Fortification Interlude 2

Director Piggot could feel a headache coming on.

"So, the Tinker we've been monitoring, the one who is the father of the dangerous new parahuman we've been trying and failing to capture for months, has become an active Parahuman himself and formed a gang."

"That's certainly one way of interpreting things, Director."

It was a simple meeting-Her, Armsmaster, Mouse Protector, and Dragon was on speaker phone. Mouse Protector had just given her statement about the encounter.

"However, director, Bastion was wearing a helmet that concealed his face entirely. It's entirely possible that your Dockyard Tinker is merely supplying him."

"That's a distinct possibility, but for now we'll go with the assumption that they are one and the same. Armsmaster, you've been trying to talk with the Mr. Hebert. How has that been going?"

The Director could tell that Armsmaster was less than pleased.

"Unfortunately, my last attempt was met with threats of legal action-the Entire Dockyard is hiding behind a wall of lawyers."

Well, isn't that great?

"And we can't circumvent that because the Mayor's office is supporting Mr. Hebert's efforts."

It was at times like this that Director Piggot wished she could drink. Armsmaster spoke up.

"Why is Mayor Christner supporting him, anyway?"

"I spoke with him. His exact words were 'Danny Hebert is a decent, hardworking man who none the less has a temper to him. He'd tear the city apart if he thought it would help his daughter, and I'd rather be his ally than his enemy.' He also said that Mr. Hebert is an asset to the city. Dragon, you've seen his technology. How would you assign threat ratings?"

There was a pause as Dragon considered.

"Tinker 6, at bare minimum, with provisions for mover, thinker, brute, or blaster ratings to be assigned based on his load-out. However, his probable specialties complicate things."

"How so?"

"Mr. Hebert's technology has a wide range of applications. He's submitted weapons, construction tools, armor both powered and otherwise, and various vehicles for approval. The only common threads seem to be ease of production and the fact that everything seems to have been designed for use by non-tinkers. Take the two together and…"

Armsmaster's visible face paled.

"You don't mean?"

"I do. Having thoroughly examined his designs, I've concluded that a sufficiently skilled or trained non-tinker could replicate his technology. If he can train even one assistant..."

Hell.

"Noted. Any other comments or concerns, Dragon?"

"I've spoken with Mr. Hebert. I think he's a good person who can be reasoned with, if you reason with him the right way."

"Duly noted. Anyone else?"

Mouse Protector spoke up.

"Bastion seemed more than Heroic from what little contact I've had with him."

Piggot sighed.

"Alright. We'll list him as a rogue with heroic leanings, while listing his 'Raiders' as a potential gang and keep our eyes on them. I need to go and brief the Wards now."

She also needed to discuss things with one of her wards. The Mayor was investigating Lilith's rampage through Winslow. As Shadow Stalker was one of the chief witnesses of the rampage, it would be important that she be warned about the heavy scrutiny she was going to face…

*Break*

Kurt was still on an adrenaline high from the Raider's first outing, even though it had been a few days ago. He might not be a Parahuman, but for one night he was a cape. It wasn't all good, however. He'd noticed it, as had the others. The Dockworker's association was being watched. The PRt was monitoring the Dockworkers the same way that they monitored the Asians, the Nazi's, and the crackheads, at least until the Raiders drove the crackheads out.

It bothered him, just a little bit, that the so called heroes were treating his boss, co-workers, and even his wife and himself as criminals when they'd cleaned out some of the scum ruining the city.

Still, he figured it'd pay off in the end, when the streets are clean and Danny's little girl was back with her father. Until then, he went back to work. Danny was planning to discreetly try and snatch up and help rehabilitate some of the junkies left without dealers after the Merchants' fall-Squealer was coming along pretty well, and that's a big project that he'll need help with. Until then, all Bastion needs do is call for his Lieutenant to come to his side.

*Break*

"Uber, come take a look at this."

Uber and Leet were getting used to working with Bastion. The pay was good and they actually got a little respect from their current employer and his other employees. Uber walked over to leet, looking over his partner's shoulder to see a deconstructed gadget of some sort.

"Why'd you take it apart?"

"See this component? It's pretty similar to something I've used before. By all means, this should have blown up on me the first time I used it, but...I've already taken it apart and put it back together twice and it still worked perfectly both times."

This was big news. If Leet had figured out how to overcome his one weakness-Uber's thought was cut off by sounds of a loud roar reverberating throughout the docks

"The fuck was that?"

"The sky-eye!"

The sky-eye was a little something Leet had recently cooked up for the show-a flying spy camera, basically, He'd set up a tablet to pick up on the video feed. Uber retrieved the tablet and activated it, setting the sky-eye to scour the docks. As he looked down at the feminine figure doing battle with the hulking reptilian brute caught in it's vision, he only had one thought.

"The boss needs to see this."