Beta:omnimercurial
December 26, Sanctuary, Brockton Bay
Clarke raises his head tiredly, glancing towards the sound of the open door. It was Waller. She made her way over, joining him and Price at the dining table.
The three of them shuffled around chairs, taking their places while the fourth chair remained free. Kane would normally have sat there, but he was probably set to stay in his lab with his sister, considering the situation. That change from the norm, allowed Clarke to discuss what is going on with Price and Waller.
"It is wrong," said Clarke and broke the silence. "We should at least try to stop him, before he does something that he might come to regret and that cannot be reversed."
Waller looked at him. As usual, her eyes remains cold, with a tiny spark of hostility in them. It didn't bother Clarke as it had in the past, back when Waller was his boss during the Ellisburg crisis.
"I will not, and we should not let it not be forgotten that Kane is the ultimate leader of Nod. Besides, we can more than make use of an AI, both to aid our coordination and our logistics. We absolutely cannot ignore such a sorely needed advancement."
"For fuck's sake... Waller, he is using his Sister's brain to create that thing!" exploded Clarke.
'It felt wrong, pure and simple. No one should use humans as spare parts, even senseless ones, to do something like this.' His thoughts raced as worry continued to play in his mind.
Waller took Clarke's outburst with the same stoicism she was infamous for, her usual resting bitch face had something of a reputation after all.
"According to the doctor's prognosis, her brain is likely to cease functioning in approximately a year. That is the optimistic outlook, with a good quality of care provided. The girl is his sister, naturally, he is trying to somehow save and preserve a part of her."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You, of all people, should know just how far, some humans are willing to go for their loved ones." She added with a wry tone of voice.
"Fuck you, Waller." Replied Clarke while pointing his finger at her in irritation.
"The situation with Nicole was entirely different, you of all people should know that. You are one of the last people who should be talking down to me about loved ones. People for you are just tools, levers and strings to be manipulated for your agenda."
"We are at war, Clarke. I have never denied my outlook and views on the current world's state, nor my own actions in regard to it, so if you are expecting me to gasp or take offense, you are going to be disappointed."
She calmly took a sip from her drink and regarded him with a cool stare.
"There is no time for emotional outbursts and pointless sentiments. Especially if Endbringers or crazy capes kill everyone. Is an unbothered conscience worth more to you, than innocent people's lives?" Said Waller as she placed her hand on the table.
Tension continued to build...
"Enough" Price's voice stopped Clarke in his tracks, before he could even attempt an answer.
"Yes, it is wrong Clarke, not many will argue with you about that."
Clarke sighed in tiredness.
"Yeah, maybe, but neither of you are willing to do anything about it are you?" He asked rhetorically.
Price leaned back in his chair.
"Because Waller is also right too... In her own way. We are at war Clarke." Emphasised Price with a hand gesture and a sigh.
"You know how it is out there in Brockton and beyond. Countless cities and towns lost to unchecked Parahumans, economic and political crises that are getting worse every year. We all worked for the PRT Clarke, we not only saw that they do not try to improve the situation, we endured their inaction, even as it cost us, friends and family. The only thing they ever do is a band aid, a holding action to pretend that the decline is lesser than it is, deceiving the general public into believing that everything is fine and not as horrible as could be."
Clarke growled frustratedly as he fidgeted in his seat with restlessness.
"So, have we suddenly decided that Kane alone could solve things? He is only one young man, barely sixteen at that Price, I mean, really we only got this far by working together with him for fuck sake!" Uttered Clarke as he looked at Price with contained anger.
Price nodded, waving his hand in the air in a gesture of partial agreement and disagreement.
"Yes, as without Kane we would still be adrift and achieving little. It was only He that made any effort to give us the tools and direction to do what we know is necessary!" Responded Price, his voice rising in volume slowly.
"We are flawed and damaged people twisted yet tempered by events that would have broken or killed many others. Ultimately we are horrible and awful human beings, because sometimes it takes monsters to defeat monsters... So if there has to be monsters, let it be at least a monster with restraint that can do what is required and no more."
Price tapped his fingers upon the table as he considered things.
"Kane knows this too. Maybe his pain and loss forced him to acknowledge the facts, providing a level of understanding I honestly did not expect. It does not, however, mean that he has to do everything alone. This is why we are here together, to help him to keep part of his innocence as long as possible whilst making sure that he does not do something foolish along the way."
Clarke's movements stilled.
"I know... But it doesn't mean that I have to like things as they are. Better to at least speak up and not regret staying silent later." Said Clarke in a low tone as he leaned back in his chair.
Waller steepled her fingers together, her elbows upon the table as she stared the two men down.
"If you are both done, we have other matters of import in need of discussion." Cut in the woman as she looked first at Clarke and then at Price.
Both of the men listened intently.
"I presume that Kane left a message with you before he sent you away?" Asked Price before taking out and lighting up a cigarette, the glowing red tip illuminating his face as smoke wafted lazily around him.
Waller nodded.
"Kane has decided to change the previous plan. Instead of an open conflict, he wants us to take the Archers Bridge Merchants down carefully and silently. For the good of everyone in the city, as while the Merchants still control this part of the city, we would like to delay knowledge getting out of the new vacuum of power... Or the fact that Nod now intends to occupy said imagined vacuum."
Clarke took a drink as Price leaned forwards towards Waller.
"Terms of Engagement re their Parahumans?" asked Price, exhaling smoke.
"Skidmark should be taken care of in a permanent manner, though the Tinker called Squealer, she is to become one of my Assets, mine to toy around and make use of, until I ensure she can lead the remaining Merchants and follow orders... For the Brotherhood. As for Mush? He could be recruited or killed. Kane doesn't really care about our decisions regarding him, so our illustrious leader has left that particular Cape's fate to our discretion."
Clarke raised an eyebrow.
"And I thought you would take almost any Parahuman or Cape for the special project you have in mind for your Squad?" Queried Clarke as he gazed at Waller.
"Usually, I would," said Waller "But it is hard to hide the disappearance of someone like Mush, he is far from subtle, whereas if Skidmark and Squealer drop off the Radar and stop appearing publically for a month or two, no one will notice."
Pierce nodded.
"Plan delta it is then." He concluded as he put his cigarette out in the ashtray on the table.
Clarke looked between the two.
"You already have a plan for this situation?" Asked Clarke inquisitively.
With a smirk, Pierce responded.
"There is always a plan for different scenarios."
It was a standard practice back when he was still enlisted in the special forces, and it was now an almost instinctive habit at this point, no reason not to do the same contingencies as a part of Nod. They already had agents in place and ready to act, just as soon as they received the correct go signal.
"Skidmark will be having a huge New Year party, which makes it the perfect time to take most of the targets down. Mush probably would not be in attendance, however. He prefers to spend his time alone while Skidmark celebrates usually." Waller took out a notepad/tablet device and began to put a holographic map on display the main Merchants Base of Operations.
The trio observed the floor plan and entry points as the hologram rotated in their view above the piece of technology.
"Send Jenkins to negotiate with Mush. Jenkins has a talent for finding a common language with almost anyone," Suggested Price.
Waller seemed to be considering the option thoughtfully.
"How many casualties should we be expecting for our personnel?" Asked Clarke with worry evident upon his face.
"If everything goes alright, none for our forces, the Merchants on the other hand, hmmmmm at least 15 amongst their command structure, I would think. The small-time crooks we already subverted and have working for us. We have staff who would already be attending the coming party. They will be able to prepare some Gifts to make the assault much smoother and with far less risk, enabling a strike on Skidmark and a capture on Squealer." Answered Waller with clear relish in her voice, even if her face carried no emotion.
"Sounds simple", Commented Clarke.
"It is not." Replied Price with seriousness heavy in his voice to emphasise that no one should be getting overconfident.
"The timing for this operation is vital. We need to aim for as close to perfection as we can get. Especially the assassination of Skidmark. He can't be allowed to run away and cause a public fight."
Clarke slowly nodded in understanding, focus more intent now.
"We should add a Team with ten members of the Inner Guard. Just in case something happens to go wrong, they can be a secondary strike to go inside and make sure he is deceased. Though if we can get his Brain intact and on ice quickly enough, we might be able to advance our research and possibly make use of it, a far better candidate for Kane's experimental work, as nobody will miss that particular stain on Sumanity." Suggested Waller in a tone of voice filled with malice and disgust.
"Another Team can go with Jenkins. Sonic grenades and a Sniper Team should be able to take Mush down relatively fast in case he refuses to cooperate"
Price liked this addition to the Plan.
When you deal with Parahumans, then it is crucial to make an effort and go the extra mile in dealing with them.
"There are a few things I can add to the Team's Armour to improve their chances, just in case of things getting messy and loud in the coming Op." Added Clarke to show his support for the plan, his thoughts lingering on Extra Armour and oxygen to deal with Mush if he exploits the more toxic aspects of his power.
"I will inform our undercover agents. They will start preparing as soon as possible." Announced Waller as she slowly stood up.
Price nodded.
"Good, also work on the new name for the Inner Guards. It is far too much of a mouthful to say it each and every time." Concluded Price as he also stood up.
Together Price and Waller departed and made their way to the higher levels of the Base.
Price would need to spend some time with the assigned operatives before sending them out with new engagement orders for the upcoming Mission.
"What a lovely Christmas we now have. Planning how to kill a bunch of deranged criminals." Commented Clarke got lost in thoughts before deciding to go find something a little more potent to drink. Maybe a few shots of Whiskey might improve his mood?
Hello everyone. New chapter, with the help from my new beta reader omnimercurial. After his check chapter looks much better. Trust me on that. I hope you enjoy it, stay healthy and give me some suggestions about a new name for inner guerds. I would like to hear them.
Reviews
: Thank you. I hope you continue to enjoy it.
Blaze1992: Oh, trust me. When people find out about Athena, they will be scared shitless, especially when I finally introduce her to the public. Cry tubes as far as I know don't work with brains or at least not entirely. Remember Kane himself also changed mentally after his time in the tube. It might be because of Cabal influence or because the process wasn't perfect. There is an idea to bring Jessica back, but I am not sure about it.
HolyKnight5: Don't worry. There is a plan for Dany and Tylor. Not sure about killing Dany, but I always might change my mind. This is the thing about writing stories. I know how to start and how to finish it. Everything in between is always changing scenery.
frankieu: Oh he will or Athena will. She is self-learning and always improving AI with access to Scrin AI technology, which are beyond anything human have, but her human part will also play a role.