Interlude: Carol Dallon
It had been a week since she had seen her daughter Victoria or Panacea. They had made the news over the week with several ABB take downs. Panacea's costume which had been carefully thought out from a PR perspective was different and she had not thought to block her bank account. However, her current costume was armored and form fitting. It still had a red cross but that was on the shield she wore. Her costume was lilac with white fingerless gloves and boots with black knee and shin guards. Her arms were covered in black bracers and a spade that acted as an elbow guard, but could be used to stab someone in the gut.
Her mask, she was wearing a different mask. This infuriated Carol to no end. Though as she had looked it was well thought out. It 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. Her hair drew Carol in as it was died several different colors. Purple on the inside, followed by blue, and green to yellow, pink, orange with the tips her natural red.
The next time she saw her she saw her charging at several ABB gang members with her blocking with her shield as she spun around them. With a slap to the face or a touch on the arm the gang members just fell to the ground. Vicky was there not really fighting but delaying separating or knocking them out herself but in such a way that it was clear that she was sharing the criminals and rarely butting in as Panacea used the shield to keep them from overwhelming her. She was learning to fight. Something Carol had always forbid her.
The third time she saw Panacea she was standing next to another cape that took her a moment to realize that it was Vicky. Her white and gold costume was switched for one that was black with gold armor. Golden claws and spikes on her knuckles. The accents on the costume reflected part of her original costume. Then there was the mask. It was a mirror surface with the only feature being a smile or a grimace appearing depending on the light.
It infuriated Carol. Amelia had stolen her daughter and there was nothing she could do to get her away from her, but she was going to find them, and she was going to make sure Marquis's daughter never sees her daughter again. It was something she promised to do the second she saw the girl. Then she was called to a conference room at work and walked into a room full of a half dozen men and women. This surprised her and threw her off guard, but she nearly growled as she saw the rainbow headed girl. Victoria was right next to her, and they wore matching business suits.
That Assault and Battery were next to her and Dauntless was leaning against the corner was all that prevented her from doing more than giving her daughter the evil eye. She took a deep breath and dived into her role as a lawyer.
"What is this all about?"
"I am Theodore Mathews from the Youth Guard. Geraldine Parker social services legal counsel for Amelia Lavere and Victoria Dallon is provided by Brian Donaldson and Silvia Donaldson. On the other side you had PRT legal officer Nickolas Granger and Deputy Direct Renick. I am sure we do not need to introduce the members of the Protectorate."
"What is the meaning of this as why does it include my daughter?"
"Legally they are both your daughters, but after the testimony they have provided it seems they were correct in knowing what you would say."
"Victoria, are you picking her side?" Victoria wiped at her eyes and then her aura flared. It was different as it fluctuated between wanting adoration and instilling fear. Then it was gone, but the result staggered Carol.
"Mom I love you, but until you change. Until you get help and learn that you never loved Ames then you will never see me but in passing."
"I love her."
"No, you fear her." Victoria's aura flared with a steady factor of fear that made Carol step back and nearly stumble as she did so. Then again, the aura was gone allowing her to regain control. That her own daughter would hurt her. Betray her.
"Mom, wake up. I love you and I will never betray you. I don't have to as you do it all the time to yourself. However, I am a big part of you ignoring and looking at Ames like she could never do anything right. My aura was used on you since I triggered against your will."
"But you can't control it. You can't turn it off. I forgive you. Please come home."
"Mom I can't."
"Mrs. Dallon in light of everything that the girls have told us and your history with Marquis we believe that after several months to a year of counseling that you might see what these girls have pointed out. They have put it all on the table and we would like to go over their claims. This will not be revealed to your partners here and has no influence of your status in your firm unless you allow it to affect your work."
Carol barely heard anything as the two girls filed out a separate door with Assault and Battery. Dauntless had not moved but there was a hint of his power showing. A thousand thoughts went through her mind, but nothing would change the fact that her daughter would not come home. She stepped forward and to save herself from stumbling or worse falling she sat down. Then she reached for the glass that was in front of her and drank nearly half. Her eyes flared which got several of them to flinch, but Dauntless just shook his head.
"Okay then. You come to me with lawyers so present your case." They did and Carol finally understood what she had done. Why Victoria would not come home and how it was due to her aura. She still did not have to like it or stop blaming Amelia for this betrayal. The strangest claim was forcing Panacea into a form of involuntary servitude. She argued that her service to the hospital was voluntary, but they fired back that though this was true, it was forcing her to be the New Wave team healer that generated the charge. That got another flare of her breaker state.
In the end they wanted not a single concession from Carol only that she studies the evidence and to seek counseling. To no longer treat Panacea in a negative manor and that she would be resigning from New Wave. That she was informed she signed a paid contract with every hospital in Brockton Bay and that she was filing for emancipation. Victoria would come back after every member went through stranger/master training and counseling. They all got up and Carol asked one last question.
"Where is Victoria living?"
"She is in a Ward Safe house. More we cannot say. Amelia Lavere is living across the city inside a gated community with a solid foster family."
"They are not living together?"
"No Victoria's aura has done more damage to her sister than it has to you or anyone else in your family. They work together under an agreement with the Wards. Hence the costume changes. Glamour and Foliage only patrol together as independents." Carol did not ask any more questions and remained stunned for several minutes. It was only as she looked to see Dauntless was still there that she finally stood.
"I assume you have nothing to say, Shawn?"
"Get some help Carol. The girls are you can do no less." He turned and left. Of all the words spoken in the last few hours those had the most effect.
DESCRIMINATION
The place was nondescript. A hole in the wall in the midst of a long street of such businesses. Nearly everything was run down, but there had been a bit of improvement as not a single ABM or ABB sign was to be seen. Nor had any new signs appeared. For every given business you passed, you could only see if the place was still open by entering.
Somer's Rock was a pub that would have fit in some small English country village. That would be true if not for the iron bars on the outside and closed curtains on the inside. It was that kind of area. There was a new coat of paint over the older paint that had been peeling for some time but had not been fully brushed away and iron dust from the bars bleeding through the newer paint.
Skye entered the pub feeling out of place in her formal Jedi robes. The inside was dim, rarely properly cleaned and depressing. The wood floor was stained the same dark gray as the counter of the bar a long time ago with wear marks showing the wood that long ago had held a shine. the curtains and tablecloths were dark green, and showed they at least were washed more often than anything else in the place. Most of the lights were older showing the effects of a constant haze of tobacco smoke that if the main lights were on you would see the tar running down the walls that were not blocked by shelving that was filled with trinkets and decorations that had not and could no longer be dusted away.
Three people worked in the pub. Two men and a woman. The woman was too young to look as sullen as she was, her brown hair reflecting the stated of the pub. Skye felt through the Force that she was deaf. Her uniform was clean but had long since it had seen an iron. The identical twins could only be identified by their faces as the dress shirt and vest with a bartender's apron matched the bar at one point. The other wore a Hawaiian shirt left open over a black tee shirt. They both wore white dress pants that clashed with the state of the place.
A group of tables had been pulled together with chairs arranged around them. The Undersiders were sitting on worn cushioned benches. All of them in costume with a slight change as Bitch wore a specially made mask that mirrored Brutus exactly replacing the plastic one. Her jacket had been replaced as well or had been cleaned and a many pocketed vest sewn over it. Grue sat in one of the chairs in the center.
Leaning against the back wall was the only apparent remaining member of the Merchants, but Skye had not included him as she had not once seen him with the gang. The AZM symbol was sprayed over but still visible on Trainwreck's power armor. She gave him a smile as she had seen him several times out of his big armor and in a power chair. When she had time, she would build arms and legs for him and his unusual limbs.
Coil sat at the head of the table conspicuous because he was apparently alone. He was thin to the point of being skeletal. His skintight costume covered him head to toe. It clung to his skin with not a single spot of bare skin. The costume was black, with a white snake looping and winding over his entire body. The snake's head rested on Coil's head in such a way as to appear as if he was looking out the snake's eyes.
Faultline sat at the other head of the row of tables. Skye picked up that the orange skinned being was Newter and that left the unusually large one leaning against the booth as being Gregor the Snail. Labyrinth and Spitfire sat across from them.
On the bar side were several capes. At the table was a man with a top hat with red and black coloring his costume that matched his teammates. A scroll of text told her this was Trickster and the Travelers who were rumored to be from another world. Ballistic and Sundancer sat at the bar. A large beast which sat on the floor and the Force told her that it was not real for it held barely any presence in the Force and what was there gave the impression of a girl who could not walk. It made Skye blink a few times.
Of all the capes here, these had a very different presence from the other capes. They still had the double sense to their minds, but it was not as aggressive, but still not in sync. It felt that they had a linked destiny. Coil was also very calm with his mental signature in the Force, but that is where any similarities ended. The Force was warning her that he was here but not here. Like this could be a vision. Perhaps it was part of his power she was unsure.
Uber and Leet only recognizable because they had strangely decided to use the Bomberman costumes they had made but integrated it over their current armor. They moved passed me as they sat down next to Grue. This left two chairs one by Trickster and one next to Faultline which Skye took as Hast and Ayfour placed themselves on either side of the entrance. Coil dipped his head in a nod and steepled his fingers. She could feel his annoyance, but also from several of the other capes.
"That should be everyone. Seems the E88 won't be coming, though I doubt any of us are surprised, given the subject of tonight's discussion. However, before we start, I will have to request that those two, move away from the entrance."
"I can feel that they are breaking a social rule, but where I am from droids are not allowed inside such an establishment. However, they can hardly wait outside."
"Have them..." Grue stopped as the two droids moved to one of the far tables still near the door, but away from it.
"Droids? I heard the one is a cyborg?"
"That would only apply if there was anybody inside." Leet answered.
"What is your game this time?" Trickster asked.
"Bomberman, but this is the last time. Uber and Leet have retired. I am now Rapier, and he is Cutlass. We are part of the Jedi Praxeum."
"I have heard. Skye, is it? I am surprised such an independent hero as yourself would lead villains, and where is Saber?" Coil questioned. Skye gave him a smile before speaking.
"Saber is my alter ego as you might say. A way to blend better in with the rogues and scoundrels of this world. The holo that Ayfour shows of Saber or Skye is just a three-dimensional picture that moves randomly."
Are you a tinker?" Faultline asked. "Because I have seen so many things that you can do and that would be the only explanation."
"Again an illusion and one I will not explain, but I only have one power and a lot of futuretech, not tinkertech. Trainwreck you might want to stop by in your civilian role. I may have something that will benefit you."
"That would be my pleasure." His words clashed with his appearance and gravelly voice.
"Skye, I need to know..." Coil stopped as two more capes entered. Glamour who already had a snarl on her face and Foliage. They moved to stand partially behind Faultline to either side. Foliage was on the side with the last empty chair, so she moved to take it leaving Glamour to back up against one of the booth tables.
"I would like to know how members of New Wave found out about this meeting?" Faultline asked.
"It would appear that they found out from either the Praxeum or the Undersiders and they are in the wrong costume to represent New Wave." Coil answered. "But I too would like to know as you both are clearly on the hero side."
"We are, but we are not." Vicky growled out.
"You do not look so happy to be is such mixed company." Trickster asked as he tapped a cigarette on his lighter before placing it in a hole in his mask.
"Glamour and I do work closely with the Protectorate, Wards, and the PRT, but we have decided that the game has to change."
"Interesting and you are changing sides or?"
"Don't get your hopes up Coil. We are only here because we didn't think you had enough heavy hitters and since Foliage can heal that gives you more options. Though with the Travelers and Faultline's Crew you villains might just have a chance."
"I don't know if we can work with you. There would be trust issues." Trickster blew out a cloud of smoke at Glamour and she just gave him an evil grin of her own.
"Trust is all we have here at this moment. As weak as it is, it can only get stronger. I would hope to bring in the other capes of this city on our mission to ensure success, but their rules and regulations are designed to keep the balance not to restore it. They will be useful only in their current roles." Skye stated.
"And you can see this somehow? I doubt that you could have such abilities to include precognition." Grue asked. He somewhat knew, but Skye had not talked to him much. Mostly she talked with Fire Bee, but it seemed public opinion was more accepting of the name Skitter.
"I do not have to explain. However, Skitter may not be sitting there if I had not seen her and Lung were going to fight on her first night out. You might not be here if I had not felt Bakuda was going to kill your team after you fought Uber and Leet. Foliage would definitely have not been here had I not felt there was something off about her as Panacea."
"Okay that was not explained to me."
"Oh, wow she believes, no, she knows that would be true." Tattletale blurted out before her hand covered her mouth. Coil could be heard not liking such statements.
"Which is not the real concern of tonight's meeting. The E88 is one of the largest cape teams in Brockton Bay and since the Merchants were taken down by Praxeum and the rest of the ABB by a joint effort of the Undersiders and Praxeum with help from Glamour and Foliage. It would appear that a larger cooperation is in order as we all know the E88 will expand."
"Does not really bother me." Trainwreck growled from the side.
"Oh, it does my friend. Your current disposition which is shared by members of Faultline's Crew are one that the Empire will not allow to remain. Chase you out of the Bay or kill you depending on who comes after you."
"I myself and Grue have African descent and that there puts us as their main target. Bitch has had run ins with E88 that involved dog fighting. Which with her power is understandable. The point is none of us hold territory."
"We hold territory." Cutlass added.
"No, we don't. Not like a gang does." Rapier countered.
"As I was saying. Faultline does work outside of Brockton Bay and is content with her holdings I assume. The Undersiders have their own thing going. The Praxeum, you are causing this imbalance in the hopes the underfunded BBPD and the PRT will be able to keep the Empire from expanding or new gangs from moving in."
"My next goal would be to go after Empire holdings, and why would new gangs move here. I will not let them."
"Saber, you are but one cape and your crew even if they have gotten better can only patrol so much. You would be lucky to keep a new gang away from your lair. This is the same for the Undersiders. They find our loft and we have to move or fight and E88 has some big hitters, and who knows who will come into the city looking for a place to set up shop."
"Very good point Grue. Now unless we want to spend all night here, I suggest we share what we know about the E88."
"That would be wise. Rapier wrote up what we could find on each of the capes in the Empire. Also, a bit on each of you as well to set up possible counters to their capes. Add anything you think will help." Skye raised her hand and Hast came to the table and set the cardboard filer box down. With that she showed off as the lid came off and each of the packets spread out to be taken by each person. Not one was left out nor were there any left over. Which was a subtle point. Several of them shifted in the Force.
Each member of the Empire was listed on the cover. Inside was an in depth write up that the PRT would be hard to match even if the original came from them. It estimated the number of non-powered members and gave an estimate of how many law enforcement and city officials could be under their thumb.