HERO or VILLAIN
"Okay that was... They were the children."
"Excuse me?"
"Lung he was talking of killing kids. It was them he meant."
They are older but still younglings."
"Sort of." Skye nodded and looked down at the still unconscious Lung.
"Come, Fire Bee, I'll help you to the ground if you like." Skye offered her hand and she felt Taylor begin to wonder.
"Why did y... aah!" Skye took her distraction to pull her off the edge. She had her wrapped in the Force and they landed lightly, but she still stumbled. Then she pulled away and went to hit my arm which I dodged away from. Had she hit my armor it would have hurt her hand.
"You have telekinetic powers?"
"I do. The Force lets me do many things that a normal sentient cannot."
"I think Fire bug is taken." Skye ignored her as she took off her helm just before she took a knee next to the unconscious form of Lung.
"I wouldn't get too close to him." Taylor backed up farther to lean against a fire hydrant as the sound of a vehicle came closer.
"He is no longer a threat. I put him deeper into a healing trance for which he will not wake for half a day."
"You're healing him?! He is a villain." The bike rumbled to a stop drawing both their attention.
You going to fight me?" He hefted a halberd in such a way to show he was ready to take both of us on.
"I'm a good guy." Taylor blurted out a sense of her being offended came through the Force.
"You don't look like one, but I have not heard anything bad about your partner here."
"That's... Not intentional. I was more than halfway done when it started to look too edgy."
"The armor plate could be painted over, and the fabric dyed a lighter color."
"You're telling the truth and a very good suggestion from, Knight Skye, is it?"
"Yes, and if I have learned correctly, you are Armsmaster, a tinker, yes?"
"I am. Been meaning to talk to you. You are both new faces. What is your name?"
"I don't have one."
"I suggested Fire Bee. The other girl called her Bug." Armsmaster looked to be thinking that one over.
"I guess that one might work, but I think it is taken. You have no idea how hard it is to come up with a bug themed name and not sound like a villain or a dork." He chuckled which countered with how he was not comfortable. His pause allowed him to relax a tiny bit as his focus was taken up by the heavy breathing of Lung.
"I wouldn't know. Not many people were named capes back when I started. I didn't have to worry about missing out on all of the good names."
"I almost died." It was the shock that followed as she fully took in the possibility that could have happened. "But Skye stepped in."
"That is why we have the Ward program." His statement was something he knew as a basic fact.
"I am not a child, nor do I feel that I need to parade in front of a camera."
"You look fourteen."
"My species' genetic background take longer to physically mature. By your system's calendar I am well past the age of eighteen."
"You going to take Lung?" I felt the deflection Taylor wanted.
"I should tranquilize him, so he won't wake up."
"He will not wake unless I tell him to or until twelve hours have passed."
"I am not going to take your word for it." He moved to take a vial from one of his pouches.
"Put tranquilizers in him and I will have to wake him, or he will die." Armsmaster paused before his lips grew into a fine line.
"You speak the truth. I am still going to tie him up with titanium cables."
"Good," I said, "With him in jail, I'll feel like I accomplished something today. Only reason I started the fight was because I overheard him telling his men to shoot some kids. Only to realize later that he was talking about other villains." Armsmaster turned to look at Taylor as his wariness heightened.
"They did not feel like villains. They felt different then Mush, Squealer, and Lung. In fact, their leader gives me the same feeling in the Force as you do." The Force hinted he was surprised by that. Taylor then told him of the fight from her perspective and I added mine. I felt he was more surprised that we both revealed so much about what we did and that Tattletale knew he was coming.
"These guys. They knew I was coming?" I pushed out with the Force to check the area. I was not getting any warning from the Force as the two of them talked. It was some time before my attention was brought back into the conversation. Missing what had been said in the meantime.
"That a girl," he said, "And while we're looking forward, we need to decide where we go from here." The pause he made was measure and deliberate.
"Who gets the credit for Lung?" I looked to Taylor as she felt completely taken by surprise.
"Hear me out. What you've done tonight is spectacular. You played a part in getting a major villain into custody. You just need to consider the consequences."
"Consequences," She muttered.
"Lung has an extensive gang throughout Brockton Bay and neighboring cities. More than that, he has two super powered flunkies. Oni Lee and Bakuda."
"I know about Oni Lee, and Grue mentioned fighting him. I've never heard of Bakuda." Taylor stated as Armsmaster nodded.
"Not surprising. She's new. What we know about her is limited. She made her first appearance and demonstration of her powers by way of a drawn-out terrorism campaign against Cornell University. Lung apparently recruited her and brought her to Brockton Bay after her plans were foiled by the New York Protectorate. This is… something of a concern."
"What are her powers?" Taylor asked.
"She is a tinker like I am, but she specializes in bombs?" He paused long enough for that to sink in.
"Now I want you to consider the danger involved in taking the credit for Lung's capture. Without a doubt, Oni Lee and Bakuda will be looking to accomplish two goals. Freeing their boss and getting vengeance on the one responsible. I suspect you're now aware… these are scary people. Scarier in some ways than their boss."
"You're saying I shouldn't take the credit," Taylor said to confirm.
"I'm saying you have two options. Option one is to join the Wards, where you'll have support and protection in the event of an altercation. Option two is to keep your head down. Don't take the credit. Fly under the radar."
"Please keep my involvement in Lung's capture secret." She told him and I could feel the disappointment but also her realization that even with his eagerness to take credit, she would be in danger. He looked to me as my small smile took his away.
"Normally as a Jedi I would not be bothered with who gained credit for bringing a criminal in, but I feel your eagerness will be your downfall. I also will remain with you until Lung is properly secured."
"Now that..."
"Just in case you decide to inject those drugs into him against my caution. Second, I am more than capable of handling a person that specializes in bombs as I have fought my share of Mandalorians. Warriors that would take you out before you even knew they were there. Third, I planned on taking out the ABB in the next several days."
"The ABB is nothing like the Merchants."
"Perhaps, but they are only human."
"So are you."
"Not fully and I have the Force as my ally."
"Fine, but let's continue this discussion later. Your unique situation should not be talked about in the middle of the street."
"Very well." Skye turned to Taylor and touched her shoulder letting the Force flow through her. She had a few bruises, but they will heal on their own.
"Be safe on the way home and may the Force be with you."
"Okay, thanks again." She suddenly hugged Skye and it ended quickly as armor is not very huggable. Skye and Armsmaster watched as Taylor vanished around a corner with a swarm of bugs following after her.
"Okay that is creepy."
I have seen worse, and not because a person has control of them. Maraca sting beetles will swarm their prey, and each will sting their victim several times before it starts to eat them. They can stripe a Nerf cow clean in less than an hour."
"What is a Nerf cow?"
"An animal similar to your cattle."
The reaction was well worth it, and it kept the man silent for the time we waited for transportation. Several hours past and Skye was not liking how in efficient they were being. Many of the precautions they were taking made no sense and they were near panic every time Skye had to stop him from adding a sedative. Armsmaster was the only reason they did not do so which I felt he was really nervous about, but after I talked with the doctor, I saw his eyes get as round as they could get as the doctor went white as a ghost before screaming for several different doses of antivenom.
Then there was the after-action review with full video. Then an interview where they tried everything to get me to join the Wards and even in the end agreeing with my stated age to join the Protectorate. I told them I would meditate on it. Though Director Emily Piggot did not leave me with a good impression. However, I could feel her pain and how sick she was. I do not normally shake someones hand as it is considered rude on 57% of the planets you could visit, but in her case, I really needed a better feel for what was wrong. That went well until I took away her pain and invigorated her body at the same time. I could do nothing for her absence of kidneys, but I could heal her eventually.
That she got mad, infuriated was strange until the Force revealed much more behind her rage. For one to go through so much betrayal was even frightening to me. Not that I knew what had happened, but I was sure I could find out in time. She did not like it when I told her she should not let her fear cause her death, nor did she like my lie that she was going to die in less than a month if she did not have new kidneys. It was true from a certain point of view. I walked away hearer her screaming something about Panacea. It was the moment I needed to walk out of the PRT HQ and make my way back across the city.
I shut down an ABB drug house on the way back to the Warehouse. I had to use extension cords to tie them all up to the trees in front of the ruined home. Setting it on fire would have been optimum, but it was too close to other houses. I left before the first police car could screech to a halt. At least they were learning as I passed a dark blue bus heading in the same direction.
I caught Taylor during my run in the morning. She did not speak to me, and I didn't not push as I was myself meditating as we ran. I picked up with her a few blocks from her home and left her nearly in the same spot. I felt her surprise as I doubled my pace as she was fighting for air. I wondered if I should boost her muscles like we are taught. I had never done it before to someone else, but I had rarely ever suffered tired muscles once I learned the techniques.
Food shopping was a pain and if it was not for this old man who had a van, I doubted I would have been able to get much. He talked mostly about his church, and I did find it fascinating as most origin planetary religions. I had found more things about several religions and having three with nearly the same origin was interesting. The Asian ones like Hindu, Buddhism, and Shinto had many similarities to Jedi practices. A few of the local kids came in to help plus several older ladies from Harold's church group. Harold was nice and so were the ladies, but they were confusing.
Offering up on of their grandchildren for me to date. Truly odd, but not as odd as them wanting me to wear a dress with no function. I could see fining a dress for a mating ritual or one that is designed for a style of dance. However, a dress that restricted your movement and did provide a defense capacity was just silly. My cloak provided warmth and my tunics full range of motion with any of my limbs or exercises and my armor did the same with being protection against fire, explosions, and environmental concerns. By mid-day everything was made, and we were handing out meals as a line ran out the door.
"Good afternoon."
"Afternoon, here is a meal. Enjoy." I handed the young man a paper bag full of several sandwiches fruit, vegetables and a water bottle. He looked clean and the Force then told me more. I could feel the duality of his mind that I had seen with every cape I had met so far.
"If you like we take donations. All proceeds go right back into making more meals."
"Ya I can." He pulled out a twenty and tried to hand it to me.
"The box is over there." He looked at it and I had a feeling he was not here for that.
"Betty take my place please."
"What a handsome young man. A bit old for you my dear. Be care full."
"Betty, I told you how old I am. I doubt he is not old for me. That is if I ever thought to mate with someone."
"Child watch your tongue. The word is date or dating. Mate means you only want sex." Nancy added.
"If I was younger..." Mildred started to say as the other two cut her off.
"Hush you." All three of them started to cackle. So strange. I looked at the man and he was quite embarrassed. I waved him to come into the back as it was fairly out of the way, but place was safe from the ears of those ladies.
"I can feel you are different and coming here without a mask means you are willing to trust me in some way."
"I just want to let you know that um, we ah, don't want to fight you. We saw what you did to Mush, and we heard you took down Lung with the help of another new cape and well you are scary."
"Who are you?"
COOPERATION
"I go by the name of Uber." He leaned in close, so he could whisper. Several thoughts went through my mind as the name brought up several videos. Most were labeled as teaser trailers to get you to pay to see the entire video. Not having a means of paying allowed me to only see the highlights, but it was enough along with the Force to know these guys were not nice men. They were minor criminals at best and a tragedy waiting to happen when they actually killed someone. However, the human male in front of me felt off. He was guilty that I could feel, but his mind was split. The part I felt was what gave them powers was not happy, but that was not the right word. He felt as if he was being pushed into a corner and they had just escalated over time to doing bigger crimes and some turning out to being despicable.
"Turn yourselves in. I may not ever decide to fight you, but it is simple. I am a Jedi, and I will defend those who cannot. I would like to leave this planet, but it is the will of the Force that I am here. To that end I have decided to clean up this city. ABM is gone and with Lung captured I will take out the ABB."
"Oh, that is not good. I mean sure taking to stopping crime is good I guess but you are creating a power vacuum. Without the ABB the E88 will expand and gain more power as they can hold off the Protectorate. I may be a bad guy and all that, but E88 will go after you, and you were really easy to find." Skye searched him with the Force and found that their base was not that far from her warehouse. She never really attempted to hide who she was, but where she slept was a necessary secret. It would not be hard to move, but there were no other places that could house her fighter so conveniently.
"What do you want?" She was searching his surface thoughts and slipped in deeper as he started to think several things at once. The ideas came and went, and some felt very dark and other not so, but the overall feeling was he wanted her to buy their silence.
"You could..."
"I have money, but I doubt it would keep you silent, but I do know a better way." His fear skyrocketed as she shook her head. "You misunderstand."
"Now you got me thinking this was a big mistake."
"Oh, it was a mistake, but one I think you can walk away from." His fear calmed slightly, but her words were not reassuring.
"Okay right so. Let's just drop it, and I'll make sure I forget."
"I don't want you to forget. Come to my lair as you would call it. Tonight, and bring your partner, L 33 t as he is called."
"Leet the threes are just how we spell it."
"Right. This is what is going to happen." She pushed the Force into his mind. "You are never going to tell anyone where I sleep. You will bring Leet to me and we will discuss how you will help me."
"Right not tell anyone bring Leet. What time?" She felt the Force suggestion was settled. She did not like using it, but it was an effective enough tool with those that could help but are not to be trusted and it would not hurt them.
"Eight PM central time. Bring your own food and drink. Do not let anyone follow. If someone is do not come." He nodded and rushed out the door. The three ladies laughed in a strange way as he rushed by him. Skye walked out and let the Force expand around her.
"Forget him and anything you heard him say." The Force did not like that, but she knew the women had listened and they would talk, and someone could hear. He had brought up something that she had overlooked. Though it was possible that her taking out the ABB would be considered an opportunity to expand. It was not that hard to change it up a bit. Take out a few E88 locations as she was taking out the ABB. This would speed things up, and leave opening or slow her goal down to take longer. She needed to meditate on it perhaps the Force would provide a better solution. Hours passed and the last meal was given out. A few honest residents came in for healing mixed in with some she would call criminals as their injuries were from fighting. Nothing too serious, but she did suggest one go to a hospital as she had not the time to heal them properly.
Once she goes back to her warehouse, she moved things around and got the fighter ready to leave. The extra items she could come back for, but it was all determined on how well her suggestions would hold. There was also a chance that Leet would resist and that would require more effort to resolve this peacefully. What they presented was an opportunity to gain allies ones that she may need if for nothing more than informants. If the authorities were not willing like the Protectorate and unable like the BBPD then she would find others who could.
Fifteen minutes before eight she felt them get closer. She recognized Uber through the Force as she examined Leet. She was using moving meditation as they sent their flying camera over the edge of the roof, and I ignored it as it spun around. Then I heard Ayfour whistle, and his drones flew up to the flank the camera.