Chester Chapter 6 (OR: The Lull Before the Storm)
A Week later
Director's Meeting
"Play the recording." Alexandria directed Dragon. She, and every other Protectorate and PRT Branch Leader, was here again to go over the new Tinker in Brockton Bay, after his announcement a week previously. The reason it was being done now was because of the exhaustive checks that the PRT ENE Building had been through as a result of the intrusion.
Wordlessly, Dragon played the clip. Thanks to her connections inside the building, the broadcast had been recorded in high-fidelity by her emplaced systems.
On screen, a man appeared, wearing what looked like a white straitjacket-like overcoat, with a chain reaching from his high-collar to his gloved left hand. His right hand was more visually striking, as it was a brass claw, with what looked like razor-sharp blades on its long fingers. On his head was a helmet with a blank faceplate, aside from two ruby eyes.
"Oh dear..hello? Is this thing on?" the figure said in a gentle, kind voice, leaning forward slightly. "It is? Well, that's good."
Straightening up, the man inclined his head at the camera. "Greeting to all who live in Brockton Bay. I am the Tinker responsible for the Original Seven...that is, the robots which intervened against the terrible actions of the Empire a few days ago. I am The Comrade, and I seek nothing more than peace."
Raising the claw, he swept it in a gesture as he spoke. "While I deplore violence, my abilities as a Tinker allow me to create some, if I am allowed to toot my own horn, rather impressive robotic combatants. Still, I have kept from intervening in the affairs of those outside of my laboratory...at least until I discovered the goings on in Brockton Bay."
Here, he lowered his claw and shook his head slowly, affecting an air of sadness. "Miss Taylor Hebert was being bullied, quite abominably, by three people whose names I shall forbear from mentioning. I rescued her in order to ensure she was able to recover from her ordeal in quiet contemplation. I rescued Miss Emma Barnes for much the same reason."
The Comrade paused and sighed. "I had not, unfortunately, foreseen that the security of the PRT ENE building was so abysmal that the Empire 88 would discover the identity of the ringleader behind Miss Hebert's bullying, or that they would exercise such...drastic actions as they did. It is for that reason that I deployed the full might of the Original Seven in order to aid in quelling the violence. I deeply regret that any injuries or deaths occurred, but, if I may be so bold, you should ensure that your personnel are not in the pay of the villains, now, shouldn't you?"
"At any rate, both Miss Hebert and Miss Barnes are fully recovered from their ordeals, so I shall be returning them to their families." the clawed man stated after a moment. "Kindly do not pester them with inane questions about my base and technology; in the latter's case, how could two ordinary teenage girls know anything about Tinkertech? In the former's case, I have ensured they know nothing about my base save from the suite of rooms they are in. They know neither layout or location of my base, so would you kindly not upset them?"
Looking aside to something off-screen for a moment, the man then returned his attention to the camera. "Well, that about wraps up everything I have to say. As I said at the start of this broadcast, I seek only peace. I hope that in time, the Protectorate and I can come to a mutually agreeable partnership on some matters. For the moment, however, I shall return to my solitude. Farewell."
The screen became filled with what was presumably The Comrade's symbol, a stylized claw over a grill of some kind.
"Well...that was interesting." Legend said at last, breaking the silence.
"Interesting? The bastard was downright condescending." Cinereal snorted.
"What became of the two girls? Miss Hebert and Miss Barnes?" Chevalier asked.
"The two were delivered outside the Barnes Family Home by the same robot which defeated Purity, codenamed 'Dann', which then returned to wherever The Comrade's base is." Armsmaster answered. "Medical tests have shown they both are unharmed and seemingly not altered by their time in the hands of this new Tinker."
"'Seemingly'?" Director Armstrong asked.
"The doctor who examined Miss Barnes and Miss Hebert, the one on-call for the Dockworker's Association, has denied the PRT and Protectorate from anything further, citing that to divulge anything other than that they are both healthy and intact would violate Doctor-Patient confidentiality without a proper reason." Director Piggot stated. "Alan Barnes has also refused to allow us to interview his daughter or Miss Hebert in a less-formal manner, citing that we have 'done quite enough to damage his family as it is'."
Winces abounded at that last part.
"How was 'The Comrade' able to access the PRT ENE Building?" Alexandria asked.
"As Clockblocker and the first-responder technician suggested, the electronics were remotely hacked via the television antenna." Armsmaster began. "Through that vulnerability, they were able to circumvent approximately ninety percent of the safeguards that Dragon and I had emplaced against electronic intrusion."
"Seems unlike you to allow something like that exist." Legend commented.
"I told him not to." Piggot admitted. "I believed that such a level of electronic fortification was unnecessary, and that he was being overly cautious and pedantic. I will admit that this incident has proven me gravely wrong."
"The vulnerability has been plugged?" Eidolon asked.
"As have several others." Armsmaster growled. "Close inspection of some components from the original installation in the PRT Building has revealed numerous deliberate alterations that exposed certain sections of the intranet to remote access. I am currently working up a plan to inspect similar areas of the system on The Rig in case they exist there as well."
"How is that possible?" Horizon, leader of the Anchorage Protectorate, asked in disbelief.
"A question I intend to find the answer for with alacrity, Horizon." the Tinker grated. "All of the tech in question were installed at dates which predates my assignment as leader of the Protectorate, and even of any Tinker being assigned to the ENE Protectorate. Someone has been spying on our operations here for at least a decade, if not more. Dragon is supplying parts to replace the ones in the PRT Building, as well as the Rig, should it prove necessary. Thank you, Dragon."
"Think nothing of it." the world's greatest Tinker replied modestly. "What concerns me is that no one had any idea that this infiltration had taken place until we had cause to examine equipment that is in hard-to-reach areas that are rarely maintained."
"None of the gangs have the influence, now or back then, to pull this kind of long term gambit, nor is it the usual MO of the Elite." Piggot stated with a frown. "In order to accomplish this sort of ground-up undermining and infiltration of our systems, it would have taken someone inside of the National PRT's own infrastructure to accomplish, at the very least."
"Agreed." Director Armstrong nodded. "I know I'm going to be ordering some strict checks on my hardware after this meeting, dunno about the rest of you."
That provoked a wave of agreement from the other Directors and even most of the Protectorate Team Leaders. Bastion had his arms crossed and looked mulish at the idea, while the Triumvirate just kept silent.
"I think it would be wise to do so." Chief Director Costa-Brown stated neutrally before moving the topic along. "Emily, has there been any movement from the Empire Remnant since their failed attempt to break out Kaiser and the others?"
"No, none." the overweight woman shook her head. "In fact, the remaining members seem to have ceased working in concert with one another; Krieg and Alabaster haven't been seen since, while Fenja and Menja seem to be founding a small gang run by the pair of them. Crusader is the odd one out in that he's acting entirely alone. As for unpowered members, without Kaiser to lead them, they are floundering. The police are, rather gleefully, mopping them up wholesale now that the Capes are no longer a part of the equation. The Empire 88 is officially no more."
"Good. That organization has been a stain on our shores for decades." Director Wikens said gruffly. "Hopefully, without a patsy to use as cover, Gelleschaft won't stick their noses in over here."
"There are still some fascist organizations across America, mostly in backwoods areas, but none of them are nearly as well entrenched or well established as the Empire was." Legend noted. "Any plans for the Gelleschaft to expand will have been set back by a considerable margin."
"Is it possible that they'll try reaching out to Fenja and Menja?" Director Seneca asked.
"Possible, but unlikely. The Gelleschaft prefer to co-opt already-established gangs." the Watchdog representative answered. "There's no telling how long the Twins will be able to keep themselves afloat in Brockton Bay, especially with the Azn Bad Boyz having an axe to grind with them."
"I believe keeping a weather eye on them would be wise." the Chief Director said evenly. "What are they calling their gang, Emily?"
"The Ettin, I believe." Piggot replied.
"The what?" Tagg asked.
"An Ettin is a giant with two heads." Armsmaster supplied. "It references how the Twins are equally in command of the gang, as well as their Giantification powers."
"Surprisingly smart. I was under the impression that Fenja and Menja were just Kaiser's arm candy." Director Hearthrow snorted.
"Who knows. Anyway, to return to this Tinker, The Comrade, we need to find out what those two girls know about his base." Eidolon said impatiently.
"I would suggest a soft approach." Armsmaster stated. "Miss Militia is more likely to get anything out of them, plus she can empathize with them as a fellow female. Bearing in mind that the ENE department is likely going to be sued by Alan Barnes for Shadow Stalker's actions against his family, not to mention her actions against Taylor Hebert, I think being polite and professional is the best way forward here."
"Agreed. Have Armsmaster's plan adopted immediately." the Chief Director ordered. "Piggot, I want Shadow Stalker in Los Angeles ASAP. She's too useful to discard, but also too much of a problem child to go without strict supervision. I trust that the lax members of the PRT who enabled her have been suitably dealt with?"
"The best job that her former supervisor will be able to get is a job flipping burgers." the ENE Director replied bluntly.
"Good. Alexandria, Shadow Stalker is in your hands now. Ensure that the little psychopath knows that one step out of line means a permanent assignment to one of the Containment Zones." the hard woman stated firmly.
"Understood." the Flying Brick nodded sharply. "Will her family be an issue?"
"Her mother signed a waiver, handing her over to our custody until she turns 18." Piggot replied. "The electronic copy will be with you once this meeting ends, while Shadow Stalker's escort will pass over the physical copy to you upon handover."
"Very good." the woman nods. "Rest assured, if she acts up, I'll come down on her like a ton of bricks."
Later
Living Room, Hebert Residence
"...and the next thing I know, I'm waking up on the couch in Uncle Alan's living room." I finish telling my (concocted) story to Miss Militia, under the wary eye of my Dad and Uncle Alan.
"I see. Thank you, Miss Hebert." the bandanna-masked woman noted as she clicked off the recorder. "That was a nice, concise report you gave me. I wish all witnesses were so succinct."
"I kinda figured the PRT would eventually manage to persuade Dad to let me be interviewed, so I thought everything through." I replied truthfully.
Miss Militia's eyes crinkled in a smile. "Well, you got everything sorted nicely by the sound of it. On behalf of the PRT and Protectorate, thank you for your assistance."
"No problem." I answered, with a small blush. I kinda felt bad about deceiving Miss Militia, but needs must and all that jazz.
"Can I ask what is being done about the...person...who attacked my family and friend?" Alan asked with a moue of distaste as he brought up Shadow Stalker.
"She is being transferred to Los Angeles, where Alexandria will personally oversee her training." the woman answered. "She may also be required to transfer to the Protectorate when she turns eighteen, and she may be stationed at the Quarantine Zones, which is a very...uncomfortable duty. Whether the last two happen depends on how well she manages to knuckle down and work with Alexandria."
"She'll push the limits as far as they'll go." I said with a scowl. "Give her an inch, and she'll take a mile, as the British say."
"I'll make sure to append that to the report that will be going to Alexandria." Miss Militia nodded. "I can assure you, she is not going to enjoy having Alexandria's personal attention; she has been compared to a drill sergeant in boot camp when she thinks you aren't putting in the effort. I should know, as I trained under the Triumvirate and Hero as a member of the first generation of Wards."
"Well that's something at least." Dad muttered.
I sent a look at him before returning my attention to Miss Militia. "So long as she isn't put into a position where she can hurt other people like she hurt my Dad and Emma, that's what matters." I said.
"Rest assured, she'll look back on house arrest as a fond memory by the time Alexandria gets through with her." the older woman said firmly.
After a few more moments of chatting, and an autograph for me, the Protectorate Hero left. Once we were sure she was gone, and that nothing had been left behind that could be a bug, we sat in the living room once again.
"So, Little Owl, what was it that had to wait until Miss Militia left before you could tell us about it?" Dad asked curiously.
"Do...do you remember when I almost died as a kid?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yes...that little bastard with the katana." Dad growled.
"I was run through on it." I explained to Alan, who was likely imagining Emma in my place and looked furious. "Mom...Mom was a Parahuman, a Tinker to be exact. She took me to her lab and operated on me to try and heal me better than the doctors could...it worked."
"Annette...was...b-but...she told me she took you to a special hospital run by an acquaintance..." Dad stammered out.
"That 'acquaintance' was probably her Cape alter-ego." I shrugged. "Anyway, she did manage to heal me, as well as enhance me. It's why I'm stronger and have better reflexes than other girls my age."
"Why would she...?" Alan asked, looking highly perturbed at the idea of a mother experimenting on her own daughter.
"Because, on that operating table, I Triggered and became a Parahuman myself." I said with a sigh. "According to Mom's notes, she was hit by a phenomenon known as 'Trigger Shock', which happens to Parahumans who are near someone who Triggers. She was knocked out for a handful of minutes, and my body was damaged slightly while she was out, so she had to improve my body in order for it to survive. She then placed some kind of block on my powers to prevent me from using them, or even knowing that they existed. I unlocked them when Dann took me back to Original Point, Mom's hidden base."
"Those robots..." Dad muttered. "Annette made them?"
"Yup. She even had things programmed to track my life signs at all times." I snorted. "When I was locked into that damned locker, things reached a critical point and one of the Originals was dispatched to retrieve me. Then the sub-programs activated, monitoring Emma. So when Shadow Stalker kidnapped her, I was informed and I sent Dahlia to rescue her."
"Thank you, Taylor." Alan said gratefully.
"Emma's practically my sister. As if I wouldn't move to protect her." I said simply, before turning to Dad. "I...there's a recording Mom left for you at her base. There's one for Uncle Alan and Emma as well."
"I would have thought Emma would have watched hers while she was with you?" Dad remarked curiously.
"She was too busy badgering me to sort something out so we could come home, so I forgot to tell her." I admitted sheepishly. "She's...probably going to be irked at me for that."
"Maybe, but I think that she'll understand that you had a lot going on." Alan reassured me. "Now, when can we go to Annette's lab?"
"As soon as we can get Emma over here without it looking suspicious." I said. "Considering Mom built a tram system into the basement to get to her base from here, it makes sense."
Dad looked at me before face-palming. "Annette remodeled the basement? How? I know for a fact that it hasn't changed much in years."
"Never wondered that, probably should have." I frowned, before shrugging. "She had machines to do simple building and the like, so that's probably how she did it. Either that or Mom had some crazy-good sound dampeners installed first so she could work on it while we were all here."
"Sounds like Annette alright." Alan snorted a bit. "I'd say 'do it today', but knowing the PRT, they'll be keeping an eye on your house for the next month or so; according to Carol Dallon, that's standard procedure after a Trigger-worthy event. Emma's going to be watched too."
"Damnit. Isn't that an invasion of privacy?" I scowled.
"It's more to monitor you for abnormal actions, such as buying old appliances to Tinker, or going out at unusual times to patrol as a Parahuman." my unofficial uncle reassured me. "Any signs of them breaking your privacy without you breaking the law first and I'll sue them into bankruptcy."
"More than you already are." Dad added with a smirk, one which was echoed by his old friend. "I like the way you think."
"Why, thank you." Alan said smugly.
Rolling my eyes at the pair of them, I coughed to reacquire their attention. "So, we ignore the PRT for a month and when they get away, I take you all to Mom's...my...lab?"
"Sounds like a plan, Taylor." Dad said with a nod.
"Will your base be alright without you going to it for a while?" Alan asked.
"I put it back into standby mode when we left." I nodded. "If something happens to me or Emma or any of your family, the Original Seven will be deployed to intervene."
"Thank you."
OK, so...here's where 'Chester' is ending for the moment. It's a good snippet, in my humble opinion anyway, so please review!
Additionally, 'My Hero Academia: Mega Izuku' has its own TVTropes Page now. As do I, for whatever reason...