59 Summit Openings
The waitress walked up to our table with a greater level of apprehension than had been shown for any of her earlier encounters. She was masking it well, but I could feel the tension through the Dragon's Pulse and about a half dozen other sensor methods. The same abilities had allowed me to perceive the true scale of the impact of our arrival.
Capes covered their emotions well. There was no doubt that it was a necessary aspect of the business and probably had thematic parallels to the prevalence of masks. If you were already putting on a false front then what was an additional layer to the deception? Of course, that all fell away in the presence of a cape with strong enough thinker powers. People like Tattletale might not dominate a battlefield, but being able to tear through the levels of misdirection in an event like this proved the value of those kinds of powers.
There had been the merest flicker of surprise when we entered. Some confused looks, then everyone settling in and regarding us like they were just taking in the scenery. In reality tension had ratcheted to levels that would have been concerning considering the powers in play. Near panic combined with destructive parahuman abilities wasn't a good combination. It was contained panic, but it drove home the significance of what I had done here.
The anxiety extended to the staff, though it had a different character for them. The bartenders appeared gruff and stoic and the waitress seemed detached, but they were all highly sensitive to the dynamics of the room. Understandable, considering the kind of powers that would be facing off against each other. The truce was a wonderful concept, but when you were literally betting your life on it that was cold comfort.
The waitress approached with well masked anxiety in her steps, though she did smile back at me. It was a greater level of interaction than she had demonstrated with the other parties and only lasted for a second before she schooled her features.
She approached me from the side opposite Tetra and handed me a pad and pen. Survey documented a full set of medical scans denoting the nature and cause of the woman's deafness. It was the kind of thing that played into the clandestine nature of this sort of event and I had to wonder how it came about.
The waitress had a cochlear implant that was currently disabled, a simple matter of removing the receiver and hiding any signs with her hair. It was almost amusing, remove a single piece of technology and suddenly the local supervillain community gets their deaf server for their secret meetup. There was more pageantry to it than just having the staff wear earmuffs or headphones, which was probably the source of the appeal.
I nodded to the waitress and took the writing pad. I could feel the eyes of the room on me, on us, carefully observing the moment. This was more pageantry. I wasn't here for refreshment, ordering something was just part of the character of the place, the reason it was happening in a bar rather than any other location. The fact that it gave the rank and file of each team something to occupy themselves with while the meeting was taking place was a definite benefit.
Well, if everyone was watching I might as well play the role. I took the pen and wrote my order at the top of the page.
'Whiskey, neat'
The action was actually more of a challenge than would be expected. Normally I needed to take special care to avoid style powers from running rampant. Now I had the added issue of Daedalus' Student taking any creation beyond intended parameters if I gave the work too much attention. I definitely didn't want extra properties and qualities added to a drink order, which meant half-assing things. Ironically, that meant I had less control over the impact of my style powers, leading to a beautiful work of calligraphy, still completely legible but stunning in its detail and flourishes.
I avoided reacting to the work and passed the pad over to Survey. She had been running analysis of potential orders and their social and symbolic significance, eventually arriving at a decision that she felt would be acceptable in setting tone and character for her first appearance.
'Vodka Martini'
Her handwriting wasn't the masterpiece that mine was, but it was written in a clear and deliberate manner, something that was also carefully calculated. It gave the impression of extensive schooling and practice in order to produce a level of penmanship that was consistent in every letter and pen stroke.
Compared to Survey's carefully shaped cursive Fleet wrote in simple printed words without any extra flourish.
'Draught Beer'
It might have seemed irreverent, but in the direct and straightforward writing he conveyed as much character as Survey had. He gave a slight nod at the waitress before handing the pad to Tybalt. He took the pen in his paw with a cheerful expression I could just barely see through the shadows of his helmet and wrote down his own order.
'White Russian'
Normal cats might be intolerant to cream, but Felynes certainly didn't have a problem with it, as if Tybalt's milkshake habit hadn't already made that clear. Outside of ordering a glass of milk, it was the best way for him to excuse drinking cream under the guise of a conventional cocktail.
Tybalt passed the pad and pen over to Aisha who took it in the armored glove of her suit. She glanced through the listed drinks, then lifted the palm of her opposite hand towards the surface of the pad. There was a slight glow as a low power particle beam fired out with surgical precision, singing words into the paper.
'Black Tea'
"Hey, everyone else was showing off, right?" She said privately through her com link before passing on the pad. I couldn't really argue with that statement given the nature of my own order, but I had to wonder if that was her only reason for using her suit's systems. Aisha had covered a titanic amount of material in the past two days, but there were some areas where she was still at her previous level. Penmanship was one of those and, while I didn't think her order would have been illegible, it probably would have stood out.
I mean, stood out more than the printed font precisely burned into the page. It probably said something about our group that a display on that level was less out of place than a bit of slightly messy writing.
The Matrix took the pad next and paused to consider their order. This was something I didn't anticipate. Survey's body fully emulated biological functions to the point where she could actually metabolize food, though it wouldn't provide any meaningful quantity of energy considering the scale of her usual reserves. Fleet was built as a human replica android, which meant a sense of taste and smell and the ability to simulate consumption. He wasn't going to actually be digesting anything, but he could still drink and even enjoy the flavor.
The Matrix, despite holding a roughly humanoid shape, was a solid mass of nanobots. Sure, they could break down organic material, possibly to provide resources for other construction projects, but there was no need to do so. There was no built-in digestion system or sense of taste. They could be emulated easily, but it would be data first and sensation as a distant second. Chemical analysis, notation of pressure and consistency, possibly a quality assessment, but nothing more.
I don't know what I was expecting the Matrix to do for a drink order, but apparently they were giving it a serious level of consideration, including correspondence with Survey over proposed actions. Eventually they lifted the pen and wrote in neat, concise letters.
'Gin Fizz'
'What?' I transmitted while masking my surprise.
'It is regarded as a difficult cocktail. While the state of this location is notably lacking, you were correct in your stance of it not directly reflecting on the staff and proprietor. Professionalism and competence can exist independent of location and resources.' They replied.
'You're testing the bartender?' I asked. 'Do you even want the drink?'
'It may be an interesting experience to perform an assessment of the prepared beverage and contrast it to modeled results based on popular instructions.' They answered as the pad was passed to Tetra. She quickly took the pad and wrote her own order in clear letters.
The waitress glanced at the pad and froze. I did my best to pretend not to notice as I looked down at Tetra. "I don't think they have that." I said in a low voice. "I don't think it even counts as a beverage."
"It does!" She replied in her inaudible voice. "I saw it online. Lots of people drink it."
"But not in America." I glanced at the bar. "And, once again, I don't think they'll have it."
Tetra tail swished back and forth. "Everyone else got to order what they wanted. Can't I at least try? They might have it." There was a hopeful edge to her voice. "And I can't drink anything else." She looked down. "Not really, I mean…"
I held back a sigh and exchanged glances with the rest of the table. Aisha's face was hidden, but I could tell she wasn't comfortable with the idea. Survey was supporting Tetra; Fleet clearly didn't care and the sense I was getting from Tybalt was that it was worth a shot.
Oh well, it was already on the pad, and in ink. Might as well ride this out. I picked up the pad and pen and handed them back to the waitress. She looked over the list, her eyes dropping to Tetra's order again. She shifted nervously, then hurried back to the bar where both of her brothers gathered over the pad. There was a hushed discussion that I could have followed if I wanted to pry, and that Survey almost certainly completely transcribed, before one of them slipped into the back.
'A call is being placed.' Survey silently informed us. 'I believe arrangements are being made for Tetra's drink.'
Well, that was nice of them. I hope it was being done out of courtesy and not fear, though even the best case was probably a blend of the two.
It seemed that we were going to be the focus of attention no matter what we did, as even the preparation of our drinks turned into a spectator sport. I mean, that was largely my intent. If the other parties weren't desperately trying to analyze the mentality and dynamics of my team based on their beverage preference then all of that energy would be laser focused on me, which is not something I would have enjoyed.
The Size constellation missed a connection as the second brother returned from his call and jumped in to assist with the order. Specifically with the labor required for Survey and particularly Matrix's drinks. That turned it into even more of a show than it would have been. It was clear that the brothers at least knew their craft, despite the fact that in a place like this you could probably get away with just knowing how to pull a pint properly.
The waitress returned shortly with our drinks, save Tetra's. I had no idea if they could actually manage that, but it seems they deemed it not worth holding up the rest of the order. Around the table the drinks were given careful tastes. Survey seemed to be drinking hers more for the aesthetic it provided, and Fleet was kind of doing the same, though from the complete opposite direction. I turned my attention to the Matrix and watched them pick up the glass, honestly unsure of how this would go.
The glass was dwarfed in their hand as it was lifted to examine its contents. It was purely for show, given the type of sensors they either contained by default or were able to generate with a second's notice. The yellow cocktail with its head of foam seemed to pass muster and, in an act that completely surprised me, the faceplate of the suit slid open, revealing a normally proportioned mouth, though of the same gold texture of solid tier one nanobots.
They took a sip, the liquid not actually entering their body so much as being dissected the moment it passed the constructed lips. I could feel the level of analysis being conducted through my technokinesis and watched with interest while I held my own glass of whiskey.
Eventually there was a slight nod, the faceplate slid closed and the glass was set down on the bar.
"I take it they passed muster?" I asked, taking a sip of my own drink.
"It is a proficiently made beverage." They replied.
"Lucky you." Said Aisha, taking a sip of her cup before setting it away from her on the table. A modular opening and stealth fields concealed the motion, giving no hint of her features even as she drank. I doubted much could be learned from a glimpse of her chin, but it was best to err on the side of caution. "This… I mean, it technically counts as tea. If you're going by exact definitions."
I shook my head. "Do you want to order something else?" I asked.
"No, it's fine." She picked up the cup and swirled the liquid inside it. "I can manage. Somehow."
I grinned at that, then tilted my head as Survey transmitted an alert to the group. The Empire was here.
And it appeared they were coming in force. Not the entire roster, but an assembly that needed two cars, a van, and a motorcycle. Survey provided sensor and telemetry data as we pretended not to be aware of what was happening. The spike of anxiety I felt from the direction of the Undersides table told me that Tattletale had easily seen through our subterfuge.
And she noticed my reaction to her reaction, causing another reaction, my awareness of which triggered further reactions to the point where I intentionally shifted my attention away from the table to the best of my ability, lest the feedback loop reach some kind of critical level.
"She knows as well, huh?" Aisha asked with a slight inclination of her head towards the Undersiders.
"She knows that I know, and has probably put the rest together herself." The Empire capes were currently assembling themselves, no doubt in order to create the most impactful entrance possible. The image lost something when you knew they were being organized in a manner that was more reminiscent of a kindergarten class being led in from recess than a team of hardened villains.
"Can you pick up on that?" I asked, still noting the turmoil from the direction of Tattletale.
She shook her head. "Maybe a little, but not really." I nodded. We were relatively private, but going into details about abilities was an unnecessary risk. We weren't going to start openly discussing the Dragon's Pulse or Aisha's nascent attempts to sense and manipulate it. We had been able to blaze through medical subjects with the same intensity as material science, but the practical aspects of alchemy couldn't be taught in the virtual environment. Aisha was extremely new to Alkahestry and wouldn't be picking out emotional reactions via life energy any time soon.
In contrast, I had power-granted competency with Alkahestry that had been enhanced several times over by supporting powers and Unnatural Skill. I could pick out the location of everyone in the room and, with a little focus, extend my awareness out into the street, noting the little blobs of heat and energy moving around in an attempt to pass off a clearly staged entrance as something natural.
I mean, our own entrance had staged elements to it, but that was due to the impact of style powers I could, at best, restrain to moderate levels. It wasn't the carefully arranged and timed entrance that was about to begin.
In the end I couldn't help myself. A fraction of a second before Kaiser arrived I turned to the door. As evidence of the level of scrutiny that was being directed at me, the entire bar rounded first on my movement, then towards the door.
Kaiser strode into Somer's Rock flanked by his twin Valkyries to absolutely no reaction from anyone. There was nearly a misstep as he registered the fact that the entire bar was already staring at him. The near mistake caused a cascade of delays to domino through the waiting line of capes during the moment it took him to recover and continue into the bar. As he stepped in I had a chance to assess his armor.
It was crap.
I mean, it was probably enough to stop bullets, but if my guesses were right that was incredibly thermally conductive and seemed to have been formed directly from either his skin or clothing. How he had managed to avoid getting roasted by Lung was anyone's guess. Even the design of the armor was subpar, and not just by the standards of my work.
It wasn't good, it was just complicated. Hundreds of individual interlocking components that probably looked impressive to people who'd never had to work through the logistics of actual armor. It was basically disposable armor, formed in one go and needing to be shredded to be properly removed. Actually, if my assessment was right it shouldn't even be mobile, or not to that level.
Yep, confirmed it. Slight use of his power, detected through my Analysis sensors, allowing him to supplement his movement. The formation of slivers of material in support of any attempted motion, then pushed out of the way by new growths. The control was actually fairly impressive and I'd wager he could use the effect to ape a certain level of super strength, at least enough to not be slowed by the suit. It also meant the suit was effectively on a timer. Worn too long and there wouldn't be space for the supporting growths, meaning the whole thing would seize up.
Suddenly the images of Kaiser standing imperiously while overlooking E88 cape fights made a lot more sense. If you have a limited reserve of movement then playing up the stoic angle is probably your best bet.
Kaiser stood in sharp contrast with the stripper armor worn by Fenja and Menja. I had to give them small credit for at least covering their abdomen where all the squishy vital organs were, but outside of that everything was closer to a sexy Halloween costume than any form or armor. I mean, I could make that work, but I had powers that specifically facilitated it. You couldn't just make a blind attempt at Barbarian Chic and hope for the best.
Honestly, I didn't even like that style, but I felt compelled to defend its integrity for Garment's sake. I had a feeling that there would be a comprehensive breakdown of villain costumes when we got back to the workshop.
It wasn't that Fenja and Menja were helpless. The spatial effect that facilitated their growth diminished attacks directed towards them by an amount proportionate to their size increase. It was enough that bare skin was enough to stop most firearm rounds, and more active combat styles could ensure their defense against more serious threats. They were probably the answer to that question of why Kaiser hadn't been roasted in his own armor.
Given the fact that I was at best going to be tolerating the Empire I had every reason to be grateful for non-optimal costume design. Sure, I could do a better job for their gear, making something that would fit them better, accentuate their appearance, and be fully protective, but if they wanted to turn a minor opponent into a trivial one I wasn't going to complain.
Harsh light outlined Kaiser's form, then shifted as… Kayden stepped into the bar.
I was almost floored. It was Kayden, exactly as I suspected. The same woman who had been loading a collapsed crib into her car with Justin, who was probably Crusader. It was the same brown-haired woman, now in a white jumpsuit with a different posture. Very different. She carried herself like a different person, but that did nothing to conceal her features.
Because she probably never anticipated needing to. It took a second to realize that everyone else in the bar, everyone not at our table, was avoiding looking at the woman. Survey quickly confirmed that extended direct exposure could cause vision damage and even the reflected light from her was glaring, casting harsh shadows and completely changing the character of the bar, and not for the better. This place had clearly been designed with the assumption that certain details would be concealed by the lighting level. Kayden's light brought them into focus, causing some disturbed reactions from the patrons and a sense of vindication from the Matrix.
The procession of Empire capes stuttered as Kayden caught sight of our table, then again when she realized that not only was I looking directly at her, I was making eye contact. I was probably the only person, outside of our group, who noticed the look of panic that flickered across her face. She didn't allow the reaction to bleed into her posture and forced herself to continue into the room.
Next came Krieg, in his gasmask and greatcoat. He moved more smoothly than either Kaiser, Kayden, or Kaiser's arm candy had. Upon entering he glanced over to our table, apparently prompted by the actions of the capes who came before him. There was a slight tilt to his head upon seeing us, but other than scanning across the table there was no significant reaction.
His smooth motions contrasted with the stomping stride of Hookwolf. The Empire's enforcer pushed his way into the bar and made absolutely no attempt to conceal his frustration at the hold up, or his shock upon seeing our table. There were quick glances between us and the other E88 officers before he seemed to settle enough to push forward, making room for the rest of the Empire contingent.
Which is where everything went wrong.
Survey had been monitoring the remaining four capes still to enter. I had been tracking them through the Dragon's Pulse and my other senses, but left the finer details to her. It started with a level of concern and uncertainty propagating through hypothetical scenarios. Then the doorway darkened as a bulky figure in red and black stepped into the harsh light cast by Kayden's power.
The power came like a wave. The moment Victor stepped into the room his area of effect spread to every corner of the bar. In a rush of urgency that I had never seen before Survey threw herself into analysis of the power. A power that apparently went unnoticed by anyone without my technology. Without my ability to detect magic, and parahuman powers.
'Victor, association with Empire Eighty Eight and Herren Clans. Thinker Stranger. Designation skill thief. Directly accessing confidential PRT assessments of abilities. Accumulates what appears to be practical experience with various abilities. Able to achieve a high level of proficiency in a large number of fields. Mechanism and range unknown. Recovery possible in all cases barring related skill being completely 'drained', classified as damaged to non-functionality. Based on description of effect brain damage likely due to exposure. Probable mechanism targeting cerebral structures. Theory matches current observed effects. Rate of 'drain' noted to be variable. Higher with direct confrontation. Strength of effect variable, dependent on interaction. Observation of subject strengthens effect. Observation by subject strengthens effect. Eye contact strengthens effect. Immediate suggestion: minimize contact and interaction while counteraction is devised.'
The entire message was delivered in a burst of analysis that came in a stream of data, much faster than it could have been spoken. It was immediately made available to myself, Fleet, and the Matrix and transmitted to Tetra via infrared communication. The information was transferred to Aisha's suit and Tybalt's helmet, though delivered at a slower rate. With time clearly of the essence I focused on diverting my attention from Victor, putting him out of my mind completely.
Survey's analysis continued. 'Power nonfunctional against myself, Fleet, the Matrix, and Tetra. Nonstandard cognitive formations or Manton interactions likely. Effect present but diminished against Lethe, Tybalt, and Apeiron. Attention diversion highly effective. Effect persists. Immediate action recommended.'
I was still focused on keeping Victor out of my mind when the recommendation came, taking a brief moment to note the Time constellation pass by. My reaction and processing speed was faster than it had been during Thursday's fight, letting me fully grasp the situation before the person I was focused on not thinking about took two steps into the bar. The longer that person was present the bigger the risk. Action needed to be taken, but that was fraught with complexities. We were in the middle of a mess of high-strung capes and under truce. Exactly what could or should be done in this situation wasn't clear, despite the terms of the summit explicitly forbidding this kind of action.
Victor was a massive cognitive hazard. Even if he only worked at a snail's pace he could erode someone's abilities while strengthening his own, and affect a surprisingly wide area. Wider than even the PRT suspected. Intentionally deploying something like that was a clear violation of the terms of the truce, and had clearly defined consequences.
There was a slight flicker and a startled reaction spread through the E88 capes I was still allowing myself to notice. The reaction quickly spread through the rest of the bar with people glancing between Fleet's now empty chair and his new position towering in front of the person I was ignoring for power-related reasons.
Shock quickly shifted to concern and then aggression as the Empire capes fell into aggressive stances, angling towards Fleet but keeping the rest of the group in sight. There was a drawn-out moment where they seemed to be processing the situation, recognizing that they were not in fact being attacked. That realization quickly shifted to an even more troubling revelation. Kaiser was looming, Fenja and Menja had their weapons readied, Hookwolf was growing metal barbs, and Kayden had taken to the air, floating a foot or so off the ground. A woman in the red jumpsuit, Othala, had just begun to enter the bar when Fleet moved and was now taking cover in the doorframe. Krieg was taking a defensive position between the Empire and our table. Victor was doing… something. I wasn't allowing him to enter my perception, but all that paled in comparison to what Fleet was doing.
Nothing. Fleet was surrounded by the heaviest hitters of the Empire and was showing no concern whatsoever. He wasn't oblivious to them, but he regarded the team with as much care as he did the scenery, noting their presence, then shifting back to the person he was staring down. It was the kind of reaction you only saw from fools and powerhouses, though in this business those terms were far from mutually exclusive.
Apparently Kaiser decided he'd rather not press his luck under the current circumstances. He gathered himself up and, with a signal, caused Fenja and Menja to lower their weapons. The rest of the team held position, but waited on his action.
"Apeiron." He called out in a voice that suggested years of experience with public speaking. "Perhaps you have been ill informed of the terms of this summit. A forgivable oversight when dealing with new help." He turned to glance at Fleet. "Regardless, the terms stand. Pronounced power use is frowned upon, and acts of violence towards attendees is grounds for an immediate, lethal response."
I gave the man an incredulous look. In a way his audacity was somewhat admirable, like there could be no chance of things not going his way. Without restraint on my posture and expression the full breadth of my reaction bled into my appearance for all the world to see. Kaiser's posture faltered slightly as he seemed to realize there was more going on here, and that he wasn't going to be able to push through with nothing but posturing and reputation.
"The terms are understood and amenable." Survey said, drawing the attention of the room. Even in the tense standoff she could attract attention on demand, a side benefit of the level of aesthetics Aisha had been concerned about. "Power use and violent action are grounds for a lethal response."
"Agreed." Fleet's voice was harsher and immediately brought attention back to him, particularly from the Empire.
You could practically see the shockwave move through the bar. You could certainly hear it. The effect wasn't as pronounced as it could have been, the result of Krieg's kinetic damping field blunting the force and diminishing any echoes, but the results were painfully clear. I was still ignoring Victor, but had the sense that he shifted back. The capes who had clustered around Fleet were reeling from the impact, slowly coming to realize what had happened.
Fleet had raised his arm. His right hand was leveled with where I imagined Victor's eyes were and drawn back, ready to strike. Any doubt about his ability to follow through or the impact it would have had been banished from the sonic boom that exploded out from the act of raising his arm to the ready.
It had been intentional. With Fleet's wind affinity he could pass through the air without a hint of disturbance. He could also amplify the effect of his passing, but that hadn't been necessary here. Just the simple act of motion carried enough energy to clear his surroundings if he wasn't actively working to counter it.
You could practically see the way the Empire capes were rapidly reassessing their situation. What had been a tense standoff was now being contextualized into a matter of survival. I could feel their anxiety through thermal patterns and the Dragon's Pulse, well, except for Victor who I was still focusing on ignoring. Glances were shared between members of the Gang as they tried to get a handle on their next move.
It was Othala who ended up taking the initiative. She swallowed, extended an arm, and cautiously took a step towards where Victor was. The utility of the powers she could grant varied widely, but there had never been any recorded instance of her granted invincibility being overcome. If she could reach Victor she might be able to tip the dynamics of the situation.
She did not reach Victor. As she moved for a second step she froze completely on account of the sword pressed against her neck. Aisha was standing next to her, holding her celestial bronze blade in a position that would have seen Othala decapitate herself with a single step.
"I wouldn't try that if I were you." Aisha said. The structure of her helmet and internal speakers altered her voice slightly, just enough to disguise it without any serious distortion.
The woman's anxiety ratcheted up sharply, earlier concern bleeding into complete panic. She was locking her muscles in place, but her eyes were jumping rapidly around the room, dancing from the sword to Aisha to what I presumed was Victor to the rest of the Empire Capes. She was alternating between holding her breath and breathing in shorty, frantic gasps.
There was a sense of motion that I was deliberately ignoring and Aisha shifted her attention towards Victor's direction. Fleet made some slight alterations to the alignment of his hand, no doubt keeping it on target for a single thrust that would… decapitate? Thank you Survey. That would remove most of Victor's upper body in such a way as to direct the bulk of the viscera out of the bar.
I honestly hadn't expected Fleet to be so considerate of cleaning costs.
Things were reaching a critical point. The dynamics of Victor's power and the strategy for diminishing it acted against any attempts to mediate the situation. In any other case things might have either boiled over or forced me to expose myself to skill theft. Fortunately, I had another option. One that was maintained as long as to the principles of protecting the helpless and holding life as sacred. For the second time since I had received the ability, Katsujinken activated.
"Fleet, stand down." I called out as I rose to my feet. "Kaiser should be given an opportunity to answer for this offense."
The armored man looked over the scene, then glanced towards the other groups in the bar. So far they had watched the spectacle in dead silence with expressions ranging from apprising to horrified. Coil's face was hidden from me and his body language was controlled, but I could tell he found the situation highly amusing. Kaiser turned and squared himself towards me. "That's is exceptionally presumptuous of you. And what offense would you be referring to that would be able to justify such an unprovoked assault?"
"An ongoing offense." I replied, gesturing in the direction of Victor. Katsujinken guaranteed a chance for dialogue and offered assurances that neither side would gain or lose advantage from engaging in discussion. It only lasted a short time, but if I could keep the discussion going past the effect of the power then the time limit became irrelevant.
Theoretically it would prevent any additional damage or loss from Victor's power, but I wasn't taking any chances. Banking on a negotiation power for exotic protections was a riskier strategy than I was comfortable with.
Kaiser managed to express shock and offense through his armor, something of a specialized skill. "You are insinuating that Victor has used his power on a member of your organization? A convenient accusation." He said, clearly speaking for the benefit of the room. "Useful for justifying the impertinent actions of inexperienced subordinates, and made without evidence of proof of any kind."
His voice felt slimy in its smugness. I frowned, causing him to hesitate, then noted a connection forming to the Knowledge constellation, causing him to freeze.
The mote was only mid-sized and paired with two smaller abilities but, as I had recently been reminded, mid-sized could still be significant. You couldn't disregard them just because they didn't turn the world inside out. The implications of this power were massive and far reaching, something that would require careful analysis and consideration, both of which I did not have any time for right now. What's more, one of the secondary abilities could potentially be disastrous in this situation.
I broke out of my contemplation as quickly as I could, kicking the analysis of Demigod Atelier over to my duplicates back in the workshop. Meanwhile I desperately hoped I could get through this faceoff without activating Imposing Declaration of Title, a power that basically stood as a version of Calling Card with no off switch.
I turned and called back to the group. "Survey?"
"At once." She smoothly rose to her feet and stepped towards the center of the room. Survey raised one of her hands and triggered the Element Zero nodes within her body. Carefully directed mass fields flowed out from her body, areas of energetic density shifting allowing wide scale and detailed displays through nothing but precise biotic control.
"The cape known as Victor propagates a reactive carrier waver dispersed through partially impregnated dimensional fabric anchored through feedback from perception centers. The effect is specific to memory engrams of cognitive neural structures, pairing a deterioration with data acquisition, generating the property that had been recognized as his 'skill theft' ability." She explained. In the air of the bar channels of holographic patterns shifted, fading in and out before snapping into shape. The specific shape displayed a three-dimensional projection of the flow of energy directed by Victor's passenger in real time, mapped directly to the affected space.
In other words, the abstract skill theft effect was suddenly highlighted in glowing mass effect holograms. While the other occupants of the bar had previously been happy to sit and watch, suddenly seeing the tendrils of light extending from Victor to each of their heads prompted immediate reaction.
"The effect is universal and indiscriminate," Survey continued, "with intensity factors dependent on proximity and engagement."
The other capes certainly didn't miss the way individual trails flared in intensity when they looked at Victor, then dampened as they turned away. They also quickly recognized how Victor's own perceptions caused individual links to surge in power. Where previously the face off had been between us and the Empire, the rest of the capes were quickly rounding on the new arrivals.
"This doesn't prove anything." Kaiser said quickly. Both of us could recognize he was on the back foot and losing ground. "A light show to cover for the failings of your own subordinates."
"No." The statement came from the Undersiders' booth where Tattletale was rising to her feet and showing just how commanding she could be in Garment's best work. "She's right. This is an exact map of how Victor's power is working." From the reaction of her and the rest of the Undersiders showed they were as comfortable with the visible reminder of Victor's power as anyone else.
"This doesn't concern you, girl." Kaiser said, wheeling on Tattletale. She just gestured to the trails leading to her and the rest of the Undersiders.
"I'm pretty sure this means it does." She replied, and for the first time in more than I week I saw that smug, foxlike grin. "You brought a cape with an indiscriminate attack to a neutral territory. It doesn't matter if it caught your own people as well." Tattletale noted the mapped trails of energy leading to the Empire capes including Kaiser himself. "This is a conscious assault and a treaty violation."
"That's not for you to decide." He attempted to counter.
A calm but firm voice came from the Elite's table. "And yet the effect persists." Uppercrust said, gesturing towards Victor. "For those of us not as fortunate as some of Apeiron's team, this is an intolerable state." He indicated towards the lack of effect tracing to Fleet, Survey, Tetra and the Matrix as well as the diminished trails to Aisha and Tybalt, with my own flickering in and out as I worked to keep my attention away from Victor. "One that must be remedied." With a gesture the three capes at his table rose to their feet, focused on the Empire's forces.
A wave of tension rippled through the bar. There was movement from Faultline's crew as they prepared for whatever was coming. Glances were exchanged between the Undersiders and I could feel the haze presence of Taylor's swarm through the Dragon's Pulse as it began to mobilize. I quickly assessed my options, checking them against Survey's scenarios and the output from Fleet's built in ZERO System.
"So, this is what's causing the holdup?" The sound of heels on the floor of the bar drew attention towards the door. Specifically, towards the two final members of the Empire contingent who had yet to enter. The smaller of the two, making herself scarce in the doorway and looking like she was considering the merits of running for safety, was recognizable by her green cloak lined with her namesake.
Rune may have been taking shelter by the door, but the final member of the Empire strode in with confidence that would have been misplaced from any other cape. To be fair, it was probably misplaced here, but significantly less so that it would have been coming from anyone else in the organization.
The woman had changed her costume, presumably to match the themes of her new organization, and looked cleaner and better groomed than most of her public appearances, but as an unmasked cape she was readily recognizable, even without considering the white hair.
Ashley Stillons, the Damsel of Distress, strode into Somer's Rock like she owned the place. Her outfit made her allegiance clear, seemingly intended to stylize Hugo Boss military designs. She wore a closely fitted officer's jacket that extended far enough to pass as a short dress. Beneath that sat leggings and high boots with more sensible heels than Survey or Aisha wore, but still more than most capes would risk in the field. Her long white hair flowed down from a peaked officer's cap. The costume was inverted from the traditional colors, white with black highlights, which served to compliment her hair and features.
Compliment and conceal. I could see that clearly, though I doubted anyone else save Tattletale picked up on it. The cut of the outfit was carefully designed to complement and fill out her rail thin figure. It attempted to play at elegance rather than desiccation and did a passable job of separating the image of the cape striding into the bar from the emaciated madwoman famous for rambling speeches and random violence.
She walked into the conflict zone with the indifference of someone with way too much cape experience behind them. She had an almost amused expression as she surveyed the explosive situation. Damsel paused by the standoff between Aisha and Othala. She placed a hand on Othala's shoulder, ignoring the flinch her touch elicited, and pulled her slightly back, away from the stationary sword.
She looked Aisha up and down before placing a finger on the flat of the blade and moving to push it away. Of course, it didn't budge. Aisha was in power armor and the sword was anchored to the suit. Meanwhile I would bet against Damsel of Distress if she was arm wrestling a five-year-old.
'Humor her.' I transmitted to Aisha. She showed no sign of receiving the message, but allowed Damsel to guide the sword out of her path and step forward towards Victor.
Survey's holographic mapping of his power created an unsettling effect when I actually allowed myself to look at the cape. Streams of energy snaked out towards every mind in the room, twisting around each other and pulsing as attention shifted to or away from him. Damsel noted the stream connected to her, then swept her gaze over the room full of angry capes, on both sides of the conflict.
"Victor, you seem to be upsetting people. Be a dear and go wait in the car." Without waiting for a response, she swept past him to take position alongside Kaiser and the other executives. There was a conflicted sensation from Kaiser as the impact of what had happened sank in, made even worse by how public it was.
Kaiser had just been given… well, not exactly an out, but at least a decent holding action that wouldn't see his faction jumped by four other teams. Okay, Coil didn't really count at the moment, and our group was probably a bit unbalancing in any calculation, but the point stood. And all Kaiser needed to do to take advantage of this blessing was acknowledge Damsel's authority within his inner circle.
Kaiser had somehow managed to recruit Damsel of Distress. Setting aside the difficulties associated with her grandstanding and unstable abilities, there was absolutely no question as to the strength of her power. The general consensus was you were lucky if anything was left. My own passenger was happy to chip in and confirm that yes, she fully earned her annihilator status. Not as strong as March, but not that far behind.
I didn't know what Kaiser needed to offer to get the notoriously insular cape onboard, but I understood why he had done it. Another ripple from my early appearances. Show that you're nearly invincible and people won't stand around attempting attacks they know will fail. They'll either work around you or find something that can have an effect.
Damsel of Distress was that for Kaiser, but it was clear she wasn't an enthusiastic recruit. There was a reason she had stayed independent, even beyond her own dangerous instability. She couldn't be bought for any conventional price. The only coin she would be willing to accept would be authority, and it would be the last thing Kaiser would be willing to part with.
If I had to guess I'd wager she'd been tucked away somewhere comfortable with toadies waiting on her to create a sense of authority. Rune's reluctance to enter the bar showed where she probably stood in this arrangement. The thing was, career capes were rarely stupid. The environment had a tendency to weed out anyone who couldn't handle themselves, unless they had a support structure protecting them. As an independent Damsel was on her own, but had survived, if not exactly thrived.
From the look on her face, it was clear she knew Kaiser's game and how legitimate any offers of power within the Empire actually were. With this move she had backed him into a corner. Either he publicly accepted her ability to command his subordinates, or he dove back into the standoff, only in a worse position since there would be an angry annihilator cape within blasting distance of him.
Kaiser signaled Victor without obviously signaling Victor and the thinker turned deferentially towards Damsel and nodded. "Of course." He turned to leave, pausing to give Othala a concerned glance before glaring at Aisha.
"What?" She asked, giving her lowered sword a slight flourish.
"You threatened my wife. Held a blade to her neck. I'm not going to forget that." The way his threat and glare was met with amusement caused no shortage of confusion and concern from the cape.
"Yeah, I wouldn't count on that." She snarked back, collapsing her sword back into the wrist of her armor. Victor gave her a bitter glance before turning to his wife once more before exiting the bar. At his passing the holographic representation of his power destabilized into a scattering of unfocused mass fields that quickly dissipated.
"Lethe!" I called to Aisha, who was still lording over Othala. "That's enough."
Aisha spun on the point of one of her heels before strutting back to our table, falling in place behind me. Upon hearing Aisha's cape name Othala's expression slowly shifted from confusion to horror as she stared wide eyed at Aisha's armored form.
"Well," Kaiser stated, looking over the aftermath. "With that done with, I trust we can resolve this matter in a reasonable manner?"
"Indeed." Uppercrust called out from his seat as the Forge missed a connection to the Magic constellation. The capes around him had yet to return to their chairs. "It is always wise to be reasonable when declaring war."
I could see Kaiser's posture stiffen. "I find it hard to believe you would wish for war with the Empire."
The older cape smiled. "With the Empire? No. A breach of this scale would require far more drastic action. The Empire and the Herren Clans?" He glanced towards Othala and Rune. Othala reacted as if struck while Rune was far more reserved in her reaction. Uppercrust panned his gaze towards Krieg. "And perhaps Gesellschaft as well."
"You can't be serious." Kaiser blustered.
"You have attacked under a flag of truce. If your allies will not disavow such action, then why should I exclude them?" He arched a hand and pressed his fingertips into the table as he leaned forward. A slight reaction from the edges of his personal forcefield and the surface cast flickering sparks that lit his face dramatically. "Or did you think you were dealing with a mere repair contingent? Four capes present out of curiosity and obligation? Or perhaps you are weighing your chances against the New York branch and the capes and resources at my disposal?"
A dark vitality seemed to enter the man's face and suddenly I understood the concern Flechette had expressed on Garment's behalf.
"You insult our hosts. You insult our guests. You insult the very concept of a peaceful summit. But most of all, you insult the Elite. Believe me, no matter our differences, Bastard Son himself would stand by my side against such an offense, as I would his." Uppercrust never raised his voice, but it carried through the icy silence of the bar like a knife.
While I didn't specifically disagree with any of Uppercrust's points, the objective, or at least my objective, for this summit was to secure a period of peace sufficient to allow the city to recover. Launching into another war with collateral damage and multiple fronts was not in anyone's interest.
Well, short term interests. I have no doubt that large sections of the city would be happy to see the Empire stamped out, no matter the immediate cost. While I would agree with the stamped-out part I at least wanted to be as surgical as possible and secure the aftermath, neither of which were likely in open war, to say nothing of how that would complicate things with Taylor, Coil, and the Undersiders.
"It is clear the Empire will need to answer for these actions." I stated, bringing the attention of the room back towards me. "And we are fortunate enough to be presented with an opportunity for them to do so. Peacefully." I added firmly.
I saw Faultline stir at my words and rub her chin in contemplation. "So, add Empire reparations to the summit topics?" I could see amusement in her stance as she turned towards Kaiser. "I think I might enjoy that."
"What are you suggesting?" Brian called from his position with the Undersiders. I had forgotten how his active power added an echoey character to his voice, making him nearly unrecognizable.
"This was an unfortunate event." It was a stupid event, buoyed by blind arrogance, but now was the time to be as diplomatic as possible. "But it would not serve to abandon the summit over a matter that can still be resolved. You have six aggrieved parties. If, and only if, terms can be set to appease ALL of them, then this matter can be overlooked." And if not then we get Empire stomping with the benefit of a united stabilizing influence. Of course, that influence would be primarily the Merchants and Coil, so call it a lateral move at best.
Speaking of the devil, Coil elected to finally weigh in on a situation that had merely served to amuse him thus far. "I'm sorry, but six parties?"
"Myself, The Elite, Faultline's Crew, The Undersiders, you," I shifted slightly to direct attention to the bar staff. "And our hosts, who were equally impacted by the events."
From the expressions of the family, I doubted they were happy to be dragged into the conflict, but the statement seemed to resonate with Uppercrust. "Of course, and most appropriate." He turned back towards Kaiser. "And I look forward to learning what the Empire believes a breach of truce to be worth."
And that was it. No consultation with Kaiser or request for a consensus from his organization. They would defend themselves at the summit, or they would face a combined reprisal. It might lead to the same place, but I would happily take the path that didn't lead to immediate bloodshed.
Instead, the leader of the Empire Eighty Eight was left seething in impotent rage, flanked by what had been considered the strongest force in the city. The momentum of their carefully constructed entrance was so thoroughly broken that you had to wonder what else could go wrong for them?
"And what kind of clusterfuck did we just stumble into?" Kaiser wheeled to the entrance to find himself greeted by the smirking face of Skidmark, standing flanked by what looked to be the Merchant's entire roster.
Was it cruel to give no hint of the Merchant's arrival when I had completely telegraphed Kaiser's entrance? Perhaps. Did I care? Definitely not. Was I content to leave the man inexpertly trading barbs with the most foul-mouthed cape in the city? Most certainly.
As Skidmark and Kaiser traded insults in an exchange that Skidmark definitely enjoyed more than Kaiser I made my way back to our table. Our large table. In fact, the largest one outside of what had been set up for the conference. And I noted the Empire, when they finally slinked off to their seats, were spread over two smaller tables and a booth.
Did we jack the Empire's seats? A glance at the bartenders gave no hint one way or another, but Kaiser seemed less than happy with his current placement. Though I had to admit, the entire room got substantially more bearable when Kayden slipped into the booth that was mostly shaded from the rest of the bar.
The Merchants had come with a larger contingent than anyone had expected. It was the result of their recruitments over the past week. A few of the new arrivals were recognizable, Trainwreck being well established, and Whirlygig and Slush having premiered prior to Thursday's attacks. They were joined by an older teen with glowing hair and eyes. Similar light bled from his mouth during the infrequent moments when he spoke. My passenger immediately latched on to him. Whoever the boy was, he was significant.
Survey was able to provide a report, once again from privileged PRT information. Encountered in the aftermath of the attacks, and looking to still be wearing the same clothes. Apparently going by Scrub, which caused my passenger to react even more strongly. Blaster with the seldom used 'nuker' designation, able to obliterate large sections of matter indiscriminately. No evidence of a Manton limit, and suspected annihilator.
And my passenger confirmed it. So, the Empire had an annihilator, the Merchants had an annihilator, and even the Wards had an annihilator. Well, considering the abilities present within my team we could probably count on a number of fronts. Survey's blast combination of high energy discharges, psionic energy, and warped spatial fabric would count by any reasonable definition.
Huh. Just going off of this room you had to wonder, was there a three for one sale on white haired annihilator capes at some point, or was that just part of the territory?
Enough joking. The summit was gearing up to start soon and I still needed to pick through a major power that had been burning in the back of my brain through the entire standoff.
Demigod Atelier. The ability to build technology that was powered by faith. Technically it was referred to as Mantra, but it was paired with the Mantra Generation power, which allowed any being with a soul to generate Mantra energy through prayer or emotion. I'm not sure if that power just made me aware of Mantra, or if it actually introduced the energy source to the universe somehow, but the implications were massive.
They were massive because of what could be accomplished with sufficient Mantra. Basically, get enough people praying and suddenly anything is possible. It was actually possible to channel Mantra directly into your body to enhance yourself to truly ludicrous levels of power.
Technically possible. Most people would barely be able to handle the Mantra energy of ten people praying without their body tearing itself apart. That was enough to bring you to peak human performance, but if you could handle it the scale went up to beyond planetary.
That was no joke. The highest levels of Mantra, as in the combined prayers of multiple worlds, could accomplish feats only seen with the most insane concentrations of spiral energy. Mantra itself was something like a bridge between spiritual energy and chi. My proficiency with both types of power, combined with an actual divine constitution, meant I could handle a significant amount of mantra without risk.
Of course, getting that amount of energy meant prayers. Which meant worship, which meant an actual cult. It was easy to get caught up in the power until you realized that it basically required you to start your own religion just to get things rolling.
'Good news, we've managed to get things rolling.' My duplicates transmitted. 'We are good to go on level 1 Mantra.'
I was very careful to not react on the level I dearly wanted to and instead responded with a simple transmitted 'WHAT!?'
'Okay, so the skulls were totally onboard for the idea of machinery powered by prayer.' The first duplicate responded. 'It's practically built into already, so they were nearly falling over themselves to help us set things up. Those songs are basically prayers anyway, so we just needed to set up some Mantra transmitters and capacitors and it's like we have our own church, all set up and ready.'
I sat in the bar holding my glass of middle grade whiskey and trying to process what they were saying. 'We started a cult. With the skulls?'
'I'm pretty sure the skulls were already in a sort of cult. We just, you know, took positions in it. Trust me, once they saw what we could make with tinker powers it was all 'Omnissiah' this and 'Machine God' that. There was barely anything for us to do. Hell, they insisted on the layout of the receivers themselves.'
I suppressed a sigh. 'Fine. Look, just don't lay down any commandments until I get back. I think we're about ready to start.'
'To interject, I do not believe that to be that case.' Survey communicated. I glanced over at her in confusion.
'Who else could be coming?'
Blasto. Blasto was coming. A Boston area crime lord and the poster boy for wet tinkering, at least after Lab Rat was put away, marched into Somer's Rock leading a small group of teenagers.
Okay, upon reviewing Survey's assessment it wasn't as impossible as it seemed. Uber and Leet had launched an attack against Lost Garden that had been badly overshadowed by the events in the city. Apparently Blasto had joined up with the group after getting kicked out of Boston, meaning you had a legendary bio-tinker, a career criminal with a half dozen names, and three barely recognizable teenage parahumans.
Barrow Rose was easily identified, having taken point on more than her share of 'away missions' for the group. The heavily muscled boy was Kudzu, or Kudzu the brute, not to be confused with Kudzu the duplicator from New York, or Kudzu the shaker from Florida, or the half dozen capes who had that word paired with some adjective.
Seriously, you had to wonder how there were any names left, much less conventional terms. I still have no idea how the local Protectorate managed to secure names as generic as Triumph, Gallant, and Aegis for Wards, of all people. Oh, right. Cape trademark law was a nightmare, and one I'm glad I won't have to deal with. Or, more specifically, won't bother dealing with. If anyone else was going by 'Apeiron' prior to Saturday afternoon I doubt there's any chance of confusion at this point.
The final member of Lost Garden was a girl with animated vines that appeared to be tattooed across her body. There were some scattered reports of her actions, mostly images of the tattoos spreading across surfaces and distorting the material in titanically destructive ways. High level shaker, but one without much press, at least not yet. She did pause and wave to Scrub, triggering a stunned reaction from the boy and confusion from the Merchant capes.
"They'll be here for Uber and Leet." I said, echoing what most of the room was thinking.
"Good luck on that." Aisha replied. "Half the city is looking for those idiots. The second they stick their heads up it'll be a race to see who can smack them down."
"If that is indeed the case, it is probable that Lost Garden could become a disruptive influence." Survey stated. I nodded in response.
"I don't know if they're going all out, or just want to make a statement, but if they can't they're going to find something else to occupy themselves." I glanced over at the table. "Something tells me they're not likely to be a stable influence."
"Can you say that about anyone here?" Tetra asked, looking around the bar.
I smiled back. "Probably not, but we can always hope." I said as I felt the forge connect to an overly familiar mote from the Quality combination. The combination of Minor Blessing and Unnatural skill, only for the first time, the blessing wasn't from a goddess.
It was from the god of death.
Well, god of the underworld, keeper of the dead. I had a minor blessing from Hades, the blessing of Ferrokinesis. That was a bit of a misnomer as it applied to all metals, not just iron. Hades was the god of the underworld and thus had dominion over all things found under the surface of the earth. All metals, precious and otherwise, were within his portfolio, and his blessing had granted me limited influence over them.
The thing was, with my skill, 'limited influence' wasn't that limiting. Divine detection and minor control of metal might be an insubstantial power if you were in a bronze age society, but when it came to advanced technology it was one of the most valuable abilities possible. The ability to directly control and understand the presence and structure of metallic compounds could be exploited on a level that was nearly unimaginable. Frankly, the only reason this wasn't groundbreaking was because I had so many other powers that already enhanced my work.
There was one thing that was completely unique to this ability. I was blessed by Hades, and specifically blessed regarding metals. As a result, I could wield Stygian iron. Not just work it, or modify it, but carry the zenith of metals to its full potential. I could feel Tybalt smiling at me from under his helmet and was certain there was some sword practice in my future.
The second ability was another iteration of Unnatural Skill, this time devoted to Music. Once again, I found myself wishing I had this a single day earlier. I hadn't done a bad job in singing to the unseen while creating Fleet, Survey, and the Matrix's forms, but it was nothing compared to what I could accomplish now. More than that, the skill extended to just about every supernatural application of music imaginable. I could entrance people, trigger emotions, trap them in illusions, or any number of other possibilities.
I was also, by default, an incredible musician. It was like the boost I had received with Serene Sinatra, only a thousand times stronger. It almost made me want to track down my old violin, even if it meant dealing with my parents.
I wonder, would just teleporting it out of the house count as sensible conflict avoidance, or was it an indication I was avoiding something I needed to confront?
'A delivery has arrived at the rear alley entrance of the bar.' Survey conveyed silently, jogging me out of my thoughts. A text message vibrated on one of the bartender's phones. He glanced at it, then disappeared into the back, quickly returning with a small carton that he was handling carefully. His brother gave him a concerned look, then glanced towards us.
The bartender poured the red liquid into a glass, then placed it on a tray for the waitress. She gave it a critical look, then carefully brought it to our table. Tetra followed her movements in a way that seemed to unnerve her to no end. Still, she pushed through and carefully placed the glass in front of Tetra.
I nodded in thanks as the waitress quickly retreated. We seemed to have become the center of attention once again, with half the room watching as Tetra lifted the glass to her mouth and took a sip.
Her fur flared bright red at the contact, the pattern flickering through her coat as the fibers absorbed the energy. Despite the obvious reaction Tetra seemed a bit off.
"What's wrong?" I asked as she took another sip of blood.
"I don't know." She said silently before taking another drink. "It's good, but I guess I was expecting it to be better?"
I smiled down at her. "Of course, it's not as good as mine." I said.
"Yeah, I guess. And it was nice of them to get it for me." She said happily, swishing her tail as she worked through the drink. An alert from Aisha drew my attention back to the room where I was greeted by a crowd of shocked faces. It seemed like it was more of a show than I anticipated. Oh well. The time was getting close, and hopefully we were at the end of surprises.
'Additional arrivals.' Survey announced, and the Dragonslayers walked in the door.
More specifically, two and a half Dragonslayers walked in. It was two actual members and an empty suit that was being somewhat inexpertly piloted. They wanted to give the appearance of their full attention while keeping a team member in reserve.
Saint took a seat in stolen, salvaged armor and ignored the reactions that were being directed his way. Some people would think he had no place at a summit like this because he wasn't a parahuman. I didn't hold that against him. I didn't need to. I had more than enough reasons already.
The Dragonslayers and Saint in particular were related to Dragon's mastering. I didn't know the details, but I knew it was very closely connected. And now they were here. Possibly deployed to the city in an effort to counter Dragon, but I doubted it. I keyed to Dragon's condition, she's forced to act on that, and then the people at least partially responsible move to the same city?
Not buying it. Not at all. I was able to conceal my reaction, but honestly, if anyone was going to cause me to break the truce it would be that man sitting across the bar. I couldn't imagine a worse existential threat to the city.
And then one walked through the door.
A man in a top hat should not be giving off apocalypse vibes. The arrival of the Travelers, a minor mercenary cape team, was unexpected, but not unprecedented when you considered their modus operandi. Currently the city was either the best or worst place for a cape to set up, depending on the kind of work they were capable of and willing to do. It wasn't exactly a prime location for a team like the Travelers, but it was reasonable to assume they had arrived before things had completely gone to hell.
But I wasn't focused on the logistics of their arrival. I was more concerned with the warning bells being supplied regarding the four capes. Well, the three capes and a projection. That might be skirting the rules of the summit, but I doubt anyone would complain after the precedent set by Victor.
The Travelers were bad news. There was something terrible connected to them. It was a complicated terrible, one with a twisted mix of emotions in it, but that didn't change the terrible, or what could happen if things went wrong.
Tattletale knew something. She was concealing it well, but she reacted when the team entered, at least emotionally. This was serious. Serious enough that I needed to handle it very carefully. As if the situation wasn't complicated enough already.
The Time constellation passed as the Travelers were served their drinks and the waitress and staff retreated as far from the main table as possible. As if a signal, the leaders of various factions began to rise and make their way over.
It was time, the summit was about to begin.
Addendum Uppercrust
Uppercrust sank into a chair at a relatively central location at the main table. He restrained himself from displaying the relief he felt as he was able to sit, just as he had concealed the strain of the walk. His last healing session was seeming more and more distant each day, the consequence of a packed schedule.
But it was worth it. Among the crowd of gang bosses and minor warlords, Apeiron strode towards the table. Just seeing the man move, there could be no questioning the presence of some form of image regulating power. It was the kind of minor boon that showed up rarely, but could end up defining a cape's career. What would Apeiron be without his showmanship?
Well, a terrifyingly powerful tinker, but not the media sensation he had become through effortless grace displayed through a scant handful of appearances. The man took a seat at the table and Uppercrust had to keep himself from launching immediately into a pitch. These things needed to be played correctly and swarming the man wasn't the way to do it.
He could already recognize the hungry looking in the other attendees. People with limited local interests appearing at a meeting to decide the future of the city. And yes, he fell into that category, but he maintained a better reasoning for his presence than whatever Saint was using to justify chasing Dragon.
It was the leader of the Travelers who concerned him the most. He recognized the restrained behavior, contained desperation dressed up as professionalism. He saw it in the mirror each morning. Trickster wanted something from Apeiron, and it was a serious matter.
And the tinker was unlikely to indulge him. Once again, he was restraining himself, but Uppercrust could pick up on the signs, if just by contrast. A slight difference in the regard for someone like Blasto, compared to Trickster. Or Saint. The reaction to Saint was a touch less subtle, though the man himself hadn't seemed to recognize it yet. Perhaps there was something to the rumors about the reason for Dragon's 'pursuit'.
Perhaps, but that would be a matter for another day. Apeiron had managed to avoid a well justified bloodbath, and in the process saved the summit. He was clearly committed in his objectives, and it would do good to help see them through. Also, seeing Kaiser attempt to bargain his way out of a blunder like that would be amusing to no end.
One by one the leaders of the city's powers sat themselves at the table. Uppercrust rested his hands on the surface and leaned forward slightly. In any other case he would have put money on Kaiser trying to lead the summit, but after that mess he would be playing defense. There was a good chance Coil would attempt to step in. That is, unless someone else seized the initiative.
"Welcome to all of you." Uppercrust began as the last member of the summit, the Merchant leader, seated himself. "As many of you know, I am Uppercrust, leader of the New York branch of the Elite, currently in the city to see to the state of the coastal defenses." From a few scattered reactions it was clear ulterior motives were suspected. They were right, though probably off the mark in terms of his objectives. "To start with, I wish to state that I have no interest in local concerns, territory, of any stake in control of the city."
"So you say." Kaiser cut in. Afterall, playing defense involved undermining other positions.
"While I'm sure your operations are prosperous, and prove to be more so in the absence of the ABB, I have my own commitments and lucrative opportunities that are, shall we say, less contentious. If you doubt my motives, please at least trust my greed. There is more money for me outside the city than from any involvement in it."
That seemed to resonate on a more believable level amongst the assembled capes. It wasn't complete trust, and in this world it shouldn't be, but it was a good start.
"As my only interest is the stability of the city during the course of my work, I would like to offer to chair this summit, as an impartial party." He glanced at Kaiser. "Unless there are any objections?"
None materialized, allowing him to proceed to his next point. "Given the size of this summit," No exaggeration there. The bar was packed with capes. A dangerous situation in any other case and a risky one even with the truce. "I believe a round of introductions would be advisable, identifying your group and who you represent."
Before anyone could comment, Skidmark launched forward. "Skidmark." He smiled, displaying a disturbing lack of several teeth. "Head and honcho of the Archer's Bridge Merchants, on the rise and not stopping!"
Kaiser evidently realized that his choices were either going second to Skidmark or taking a place even further down the line. "Kaiser. Leader of the Empire Eighty Eight." He delivered it with as much dignity as possible, but the sting from the earlier encounter was still fresh in the group's mind. The man would be playing at a disadvantage for the foreseeable future.
"Faultline, representing my own crew." The woman in the welding mask stated simply.
"Grue, speaking for the Undersiders." The darkness wreathed man spoke in an echoey voice that drew attention to the workmanship of his mask and costume. More of Apeiron's work, and more evidence of near limitless skill.
"Coil." The thin man said in an oily voice. "I speak for myself."
"Blasto, formerly of Boston, now representing Barrow of Lost Garden." The plant tinker said, his moss-covered mask twitching with each of his words. Apparently the rumors of his departure and relocation were true, and now a potential complication.
"Saint, for the Dragonslayers." The armored man said, missing the slight glance Apeiron directed his way.
"Trickster, of the Travelers." The boy also missed Apeiron's reaction. Honestly, Uppercrust would have as well, if not for how unnaturally perfect every other aspect of his presentation was. You could apparently only recognize when Apeiron was put off by a drop from perfect to merely exquisite.
And then there was only one left. The table rounded on Apeiron, questions burning in every mind. The existence of his team, the newly displayed abilities, his potential objectives. Everyone wanted to know. It started here. How would he introduce himself? Who was his team?
"Apeiron." The man said smoothly, and glanced towards the table of his companions. "Leader of the Celestial Forge."
Jumpchain abilities this chapter:
Demigod Atelier (Asura's Wrath) 400:
You know the secret science of Mantra technology, and can build custom devices that are powered by prayer or emotion. Further, you can enhance or upgrade items from other jumps to use this same power source. If you take Cyborg Hindu Godbody, you may construct Demigod cybernetics for other people. After the jump concludes, you may also build Mantra Reactors. Demigod Atelier allows you to create any mantra powered or integrated device, up to and including the vast fleets of Shinkoku Tratstrium, the heavenly vessels of the divine armies, and even the anti Gohma platform Brahmastra. The latter however would require millennia of effort, and was never completed even in the scope of the original setting.
Mantra Generation (Asura's Wrath) Free:
A being with a soul (you do have a soul, right?) can generate Mantra by prayer or feeling emotion. This mantra can be utilized by devices powered by Mantra Technology, or the Demigods of Shinkoku Trastrium.
Imposing Declaration of Title (Asura's Wrath) Free:
Whenever you do something dramatic or just something really badass, perception of you changes for a split second. Observers see the title or high concept description of your current state or action as awesome block characters superimposed on their vision. This applies to named attacks/combat maneuvers, legendary weapons, companions and so on.
Minor Blessing Hades - Ferrokinesis (Percy Jackson) 100:
For one reason or another you've got a god who cares slightly about you and has seen fit to grant you some minor boon within their domains. Choose one god from any pantheon and gain a minor boon from them. The god will care slightly about you but unless you go on to further distinguish yourself it will be more of a minor interest in your affairs than someone they feel the need to help (Effectively think a diminished version of one ability a demigod might have, think minor ones are stuff along the lines of breathing water, lucid dreaming, or appropriate vague extra senses, useful but nothing especially major). This can be taken multiple times.
Unnatural Skill: Music (Percy Jackson) 200:
Whether from your heritage or just being that good you've got one particular mundane skill that your feats with border on supernatural. Whether you're a smith on the level of the Cyclopses, a near prescient tactician or a swordsman who is ny unstoppable with a blade your feats will be legendary. You are on a level within your skill such that only other beings of legend can hope to match you. This may be taken multiple times. You may not choose magic but you may choose a particular application of magic if you have it already (so curses, enchanting might work, more specific gets a bigger boost)