You Know My Name
Sophia could barely make out the blurred shapes of the cityscape as Ray used his power to push them through cars, buildings and trees as they crossed the city. Even in her own breaker form she could pick up momentum every few seconds to build up speed but nothing at this velocity. She could imagine crossing the state in minutes, the country in less than an hour. Was this how he saw the world during fights? Blurs of color, light and dark, how much forethought did it take Ray to successfully navigate a fight without phasing inside of a person or object?
Their trip abruptly ended and her lungs finally pulled a lungful of air. She smelled burnt meat, singed dog hairs, and kicked up dirt and dust. A huge circus tent blocked three of the roads of an intersection in Hellhound's territory. Shadow Stalker hopped out of Dust Devil's arms and loaded tranq darts in both her crossbows.
"FUCK!" the coarse word came with a concussive explosion that forced Shadow Stalker into her breaker state to weather the blast. By the time she materialized to retaliate, Devil was on Barker delivering hard, fast body blows.
She surveyed the rest of the fight and discovered Biter fighting Bunny, the brawler's attacks were slow and easily telegraphed. The vigilante put a bolt into Biter's back the moment it was exposed, and he crashed to the pavement carried forward by an oversized fist. The Bunny woman nodded thanks then pointed out Hellhound kneeling over a mass of burnt flesh, the girl pulled a bulldog free of the charred remains and passed the pet to a young guy and girl who quickly hustled away from the street fight.
Shadow Stalker fired her second crossbow and the bolt glanced off Rachel's jacket. Hellhound stood, gripping a long length of thick chain and turned to face Shadow Stalker.
"You were supposed to be gone", Rachel said then pulled her plastic dog mask down and charged with an animalistic battlecry, chain whipping around over her head. Sophia drew a blade out from behind her back but Devil materialized next to Rachel and his elbow connected with the side of the charging villain's jaw. Rachel bowled over, her momentum had her crash in a heap in the middle of the street.
"Is it- is it over?" From the opening of the circus tent peeked out the Ringmistress of the Circus. She cradled in one of her arms a small jade dragon carving and a gold metal beetle ornament. She sported a swelling eye and busted lip.
"Ya alright, there Miss Torrance?" Sea Bunny called out as she was slipping mostly symbolic restraints around Biter's wrists.
"Hellhound figured out I was coordinating the flying ones so she - got to me during the fight. I told you, I told everyone I'm an artist, we typically perform stage fights!"
Shadow Stalker shrugged at the mewling woman, "Well at least you fought, right?"
"Of course, I and my creations performed as expected. My job was to keep any and all monster dogs busy or disable them. We did both, admirably I may add", Sheila took a small bow and blood trickled from her mouth onto the pavement.
"You all did muy bueno, the first half of your payment has just been transferred to your accounts. I called in medical and PRT pick up teams. Take fifteen to clean up, patch up with the medics and get ready for your next assigned targets. We're off to Skitter's territory", Dust Devil ordered, then materialized next to Shadow Stalker. Sophia sighed and Ray scooped her up and they diffused again.
~~x
Taylor hung her head but lifted her eyes when some of her insects felt fresh movements. She watched a figure appear several yards in front of her while she was cuffed and sitting Indian style in the rubble of the recently destroyed building. Shadow Stalker was being carried like a groom carrying the bride across the threshold by a larger man wearing a brown bodysuit with red, soft looking armor panels. The two were far enough away she couldn't quite catch their exact words but she understood he didn't want to let Sophia down. Shadow Stalker elbowed him in the chest, hopped out of his arms, then fixed her cloak.
Occasionally, Skitter would attempt to have a few insects gather near her but the strange bat creatures would dive bomb the group and snatch them out of the air before they could get near enough.
Shadow Stalker spoke as she reloaded both of her crossbows, "I expected more resistance, more-"
"More buildings destroyed? And there won't be, your mercenary has my people hostage", Skitter responded, her head hung low, mask staring at her cuffs.
Ray looked up and circling the scene from the air above Batty Boom rode Hellion. The beast would shriek anytime any of the territory's residents tried to step outside.
"Your people, please Hebert. You took territory, and they happened to be living or squatting here".
Skitter slowly raised her head and looked up at Shadow Stalker.
"Fuuuu- it is you. I'd recognize that hair and defeated slouch anywhere", Sophia tapped on Ray's shoulder armor and gestured at Skitter. "She's the one I told you about".
Ray cocked his head to the side, "Armor looks badass, Taylor. I'm Dust Devil by the way".
Taylor looked from Sophia to Ray then up to the flying bat, the creature and it's rider were fairly high up but who knows if she or her creatures had enhanced senses or shared sensory stimuli.
"Really? You told him my name, let alone anything else about me, Sophia?"
"Heh, waaaay before we found out about your alter ego. He was pissed when they aired your dirty laundry to us, Skitter", Shadow Stalker hung her pistol style crossbow on a hip carabiner on her belt.
"Pretty sure it was to make sure we didn't try and kill you again this go around", Ray shrugged. "But hey, at least one person in The Protectorate gives a shit about you."
Skitter got to her feet and took a few steps forward holding her cuffed wrists out to the duo, "You don't get it, do you? The system is broken, your Wards and Protectorate are just capes leashed to a shell of a PRT. It's got no teeth, no real authority but to just react to any cape they think hurts their optics. All they do is wield the Triumvirate like a - a sawed-off shotgun pointed at the crowd but eventually someone is going to be too fucking desperate and they won't care who gets hurt when they charge out of the crowd."
Taylor's shoulders felt tight as she finished venting, her breathing erratic. She took a long moment to calm down after her bully and nemesis knew who she was now.
"Wow", Shadow Stalker clapped her free hand against the back of her other hand still holding the crossbow. "When I heard you were Skitter I was mostly just pissed it took you this long to grow a damn backbone. Dust Devil here said it takes real balls to pull the shit you did to get in with the Undersiders. I mean it all went to shit when you went native and joined them, but we've learned what you just said tracks."
Dust Devil nodded in agreement, "Yeah, don't ever plead insanity. It's all sleeping drugs, headless therapists, lap dances you don't want, and family films. The Parahuman Asylum sucks serious porcupine cock."
Sophia continued, "Since you're not resisting, Skitter. We have no reason to kick the everloving shit out of you. We already grabbed another Undersider and people who associated wit-"
Snickering came from seemingly nowhere and the links of Skitter's handcuffs snapped apart.
"Sucks serious porcupine cock", Imp repeated with a laugh as a pair of bolt cutters rested across her shoulders while she stepped back and stood next to Taylor. "I'm stealing that line."
Taylor saw the giant bat creature descend in an awkward arc and crashed into the ground. Batty was thrown off her mount and attempted a tuck and roll maneuver, eventually coming to a stop on her back and laid there coughing. The wind knocked out of her, maybe worse.
"It's a solid mental image", Regent added as he saluted Skitter with his cane. "Sup, dork?"
"Really, Regent?" Skitter turned to Alec, "I had just paid her three times what they were paying. Now we can't use her against them."
"Oopsie daisy", Imp said while she held up a hand in front of her demon mask's grinning mouth, miming surprise to the duo.
"No sweat, Boss", Shadow Stalker and Regent said in unison.
~~x