Bad Company - Crickets and Armsmaster
"I still can't believe you're a Ward", Taylor's voice echoed from inside the women's restroom. The echo just highlighted how empty it was in here and made her voice just a little spooky.
"You've said that two- no, three more times than is necessary. I just didn't believe you were what you're doing all of the once", I answered, mostly to myself, while leaning against the wall outside the station restroom. I had already dressed in my basic PRT spare uniform and domino mask, my identifying accessories stayed in my black go bag.
"I'm just baffle- baffled? Am I using that right? Baffled you convinced the Big Guy to let you do all this solo", I said, filling the unusually quiet evening as the crickets were mostly silent save for a few a good distance away.
Taylor slipped out of the bathroom silently, dressed in this sleek armor. It was weirdly shiny in places like she wore speckles of road paint in different colors as the lights of the station played across her. The mask's lenses really lent her whole look a very aggressive appearance, like what she looked at was her unlucky target. We headed past a door leading to the interior of the building and we scaled the steps towards a patio area.
"I like your hair", I said quietly about halfway there. The mask and shoulder pads gave it some structure that let her curls spread out giving her the appearance of wearing a large, shallow hood.
"Okay", she replied as she stopped to stare at me a moment through the yellow lenses then lightly touched her hair with her armored fingers. "You should stay - here. I have to meet Armsmaster."
"Okay, I'm here if he gets weird on you or - I don't know, he's Armsmaster, I can distract him so you can get away if it comes to it?"
Taylor nodded and I gave her a thumbs up that she waved off. As soon as her back was turned I started off in a weaker version of my breaker state, I gathered up the smallest bits of concrete, asphalt, trash and dirt clumps. Ammunition in case I needed to make a distraction for The Protectorate hero to chase down or maybe temporarily blind him with?
Mr. Green suggested I carry mylar strips and small squares of various metal foils to drop from utility pockets and create locality- locally focused clouds that can turn my breaker form into a giant faraday cage to block signals or as chaff to scramble tinker made lock-on weapons. Even if I blinded his sensors he could still see and hear, on the packaging of the Armsmaster figure my folks got me as a kid I remember it saying he was a master of gadgets and technology. He probably had amped up hearing aids to stalk us like a bat and tracking darts he could tag us with.
It'd be the end of my hero career unless a corporate team wanted to pick up a cape on the cheap, maybe? Abuela would understand but I couldn't leave her all alone in her house with just Grandpa's retirement.
WHY DID YOU HAVE TO BEAT ON THOSE ABB GUYS, RAY?!
Violence solves nothing, there were cops to call, school security guards but no. You just had to be a chump and retaliate when they punched you and kicked you and threatened your family. Like they even knew where you lived, those stupid assholes. Not like I was Filipino like they assumed I was anyway.
A loud snap caught my attention as I swirled on the stairs. I did my best to keep the bulk of the grit higher up in my breaker form, to keep things quiet.
"- then you've done us a great service. Would you be willing to come to the Protectorate Headquarters and present that information to the team?" Armsmaster spoke for real, not like the tinny sound chip in my old toy.
Taylor was going to get to meet the Protectorate, that's awesome. She wanted to be a hero and now can get recognition from the Big Team. This is huge!
"Why not?"
Big guy sounds pissed. Did she turn it down? Oh they're arguing.
Shit.
"The Tattletale Girl."
Is Lisa a spy? She's a little young to work for the Protectorate. Or is she psychic? That means she'd probably know about me too. I'd have to ask Taylor about that.
"What are they planning?"
"I can't say."
Their arguing continued a lot longer than I liked. Neither one of them had any give in them to satisfy the other. He's Armsmaster, he's a big deal and we're kids. She'd be a Ward if she wasn't opposed to rules and hanging out with people. Does that mean she doesn't consider me a bother? Or just that she's tolerating me?
I don't like this, my brain likes to race with ideas and what ifs now. I remember when I could go a whole day with barely a single damn care and now everything has a pop up window asking if I'm sure I want to do this or that and I run through the possible downsides.
Yet somehow it's easier with Taylor around just to be me.
But then that could be like I got a bug brain from my 'crisis point' and she's putting the Master to me. No, I don't have a bug brain. That's stupid, that's dumb.
PRIORITIES! PAY ATTENTION TO TAYLOR, RAY!
"You're a stupid girl."
Fuck that guy.
He put her here. He set these wheels in motion. I really didn't get a say in how I got to use my powers all the doctors, PRT, Youth Guard, my grandmother and bam! I'm a Ward and this guy is -
"- want me to stand by so you can play your little spy game with a team that has two murderers on it!"
"Who-"
She didn't know about Hellhound? They beat each other up. She's got monster dogs. This group is no joke.
"I'm not in middle school."
"Oh well, I stand corrected on all counts."
Dick.
More fighting, arguing. This is like sitting there in front of a paused video game hearing your friend fight with a parent and all you want to know is where the bathroom is.
"I'm asking you to please not tell anyone we met tonight. No records, on paper or computer. Don't do anything different because of what you learned tonight. I know I can't make you. I don't have anything to offer you, besides the information I'm going to get. But if these guys get wind that I met you, it's going to go really badly for me."
"You made your bed. You have to lie in it."
I feel biased but I'm calling bullshit. I shifted forms and dropped most of the mass I picked up then swapped back. I wanted to interfere, stick up for her. But I don't want to make myself a liar and pop up at her meeting after she told me to wait here.
"Fine, you can go now."
Taylor came down the stairs and walked right through me. Her fists clenched, back straight, and head up high. Not much time has passed and Taylor seemed set on something. I followed along the path acting as her wake until we met the sidewalk.
"You can come out now", she said with a sigh.
I spun my mass up into a brief column, like the tip of a tornado, and appeared with a flourish, "Tah-dah!"
No reaction.
She stood there in her armored costume and that's when I saw it. Just behind her from the edges of the grass, and weeds sticking out from the cracks of the sidewalk a carpet of insects.
And all at once the crickets sounded. The transition from quiet to a wall of noise disoriented me for a moment as I watched Taylor stand in the midst of it. The noise acted like her own scream of rage.
I put a hand against the side of my head and finally the crickets stop synching up, their chirps hitting, I guess, a normal natural tone.
"I'm never going to look at those little guys the same way, whew", I said, trying again to lighten the mood.
"I'm sorry. You heard?" she asked.
"Yeah, sorry he wasn't - less of an ass. You were straight up with him and he spit in your face like it's easy for him to- to-"
"Dump everything wrong on me."
"Yeah. Life's unfair but Big Guy, he - he wants it unfair and in his favor. Or something. I don't know."
Taylor nodded, "In his favor, exactly."
"Are you still going to do it?"
"Yes, I'm in too deep unless he burns me with the Undersiders", finally she turned to face me. "Or you burn me with the PRT."
"I wouldn't, and I won't lie to you", I responded.
"You keep repeating that line and I don't know if it's the - kid in you trying to please me or if you just say it so I keep trusting you?"
"Hey hey, don't go, what is it? Projecting... dammit. No no, transference. Don't go transferring what Armsmaster said onto me. When we met and then later I followed you I didn't know you were a cape let alone dealing with criminals, okay? I'm not against you but I do care. I'm not even 100 percent sure why, but I do."
Taylor trudged over to the station again, pulling her mask off, and the carpet of insects receded back into the grass, "I'm going to change. Don't follow me."
I'm not a pervert, I wouldn't abuse my breaker state to do such a thing. I was raised to be respectful. Well, mostly respectful.
I could feel the earbud in my costume pocket. I had asked for a few hours to deal with my community outreach thing. Mr. Green had even signed off on it, from a PR angle, should some good come of it. He didn't have the details but his signature was worth its weight in leftovers with Vista.
Shit.
I should call in to tell her I'm safe and will do a few circuits of all of our patrol routes before heading in.
I got a tap on the shoulder and I found Taylor back in her coffeeshop clothes.
I take her in and my mouth disconnects from my brain, "I'm sorry I didn't say it earlier but you look nice in your sweater and hoodie. I'm glad you didn't put it up."
She eyed me warily for a moment and then touched her hair lightly.
"I mean it. I'm not trying to make fun or pick on you. It was nice spending time while you drank my tea."
"It wasn't a date", she responded quickly.
Arrr.
"I know. You're an informant, and I am helping so you have a contact with the authorities. So if things go wrong someone is there for you. I get it. This is work, and it's for the greater good", I try to hide whatever it is I'm feeling.
Taylor sighed, "I'm - things didn't go well back there and I'm taking it out on you."
"What're friends for", I responded. "Do you want - like a hug? You seem pretty upset and like the bugs even know it. Should they know it?"
Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses and then they softened and relaxed.
"Well then do you want me to wa-"
"Yes", she answered.
I wasn't exactly sure what she was agreeing to until she got closer to me she dropped her bag with her arms still at her sides.
No funny business, no jokes. This is a real moment, Ray. Be a grown ass man about this.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her in. I say nothing and just hold her. She's stiff at first and as the moment goes on she relaxes. The peace is short lived as in the distance the sound of a heavy engine picks up.
"That's", she starts pulling away. "My bus, Ray. You can go back to your patrol."
I let her go as she turned to pick up her bag. She walks at a quick pace to get to the bus stop and I stand stock still watching.
The Hell am I doing?
She's a real person with real problems and I'm going to let her rob a bank with two killers. There are going to be hostages. People's loved ones trapped in a bank with giant dogs, the bogeyman, and the kinda bugs that nearly killed Lung.
This is heavy, it's part of why Armsmaster was pissed but she's in deep. She volunteered and he approved. Now he's antsy about it and she's doubling down. All the while I'm cracking jokes and being all weird with her.
'Priorities'.
I palm my ear bud and slot it in my head, technically making myself part man, part machine, all hero, "Miss Vista?"
"Stop that. Clockblocker already got me a green handkerchief to tie around my face."
"Ooo, I can see you getting a green sash, too. Totally replace your visor with sunglasses."
"Are you checking in or what, Dust Devil?"
"Yeah, I'm safe. Things went meh with the g- informant."
"Ooo, a girl. You were gonna say girl. Hey, Chri-" she cut out as she got up from the desk, probably.
I give her a minute to brainstorm whatever she was going to tease me with.
"Okay, you there?"
"Negative, this is Dust Devil spelled differently cuz I'm from Earth Aleph. Take me to your leader."
"So are you going to patrol or not?"
"Sure. I'll do several passes along all routes before heading back to base, Miss Vista."
"Blegh, before I let you go Kid Win wanted me to tell you to thank your grandmother for the Lasagna."
"Enchiladas. Just cuz they fall apart when you all eat them wrong doesn't make it lasagna. Alright, I'm heading out. It'll be good to clear my head with a solid run."
"Good luck."
I take a second to gather my thoughts, remembering my routes and-
"You're going to need it, Dust Devil", Armsmaster's voice came from behind me.
I prayed that it was only a haunted action figure coming after me for revenge, but Mary certainly wasn't listening.
"I didn't think you would be in a racing mood, sir. I humbly accept the head start," I said before I changed forms and launched off into my patrol.
I'm so glad I took out my earbud, but I am going to pay for that. I just know it.
~~x
I sat in front of the Director's desk and Piggot has been staring me down for the past two minutes. She asked me if I had a good excuse for being on an unsanctioned task outside my designated patrol.
I won't lie to you, I told her.
Now we're staring at each other, and I won't break, ya hear me, I won't. Word from some of the veteran officers is she was a hardcore field PRT officer. Real nasty Special Class threats stuff, and yet here we are staring at each other. An immovable director and an indefeat- indefatigable teenager.
A knock at her door breaks the stalemate as we both look. Vista appears behind the now open door with a print out and a cool demeanor. Piggot's assistant takes the sheet from Vista and hands it to the director.
"Mhm, okay Vista you can go I'm not done with your teammate, quite yet."
The door shut, taking her assistant and Vista with it.
"So it appears you were stone walling me, Mr Alcaraz, over a sanctioned Community Outreach with a citizen in duress regarding possible ongoing criminal activity, yes?"
She stared at me with the same gaze as minutes before. It was not a staring down but literally her waiting for me to explain myself. Armsmaster actually didn't say shit to anyone about Taylor.
Now I just look like a moron.
I can work with that, "Yeah, I - whew - ahh, I know her from school and having had previous experience with gang trouble with cape connections. I decided I would offer my classmate a meeting with a Ward if she would go to the authorities with what she knew. I ran it by Mr. Green since I needed additional costume pieces to better hide my identity than the domino mask. Winslow is crowded as it is, so she sits really close to me."
And I rambled on, like a moron.
After several minutes of telling the truth, from a certain point of view, she held up a hand.
"So we took you off patrol for three hours to get coffee and walk her home safely? Is that about it?" Piggot asked exasperated.
I nodded and forced a smile.
"Go home, Mr. Alcaraz. Hopefully she honors your bargain and comes forward otherwise you are doing a double patrol tomorrow for no other reason than to make up for the lost hours. There's the door."
Double patrol, great.
"Have a good night, Director", I say as I get up and book it back to the dorms.
Once again I decide to strut in, hopefully Missy and Dennis are still there switching places for the night.
"You guys would not believe the night I have had."
Dennis is sitting behind the monitor desk and his eyes tell me he either sat pants down on an icicle or I'm walking into a shit storm.
"Dust Devil", Armsmaster is in the dorm sitting on Vista's chair and I resist with everything I got to not start cracking up.
"Ahh, I see you beat me. Good race, sir. I'll try harder next time."
"You're coming with me, boy."
He could have at least brought a box of comic books and puppies when he said that.
"Clock, if I don't make it back you can-", I get cut off.
"No jokes, we're going now."
~~x
"I figured for a Tinker, your lab would have those electric coils and those wooden switches", I deliberately start touching things because I'm already in trouble but just on a personal level not a professional level plus-
IT'S ARMSMASTER'S LAB!
"Don't touch anything", he said while snatching a spanner from me.
I just grabbed tools I was familiar with. I'm in a tinker's lab, I may be immature but I'm not stupid.
"My grandfather was a foreman on a bunch of construction sites across Brockton Bay. He used to take me around the Boardwalk and the Docks. He used to say a little bit of his blood and sweat went into every single project. So I get it, a bit of you is in every thing you make."
I grabbed another tool off a nearly clear workbench and the Big Guy started after me, until I put the tool back in it's exact spot on his wall of tools, "The most common reason his blood was at every site was when people wouldn't put their tools back in their right place, sir."
"Did he bother teaching you not to put yourself in other people's business?"
"Nah, he was a community guy. He helped his neighbor not because they were his neighbor but because they asked, sir."
"This isn't someone needing a ladder to put up Christmas lights, Ray. This is serious. People can get hurt."
Armsmaster looked really frustrated as he stood there in his lab. Leading a Protectorate team, answering for his actions, dealing with teenagers, even growing that facial hair on purpose.
"Ray, I'm going to only ask you this once and I will know what you say is or isn't true."
"Good, I already promised two people I wouldn't lie to them, here I don't have to bother."
"That's not how this works, Ray."
I shrug and sit on top of his now empty workbench to his horror, "Ask."
The Big Guy takes a couple deep breaths, "What do you know about the bug girl?"
"You were pretty mean to her back there."
Yes, I am a fan of Armsmaster. Yes, I am giving him a hard time, and yes I'm still a fan.
"I was honest with her. Now how do you know her?"
"There is a big jump between honest and mean. Seriously, you laid into her like she's your step kid and she spilled grape juice on your car upholstery."
"I'm not having this argument again. Be serious."
Why does everyone keep telling me to be serious? Like real life isn't hysterical at how crazy things are. What's the saying? Life is stranger than fiction.
"No no, I'm going to be Ray. You can be serious. I know you didn't sell her out to Piggot, you have your reputation to keep, and I can tell you as a stupid kid that reputation means nothing outside of high school. It's made up crap to hide people suck. It's the same stupid shit you hear from gangs about needing rep and cred or face or whatever. Reputation is just proof life is unfair. Anyone can say anything about you and you're screwed if the wrong people hear about it."
"I don't need lessons from a probationary Ward. You can be off the team for the most minor infraction", Armsmaster leaned against the wall of his lab, arms crossed.
"Think about the future, sir. You are literally one of the people we grew up looking up to before any of us had powers. I had your stuff. I want to be you but I - I'm something else. But that girl has her heart in the right place, I continue to trust her because you do. Too many get - powers and use them selfishly but here she is wanting to help. Let's help her, sir."
"Hmm", was all he responded.
"Am I lying?"
He sighed, "You don't think you are."
I stayed quiet, and kept hoping my luck with spewing bullshit stayed awesome.
"Does she listen to you?"
"Basically, yeah. We got a rapport but she suspected you sent me after her so she was suspicious of you before you even pissed her off."
"Get her to tell you everything she knows before this big thing goes down. Maybe we can save her from herself."
Did I just get a team-up offer from Armsmaster?
"I have double patrols tomorrow for what I did tonight and she's going to not be where I can contact her before the patrols, sir."
Armsmaster nodded and walked away from the wall. He grabbed me by the shoulder and I hopped off the bench, "That actually fits exactly to our needs. You will be joining me on patrol, barring any major threats, and you can work on her. Tell her whatever you need to to bring her in, radio me if you think it's too big for you to promise. Just get her cooperation, the information she has is already crucial for an ongoing investigation."
I nodded as he started walking me out of his lab, "Okay but I promised I wouldn't lie to her."
He stopped right before the door, "Omit certain truths, like you did to me and the Director, and get her onboard. Do that and you will find yourself having that bright future you mentioned."
Wow.
The door shut behind me and the urge to shower grew. I felt really uncomfortable back there. Some really bad mojo, but he was going to give me time to help Taylor.
But still, Crickets and Armsmaster, never seeing them the same again.