Yikes. This is late. Sorry for that-but hey, I was consistent with this story for over a year, and that alone was impressive. But yeah, I just needed a bit of a break from the routine this month. Hopefully we'll be back on schedule next month. Hopefully.
I do not own Worm or Ben Ten…why even bother asking anymore?
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X
"You know this won't be easy."
"I'm counting on it. I'll be ready."
"Good. So, where to start?"
"First things first, cape reinforcements."
"Where from?"
"I have some ideas."
New York
Wednesday, April 14th, 2011
9:00AM EST
Protectorate HQ, Meeting Room
He scanned the people in front of him, eyeing the assembled group of capes-teammates,friends-that looked to him, their faces set and determined, matching the intensity he had brought to this meeting.
"I hope you know the stakes for what I'm asking of you."He said, standing straight and rigid with his arms crossed.
"This won't be a regular fight; this isn't the same as foiling operations of The Elite, rounding up members of The Adepts, or even brawling with The Teeth-being honest, an operation like this hasn't happened since The Fairy Queen, and we all know how that ended."
A few gulped, some tensed and fidgeted, others remained stoic: but none of them were shaken, and despite the severity of the situation, he was proud. He'd admit to intentionally trying to scare them, this wasn't a mission they could afford to half-bake or treat lightly. While cape life was never truly safe, what he was planning was a whole new dimension of danger.
"I won't fault anyone who doesn't wanna participate."He assured, letting himself soften."We won't be going in with all the information needed to succeed. Some Thinkers have guessed that Chimera's not done showing us all that he can do."
His words hung heavily in the air, the painful truth weakening the resolve of some of the people present.
He took a deep breath and released it slowly.
"If I didn't make it clear enough before, I hope I have now; there's a good chance not all of us will make it home. If anyone wants to back out now, say the word."
A moment of silence, no one moved in the tense stretch of time. A sigh broke the tension.
Adamant, clad in his metallic armor, stepped forward, his loud steps echoing in the room.
"Will all due respect sir,"He stated, staring straight into his Leader's eyes,"You've never led us wrong before. We're all with you till the end, whatever that may be."
Chevalier was next to step up, his iconic silver and gold costume shining in the faint light.
"Agreed."He confirmed,"We're right behind you boss."
"Someone's gotta knock that ugly bastard down a peg."Prism said as she came to stand besides her teammates.
The rest fell in after them, each cape coming to stand beside one another in a straight line before their boss, stances straight and unyielding; a united front that demonstrated their dedication and bravery.
Pride far too powerful to be challenged pushed a smirk onto Legend's face.
"Alright."He nodded."Let's get busy."
Boston
Wednesday, April 14th, 2011
11:58AM EST
Downtown
It was barely twelve o'clock when he arrived for his second meeting of the day.
He floated in mid air, watching the man in plated armor across from him pace back and forth across the freshly tarred roof.
"I imagine you can understand my frustration."Bastion said, a pinched expression on his face.
"I think I have an idea."Legend replied, keeping to himself just how much of an understatement that was.
"We've been on edge ever since that night on the fifteenth."He explained, his fists clenching and unclenching,"Nobody knew what was going on and by the time we learned that Chimera had gotten away the whole city was afraid. For three weeks we had to pull triple overtime just to keep the public from panicking too severely. My people were stretched thin and exhausted but we didn't have any other choice; if Chimera decided to make his way over to us, we needed to be ready."
Legend could sympathize, it had been the same in New York.
"When I heard the fucker reappared back in the Bay, I was as relieved as I was pissed."Bastion sighed in exasperation,"All that time, those long hours where I had to basically pump caffiene into my veins just to stay awake, and it turns out he didn't even go anywhere."He shook his head.
"Credit where it's due, he fooled all of us,"He acknowledged,"And he has certainly had his fun over the past few days, but I think it's about time that his game ends."
"Agreed."Legend confirmed,"He's finally stopped running. Instead he's letting himself be seen, sitting in one place."
"I heard. Right on top of Lung's skull. Heh, I thought I would've been more happy to hear that monster get offed."Bastion muttered."So what's the plan?"
"Now that we don't have to waste time looking, we're gonna strike hard and nail him!"Legend exclaimed."He dictated most of his fights, but not this time."
"He's strong."Bastion admitted,"Took down most of the Empire from what I heard."
"He led them into a trap."Legend corrected.
"So he's conniving and powerful, wonderful."Bastion grumbled.
"Like I said, he's done running. Now he's fully prepared to fight head on."Legend assured,"And that's how we're gonna get him."
"Heh, we'll see."He chuckled mirthlessly.
"We can count on your support?"Legend asked hopefully.
"You mean it wasn't obvious already?"He smirked,"Besides the fact that you're my boss, I got a few pissed off capes that would like a word with Frankenstein's monster for all the sleep they had to lose because of him."
Bastion walked right up to the ledge and held out his hand.
"Just say the word sir, whatever you need, it's yours."
Legend smiled and clasped his hand.
Brockton Bay
Wednesday, April 14th, 2011
2:05PM, EST
PRT ENE Division, Director Piggot Office
He had to arrive discreetly for his next meeting. Luckily with his speed it wasn't an issue.
It was here in the office room of Director Piggot that he also met up with Armsmaster and Miss MIlitia. All three of them looked tired and downtrodden, he could understand their feelings, after everything they've been through-and are still going through-it's only natural that they'd be so exhausted, they just wanted this whole nightmare to be over.
He hoped he could make their wish come to pass.
"These last few weeks have been difficult, for you and everyone in this city."He began,"But through it all, you held yourselves together and made the best of what you could in this situation. You've made the PRT and the Protectorate proud with all your hard work-and now I'm here to tell you, it's about to be rewarded."
It wasn't until he said that last bit that the two heroes and director finally perked up.
"What are you saying?"Director Piggot asked pensively-teetering on the edge of hope.
"I'm saying it all ends. Chimera's days of freedom are over."He promised, staring them all in the eye resolutely."I'm organizing a counter-offensive to take him down. I've already gathered capes from New York and Boston, hopefully Chicago too if I can manage and I want you all to be in charge of the operation."
Miss Militia and the Director blinked-he couldn't tell if Armsmaster did with his helmet on.
"We'd be honored sir,"Armsmaster eventually said after the pause,"But what about you?"
"While I'll certainly have a commanding position, I'll be referring to your judgment. You all have faced him, and had to deal with the mess he left behind. You know him best."He explained,"And besides that I know, this is personal for you-after everything you've endured, it wouldn't be right to take away your chance for payback."
The faces of the three before him hardened, a layer of steely determination building over their previously exhausted visages.
"We'll see it done."Armsmaster swore.
"Make it official, and we'll get started right away."Director Piggot said, her face set and ready.
Legend smirked,"I already have."
Brockton Bay
Wednesday, April 14th, 2011
3:47PM EST
Dallon Residence
His final meeting for the day was…painful. Not for him, but his empathy allowed him to feel it nonetheless.
In a nicely furnished living room he sat in a soft yellow armchair, and across from him were the shaded and deathly pale faces of New Wave. Or, what was left of them.
Brandish. Flashbang, Manpower, Shielder and Laserdream.
Two of them, bereft of their daughters, and the other three, without their wife/mother.
None of them looked like they had seen the sun in days, their skin was practically gray, and the dead look in their eyes clued him into just where they were mentally.
He remembered Fleur-how sudden her death was, and how all the momentum of New Wave was halted with it. They had done very little in the cape scene ever since then, and that was just from losing one member. Now they had lost three, and a part of him wondered if there was a future for this team-for this family-after all was said and done.
But that didn't stop him from reaching out.
"I can't imagine what you must be feeling."He admitted, speaking to all of them,"This whole thing is a mess. One your family got caught up in. It shouldn't have happened-and I wish it didn't."
Maybe if he had been given the okay to move in earlier it wouldn't have, but this wasn't the time to drag in his baggage, not with all the anguish that radiated in the room already.
"There's nothing I can say to ease what you're feeling right now. Amy's in the hospital, and we have no way of knowing if or when she'll ever wake up. Serah Pellham and Victoria Dallon died fighting a monster-"He noticed them flinching at their mentions,"-they died as they lived, as heroes. But that doesn't help fill the gap that they left behind. It's not even a cold comfort."
He sighed quietly, calming himself down when he realized he was beginning to lose some of his calm.
"So why are you here?"Manpower croaked weakly, his dour gaze burning a hole through Legend.
"Because,"He replied,"It wouldn't be right if I didn't try to include you. I can't offer you comfort, but I can at least offer you a chance at closure."
He explained his plan to them, and how they would be useful in the coming assault, but most importantly he explained how he was giving them a chance to bring down the source of their families misery-and be he dead or captured, he wanted them to be a part of it.
It was miniscule, but he saw it. First in Eric and Crystal, a tensing, a tightening of the jaw or squeezing the couch. Neil wasn't too far after them-his large hands tightening into deadly fists that were probably surging with electricity. Mark, though he seemed unmoved, had marginally straightened up and was now focusing on him as he spoke. And Carol, her eyes seemed to darken, and a malevolent scowl was beginning to mar her face, brief sparks of plasma leaping out from her hands.
He didn't even need to finish his appeal before Carol interrupted him with a deadly snarl.
"We're in."
"Not bad. Do you think it'll be enough?"
"I don't know. But it doesn't hurt to be extra prepared."
"More ideas?"
"Just a few. I already tested some of them."
"I'd come myself, but I'm currently involved in another mission in Cambodia."Narwhal said over the holoscreen, her face showing her disappointment
"No need to apologize, we're all busy these days."He waved off."Dragon herself was more than enough, but giving us five extra capes is more than I could've expected."
"Dragon was pretty insistent about chipping in, I figured we could be generous. Besides, Chimera's the kind of villain the Guild was made to combat-we should've acted sooner."She sighed while crossing her arms.
"Don't blame yourself, we have enough of that around here."He said, feeling her frustration.
"Still,"She grumbled,"It doesn't help knowing that the only reason we didn't step in was because we thought he had run off to another city. We kept our ears to the ground waiting for any word from anywhere along the east coast but it never came-and by the time we figured it out it was too late."
"Don't worry, we're gonna make the most of his arrogance and make him pay for what he has done."He promised grimly.
"I wouldn't expect anything less."She smiled,"I gotta go, have Dragon contact me if you need anything else."
"Will do."He nodded. The connection ended, Narwhal's face disappearing for a second only to be replaced by a digital avatar of a woman's face.
"Legend, I was calling to let you know, I was able to get what you asked. And a little more,"Dragon said.
"Perfect."He smiled,"What else did you get?"
"Alongside a stockpile of tinkertech weapons I was able to acquire.."
"Very nice."
"I'm hoping that'll cover most of our bases well enough."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Then we'll have to improvise. Any ideas about what you think we might be missing?"
"I'll let you know if I think of anything. Meanwhile, oversee the others and try to keep yourself level headed."
"Will do, thanks again."
"Of course, good bye."
"..."
"...Hello? Doctor, I think now would be a good time for Coil to settle his debt."
Coil sighed in relief when he hung up his phone, lightly shaken from his brief conversation with his…benefactors.
They called to tell him that until the situation was dealt with, the Experiment was on suspension.
And that Legend was constructing an attack on the murderous villain.
In all honesty, he was glad to hear that they were finally allowing outside help to remove Chimera after which, the experiment would continue as normal.
These last few weeks, as well as days, have been frustrating to say the least.
There was only so much one could do when your city is packed tight with National Guardsmen patrolling the streets. Capes were one thing, but fighting the army was a good way to make himself an enemy to the country as a whole. And that would make his plans all but impossible.
So he had laid low, sneaking around and listening to all channels about what was what on every front-using all the spies and moles he had in place until he felt a smidgen of control start to come back to him.
The night that Chimera reemerged into The Bay had thrown that all into disarray.
And while he had certainly saved him the trouble of eventually dealing with the Empire, it didn't make him feel any better knowing that he was still lurking about in Brockton. And it was made abundantly worse when he made it crystal clear a few nights ago after his fight with Lung that he wasn't leaving.
'Why couldn't the Slaughterhouse 9 have just come into town?'He internally complained. At least one knew what to expect with them, meanwhile Chimera had proven to be a true wildcard.
But, with the suspension, now there was a chance to have him removed.
And he apparently was expected to help.
But he couldn't be overt about it, he was instructed to be subtle and not reveal himself. This was supposed to be framed as a major victory for the Protectorate-and any villain involvement would sour the impression.
Annoying, but, the sooner this is done, the sooner he could get back to his ambitions.
But for now, it was time to get to work.
He split the timeline.
In one, he made a call to Director, in the other, to Tattletale.
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x
Can you feel it, we're winding up to something truly awesome.
Anyways, tell me what you think in the reviews, stay safe, have a good night and Happy New Years.