had fallen over the city hours ago. Several floors below me what was left of the night crew finished the last of the cleaning. From my vantage point on the roof I watched as the last car's headlights moved away from the restaurant taking them home to their families. For just a moment I wondered what they would do once they got there. Maybe have a late dinner? Go over their bills, or maybe spend what was left of the evening with a significant other?

It was a nice image. Home. Family. Peace.

The night wasn't as balmy as it would be in a month, but it was warm. A slight breeze from the bay washed over me. It was just cool enough to be enjoyable while not chilling. As I looked upward I took in what few stars I could see thanks to the light pollution from the city. No moon. No clouds. I inhaled deeply of the slightly salty air as the breeze tugged softly at my hair which I had tied in a tail at the back of my head.

Even though I was only dressed in a sports bra and jeans, I wasn't concerned about being seen. Nor was I concerned about anyone seeing my blue skin tone or my artificial arm. Despite how eye catching either of those things were. The arm especially since the replacement also necessitated additional hardware to cover my shoulder and a bit of my right side. I could technically get away without the additions but it made me awkward and I was having a hard enough time not breaking things without the added complication.

No, I wasn't worried about being seen tonight. I worried about tomorrow. And the day after that, and the day after that…

My sigh joined the breeze from the bay as I tried to sort through everything.

I knew he was approaching me long before I heard his footsteps along the roofs tared surface. When Sebastian drew next to me I leaned into him appreciating it when he put his arm around me. While I couldn't say I had what my employees had, I did have this. It was my own little piece of normalcy and I selfishly reveled in it.

"They still watching the mission recordings?"

"Like Joker watching the newest episode of 'Maiden's Gone Wild'."

I snorted at his quip but didn't comment. Instead I tried to cast aside my thoughts and just enjoy this moment. We'd been so busy lately and it didn't look like it was going to let up anytime soon. There was no telling when we'd get another. However, it proved harder to ignore than I expected. "She's here."

"Yeah. Figured you knew but wanted to come up and let you know. You're getting pretty good at that. Greg commented yesterday that its downright freaky how you know where everyone is around you all the time."

"Say's the guy who builds go-kart's that shoot giant turtle shells and ray guns that pixelize non living matter." I scoffed. "Anyways, got easier with practice. One thing you have to say about how things worked out in the last month, I've gotten lot's of practice."

It was Sebastian's turn to snort. When I felt his head turn, I knew he was looking at me. "I can tell her to come back tomorrow. Give the pigmentation augment a chance to fade."

"Doesn't matter." I muttered as I reluctantly extracted myself from his side. My steps carried me back to the edge of the building where I leaned into the railing. No rest for the wicked. "Better we know now what happened after we left. Just in case it didn't work."

Even with my back to him I knew Sebastian nodded slowly. "Alright. Just remember, I'll be just downstairs."

I smiled. "Thank you."

I returned to my previous thoughts and the view as I waited. It didn't take long before I heard the surprised gasp behind me.

I turned around seeing who I expected to see. She had her dark blond hair done up in a tight bun with a pencil sticking out of it. A light airy blouse and tight hip hugging jeans made up her outfit. Even in the night around us I could see a smattering of freckles along the bridge of her nose thanks to the lamps in our parking lot.

"Holy shit. You know I have to ask, how far down does the blue go?"

I smiled half expecting the question. "All the way. Can't say I'll miss it when it runs it's course. Shouldn't last much longer."

"Yeah. Tomorrow I think."

"Uber's fate as a crab snack depends on it." My stated as my smile turned into a smirk. Inwardly I was a bit relieved to have confirmation that it would fade.

The teen laughed freely as she approached me extending her hand. "I have to say I'm impressed. You certainly went out of your way to make sure no one would ever be able to figure out who you are out of costume. Well done. Lisa."

"Taylor." I stated extending my own. Lisa didn't even hesitate to take my artificial hand though she eyed my prosthetic intently for a few moments. "That was the idea. With how popular we are right now, we figured that if they could get an advantage by outing me, they'd take it. Keeps them guessing or looking in the wrong direction."

I waved to the small table and chairs not far from us. I brought them up a few days before the restaurant opened when we started hanging out here more than the Boat Graveyard. Sometimes I just needed a bit of space from things. "Wasn't sure you'd come."

"What, and miss a chance to spill the beans on how badly you freaked everyone out? Nope."

"That bad?" I asked smirking as I took my seat.

"I almost got a migraine from information overload." Lisa stated as she took the other one. "When you told me you were going to make an impression, I didn't think you would make one like that."

I nodded. "We needed them to take us seriously."

"Congrats. You succeeded. Maybe too well."

I sighed. "Yeah. That was always the risk. What happened after we left?"

Lisa was still giving me that vulpine smirk of hers."About what you would expect. Lot's of shouting and arguing. Took a bit before everyone settled down. Good news is that you succeeded in getting them to back off despite how Coil tried to get the others to go ahead with the truce. Surprisingly, Faultline actually made a good case for you."

"Don't like Faultline?" I asked catching the look on her face when she mentioned the cape.

Lisa shrugged. "We have bit of a history but that's more of a personal thing between us than anything else. One thing I will say about her though, is she's a good leader. Most of her crew is made up of capes who got the worst possible roll of the dice for powers and yet, she's only messed up a few jobs. None of them in a while either. She's even tangled with the Triumvirate once."

"That's impressive." I conceded.

"Anyway, like I was saying, she made the best case for you. Made a few comments about how you were a 'villain of your word' and stuff. As a mercenary whose rep is based on that, it's something that would get her attention. She felt that you could be reasoned with if approached non-aggressively."

"Huh. Well, that would explain why she sent me that message to meet Friday. That's good. Probably won't be a trap then."

"Yeah. They asked Grue a lot of questions since we've had the most interaction with you."

"Can't say I didn't see that coming. What did he tell them?"

"What he could. Not that he had any real say in the matter. It was pretty obvious when they questioned him there really wasn't an option to not answer. However, all it did was pretty much support your performance. You're competent. You keep to your word to the point that you'll take a bullet for an enemy to keep a truce intact. Yet, you're also the kind of cape that will cut off a woman's foot to spite her as you lay dying."

I winced as I rubbed my artificial arm. "He brought that up?"

"Not in detail, but yeah. While it wasn't well known we were there, enough of the ABB got away to spread the rumor about it. Grue told them we were there to discuss a way to deescalate the situation between the Undersiders and you when the ABB attacked our meet. He told them about how he thought Oni Lee killed you during that fight. How you surprised everyone when you stabbed and then cut off Bakuda's foot for 'Talking too much'. He didn't say exactly how you were hurt though. That coupled with the fact you sat there today enjoying your tea looking perfectly fine did a lot for your rep."

I shook my head at Lisa's comment but breathed a bit easier. "I guess I should have expected he'd get into some of the details. I'm glad he didn't give them everything though."

"Giving us the credit for the bank job went a long way with him. You don't know him very well, but Grue is pretty big on rep." I nodded again to her point as she continued. "However, the bad news is that you made a lot of enemies."

"That was going to happen anyways. No way Kaiser would have accepted us considering some of our members. Or the 'blue skinned' woman who led them. While I don't think any of the drug pushers we hit were Skidmark's, I'm pretty sure he's still raw about it. As for Coil we're already on opposite sides so that's not surprising."

"While true, there is a whole new level of dislike for you now. That bomb threat scared the shit of everyone. By the time the meet broke up they were still undecided on if you were lying through your teeth about having it, or if you did, would actually use it. Coil even tried pushing the idea that you would use it to hold us all hostage and force us to proclaim you 'Queen' of the city's underground. It didn't get very far though because of the way you talked and everything Grue said didn't mesh with that idea but it still got people thinking.

"Kaiser's planning on sending in people to scout the old ABB lines to see what you'll defend and what you won't. I'd be surprised if Coil didn't already have scouts looking around."

"We figured and already accounted for a lot of that. Lung had most of his ventures tied up in the heroin trade. Not my thing but some of his non powered leadership still run it. If Kaiser and the rest want to waste their time cleaning those up, that's fine by me. If not, we'll end up tapping them ourselves when ever we get around to it. As for the scouts, my people have already bounced two Merchant groups tonight. I didn't think it would be much longer before we had others looking around."

Lisa's smile widened. "You have people already?"

Her comment got a chuckle out of me. "Something like that. A few of the more civic minded ex ABB signed on. Not many since I'm leery about about some of the personalities Lung encouraged in his gang. Most of my people came from the civilians Bakuda implanted. Only a few of them were looking for something less mundane than working in the restaurant or some of the other jobs we set up to support it."

"Fuck, you move fast. Still, I would have figured you would be using Uber and Leet's henchmen. Not that they ever had many but they always seemed to know where to find people for their exploits."

I nodded. "We are. Just not in this capacity."

"Huh. Alright. Got anyone to do the vetting?"

"If you're looking to do some freelancing, sure. Let me know what you think you're time is worth and we can work something out." I accepted the implied offer. "What's Grue's take on this?"

Lisa sighed. "Worried as shit. For a damn good reason but I'm not getting into it. Not my place to say."

I nodded as I leaned into the table. The metal of my arm clinking against the glass of the table jarred me for a second before I pushed it to the side. "Regardless of what it is, he should be worried. Just how deep into Coils pocket are you guys?"

Lisa tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she thought her answer out. "Varies for each of us. Mostly it's gratitude and the need we have for him. He's our launder and fence. Gives jobs now and then though I will say the Undersiders was his idea. Hand picked each of us based on what we could offer the team and how he could control us. For the others it wasn't anything bad and I already told you how he recruited me."

I nodded remembering what she told me the other day when we met. "My sources tell me we only have one month to end this thing with Coil. If we can't do it within that time, it can't be done. Think you can hold out that long?"

"Don't have much choice, do I? You're my best bet right now even if Coil is fucking determined to end you. Not just because of your stunt today, but for the Alcott girl. As things stand, I'm not even sure if I'll walk out of his headquarters the next time he calls me to him."

"Lisa, if he does, don't go. Run. If you have to, run straight for here but do not go to him the next time he calls. My information says the odds are strongly in favor of you not walking back out if you do."

I stared into Lisa's unfocused eyes as she frowned chewing slightly on her lower lip. "Fuck. How did I miss that? She's a god damn thinker…"

While I really rather she didn't figure that part out, I can't say I was surprised she had. I wasn't exactly sure how her powers worked but I'd seen enough to know she needed very little for it to do its thing. "Precog actually."

"Holy fuck that's broken. No wonder Coil wants her so badly."

I snorted half in agreement. "Right now, aside from Coil, you're the only one outside my team that knows this."

"What kind of odds did she give that I'd flip after reading your note?"

I smiled widely as I answered. "Ninety three point six five one eight that if approached right, you'd jump at an offer of help. I'm glad you found my message. I was extremely skeptical that you would since I wrote it in invisible ink. Especially since I wrote that on the paper I gave you with where Bitches dog was considering what happened that night. Still, Dinah was convinced it would work."

Lisa rolled her eyes. "Took you long enough to find a way to contact me. I gave you enough hints. I thought for sure you completely missed what I was trying to say without saying when you shot me. Then there wasn't any way after Bakuda hit us to give you any more."

"Yeah, sorry about that but it was just a concussion round. Besides, master class cape here, not thinker." I returned easily. "In case you haven't noticed, I've kinda had a lot going on."

My comment made Lisa laugh. "I'll give you that one."

"We were really hoping Coil would back down after today, but since he's not, then we'll have to go with Plan B." I informed her as I brought the topic back around to where it needed to be.

Lisa nodded as she looked directly into my eyes. "So, cards on the table?"

"Preferably. We can't risk not trusting each other at this point."

Lisa's nod was barely visible in the darkness around us. "Coil's the kind of paranoid that creeps out other paranoid people. His power takes the game to a completely different level. He can effectively get information from people through means like torture and then just make like it didn't happen while he still knows what he extracted. With that in mind, I want to keep the Undesiders out of this. The less people who know about this shit, the better. In exchange, I can commit a lot of resources to what we're going to do. Despite how he watches us, me in particular, I've managed to hide things from him."

"Like what you did at Bay Central?" I asked.

My question made the girl blink in surprise. "You knew about that?"

I couldn't help smirking. "One of my people figured out you did something while you were accessing the servers. At first we weren't sure of what, but it wasn't hard to figure out based on what you were accessing at the time. Since it was piggybacked on what we were doing I don't think we have to worry that the heroes or Coil figured it out."

Lisa shook her head. "Alright. Another thing. You know we have to kill him. If we don't, the best thing we would achieve is to drive him from the city. Eventually, he'd come back. Stronger, and with far more numbers than before. His pride won't have him do less."

"It has been discussed." I returned carefully.

"If you can't bring yourself to do it, I will." Lisa stated intently. She must have caught my hesitation at the idea of killing someone. "Personally I don't care whose hand the gun is in. It just needs to be done. Coil is way too dangerous to leave alive."

I let out a breath as I half nodded to her words. "I take it you figured out what he had planned for you?"

Lisa snorted at my question. "I've known for months what he eventually plans to do with me. While I'm not exactly to the point I thought I'd need, I'm at a point that, with your help, I think we can put an end to this thing."

I nodded. "Alright. Here is what we have in mind…"

XxXExiledXxX

"Play it again."

"Do not fuck with me."

Aisha leaned back roaring in laughter along with everyone else in the room. "Ohmygod! I am so making that my ring tone!"

I rolled my eyes as I watched them. Were they ever going to let this go?

Laughing almost to the point of crying, Steve paused the mission recording. "I have never been so glad to be in a costume that had a full helmet. I damn near lost it when she said that."

"Ditto man. I was so glad we were already outside when she laid that on them. There is no way they wouldn't have seen my shoulders shaking." Greg added as he laughed with the others.

I shook my head as I passed by the group of laughing capes at the vid screen. I made my way instead to the other side of the room carefully opening the fridge to get something to drink. By the time I sat on the bar stool at the little island Sebastian joined me.

"How'd it go?"

"Plan B with a few alterations."

"Not ideal, but not unexpected. We also have another development." He grunted as he took a seat across from me.

I slowly lowered the can I was drinking from. "That does not sound good."

"It's not."

"Figures." I sighed as I gave him my full attention. "What happened?"

Sebastian activated his omni tool bringing up a screen as he explained. "While at the meet, Chatika found a fairly sophisticated tinker tech device. In the process of trying to analyze it through the sensor suite in Leet's hard suit, she discovered it was set to record our meeting. She implanted a V. I. into it's software so that whenever it was retrieved and viewed, we'd be able to know by who. It was viewed several times before the V.I. could extract itself and return."

The first recording sat at an awkward angle. As if the device was sitting on a table or desk. It showed a man, maybe in his thirties. Dirty blond hair and unmasked though the rest of his outfit looked like what you would expect on a cowboy back in the days of gunfighters and indians. He was obviously sitting in a chair intently eying his monitor. The speakers of his computer playing everything that was said earlier this afternoon.

His expression never changed through the whole thing. Staying just as focused and intent through the whole meeting. He never spoke a single word until just after I left the pub.

"Fuck."

The image cut off as a new one took its place. It was some kind of office. Like before the image was skewed. However it didn't show the cowboy this time. Instead it showed two people, one of them I recognized easily. Even without his trademark halberd stuck behind him I would have recognized him anywhere. Just seeing him allowed me to place the older woman sitting next to him. Director Piggot of the Brockton Bay Protectorate.

I swallowed thickly as I watched them view the recording. This, this was not part of the plan. Like the cowboy, they remained quiet as they assimilated everything that happened. When it was over the Director turned to Armsmaster but didn't say a word.

"He lied."

"Which part?"

"What the device did and if she would use it."

Piggot seemed to shrink down into her seat slightly. "Thank God. Can you tell me what the device actually does?"

"It's not an EMP pulse of any kind. It does do what Renegade stated in the beginning. It is a destructive tinker explosive meant to level a city block. That part was true. It was meant to be a weapon of last resort. That is true. However, I don't think that is all it does, but I do know he lied about the EMP effects and Matriarch lied about being willing to deploy it."

Piggot nodded as she once more asserted herself to the situation. "Troubling, but not as troubling as it looked at first. What else can you tell me?"

Armsmaster leaned in slightly still eying the monitor. "Matriarch stated she considers her organization to be a 'rogue state'. This is true. She does not see herself as a villain or a hero. She stated her only issue was with the villain Coil. A lie but it was difficult to detect. While it is true he is her main focus right now, she also has issues with the others.

"I would like to take this to my lab. There, Dragon can help me analyze it to a deeper degree. This is only recording we have gotten of them with voice. I have better programs there and with Dragons help, we can pull every nuance we can from this. I do not believe we should waste the opportunity to further understand them."

"Agreed." Piggot stated as she looked to someone off screen. Immediately Armsmaster reached for the camera. "Thank you Ayres…"

Once again the feed cut off and was replaced with another view. Had to be Armsmasters workshop because from the angle I could see suits of power armor hanging everywhere as well as all kinds of tinker stuff. Armsmaster himself was center stage as he hammered out something on a keyboard.

"Programs are booted and ready. Beginning stream."

I had no problems recognizing Dragons voice."Yes, I am receiving it now."

"Good. The first part I would like to analyze is her speech. Then we can go through Renegades."

"Sounds good. Wait…"

"Is there a problem?"

"I don't know. The file seem unusually large for what it is. It's almost as if..."

"As if?"

"Armsmaster, there is a program in the program and it is watching us!"

"What!?" Armsmaster yelled as he spun looking square at the camera.

Sebastian omni tool vanished. "Thanks to Armsmaster trying to upload the feed to Dragon the V.I. found a way out of it's confinement in the camera. Discovered, it destroyed the recording they were trying to analyze. Once done it extracted by uploaded itself into the satellite they were using. From there it moved across an entire host of them piggybacking on other signals to lose pursuit before it eventually found a telecommunications satellite that had the capabilities it needed to get back. From there it moved into a local cable company's servers until it found the node Uber installed so he could get free T.V. That brought it back to us."

I lowered my head into my hands. "What are we going to do about this? More importantly what do you think the heroes response is going to be?"

"Overall, it could be a lot worse. While they know we have some truly nasty ordinance, they also know we are not looking for a fight. If we are lucky, they might decide to pull back and give us some space in order to cool the situation down."

"And if we're not lucky?" I asked fearfully although I already had a good idea of the answer.

"Then I expect our threat level will elevate to Class A, and they will try and kill us."