4.2
Long story short, Miss Militia took both Shadow Stalker and Circus off my hands after listening to both Browbeat's and my story of what we had seen and done.
She did not seem overly pleased that Browbeat elected to stay and talk with me after she offered him a ride. He did not stay long but did accept the brochure we had created to explain what Helping Hands was and that we were looking for a few good people to help us help others.
I think he was intrigued by the idea of a possibility other than the Wards. I was a little concerned with recruiting too many teens. We wanted to be effective community developers, not an afterschool club. But having the right teens could be a good thing. I was not ageist.
Saturday afternoon Zada took me to the Brockton Bay Zoo. It was in the park at the foot of Captain's Hill. I will admit I had seen better, but it was still worth the visit.
"So, our first date ended badly, but that was neither of our fault," Zada said as she cuddled under my arm. It was a little awkward since she was almost as tall as me. I thought for a second about creating a growth power but decided that was just silly in this situation.
I had been concentrating most of my charges on upping ten powers. First was what I called the Superman package – flight, super strength, invulnerability, regeneration, super speed, and super senses; as well as my other commonly used or important powers – teleport, force fields, situational awareness, and dimensional portal. They were going up quickly, doubling or more in power, range, flexibility, and/or detail almost every day. I only created a new power on rare occasion.
"I agree," I said. "And I'm enjoying time with you this afternoon."
"Yeah, and while I like all this cuddle time and conversation. There's something that's missing."
My heart skipped. Lev had warned me that Zada was not one for long relationships. But five days? "What's that?" I asked.
"Sex. I was hoping for some naked fun on Wednesday, but that didn't happen. I want to take this big strong man into my bed. Do you have plans for tonight?"
Big strong man … STRONG man! …Oh crap!
"Zada, did you ever read the Larry Niven piece Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex?"
"Yeah, everyone knows that one … חיים בזבל … You're that strong?" She looked at me with big eyes.
"I'm not sure, but possibly. Give me a night or two to make sure I have the unconscious absolute control needed to be safe for you. I might already have it, but I want to be positive."
"Shit!" she muttered. "Alright. But I want double then, for waiting."
"I am hoping we will have lots of opportunities, so be as greedy as you want."
She looked at me and I almost spent a charge on telepathy just to know what she was thinking. But I didn't. I wasn't certain I ever really wanted to know what went on in someone else's head. I just hoped that this time it wasn't her deciding not to tell me I only got one night, so make the most of it.
We were getting some stares. My face had not gotten wide distribution as it was cut off most copies of the video of the fight with Kaiser and Purity that were available online. There were a few, but whenever I found one I hacked it to edit the beginning. But I was pretty certain that all the criminals in Brockton Bay had somehow managed to get at least a decent still from the recording.
I was noticing a few zoo personnel and customers following us or taking pictures.
Disproportionate number of Asians at zoo.
Asians paying particular attention to us.
Asians using phones to report on us.
Likely setting up an ambush.
Likely an ambush by Lung.
"Zada …"
"You think they are planning something?" she asked before I could finish. She was casually not looking at the people tracking us.
"Yeah …"
"Lung?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"You want to run or fight?"
"I want you to run, for real this time," I replied. "While I draw him somewhere with fewer people." I looked up towards the top of the Hill. There were some families and other people enjoying the spring day, but I hoped I could run them off before anything started.
Looking up, Zada nodded. "Looks good enough." She drew me in and kissed me hard. "Lung is no joke. Take him down fast and hard. Don't let his have a chance to ramp up. This is serious. And when this is over you damned well better remind me why I'm dating you."
"Right!"
What the HELL are you doing? I yelled in my head. It takes two to fight. There's no reason for you to enable this violence. Don't buy into the conflict-based mindset. You can de-escalate by teleporting away. Then no one is in danger. You have nothing to prove and nothing to gain by fighting. Just walk away.
"Wait!" I said, loudly enough to be heard by everyone nearby. Zada turned back to me. "I think we're putting everyone here at risk. I think we should just leave. There's no fight if I'm not here."
"If you think that's best," she said, waiting as I walked to her and took her hand. Once I had an arm around her, I teleported with an extra flash of light.
We appeared on the roof of the Co-op. I scanned the area looking for any danger. I saw seventeen watchers. Two of whom were PRT, three whom were reporters, and the rest were unidentifiable. Disgustingly, but not surprisingly, the location of the webcast battle between Legacy and the leadership of the E88 had become a tourist attraction almost overnight. There were often random people passing by, pointing, taking selfies in the parking lot, or even trying to question the residents. This was something else make up less than popular with our fellows. It also meant I could not easily tell the possible gang lookouts from the random looky-loos.
"So, no big fight?" Zada grinned as she held onto me.
"No need to risk casualties or collateral damage. I will if I have to, but It is not my job to take down Lung." I hugged her. "Having said that, I'm going back invisibly, to make sure he doesn't cause any trouble upon not finding me there."
I teleported into the sky a mile above the zoo. My vision allowed me to find Lung. He was approaching the area in the form of a sixty-foot-long flying dragon. Somehow, he had managed to ramp up already. That would have been a nasty surprise. The great beast flew low over the zoo, rocking the trees and frightening both the animals and the people. His minions were waving him off. Beating his great wings, he landed on top of Captain's Hill. People were fleeing for their lives.
Looking like a combination of Godzilla and Rodan, he sat up on his haunches, unfurled his wings, reached his sinuous neck towards the midday sun, and released a jet of flame that shot into the sky. Along with the flames, he let out a roar that reverberated around the city, alerting all to his wrothful presence. I watched closely. If he was going to go on a berserk rampage, I would have to contain him.
I had not seen him attempt to murder anyone, so I did not feel he deserved to be de-powered. I knew that action on my part was like the death penalty. While the person lived, they were so changed that their self-identity effectively died. I had not seen him do anything to deserve that and I was not sure enough of myself or the society to offer such a punishment based on reports and hearsay.
After his display Lung started to shrink. While angry and frustrated, he had no enemy to fight so his powers began to return him to his human form. Five minutes later he was being escorted to a large SUV in the parking lot at the base of the Hill.
We would not be fighting today.
I spent the rest of the afternoon tracking down potential team members. While we were looking for people that could help with security efforts on Foundation buildings and events, such as the Exchange auctions or public political actions. Primarily, they need to be able to act as community ambassadors, representing the Foundation in the city, supporting our development endeavors.
I was at an odd disadvantage. I knew who and where each of the independents in the city were, but I could not approach them without risking them feeling threatened or intimidated. Browbeat had informed me he was willing to consider comparing our offer versus the Wards. I was doubtful that established villains like Circus or Uber & Leet would be willing to join us but was still willing to give them a chance. There were even a few capes in a town north of Brockton Bay, but I did not want to go beyond the metro area to start. The Foundation was concentrating its efforts in the city so that was where I looked to recruit.
As I scanned the city, the only one I found who was approachable was Dovetail. She was in costume flying patrol over the Boardwalk. I wondered how much of that was because it was a high-profile location and how much was because it was the source of a large percentage of the tourist dollars. What I had read on PHO suggested Dovetail was trying to establish a reputation for herself, likely in aid of negotiating a better deal when she eventually joined the Protectorate. She had already worked on a few cases with them. This made me hopeful she was not wedded to her independence and might consider a different offer.
I teleported to the roof of one of the taller buildings on the Boardwalk. I used a bit of a light show with my appearance, one she could see from her elevated position. Sure enough, she came closer to investigate, though not too close. He basic power was fast and maneuverable flight. Her secondary power was leaving a contrail of little feather-like constructs that created weak force fields on anything they touched. The feathers dissipated in seconds and fell slowly so if she flew high enough, they would vanish before hitting anyone below her. This combination did not make her a combat powerhouse. So, she was properly cautious in her approach.
Or she was worried I would depower her.
"Hey!" I called as I waved.
"Hello?" She hovered a dozen yards away. "You're Legacy, right?"
"Yeah, and you're Dovetail," I said. I used my aerokinesis to carry my voice to her more easily. I could hear her anywhere in the city. "I was hoping to talk with you. Mind if I join your patrol?"
"Why? Are you expecting trouble?" She looked around as if she expected Lung or the E88 to leap out at me. Dovetail was a tall, slim woman with straight mid-length brown hair, though that was wrapped up under her helmet in costume. I knew for seeing her on campus that she was several years older than me, probably late twenties or early thirties. Her costume was white with fuchsia highlights. She carried several eggs that I saw were containment foam grenades, though the foam was a slightly different formulation from what the PRT used. I wondered where she got it.
"Nothing of the sort," I assured her. "I've been trying to get to know some of the independent heroes in town. I heard you have been around longer than most of them and wanted to ask about your experiences."
"Ah," she said as she hovered nearer, "the Protectorate been pressuring you to join? They do that to almost every new hero. Not just here either. I was down in Boston when Bastion first asked me. But I wanted to make a name for myself first. Prove my value. So, I turned him down."
I hovered nearer her and nodded in the direction she had been flying before she saw me. Without pausing her tale, she resumed her patrol with me following closely. "Besides no self-respecting Brockton Bay native wants to end up in Boston. They're crazy down there."
"How long have you been a hero?" I asked.
"Almost three years. I think I am the longest lasting solo hero in the Bay. And I have to tell you, it isn't easy. This city's crazy."
I smiled at her. She gave a shy smile back. "How often do you petrol?"
"Pretty often," Dovetail said. "I've got a deal with the Boardwalk Enforcers. For a regular stipend I make frequent appearances. This is both to combat or discourage crime and to put a cape face on the security of the tourist area. The Protectorate or Wards capes come by too, for the same basic reason. But they have to patrol the whole city. I pretty much concentrate in this area and around the Lord's Street Market."
"Do you see much action?" I asked. I was getting the impression Dovetail either liked to talk about herself or she did not get the opportunity to talk about her hero gig much. Given her working alone and keeping a secret identity, I could see her not being able to open up to many people.
"A fair bit," she admitted, "though most of it is petty crimes – purse snatching, pickpockets, shoplifting, that sort of thing. The gangs leave the area alone for the most part. They know the tourists mean money for everyone ultimately. At least most of them do. The Merchants are starting to make trouble."
The Merchants, from what Zada had told me, were a newer gang that was headed by a trio of capes. The gang seemed to prey on people with addictions and various mental disabilities. If they were not for the reports that they were forcibly addicting people to hard drugs to expand their narcotics market, I would say they represented a prime demographic for Foundation assistance.
The Merchants controlled almost no territory, but it sounded like they were starting to expand more aggressively. This might be a consequence of my removing the leadership of the Empire. I had no idea how effectively the Nazi gang was holding together without their capes. Piggot had warned me about this sort of thing, but it was the first I had heard of it in the field.
"Oh, look!" Dovetail pointed at a crowd surrounding a pair of dancing giraffes. At first, I though the mascots were those inflatable puppet-like things that were animated with air from a fan at the base, but then I saw a girl dressed up like an old-fashioned doll. Parian. Dovetail moved to land at the edge of the crowd.
Parian noticed us before the crowd did and nodded to my companion. Her immobile mask hid the look of consternation that came to her face when she recognized me. I was beginning to hate the fear I seemed to generate in capes without trying or, in my opinion, justification. I just nodded to her.
The crowd was fascinated with the animated stuffed animals. They were not quite life-sized but topped out at over ten feet tall. I realized they were the mascots for a personal electronics and gadget shop half a block off the Boardwalk. They were having a sale.
A few people noticed Dovetail and me and started pointing us out to their companions. Within a minute the crowd's attention was almost evenly split. Parian quickly wrapped up her show and someone form the store started touting their special deals. Many of the crowd wandered off while some went into the store and others stayed to see what entertainment the two new capes might offer. Dovetail started to work the crowd, soliciting questions and offering selfies. I watched as Parian moved her toys into a truck that seemed too small to hold them and locked them away. When she was done, I approached.
"Sorry to draw attention from your show," I said offering my hand. "I'm Legacy."
She buried her hands into her skirt, avoiding my offer. Instead, she dipped in a short curtsy. "It's no problem," she said. Her voice had a burr reminiscent of Zada's that fit her middle eastern face. I did not know enough to guess where she was from. "More capes mean more spectacle. Now the audience will expect me to pull capes out of my hat and that will draw larger crowds for my clients."
"But won't they be disappointed if no one shows up?" I asked.
"Dove stops by about once every five shows or so," she shrugged. "Besides, there is nothing saying my babies have to be animals. Maybe I will create cast of capes for future shows."
"That could work," I agreed. At this time Dovetail joined us as the last of the tourists went on their way.
"Hey Parian."
"Dovetail," the doll cape replied. "How has the day been? Any problems?"
"No, it's been quiet so far," she replied.
"Except for Lung's display," Parian reminded us. Dovetail shivered. I dropped my head.
"What was that about?" the flying heroine asked, sounding like she was excited by the gossip.
"I'm afraid that was partially my fault," I said. "He came looking for me on Captain's Hill and I was long gone by the time he arrived. I didn't want to risk a fight getting out of hand and people or property getting hurt."
"Running from the full-grown rage dragon make sense," Dovetail reassured me.
"If he's looking for you, is it safe for you to be here?" Parian asked, looking around as if she expected the ABB leader to drop from the sky. I glanced to find him napping in his apartment. But I did not feel comfortable letting them know I could do that.
"I think it is, but It might be better if I don't stay long," I agreed. "But I wanted to talk to both of you."
The looked at each other then back at me. The distrust was back in place. "What about?"
I reached into my belt and pulled out a couple of brochures. "The Renaissance Foundation is going to be sponsoring a cape team – both heroes and rogues – to support our community development and philanthropic efforts. We are not looking to do the Protectorate's job fighting crime and such. We are going to be doing a different sort of work."
"We want to recruit from within the independent cape community of Brockton Bay," I continued to their silence. "You live here. You know where at least some of the problems are and may even have ideas on how resources can be used to address the needs of the citizens. This is a different way to help the people of the city."
I thought I was losing them, so I changed tacks. "It's a paid professional position, benefits and all. We intend to have a compensation package equal to or better than the Protectorate."
I stopped because I felt I was starting to beg. "Anyway, I wanted to let you know and give you our contact if you want more information."
My thinker bullshit told me Parian was set against the idea, while Dovetail was potentially interested.
Maybe I should leave the pitch to Zada. She could talk anyone into anything.
A/N: Greetings all,
As some of you had anticipated, I think that I have written myself into a corner. Writing a character with Power Manipulation seems to have led me to a story with limited challenge.
At this point I don't think there's anyone in the Worm-verse that can defeat Legacy, except possibly the Endbringers and Scion. Any cape with a shard he can depower. Which means that even the Triumvirate or the Slaughterhouse 9 is no threat to him. There are also very few capes that can overcome his force fields. And he's been using 10 charges a day to upgrade his 10 favorite powers for almost 6 weeks. So, he is physically a match for Alexandria. And given 6 more weeks until the Leviathan attack, he might be able to physically challenge the Endbringer.
This means that any attacks on him have to be indirect. Coil, for instance, might attack the soup kitchens and halfway houses that The Renaissance Foundation supports While he agitates with the PRT and Justice Department to bring investigations on the foundation. Coil could be Lex Luthor to Legacy's Superman. But only until Legacy catches him and depowers him.
I could continue the story with these sorts of indirect attacks and investigations. Or I could start telling the story from secondary characters' POV, with Legacy effectively becoming a force of nature.
But neither of those sound particularly interesting to me to write.
What that means is that until I can figure a different path, or get some new inspiration, I think I'm going to stop writing this story.
I'm disappointed with that outcome. And I hope that at least some of you are too.
But unless I want to do a timeskip and have Legacy battle Scion after another 500 days of upgrades, I don't see how else I can bring this to any sort of satisfying end.
I will continue to give this some thought, but at the moment the story is at best on pause.