No Rest For The Wicked
Sleep came easier than she thought it would.
A tiredness, a foreign thing since starting her path, had settled in her bones.
From this week alone she feels like she aged half her age.
So, she welcomed the rest that Sunday had given her.
A moment of peace and pleasure, all alone with her lover, idling the day away.
A lazy day.
Certain moments of physical exertion aside, of course.
However, that physical exertion did allow for another type of tiredness to take hold, but of the good kind, where her belly felt filled with warm ambrosia, where her muscles felt loose like jelly and too disconnected to properly move while her mind became too full of nothing but her lover's caresses to feel anything else but those fleeting moments.
Before Hypnos came for her she relaxed and spent the last few moments of her day interlacing her fingers through her imp's hair. Letting her fingers feel the softness of her shoulder-length dark hair and appreciating how the purple highlights glinted in the moonlight of the open window.
She appreciated with an inner smugness how her lover's skin still trailed a few beads of sweat that they too glinted above a bite mark in their shoulder.
Satisfied with the sight, soon she found difficult to keep her eyes open.
Her night however turned restless.
She was woken up by a nightmare which left the previously warm space beneath the blankets feel cold. Her skin felt clammy and her breathe came in short spurts.
No matter how hard she tried she didn't remember the nightmare.
Trying to shake off a creeping feeling of unease she got off the bed carefully as to not wake up Aisha.
Taylor dropped a kiss on the forehead of the girl nestled in bed, who after mumbling sleepily about guns then noticed the lack of a cuddle partner and instantly grabbed a pillow and cuddled into it.
It was barely morning, so she had to carefully manoeuvre around the room that was only illuminated by the yet faint orange light of coming dawn before leaving the room and heading downstairs.
The converted attic had a steep set of stairs that led to the converted second floor of the warehouse that, after the expansion of the gang, had been remodelled to support the homeless members of the gang. Now that Coil's base had entered their possession the second floor was being remodelled yet again to its original iteration as a sectioned off place for VIP clients of the Last Drop. Thankfully, the remodelling was simply a change of paint and different sets of furniture, so it wasn't that expensive or time consuming. Limited money had discouraged them to further expand and remodel the second floor and now with a new base Taylor was counting her blessings (nevermind the fact that this all thing barely lasted two months and already was going to change again).
When Taylor arrived at the common area that used to be the bar for the VIP's she found Lisa sleeping on the sofa next to a working computer and a half-empty bowl of popcorn. Scoffing silently, Taylor went to an armchair to the sofa's right and gathered a thin but comfortable blue blanket. She unfolded it and let it gently fall on top of the blond girl who burrowed further into the sofa.
Picking up the bowl of popcorn and turning off the computer, Taylor left for the small area were the bar used to be. A small gas cooktop had been added next to the already existing sink and a microwave sat a bit further away on the black countertop. She put the bowl on the counter and covered it with a bit of transparent plastic wrapping. Afterwards, she put the kettle on. Some tea was needed at this point: it's too early in the morning to be up and about without some black tea.
Taylor passed the time on her phone reading up the reports and small updates made by the lieutenants who were on night duty. The club hadn't opened for outsiders so while most dealers had continued their business out on the streets, some had been let out of their usual duties.
From Taylor's research there were four distinct type of drug dealers: the entrepreneurs, those who own the drugs they sell; the dealers, those who are members of gangs that own the drugs they sell; those who sell by consignment independently; and those who are paid hourly to sell drugs. Now from her own personal experience, the new world of parahumans didn't change the business much, but it did give it some more nuance. Namely the gangs usually fully owned the drugs that could be made locally, while the drugs that were more… exotic, like those derived from plants that couldn't be grown in the US were far more expensive. Independent sellers that sold what they owned existed, sure, but no longer existed those that sold what they actually made.
Why? Because a complete monopoly of production and manufacturing had been created.
After capes started showing up and fighting over stuff and territory like angry toddlers with godly powers it wasn't long until one that still had enough brain cells to produce a thought figure out that the real source of money was not the distribution of drugs, especially since international trade became more and more dangerous, but the making of drugs. That led to massive search for chemists and moonshiners and whatever other poor idiot that had skills with a beaker. It was like a witch hunt but instead of burning them at the stake you were holding them hostage for them to make you potions.
It was no wonder that in Winslow that one nerd that did well in Chemistry and got straight A's disappeared from school before graduating to college only to show up in the morgue a year later having, apparently, joined the Merchants. How? Certainly not willingly if the reported signs of malnutrition and abuse were any indication.
Anyway… The usual data that was reported of that night's and yesterday's revenues were already being compiled from the multiple records that Taylor obligated her people to make.
Usually, something between 50.000 to 120.000 dollars were made monthly from non-tinkertech drugs. With a kilo of cocaine about 10.000 to 15.000 bags can be made to distribute with a neat price tag of 10 dollars. To actually calculate the monthly profit, however, you need to subtracte from that amount the costs of packaging (1% of the actual cost of the drug), production and "cutting" and then divide it between the salaries of the dealers, producers and security.
In terms of wages, dealers and producers received about $700 per month, not bearing the bonuses that they might receive depending on how much they sold or made that month. Zaun's dealers also had hazard pay in case they got caught by rivals or by newbie heroes or vigilantes and if they did get caught and beaten up healthcare was given personally by Taylor, so all in all it was pretty good job to do in between an actual legal job in order to supplement an individual's normal income. And since securing the goods was probably the most important part in the business around 2.000 dollars were paid to those with experience or just enough courage to stand still with a gun while other people manage the drugs or extorte people and then actually stand ground and shoot people when trouble inevitably issues.
Plus, if you take into account other indirect expenses like food, amenities and the purchase of guns and ammo, then the final amount of profit is even smaller.
There was also the need to deduct the amount lost from those that "came up short" with the drugs they had. But the punishment for that is Aisha's domain.
Tinkertech drugs were another business completely, however. Since Taylor was the single source of these type of drugs in Brockton Bay she had full monopoly of its pricing. Sure, Blasto could make a few drugs if he wanted to and do to Brockton what she was doing to Boston, but did you really want to come down a high with a new appendage that you didn't have before? No!
The commercial formula of Shimmer sold for 30$ per syringe, thanks to the machines Taylor had created that produced so much so easily. The non-commercial formulas were sold individually and personally either by Duchess or by Imp and the prices ranged from 100$ to 500$. The medical variant was the most expensive per syringe second only to the physical enhancement formula. Those beneath Zaun's banner received a heavy discount in both when they came to her to buy it. Even the civilians that were only inside their territory despite the fact that they had to use it in front of her so that the formula wouldn't be leaked. It also had been decided recently that a quarter gram of Spice will be sold for 50 to 70 dollars depending on the amount that she had produced that month.
Business was booming, like never before.
And it was also getting harder to control.
But Taylor had the impression that these were simple birthing pains and after a while of expanding the business, it will settle and fit comfortably in the new space it had created for itself in society.
Killing the Empire's main connection to Gesselchaft solved the international supply issue, at least for a while, until it was inevitably re-established but after that she would have the market already cornered. If she was quick she might even evade any serious repercussion from the german nazi organization. The problem was dealing with whatever comeback the E88 cooked up. Besides Krieg, two of them were already in PRT custody… Maybe next encounter with them should be to disrupt the inevitable jailbreak.
ABB response…
Delayed. And if stirred only Oni Lee would be the one showing up.
Now, the PRT and New Wave… What a delightful complication. What new wrench could she throw at them?
Perhaps… She couldn't be that evil, surely? What sort of reaction would it spark?
But Taylor sighed disappointingly.
Nah, both projects were still in the works. And despite signs of progression, she seemed to have hit some sort of obstacle in trying to improve both of them further. It was not her bloody fault that squishy stuff was only tangentially in her speciality.
She could simply release her drone somewhere public and make it cause a riot. Make it act as a distraction. A distraction for what, though? Another engagement, perhaps? Maybe make it a distraction for the PRT while she dealt with New Wave, or the reverse.
She was taken from her train of thought by the sound of the kettle.
After making a piece of toast to accompany the hot beverage, she settled down to watch the sun rise from the makeshift kitchen table.
After eating the very light breakfast she decided to go for a bit of exercise so went to dress herself properly back in their room.
Ω
You wake up with your head burrowed into a soft pillow with something wet near your cheeks.
With a sudden shock of realization, you bolt straight and try to wipe whatever drool was coming out of your mouth as quickly as possible. After checking if everything else was fine and the drool was clean you take a look around the room.
The morning sun was lighting up the empty room showing the discarded clothes randomly strewn about and the dishevelled bed you were resting on. The room was small, being built among the rafters of the warehouse as an access to the roof, but the large window and the cream colours of the walls made the space more open and welcoming. An inbuilt set of lockers on one side served as a wardrobe and on the right side of the bed was small working desk that was brought from the old apartment that Taylor had rented months ago. A few frames were hanging on two walls of the compartment showing both of their families and a couple of photos taken during these last few months. Predominantly, the most recent one hanged to the right of the door to downstairs showing the entire gang including Urgot who, as Taylor's greatest creation so far, had been forcefully included.
Taking notice of your naked body, you groggily move yourself to get dressed to go downstairs. Picking a random selection of black clothes (a black jeans short shorts and a black top) and putting your feet in a pair of flip-flops, you decide that is good enough and go your merry way.
Going downstairs you notice a presence in the sofa slumbering away. A blonde head of hair peeking out from underneath the blue blanket giving an obvious clue to who it is. Disappointed that Taylor wasn't here to have breakfast with you, you move to make some coffee for yourself.
After assuring yourself that yes, you did put enough sugar in the cup. No, it didn't need more chocolate milk and that yes you could put an extra pinch of barley coffee in this unholy mixture and no there was no need for whiskey in it so early! What do you mean it's always 6PM somewhere? It's dawn here, though!
Huffing despondently at your dissenting thoughts you take regular sips of the imp-made coffee as you prepare some toast. Putting the cup down randomly on the countertop to get the bottle of honey that. Must. Be. Here. Somewhere! HA-HA! You wiggle your way out of the bottom cupboard, victoriously wielding the honey that will soon be put to toast and be tasted by your tastebuds.
As soon as you start putting the honey to the toast, humming a nonsensical song as quietly as possible while you are at it, you almost cut the toast in the middle with the blunt side.
Why? Because of the sight that just entered into your eyeballs.
Walking slowly while on the phone towards, apparently, their room, was Taylor dressed in sports clothes.
You unwittingly had your power unleashed so she wasn't registering your presence letting you enjoy the sight of her wearing skimpy gym clothes.
The beautiful hair put on a bob letting you see her fully exposed neck with a very noticeable hickey. The muscled arms that held you tight just last night. The up-and-coming six-pack partially hidden beneath the massive set of scars on her right side. The devastating shorts that showed muscled legs that went all the way up.
You saw her fully naked already, but by the Gods, that doesn't mean you had enough.
Breaking yourself from your daze, you leash your power back in control and lightly cough as to announce your presence.
Taylor flinched a bit and quickly turned around only for her glare to soften when it settled on you. She wasn't as constantly aware as usual which you hoped meant that she was able to unwind with yesterday's events.
"Good morning, beautiful." You say slyly, cocking your hips slightly. "Come here often?"
Taylor smirked, letting her eyes roam over you up and down.
"Good morning to you too." Then she abruptly stopped her roaming eyes and shot you an amused look. "I didn't think you would be so forward?"
"I mean…" You stutter loudly. "I wans't-! But…?"
"You let the church's door open while going commando."
You stay there a bit trying to decipher her words only for the meaning to hit you suddenly and violently. As quickly as physically possible, while also ignoring the blush enflaming your face, you zip up your short shorts. Trying to calm yourself from your embarrassment you pick up your hellish concoction and take a sip of it like nothing happened.
"Let's pretend I seduced you thanks to my awesome pick-up skills and ignore all that, shall we?"
"Aww. Well, let's not ignore it and we can say it was a calculated preview instead."
You pout.
Taylor approaches you languidly, her eyes iridising the room in eerie light. You get the urge to fidget like you were under watch of a predator higher in the food chain but you refrain from doing so. She's nose to nose to you when she finishes her approach and the need to close the distance wells up inside you as she speaks slowly.
"You know? You should be overjoyed really, because despite how unconventional it was, it certainly worked."
"Cough, cough!"
You both jumped from the sudden sound interrupting the moment.
Looking at the offending source of the sound you can't help but pout at the unamused gaze that was groggily directed at them.
"Can you guys not do this right now, this early?" Lisa interjects in a rough I-just-woke-up-from-a-death-like-sleep type of voice.
Taylor is the first to disengage and move away from you.
"I'm sorry for waking you up, Lisa." She apologizes.
"Yeah, sorry about that." You demure.
Lisa scoffs in a dismissive manner before turning around towards the front of the sofa and resettle the blue blanket on top of her. With a content huffing sound, her breathing quickly stabilized and she was out like a light.
"I want to take a bath…" Taylor suggests in a whisper.
"Hmm, me too." You say suggestively.
"Well, there's only so much hot water we can use…"
"Would be a waste to do use the bathroom twice."
"..."
"..."
"I'll eat this quickly."
"I'll be waiting, then."
Ω
The opportunity to enjoy the rest of Monday went out the window by the cold realization that Aisha still had to go to school. Taylor's online college classes that she enrolled after finishing her G.E.D. in December had also begun so at least she wouldn't be unoccupied enough to get bored.
That was one of the things about being a gang boss: 80% was of the time it was a lot of nothing happening and then the rest was a lot of everything happening all at once.
The decision of enrolling in college classes, despite them just being online, was partially for sentimental reasons. Taylor was the daughter of a college professor who had been a militant feminist and a socialist ex-rioter that managed a Union for almost a decade, so the urge to educate herself and the desire to be better that was instilled in her didn't exactly disappear after faking her suicide and disappearing from society. It wasn't very difficult to create a new identity (plus an entire fake background) and enrol at college. With Tattletale on the team, she was even able to smooth out a few irregularities in her fake I.D. and a few other kinks on her new persona so any problems that could've come up no longer would. For the rest contact lenses, make up, a different hairstyle from her usual and a bad desktop camera took care of masking her identity as extra protection.
When they finally ended their shower and got dressed properly for the rest of the day, Lisa was already up and about blearily sipping coffee with her eyes closed in an expression of dazed satisfaction. Aisha already had her backpack ready since the majority of the stuff for school she kept in her locker, so she simply kissed Taylor goodbye, and needled her finger in between Lisa's ribs on her way out, cackling at the yelp the blond let out.
After 3 hours of the classes that she had scheduled for Monday, Taylor went back to her lab two floors down. After entering the passwords to turn down the usual electronic defences plus two keys for the locks, Taylor dressed in her usual lab garb and proceeded to work through yesterday's batch of crystals that were refined and had left to mature during the necessary 24 hours that were needed to stabilize Spice.
It was Spitfire, dressed in her civilian identity as Mary, that dragged Taylor out of the lab and forced her to dress as a civilian so they could go eat lunch to one of the restaurants inside their territory. The one they went was the closest and was run by a gay zaunite couple who sought protection under their aegis in exchange for providing food to the members who went there. A little deal made by Spitfire so that the homeless and the poorer members could actually eat hot meals after she heard of a mom working in distribution not eating so she could give food to her two sons. Thankfully, Zaun wasn't as ruthless as they could be so if the costs got too much for the couple Spitfire would cover the extra expenses. Also, thankfully, since the thing was run by members Taylor could go there without her costume on even if they had to ask for a private booth in the end.
When the nice plate of pasta was completely eaten, and the ice cream fully appreciated Taylor practically ran back to the lab with an exasperated Mary at her side.
Despite working the next hour on her joint project with Cranial, who complained the entire session away about his new round of orders that were made to Toyshop, filling the lab with his southern accent through her speakers, she ended the early afternoon in a surprisingly good mood.
Of course, her good mood was promptly ruined when she went to move on to her next project and she was startled out of her musings by shouting.
"Boss! Boss? Boss! Ah! There you are! You have to come quick!"
Interrupted so rudely and suddenly her hand spasmed trying to get the gun hidden in her lab coat but at least she managed to calm down before actually withdrawing it and shooting the intruder. Turning around she noticed that it was Jack fretting right by the limit that separated her lab from the rest of her office.
"What is it, Jack?"
"One of our depots is being attacked!"
The phrase was barely out of his mouth and Taylor was already getting her lab coat off and going to her desk to put her costume on. Seeing this Jack turned around but continued speaking unheeded.
"The one by Williamson's Street! We got a few of our rookies inside managing the packaging when the spotter told them that flyers were flying by. They did as protocols state, but it was too late! They were still able to radio in before the attack about the situation, though."
"So, the attackers already knew the depot's location?"
"Seems so."
"Whose turn was to watch the packaging in that depot?"
"Regent's."
"Shit. Were they able to identify the flyers?"
"Nope. But there aren't that many in the Bay to begin with."
"An entire family plus a few more"
"Not that many."
Finally dressed, Duchess's distorted voice resonated through the room as she activated the winged copper drone and put the last of her accessories in. The thing came out of its holding place and had two black wing-like additions in its frame that came out in a I-am-here manner.
"Who is able to come?"
"Grue and Imp are unavailable today. Spitfire is already on her way to give aid as she was put to watch over the depot by South Avenue today. Bitch is also on her way there. Tattletale is already waiting upstairs and Urgot is already leaving the bunker."
"Trainwreck?"
"Too far away. He went to check on the Trainyard for extra stuff."
"Well, we'll make do with who we have."
The run to Williamson's Street was not a quick endeavour as they were land bound but Jack's motorcycle was being to put to good use as Duchess and Tatts broke several transit laws to get there. Thankfully, the drone was able to keep up leaving a small trail of pink clouds whenever it sped up.
Berating herself for not having quicker means of response, Taylor made a mental note to invent something that would allow her and her allies to fly. Maybe something using the propulsors from her drone? Anyway, that should take priority from then on.
A street over from their objective she let Tattletale off the bike so she could hide and observe the attack from afar.
Duchess left the bike as well and started running to the depot while the drone followed her.
She couldn't keep in the groan that escaped her as she saw one of the people who were attacking the depot.
"Fucking Barbie…"
Nevertheless, she didn't hesitate in joining the fray.
Making sure that nobody was around her to watch or attack her she proceeded to pick something from her pocket. The following motion was to stab herself in the leg. The needle of the syringe went deep into her right leg and as she felt the coolness of the Shimmer spread through her veins. Not willing to discard the syringe in a public setting she put it back inside her pocket and prepared herself for the fight.
Almost crouching she breathed in deeply and then she jumped. She cleared the height of the small building but barely, having to vault over the protective railing that surrounded the roof of the building.
Spotting a tall man in a costume she took out her gun and started shooting at the closest target. Before the bullets could connect, the small pipsqueak flying on top of said target reacted faster and raised a bubbly shield around Manpower who despite seeming surprised to be interrupted mid-monologue didn't flinch at the bullets hitting the shield. He immediately reacted, however, running at her far quicker she thought possible for a middle age man. There is a saying about old people in a profession where most die young.
She barely had time to raise her cane sword with her left hand and dodge to his right. With a sweeping gesture her sword grazed the right side of his stomach, but not actually hurting him, so instead she moved to his back and used his momentum against him. With a spartan kick she threw him off the roof.
Not waiting to see if he landed okay, Duchess turned around and continued on her way.
Glory Girl was the first to arrive in her line of sight and Duchess decided to make quick work of her. Activating the Shimmer aspect of her blade, she sent two purple blasts of cutting energy at her while shooting twice at the same time. The blonde superhero dodged the first blast and, with a closed fist, dismissed the second but either didn't care or didn't notice the pot-shots Duchess made after sending the blasts and her shield got hit with a bullet but the second one penetrated her shield and hit her left arm. The quick succession of attacks had fully realized their objective.
With a cry of pain, Glory Girl fell from the sky to the roof clutching at her arm.
"No, Victoria! YOU!"
Being suddenly grabbed by the throat by a very enraged mother was not a very nice experience but Duchess was nothing if not unyielding. Through a painful rasp, she decided to channel her bitchy side and comment on the situation.
"Harder mommy."
With a flinch of utter disgust Brandish was distracted from the fact Duchess was still armed and dangerous. With a sudden gun to the face and a sword through her gut she let the villain go as she screamed in pain and landed on the roof just like her daughter. Duchess could've simply speared her through with her sword, but she knew Brandish had the ability of making herself invulnerable at the cost of mobility and being choked while locked in place by both her hand and her shield was not a good prospect for the villain. Shocking people and throwing them off was always the best option when faced with situations like that.
As soon as Duchess's feet touched the roof of the building she pounced to the next target in her way.
She had yet to know of Regent's location and she hoped to reach the depot that was located in the building directly opposite to the one she was on top of so she could regroup and help her allies.
Unfortunately, before she could reach the end of the roof she was hit on her side by a laser blast which sent her into the tiled roof of the neighbouring building.
Momentarily almost blacking out by the blast, only the Shimmer running through her made her capable of not becoming paraplegic by the hit.
Shit, she thought dizzily, the entirety of New Wave… maybe it wasn't a good idea just to jump into the fray.
She coughed once. Drops of colourful blood hitting her costume.
Where's the drone?, she tried to think.
Through her daze she heard a young-ish voice coming from above.
"Surrender now or else!"
Duchess scoffed.
"I choose the third option." She gasped while righting herself up.
In front of her stood a girl a bit older than her wearing a multi-coloured bodysuit with a comet motif. Her blond hair was styled in a coquettish sweep to the right side of her face and had a red hairband holding the look in place.
"And what's that?" Laserdream asked pointedly.
"I get pay back."
With a sudden thud of metal hitting flesh, the copper drone rocketed into the girl's right side launching her into the street below.
With a quick motion of her now empty right hand the drone took its orders and quickly settled in her arm. With the copper of its underside opening a space for her she deftly positioned herself like she was using a shotgun and aimed at the battlefield.
The two streets and the buildings between were now a fully fledged battlefield. Urgot had arrived at some point and was managing Manpower as both brutes carved the street apart. Glory Girl was now at her mom's side who was picked up from the roof and moved away with great speed. Lady Photon was attacking the depot while Shielder protected her from the guns aiming at her from inside that building. Flashbang was nowhere to be seen which worried Duchess.
Taking but a single moment of thought she aimed the drone weapon at Lady Photon and fired it. She was hoping of granting her people inside a bit of relieve from the woman's attack. Shielder, surprisingly, flailed in his suspended flight taking away his concentration but unfortunately, he didn't drop the shield he was holding in place. Nevertheless, every second counted in battle, so he didn't notice the sudden rocket hitting his mother in the back. The sudden violent explosion made them both fall to the street below hitting the pavement rather hard.
After the explosion went off, her attention was taken by a blond wearing a mocking mask coming to the window of the depot and yelling at her.
"The earpieces! Wear them you daft bint!"
"Oh…" She softly let out. "Right…" She felt immensely embarrassed that in her rush to fight she forgot to put on the earpiece that would connect her to Tatts.
Feeling for her inner pocket she went for the tiny object and placed it in her ear. Almost immediately she was bombarded with sound.
"-INKING?! DUCHESS?"
"Yes?" She answered sheepishly.
"What the hell?" Lisa asked both angry and worried.
"I-"
Before she could fully answer, her attention was taken again this time by two other things at the same time. One was Laserdream who disengaged from momentarily helping Manpower with Urgot, both seeming to be having trouble with the other, and coming to her for a second round after seeing her mom and brother blown up. The second thing was Glory Girl who returned to the battlefield after briefly leaving with her mom, probably to wherever Panacea was hiding. The blonde barbie was going straight for her in a mad rush.
"Fuck you!" Laserdream yelled as she also flew like a maniac straight to Duchess while having a large amount of light charging in her fist.
"No, thank you. How about you go fuck with somebody else?" With a click and a mechanical whoosh her drone detached from her arm and immediately readied itself to release what had become the best formula of Shimmer she had made so far for proactive combat.
Proudly releasing its black wings, the drone let out a large cloud of a pinkish red gas that was so concentrated that it rained beneath the cloud and quickly enveloped the battlefield. As they were flying too quickly to just stop both girls tried to diverge their path, despite the fact they wouldn't suffer from the laws of physics since their powers would protect them from it. Despite their new flight route they still got gassed by the Shimmer and the effects showed immediately because their paths changed again this time to each other. Manpower was also hit by the cloud while Shielder and Photon Mom were already incapacitated on the street to her right.
Urgot was backing away as quickly as possible because despite being able to be inside the cloud unaffected, he didn't want to continue being Manpower's target.
This worked because the hero turned around to the direction of his daughter and niece. Both girls were locked in a rather intense fist fight with Glory Girl almost knocking the other girl out if not for Laserdream's quicker reflexes. Laserdream seemed to quickly get fed up with her cousin and sent a giant bright blast of laser straight in her face knocking Glory Girl out. Laserdream turned around and flew down to her father trying to pummel him into the ground. But Manpower was stronger and after a damaging punch straight to her belly he proceeded to fully tackle his daughter and in a surprising move suplex-ed her into the road. Seeing her fully unconscious Manpower changed targets.
Thankfully not to Duchess but to the quickly approaching and fully armed and fully pissed-off Brandish.
"Neil! What the hell are you doing?"
Manpower ignored her and went to a sewer grate on the road. With prodigious strength he ripped it from the gound and threw it like a frisbee at Brandish. Brandish met it with a hardlight shield that made no sound meeting the metal frisbee that was thrown like a cannonball. Unfortunately for Brandish while the gas had already dissipated, the Shimmer coating the ground still left visible plumes of pink smoke so she couldn't drop to the ground or maneuver into certain areas all while trying to deal with a berserk Manpower that seemed to spark static shock all around him. All this made her attention fully occupied and she was unable to help her family who was unconcious all around the battlefield.
Fortunately for Duchess however the drone's usage of the gas allowed Regent and her people enough time to leave the building with everything essential that they had there except the drugs. Lisa's voice was narrating what Regent needed to do for those: drop the goods inside waterproof bags down the sewer grate which the water would bring to where the sewer met the sea and then close the grate and then evacuate the building and fucking scatter.
Duchess tasted iron and honey in her mouth.
Trying not to cough she attempted to swallow what was in her mouth despite knowing drinking blood brought several health problems of the intestinal kind but she didn't want to cough up more DNA in the middle of a cape fight. She was already turning around to see where she landed when she was hit by Laserdream's blast to see if anything was there. But nope, what she coughed out she had done so on her costume.
Duchess tasted her own blood again.
Duchess ignored the pain in her side and jumped down from the building but not before taking one last look to the heroes who were busy fighting each other.
This… what a fucking disaster.
She added another mental note: make countermeasures for flyers.
Hitting the road with a roll she moved quickly to where she left Tatts and the motorbike.
As soon as she rounded a corner to an alley she found Tattletale looking very not amused. Ignoring her for now she mounted the bike with Tatts siting behind her.
Getting back to base took a bit of work. They had to enter an abandoned garage and chang to their civies and then go by foot to the depot that wasn't hit and then move on to the Last Drop. All this while Lisa gave Taylor the silent treatment.
When they finally arrived, Lisa went straight to Taylor's office and sat down on one of the sofas.
"You're mad."
"A bit yes." Said Lisa with a nod.
Before they could converse further, Regent entered the office with a lazy gait and immediately dropped onto the biggest sofa, belly down, seemingly utterly spent.
"The rookies already went to get the goods that we sent by the sewer."
"Thank you, Alec."
"Hmhm, better get hazard pay for this."
"Do you take Aleph exclusive videogames?"
"Yes. Yes I do."
A moment of silent later and the only noise in the room is Alec's soft snores as he naps.
"When Aisha gets here we are gonna have a talk about your newfound recklessness."
"… I am already dreading it."
I AM ALIVE!
There you have it: the plot moves forward!
And what the f*ck is New Wave doing being so proactive out of nowhere?
Just to really tell you guys that the 3rd person POV was still with Taylor's perspective in mind so not all the info of what actually happened is there.
The reason this past month I was silent is beacause I got infected by COVID and then when I finally recuperated I got shit thrown at me that kept me pretty busy.
Life really threw me a fucking boomerang, as in: it quickly got out of hand, swifly left my line of sight and then hit me in the back of the head out of nowhere.
Love ya'll 3
