Seeing that hair waving out the back of the villain's costume and standing next to Saber who held a pink tinted blade similar to the one Skye had, left little doubt. It may have been a long shot of a guess, but it also lined up with the fact that his daughter had been missing since Wednesday and she had singed hair Monday morning.
Danny sank down into his chair as the realization that his daughter was most likely a cape was not as bad as the fact, she had fought the monster named Lung. A name that had terrorized the city for years. His little owl fought him. She fought him and survived. A twisted sense of pride penetrated the fear that he was feeling for his little girl.
He jerked awake when he heard a noise in the kitchen. He glanced over and saw a blurred figure. He looked around for his glasses and found them putting them in place as fast as he could. He gasped which made the figure in the kitchen turn around. It was Taylor and he froze not knowing what he should say or what her could do. He was fighting joy and anger at the same time relief washed over him. He needed a distraction, so he glanced to the clock.
Had he really fallen asleep? It had just been the noon report, but now it was nearly eight in the evening. Taylor was smiling as she was suddenly in front of him with a steaming cup which once her inhaled told him it was his favorite tea. Okay one sip then he needed to lay down the law.
He took that sip and realized this was not his tea. Sure, it smelled the same and the taste was similar, but the tiny particles that were mixed in told him it was loose tea and not just that but a tea from a certain shop that was deep in the Asian area of the Bay and controlled tightly by the ABB. He took another sip to confirm this, and he carefully put the cup down on his end table before shifting back into a fully upright position.
"You have a lot of explaining to do, kiddo." She suddenly hugged him nearly made him lose his conviction and forgive her right there. However, getting a hug from Taylor was like winning the lottery. You had to hold on to the feeling for as long as it lasted. Then she snorted before pulling back with a smile and a look in her eye. His little owl was happy. He had to blink to clear the dust that got in his eyes. The smile leveled out as she picked up his tea and handed it to him again. She made no attempt to leave his lap. This was not the daughter he had for going on two years.
"I saw the TV when I looked through the window to check on you and seeing it frozen on Skitter made me realize that I did not have to hide anymore."
"But you're a villain."
"Under cover well not really, but it is hard to explain."
"We have all night."
"Maybe for you but I have been up all day after not sleeping so well. I made you dinner. I figured you would be hungry."
"Taylor stop deflecting."
"Dad I am not. Okay I am Fire Bee or Skitter. I really don't like either of the names. What you have to realize is this is my life now. I can't stop so don't ask me too."
"My daughter, my little owl is breaking the law and I can't ask you to stop. You could get arrested sent to the birdcage or worse killed."
"Dad, I know and that almost happened last night, but I want to do good and being where I am is or was what I thought I needed to do to bring in the Undersiders to make them answer for their crimes, but we are a team. I maybe the newest member, but we work well together."
"They are still criminals."
"Yes and no." He wanted to yell to scream to do anything to make her realize it was wrong. Yet, she was acting like the girl he lost when Annette was taken from them and not the shell that she reflected how he was feeling. How lost and to be honest defeated. He could not argue with this happy looking version of Taylor, and he did not want the bubble to burst.
"Can you let me up?" It hurt to ask it and she did not look willing to move but she did. He stood secured his teacup and wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her to the kitchen.
"So, you know I told you and I am so relieved that you have not blown up." He chuckled before kissing her forehead.
"Let's not talk about anyone being blown up. Let's eat as you tell me about your friends."
"Okay."
IMBALANCE
Nearly a week had gone by and it had been busy. Every gang member North of Archer's Bridge was run off or in jail. Every raid recorded. The time effect took four days to fade away and the effects over the self-storage area took nearly six days and became a temporary tourist location that the PRT and the BBPD complained about. Oni Lee was just not a leader and it showed as the ABB fell apart in short order. Any new gang that tried to do more then sell a bit of pot was discovered.
Oni Lee was handed over to the PRT by a pair of independent capes after it was called in with a silk mask that blinded him but did not stop the tears. As he was moved to the holding vehicle he was crying in relief. Later that day a video appeared on Uber and Leet's channel of the fight, but only in the beginning did anyone see anything.
Oni Lee opened with his teleportation and exploding only to set off a flashbang and a smoke grenade in nearly every location that he teleported to. Then there was the massive swarm of bugs and the areas of darkness. The rest of the video was more smoke and bright flashes. Then the smoke clears to the end result. An area that before had been fine if a bit run down was littered with the results of the battle. Gang members that had gotten in the way were moaning of to the sides or not moving at all.
Hellhound's beasts circled the out part of the battlefield as the snitch flew in closer passing Hellhound along the way to reveal Oni Lee on his knees being blindfolded by Skitter. Regent held his hand in the air showing he had control of the villain. Grue stood off to the side with a rifle in his arm with Tattletale on the opposite him. Opposite of Regent who added a purple sash to his outfit was a female in a dark gray body suit and a black devil mask with purple horns the same shade as on Tattletale's costume.
Skitter had the most changes to her costume. Her mask was still nearly black with yellow lens. The formerly black on black was changed to orange armor and yellow body suit with a white cape with a purple border running around it that dropped to her elbows. Another cloth ran for her waste to the back of her knees but could not be called a skirt as it did not cover the front.
The same color pattern of all white and a purple border. It was hard to tell these changes until her swarm lifted off her costume and flew out of the way of the camera. The waist cape had a distinctive Bee that was surrounded by fire. As the snitch moved in for a close up the same burning bee was in the corner of the cape that surrounded her shoulders.
However, as striking as that group pose was it was on an open parking lot. Mixed into the damage was a vine cover asphalt that the snitch picked up in a vertigo inducing flight as it ran a foot off the ground to another pair of capes.
One wore black with gold armor and another with a caduceus mask surrounding her eyes. Her hair blue in the wind but different from the flowing golden tresses of the taller cape next to her with a riot of color as her hair reflected the rainbow. Each had a strip of purple cloth on their costume. From both her hands ran thick stalks of the very same vines that covered the ground. The snitch moved on to show that many of the ABB members were wrapped up in the various vines.
The snitch flew up and then back down onto another group that had what looked like five members. Three in full body armor, a cyborg of some type and multiple armed, cylinder with a hologram of another in a concealing cloak. Each had a token stripe of fabric that was purple. One held their arm out and the snitch landed before the video cut to its credits.
"That was the video. I am Uber."
"And I am Leet. Click to subscribe if you are not watching the full video. Let us know on PHO how you liked or disliked the video."
"As with our last video we would like to give a shout out for you to look into the games featured in the videos. This one is dedicated to the superhero version of street fighter." Aegis lifted the remote and turned off the TV before his eyes joined the others in staring at Glory Girl and Panacea. They were both wearing new costumes.
Victoria's costume was still somewhat similar to the pattern New Wave had established but gone was the White primary color with gold accents. Her white and gold skirted costume was switched for one that was an all black full body outfit with gold armor protecting her torso with a skirt of overlapped banding. Golden claws on her fingers and spikes on her knuckles. The accents on the costume reflected part of her original costume. The mask hung around her neck with a mirror surface. The purple cloth that missing.
Amelia's costume was lilac with white fingerless gloves and boots with black knee and shin guards. Her arms were covered in dark green bracers and a spade that acted as an elbow guard but was bladed to use as a weapon the same with the top of her knee pads having spikes. On closer inspection the lilac was the actual flowers with delicate vines going from flower to flower. Her mask was a caduceus with its wings spread over her eye and the twisted snakes running part way down her nose to have the tails run along the bottom part of the mask along her cheek bones and over her ears to disappear in the rainbow color of her formerly red hair.
"Glory Girl and Panacea would you care to explain to the Wards and to the Protectorate what that was?" Kid Win asked. Victoria scoffed as she shook her head. Everyone felt her aura flickering on and off. Gallant could be seen cringing as his power amplified what her aura did. Everyone else was reminded that she did have an aura one that was previously ignore as it was an accepted part of her.
Amelia stepped forward and put her hand on her hip. Gone was the shy acting healer that they knew. Gone was the bags under her eyes and the general appearance of exhaustion and borderline depression. The smirk was still faked and more for the attitude she wanted to present. The swing she put in her legs drew attention to her slim body no longer hidden by her former flowing robes that in all reality had been a modified burka.
"Was the video not plain enough of a description? Do we have to give a step-by-step report of everything that went into capturing Oni Lee?"
"Ames a bit much."
"So? Vicky, I really don't care. I am tired of being seen as the little passive wretch I used to be."
"We are not asking about that, Amy." Aegis said as he went to sit down.
"Amelia Lavere or Foliage, not Amy or Panacea or Miss Dallon." Foliage said as she glared at Aegis.
"I like the new name, Foliage, and love how you can make plants grow like that." Vista giggled and then shrank into the couch as several of the Wards glared at her.
"No, we get all that, but working with villains."
"I'll answer that Ames. Define villain? That they wear scary costumes? Do things that the authorities do not like? Breaking the law is the only reason anyone should be considered to be a villain. What villains are not known to do is arrest other villains and when they do, those villains do not survive or get turned into the PRT. What they don't do is clear out the holdings of a villain gang and not kill a single gang member."
"So other than the bank heist what makes the Undersiders villains on par with Lung or Kaiser?" Amelia questioned. Miss Militia stood up and came forward enough so everyone could look at her. Weapons cycled next to her relaxed hand hanging at her side.
"The Undersiders have been linked to several hit and run robberies. True, most of them were against other criminals or gangs, but with the bank heist they are Villains. By working with them you could be considered accessories to any of their future crimes as you did not bring them in. The most obvious result of taking out Oni Lee is that the Undersiders can now look to recruit into their team, other capes, minions or gang members and the only thing that has changed is the leadership."
"What about the Jedi Praxeum?" Clockblocker asked. Armsmaster moved forward as Miss Militia moved back.
"They are under investigation as a villainous rogue group as their actions to take out the ABB and rob Pease AFB could be considered a grab for territory after securing confiscated tinkertech. It is assumed that Uber and Leet are in fact Rapier and Cutlass respectively. The Cyborg Hast is an AI not a human. The same with Ayfour who projects a hologram of Skye. Those bring up other issues."
"Isn't Skye a confirmed hero? She stopped a group of bullies and nearly closed Winslow because the staff did nothing. She also took down the Merchants by herself and openly created a lunch counter in the lighthouse they used as a base." Gallant asked.
"Heard she could heal as well." Vista added.
"She is and can, which is the issue, with the Jedi Praxeum . They like the movie claim to uphold order and peace."
"That is guardians of peace and justice." Kid Win interrupted Dauntless.
"Is there as difference?" Aegis asked.
"Perhaps but the fact remains that they have stolen from a military base, and they are funding their organization off the drug and brothel money they seized from the Merchants and the ABB. Actions that are not very heroic." Gallant raised his hand as Dauntless nodded.
"Well, they have brought peace as there is little gang activity in the train yards or the international and commercial docks. They also brought Justice by having the PRT and the BBPD arrest most of the gang members."
"What about Bakuda? Hast killed her when she could have been taken down?" Clockblocker interjected.
"That is a hard one, but evidence points out she controlled her bombs with toe rings and a selection screen from her goggles. If we have Tattletale's power set figured out, she could have discovered this, but the time between when Saber's group joined the Undersiders and the death of Bakuda, Tattletale is not shown to be speaking."
"So, then it could be a form of justice and to save all the others that still had a bomb in their head." Glamour moved to the center of the room.
"This is the point we wanted to open up. You all know the difference between a hero and a villain with a few independents and rogues. Parian makes costumes and performs on the Boardwalk with her constructs. Rogues, which is not a very positive name, are label villains as soon as they appear to break the law. The public never hears us use the words independent hero unless they are part of a team. It is always rogue or solo villain."
Vicky looked at each one of them before her fear aura came alive for just the briefest of moments enough to get Armsmaster's and Kid Win's attention before continuing.
"We worked with both the Jedi Praxeum and the Undersiders to remove the ABB from the Bay area. The Protectorate and the Wards did their part in finding most of the bombs Bakuda placed in the area, but you stopped once you found the last bomb. You could have gone after Oni Lee. Foliage and Skye removed bombs and healed the ABB conscripts as the rest of us took down and took out ABB gang houses, drug stashes, and gambling dens." Amelia joined her sister before speaking.
"We all shared in the monetary gains, because we decided not to allow the city, the BBPD or the PRT to profit and continue to do nothing. The funds will be used to hire workers to demolish abandoned, condemned buildings and debris, to fill potholes, sidewalks and clear brush and trash, to open food banks, soup kitchens, and lunch counters at little to no cost to the homeless. Many of the warehouses that serve as gathering places for the former gangs are being secured or cleared out to be used as sheltered camps for the homeless."
"They can't do that. The city would not allow it and those owners could call the police to clear them out and charge them with trespassing and vagrancy. Vandalism and destruction of property even if they are condemned. That does not include the risk of asbestos and other poisons from the deconstruction." Mr. Renick countered as he came into the room.
"That is the government talking. What the government should be doing is charging the owners of those properties fines for endangering public welfare and failure to develop an alternative industry after the docks turned into the graveyard. However, the city did nothing, the businesses did nothing, moved away or went under as the gangs moved in."
"The city owns most of the warehouses and abandoned properties, but due to the gangs and lack of funds neither the Docks nor the graveyard can be affordably changed. Those funds you are taking the city could use."
"It is being used on the people and to keep any gang from reforming. The Jedi Praxeum and associates are doing the job that the city and the police stopped doing a long time ago."
"The Undersiders did it for the money and once that stops, they will go back to stealing." Aegis declared
"They did say they would help if only to pay the Jedi Praxeum back for keeping them alive and their goals aligned. It was more like a truce and the ABB was the endbringer." Foliage looked to Glamour as she frowned.
"It still does not help that you are both linked to New Wave and with known villain groups. Even if their goals did a bunch of good for the city. We cannot have this negatively affect the Wards, the PRT or the Protectorate nor should it affect New Wave and your family." Renick countered. "As much good as they can bring with you both as Wards."
"Independent Team. The Youth Guard and the Wards are helping us with family issues that also affect the New Wave. We will work with the Wards as I have an ulterior motive and it would be not allowed if I was a full member. Foliage is still doing her work in the hospitals and feels being paid by several hospitals and clinics would be a legal conflict of interest if she is a member of the Wards."
"Piggot is not going to be happy about this. She might even see this as an attempt to bypass the law and could get you labeled as villains."
"You would not do that. Ames would not be able to help the thousands of potentially terminally ill children, mothers and fathers. Brockton Bay General has expanded twice since Ames triggered losing millions if she was no longer available. Plus, you would lose the only access to a healer you have. With the E88 thinking they are the only real gang left." Vicky left that to sink into them as she walked to the door. Ames followed right behind not even bothering to look back. Gallant suddenly got up and ran after them.