"My ears are still ringing," Jim complained. It was moving into early February and their days had entered an oddly normal rhythm. School, sometimes go out and eat with Ann, Vicky or the Wards, go on duty, come home, study, rinse and repeat. With the Merchants gone save for a few minor capes, there had been clashes between the E88 and ABB but most of them were fights the Wards weren't permitted to enter.
The closest he'd come to actually fighting the Empire had been running into Rune when she'd been providing support fro some E88 gangers hitting an Asian store close to the boardwalk. Jim had knocked her off her flying platform but then Purity had blasted the ground in front of Jim and Rune had managed to get away.
Which, according to Director Piggot, was a message from the Empire. Purity could have done a lot more. In addition, intelligence indicated that that particular raid may not have been authorized by Kaiser.
There was also a rumor that Hookwolf had expressed a desire to see if the "monster ward" was up to a fight.
That message meant that Jim had a non-discretionary order from Director Piggot to retreat from Hookwolf unless civilian lives were directly in danger.
But that didn't account for his current nemesis.
"Still?" Claire asked from where she was sitting with Ann, Vicky, and Dean, homework spilled out around them.
"Still. That mallet makes my helmet ring like a bell." Jim said.
"Circus?"
"Yeah, silent alarm today," Jim said. "And Circus always hits me." He shook his head as he sat down on the floor in front of the others. "Assault claims it's unrequited love."
"Really…" Vicky said, floating two inches above the floor. "And what does everyone else think?"
"Jim and Aegis are brutes who can take it, so Circus doesn't feel the need to hold back," Claire said. "And Circus likes the show."
"Please don't remind me. Is that clip still going on?" Jim asked.
"What, the one of Circus playing hopscotch at Mallington Elementary while you were trying to get them?"
"Oh, I saw that. I especially loved the cheering of the children," Ann said. "You should be happy, if they're your nemesis, you at least are dealing with one of the most morally upright villains in the Bay."
"Really?" Vicky said. "A thief?"
"Actual Nazis, A rage dragon. A sociopathic teleporting suicide bomber. A girl who likes to sic giant dog monsters on you. Do I need to go on?"
Vicky sighed. "Okay, Ann, you win. The thief with the clown shtick is a paragon of virtue." She stared at her homework. "Los Angeles doesn't have this problem."
"Los Angeles has Alexandria," Claire pointed out. She wasn't working on school work, but a thick book with strange symbols on it.
"What's that?" Dean asked. Jim felt a little bad about that, because of everyone here, Dean was the only one who had to keep his cape identity secret. On the other hand, he could walk downtown without having to stop twenty times for a picture or autograph.
"One of Merlin's books on Magic. On the Summoning and Conjuration of Spirits and the Putting down of Same.
"Right…" Vicky drawled. "Magic. How about On the Better Use of Your Trump Abilities Within Your Mental Framework."
"Hey," Claire started.
"Nope!" Jim raised his hands. "Time out, banned subject at the homework table!"
"We're not that bad," Claire said.
"Last time you and Hurricane Vicky got into the discussion, Jim and I ended up going to Denny's to get some peace and neither one of you ever noticed!" Ann said.
"Very well, I concede that there is no need for me to ruin the tranquility of homework time with pointing out how right I am," Vicky said. Everyone else started cat-calling, with Ann wadding up some homework and tossing it at Vicky.
"Well, I," Jim said, "Am finished!" He displayed his writing. His good writing. Everyone cheered.
"Good show!" Dean said.
"Yeah. Now I can send my reports in and not keep getting them back from Director Piggot. I think she has someone who does nothing but write snarky comments on them about penmenship and grammar."
"And just in time for a celebration," Blinky said. Jim still couldn't get used to the "Kiss the Cook" apron Assault had found for him. "And this time, you may be assured that I followed the instructions to the letter!"
"And time?" Claire asked.
"Mistaking minutes for hours is a common mistake when using a microwave, I'm told," Blinky said, putting the rolls and soup out. Like most trolls, Blinky didn't have much of a taste for food, but he watched Jim and could read a book, and he'd decided that if they were going to work in the house, Jim shouldn't always be the cook. Most of the Wards found themselves here now and then, especially when Blinky had proclaimed the Wards Quarters 'as lifeless as the Darklands.'
It hadn't hurt that the PRT had given them a housing allowance, and Claire and Jim had bought various things—Claire had a Spanish style rug and some paintings that reminded her of her relatives' homes in Mexico, while Jim had posters of some European cities… and in the garage, the ArmsVespa. A normal Vespa had been out of the question, especially if he wanted Claire to ride it with him and so they'd surrendered to Armsmaster's plans and he, Blinky and the Tinker had worked on one, Blinky archly informing the scandalized Armsmaster that building a Vespa together granted a power mere technology could never match.
Jim had not expected an amphibious Vespa and the 150 page (small type) handbook intimidated him.
On the other hand, not many normal Vespas, even if they were scaled up to his size, could go from zero to 90 MPH in ten seconds.
After the food, the five settled in for a movie, Look out! Here We Come! Where a bumbling gang of parahuman burglars somehow managed to steal what they thought was Alexandria's heavily encrypted book about her secret involvement in a worldwide conspiracy that would sell superpowers, but was actually just her shopping list. Jim found himself laughing as Claire snuggled into his side, as they watched everyone from the CUI to the Alabama National Guard try to get the list, somehow always missing the bumbling trio in a series of ever more ridiculous car chases, confoam explosions, and in one notable case, a battle with Eidolon in a chicken farm.
When the show ended (with the villains sentenced to do Alexandria's shopping for her), Dean and Vicky made their goodbyes, heading out to Dean's car (and if Jim wanted to bet, a drive home that would take much longer than it normally would, especially if there were any isolated spots on the way.)
"I'd better go," Ann said. "The buses are going to shut down pretty soon."
"We'll walk you," Jim said. "Or we could call a taxi."
"What are you, made of money?" Ann said. "The Bay isn't the best, but it isn't that bad."
"Or I could just—" Claire's phone rang and she pulled out out. "What th—Vista?" She paused. "No, we have company now…"
"Oh, Wards stuff, I'll go," Ann said.
"I'll come with you," Jim said, "At least to the bus station."
"Fine," Ann said.
A few moments after they were gone, Claire opened the door again. "You can come in now, Missy." The world shifted, and moments later, the short Ward was standing in front of her with a backpack. "What happened?"
"Someone decided that Mom and Dad needed to take me out together for a healthier family environment."
"Sh…shoot." Claire said. "Oh, right, Ms. Days is covering for her boss right now. Her idea?"
"Yeah." Missy said. "So when Mom started talking about her dogs, I asked if I could go to a sleepover."
"You… Did you tell them where?" Claire asked.
"They never asked. Not even for a phone number." Missy replied.
"Hello, Mistress Vista," Blinky said. "If you haven't eaten, there is some food left over that I can heat."
Missy started to giggle, then got formal. "Thank you, Mr. Blinky."
"There is no need to thank me!"
"Missy, if your parents are arguing…"
"Just…" Missy looked around. "Don't say anything. I mean, it's not like I'm running away, but if it gets up to the people in the PRT, they may start cutting back on my Wards' time."
"Okay," Claire said. "We can watch some TV while you eat and we wait for Jim."
"So how's Kenji?"
"Showing off his money," Ann said. "He vanishes, or some guys pick him up, and he comes back a few days later. Say's he's doing work. I… I don't know if I want to know. I know Mom doesn't know what to do."
"It's hard." Jim said. "When I couldn't talk to my mom…"
"Yeah, but I bet you had a good reason!" Ann said. "It's… Mom was an executive in Kyushu. I mean, she was young, but… Then it all went away. I was five. I just… Just remember screaming, and seeing this… Thing." She shook her head. "I had a collection of dolls of the Sentai Elite. I knew they would save us, but they didn't. I mean, Kenji was too young to remember much, but Mom worked hard to get where we are. There wasn't much room for junior executives after that, so she worked as a housekeeper. Now we have our own store, but… it's still hard. Kenji shouldn't make it harder."
"No, but he's still your brother."
"Yah," Ann said. "As annoying as he is. And here we are…" she said. Jim looked at the bus stop.
"Wait a minute," Jim said. "There's usually more people here."
"They decided to go somewhere else."
Jim turned around to look at the men slowly emerging from the parking lot behind them. Shaved heads, tattoos… E88.
Jim reached for his phone…
Which was still on the counter. Lovely. Piggot was going to kill him.
"Stay behind me," Jim said.
"Oh, don't worry, we're not here for the slant," a voice said from above. "We're here for you."
Jim blinked.
"Rune?"
The E88 cape was lowering herself from the sky, two large stones orbiting her from where she stood on a platform.
"Who the fuck did you think it was?" Rune asked. "Do you now how much fucking flack I took for your little lucky shot?"
"Wait…" Jim thought. "I only fought you one time. That's what this is about?"
"Shut up! I knew about your little homework parties, and I just had to wait until you walked your slant friend to the bus."
"That's…" Jim paused. "Kaiser set you up to do this?"
"Kaiser doesn't tell me what to do!" Rune snapped.
"Wait a minute…" One of the thugs said, sounding nervous.
"Just keep him from running away and grab the slant!"
"Go with them," Jim said.
"But—"
"Safer there than with me," Jim told Ann. Then he glanced at the thugs. "She's my friend. She's Shadowdancer's friend, and if you hurt her, the gloves come off."
And then Ann was being pulled back and suddenly, one of the stones came shooting down towards Jim. Jim jumped, avoiding it, a shower of sparks marking where it slammed into the bus stop. Jim jumped up and avoided it.
"For the Glory of Merlin, Daylight is Mine to Command!"
Jim didn't need to say the incantation anymore, but there was something reassuring about it.
Also, Armsmaster had suggested that letting everyone think he needed to say it, could be an advantage.
The armor formed around him, just as the other stone hit him, knocking him back. But that was fine. Jim gripped the stone, holding it, and jumped up on it before Rune could react. He leaped off of it, hitting the side of a building, his hands gouging holes in the concrete before he jumped for Rune.
She shrieked but dodged. "Not this fucking time!" She said, and sent the other stone at him again.
How do I do this? He could knock her off her platform, but she was thirty feet in the air. If he didn't grab her…
Yeah. Broken neck time. Jim dodged again, hearing the shouts and cheers of the gang around them.
Seriously, as much noise as you are making, I expect that the cops are going to show up any moment. Jim had the sudden vision of Rune going down for noise violations. He laughed.
"What, am I fucking funny to you?" Rune raised her hands, and both stones now dove for Jim, moving really fast. But that…
Jim dodged one stone, then grabbed the other one that had been heading for his back—and at Rune. She dodged Jim as he sailed towards her, raising her stone…
And suddenly started choking as a big moth flew into her mouth.
Not the plan, but I'll take it. Jim managed to grab her, and jumped from the platform, hitting the ground.
"Let me go you fucker, or I'll squash us both!"
"Rune, what the hell!" Jim said. "We just fought once!"
"And you fucking screwed it up for me! Purity wasn't supposed to be there and I was going to get those fucking Chinks and show—" another bug flew into her mouth and she started choking.
"Wait, but Purity saved you."
"Fucking let me go!" Rune shouted. The stones were heading for Jim and Rune and the teenager clearly wasn't thinking things through and he was going to have to dodge with her in his arms…
And suddenly there was a metallic grinding sound and a wall of swords rose up in front of the stones. They hit them with a clanging sound.
Well fuck. There was one cape who could do that. And then, he heard Ann make a terrified choking sound as a dense fog started to surround Jim and Rune. He could sort of see a shape in it, hints of claws, barbed tails…
Night and Fog. I am not going to win a fight here.
Jim let Rune go and put his sword on his back, the armor holding it in place. "Kaiser."
"Mr. Lake."
Just reminding me that you can always find me. Thanks a lot.
Kaiser's voice was calm. "Dear Rune launched an unauthorized raid, forcing Purity to rescue her. I had thought that would teach her wisdom, but here she is, assaulting a Ward, an act…" his voice dropped, went from calm to menacing, "that could have had severe consequences. She will be disciplined."
Rune swallowed. "I could have beaten him."
"And brought the Protectorate down upon our heads." Kaiser's helmet tilted. "And of course, you weren't beating him. I had expected to have to come here and discipline you, once Hookwolf learned that someone had given orders in his name. I did not expect to have to rescue you as Purity had. How disappointing." He turned his gaze back to Jim. "I take it you will not hinder us?"
"No." Jim shook his head, as Rune walked to Kaiser, moving like she was going to her own funeral.
"Your cell phones will start operating in a few moments. I had no desire to involve anyone else in this regrettable incident. Good day… Trollhunter."
With that, Kaiser turned and walked away, the fog becoming a masked man who looked… Utterly unremarkable, next to a woman that could have been some 1950s vision of a housewife. Without saying a thing, they turned, and then so did the rest of the gang members, all of them looking a little nervous.
Jim ran to Ann. "Are you okay?"
"That was Kaiser!" Ann said, her eyes wide. "And Night and Fog…" She was breathing fast.
"You need to sit down?" Jim asked.
"No—how did you get Rune off of her…"
"I was coming up with a plan, but I…"
"It was me." The voice was creepy, all buzzing and chittering. Jim looked up at the semihumanoid mass of bugs in front of him.
"Um…" I come in peace? "Thanks."
"I was out for a walk and I saw them. They're all gone now. You're safe."
"Right, you're?"
"I think you call me Exterminator."
"Right, Um, I'm supposed to…" Jim realized that he couldn't get to his pockets while was in his armor, so… "Ann, do you have a free sheet of paper?"
Ann was just staring, but she handed the paper to him, along with a pen.
"Thanks, yeah, Um, no pressure, but if you want to come in, and talk, here's the person you want to talk to."
Then Jim felt stupid. How did you hand some paper to a pile of bugs?
"Don't worry, I know about it. Just thinking for now."
"Good." Jim said. Of course Dennis is scared of bugs, which could pose an issue if they're Ward's age. "Thanks for the save."
"I figured you could use a hand. And you always waved." With that, the swarm dissipated into the air. Jim waited, then put his arm around Ann. The shorter girl was trembling. "Okay, we're going back home, and then you can either call a Taxi, or…"
"Or what?" Ann asked.
"Listen to the Trollhunter getting skinned. Do you know the one thing Wards are never, ever, supposed to be without? And what is sitting on the counter?"
"Your phone?"
"Yeah. My phone. I am soooo going to get yelled at for this."