Outside ABB Stronghold, Downtown, the same night
Grue did not feel like a leader. When their boss wanted anything done, they contacted Tattletale. He didn't even get to call most of the shots. Tattletale knew more than him. Skitter was smarter than him.
He didn't even have a very leaderlike power.
Go to this area and blanket it in darkness. Oh people are chasing us, better cover us with darkness. Sure Grue was best suited for fighting in the darkness, with his background in boxing and his bigger build, but he was sick of being used as an anti-flashlight.
The only reason he stuck around is because he didn't do this for himself. He didn't do it for the money. He did it for his sister. So someday, she wouldn't have to live the shitty life Grue lives.
But that day isn't today.
And so Grue continues to be a "leader" of the third strongest villain group in the city. Fourth, if you count the Travelers. Which is out of four, by the way. Maybe even fifth, if you counted Faultline.
Grue didn't like competing for last. But maybe they could change that tonight.
Tonight was the night of Vacuum's deadline. Tattletale had worked with Coil after Somer's Rock, helping create a somewhat alliance between them, us and the Travelers. Grue had no idea how she pulled that off, or even what Coil's power was. But tonight the Travelers, Undersiders, as well as some of Coil's mercenaries armed with tinker tech rifles would storm the ABB stronghold.
Grue knew next to nothing about the Undersider's boss. They'd only talked a couple times. Tattletale talked with them a lot more, but still knew next to nothing. The only thing she knew for sure was that they were shit scared of Vacuum and his group. Grue was too.
That's why they were hitting the ABB tonight. Which they probably would have done anyway, even without Vacuum's deadline, but with it they'd been able to put together a team.
Grue had hoped that the Empire would hit the stronghold earlier this week, but they hadn't made any moves. Tattletale said they were on the move tonight, but that they wouldn't interfere with the plan.
Their plan was to use Genesis as their frontline. Apparently the weird Praying Mantis cape from Somer's Rock was a powerful changer. Which didn't explain why they were willing to put them on the frontline against a bomb tinker, but Grue wouldn't complain.
Coil's mercenaries would keep ABB thugs occupied, hitting several of their known bases at the same time. Spoils would be shared, as the Undersiders and Travelers would be facing the ABB capes as a distraction, and potentially trying to take them out.
Overall the main plan was to show Vacuum that they had put a genuine effort forth, and even if they had to retreat, hopefully the serial killer would take matters into his own hands without killing them first. And if Vacuum and Bakuda took each other out, well the world might be a better place.
Their backline would include Sundancer, Ballistic, Trickster, Skitter, Grue, Regent and Bitch. So every single cape except Genesis. Nobody wanted to join the frontline against a bomb tinker. Bitch would keep her dogs enlarged, ready to grab capes and move in an instant if things got dangerous.
Skitter would run ops, keeping track of key players and making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be. She would be the primary warning system if the ABB pulled out any new tricks. Giving Bakuda a couple nasty stings and bites would also be welcome.
Trickster and Ballistic were the core components of the plan. Trickster could switch out objects in some kind of teleportation, but it worked better and faster if they were similar size and mass. So Ballistic would have a collection of rocks next to him, ready to send towards the ABB capes. As soon as grenades started getting thrown around, Ballistic could launch rocks at Bakuda, Leet, and Uber, while Trickster swapped out the rocks for the thrown tinker bombs.
Everyone else would be blanketed in darkness behind them. Trickster needed a line of sight to teleport things, and Ballistic needed to be able to aim the rocks, so they would be at the front of the roof. Regent would also join them, working to trip up any Empire capes if given the chance. Everyone else would be either damage control or backup behind them.
Sundancer was their backup plan.
If Trickster got taken out, their group would be susceptible to a thrown grenade. They were hoping Sundancer could burn it out of existence before it went off.
All in all, their plan was sound. Tattletale and Coil had run through many different variations and possibilities before landing on this one.
Grue was the leader of the Undersiders. And he hadn't been consulted once in the making of the plan.
Is this what puppet Government officials felt like?
Both groups met at the base of a building, but had climbed the stairs onto the roof.
Their target was the three story building in front of them.
It was the middle of the night, yet it was bustling with activity. Or at least that's what Skitter said. They couldn't see anything from outside.
Genesis was a large reptilian beast, standing 6 feet tall. It had four legs, able to move quickly, with hard scaled ridges on its back, like a Crocodile. The natural armor would be able to tank a standard RPG shell with ease, but they weren't fighting standard RPG shells.
Tattletale went back over the components of the plan. It was standard courtesy, especially with group cooperation.
Everyone gave a nod, and then moved to get into position.
Regent, Bitch, and Ballistic all had knapsacks slung over their shoulders. The collected rocks that Ballistic would be able to use. Hopefully they will be enough.
"How do we make our entrance?" Skitter asked.
Ballistic turned his head to a metal dumpster in the alley right below them.
"Hey Genesis, would you be a doll and toss that up to me?"
Genesis had hopped down to the ground, ready to barrel in. But if she went in on her own, she could be left without cover.
Hefting the dumpster like it was a small drink cooler, Genesis crouched on all fours before heaving up, the dumpster flying up into the air towards the roof.
Ballistic merely walked up as it arced, and tapped the dumpster on the side. The laws of nature bent to his whim as the dumpster launched towards the building at incredible speeds, the air whooshing as air was displaced.
A stray moldy banana peel flew back and hit Regent in the face.
"Dude, come on."
Ballistic merely shrugged in response. He didn't take his eyes off of the building. They all needed their A game now. With a bomb tinker, it was that or death.
The dumpster crashed in between the first and second story, creating a big hole as the wall caved in.
Genesis trudged towards the building as the dust settled.
Now they just had to wait for a response.
A flicker of movement came from the roof of the building.
Then a figure flew out of the hole in the building, a suit of armor crashing into Genesis.
A rocket launched from the roof, headed straight for the group of capes at the edge. It made a whistling sound in the air. Before it hit, a rock was sent flying towards where the rocket came from. The two projectiles swapped in the air.
The game was on.
The roof exploded into rubble, flashes of green and violet shooting out.
"Gamma and ultraviolet radiation ." A voice next to Grue remarked. Tattletale.
But the figure on the roof seemed unharmed, sending another rocket shooting down.
"It's Bakuda. Leet made her some kind of armor. Resistant to radiation and most explosions. Gives her a brute rating of at least 3."
Genesis roared as Leet stabbed a bright colored saber through one of her legs.
Using the opening as Leet backed off, Ballistic sent the next rock towards him.
The rocket exploded right in his face, shooting out the same green and violet clouds out. Trickster had improved his timing already. Did he have some sort of subliminal thinker power to help him with the timing? Or did he have some other kind of practice in getting his timing down to the millisecond?
Two red eyes glowed from behind the clouds, before Leet shot forward to skewer another one of Genesis' legs. With both of her forelegs damaged, she collapsed to the ground. Leet moved forward to finish her off when another rock shot towards his waist, knocking one of the contraptions hanging from his belt off. It started flashing red, and Leet immediately scrambled backwards to get away.
Ballistic pressed his advantage, shooting another rock towards the roof, Trickster switching it out for the live bomb.
The roof caved inwards as space ruptured, concrete collapsing as even light struggled to escape the crushing force.
"Space bomb. Based on Vista. Leet backed off because his armor won't do shit. Bakuda wouldn't survive either."
"It wasn't even close to hitting Bakuda. She started heading downstairs after sending the second rocket." Skitter noted from his side.
Ballistic talked into the air in front of him, keeping his eyes on the battle. "I'm going to need you to be quicker on those callouts Skitter. I could've taken Leet down with that bomb."
What went unsaid was that if it could've taken out Leet, it also would have taken out Genesis by proximity.
"Bakuda setting up on the second floor!"
A window was broken and a rocket immediately shooting out, this time headed for the downed Genesis.
It was immediately swapped to head towards Leet, but an energy shield popped out of his wrist, and the bomb bounced off towards the side, exploding harmlessly out of range.
Leet moved forward again, flicking out the saber with a red halo. As soon as he got close, however, Genesis sprung into action. Even with her forelegs disabled, her powerful back legs shot her through the air, leaping towards Leet and grabbing him with her arms. In a powerful hug, Genesis began crushing the armor, the sound of metal creaking under the strain filling the courtyard.
Leet yelled and pressed a button on his torso, silver and green energy shooting out from every orifice on his armor. But when the air cleared, Genesis still clung on, unfazed by the blast.
"Bakuda!" Leet yelled out, struggling to keep his breath.
"Bakuda first floor, coming out of the hole!"
But it wasn't quick enough. A rocket was sent barreling towards Leet and Genesis. Genesis merely spared it a glance and caught it as it hit them, crushing the rocket in her massive scaled hand. The energy leaked out, splashing over her, but she continued crushing Leet with her other arm.
She then grabbed onto him with both arms and lifted him into the air. Bringing her arms toward the ground with the strength of a freight train, Leet slammed into the ground hard enough to crack the cement underneath him.
"He's got shock dampeners! That broke a couple ribs, but he's not out yet. Keep pushing!" Tattletale yelled.
A rock shattered against his helmet, but Leet didn't even budge from the blow.
Another rock was sent flying towards Bakuda's waist, but a green energy field sprouted from her wrist, blocking it.
"Can you get the grenades from their waists?" Ballistic asked Trickster.
Trickster grinned.
Bakuda moved forward towards Leet and Genesis, holding the shield in between her and Ballistic.
Rocks continued to splash harmlessly against the shield, obliterated into rubble on contact.
But then a flash of motion made the remaining contraption on Leet's belt get replaced with the sound of a rock clattering to the ground. Bakuda's eyes opened in surprise as a bomb bounced off the top of her shield, arcing to land right in between her and Leet. It was flashing green.
She immediately started scrambling away, but knew she wouldn't make it out of the blast radius in time. Neither would Leet or Genesis. With a savage grin, Bakuda pressed a button on her wrist. If she was dying here, she wouldn't do it alone.
An explosion could be heard in the distance, but it was dulled by the arrival of something new.
The air grew heavy as the air itself ionized. The sounds of the world seemed to fade away as the air gained a sense of something sharp. Something tangible putting everyone's senses on end. Something dangerous.
And in a flash that shook the ground, the buildings, the very air itself, the heavens split apart as an arc of light flashed down from the sky. This was no mockery of lightning. Of mere electricity, like Dauntless. Pure undulated power reigned from above, slamming into the grenade.
It was vaporized in an instant, the cement blackening under the power. The viper of light left black spots dancing in Grue's vision, even though he had been shielded by his darkness.
"Fuck shit." Regent dropped down from the ledge, temporarily blinded. Ballistic and Trickster likewise backed off.
From above a bright flame was hovering in the sky. But Grue could feel the heat even from hundreds of feet away. Even when shielded by his darkness.
Tattletale turned to him.
"Boss says we need to get out of here. Now."
The blast hadn't hit anyone, but the mere force of it had blasted Bakuda and Leet back. It had pushed Genesis a little, but her saurian form was incredibly heavy.
"Bitch, grab the trio. We need to leave now. Trickster can you swap something out for Genesis.?"
Trickster turned towards the general direction, still half blind from the lightning strike.
"No, leave her. She'll find another way out."
Grue was irritated with his disregard for his teammate, but it wasn't his job to do anything about it.
The figure wreathed in flame slowly descended towards the ground.
Grue blanketed the entire roof with darkness, everyone getting onto the dogs to leave. He could feel the darkness on the edge of the roof getting burned away. He turned, but the figure wasn't even looking at them. He was tearing Grue's power apart without even trying to.
He got onto one of the enlarged dogs. With one last glance at the new cape, Grue dropped off the edge of the building.