"It's a pity that Coil did not have any more of the transmutation grenades," Colin said. "They would have been effective in dealing with Crawler."

"I think I have a solution for that," Amelia said. The cape stepped up to the table. "Your nanothorn can cut through his skin."

"Yes, but similar attacks have seen Crawler recover." Colin nodded at the images of Crawler on the monitor. He had always been difficult, and there was no doubt that he'd protect Slash.

Jack Slash had survived, often by using his fellows as human shields. It was assumed that whatever his power, it didn't apply to his fellows, in terms of protecting them from other parahumans.

Which was why no parahuman was involved in planning the attack on Slash. Nobody knew how powerful 'broadcast' might be, and therefore information was flowing in one direction—to Trollhunter and Shadowdancer. But no parahuman knew of their plans.

"I can encapsulate an adaptive RNA virus," Amelia said. "Normally it wouldn't work—people have tried that on Crawler before. All he does is wall the infection off until he can adapt to it."

"But?"

"We combine the two. Your nanothorn will rip his body open, help spread the infection, and the infection will draw power away from regenerating the damage to the nanothorn." Amelia shrugged. "Worst case, it keeps him immobilized until Alexandria finishes with the Siberian."

Colin nodded. The fact that there was a master present in Jack meant that only one of the Triumvirate were allowed to be on scene and Alexandria had seized that role with eagerness. How she would handle the Siberian…

Well, it was easy to predict. The Siberian might be invulnerable, but William Manton wasn't.

And how long have you been concealing that information? Colin shook his head. In the list of things that Alexandria had kept secret, that was a very minor item.

"Two out of Nine," Colin said. "Assume that Trollhunter and Shadowdancer can handle Jack Slash and Bonesaw, that still leaves…"

"Mannequin, Burnscar, Shatterbird and Hatchetface." Armsmaster shook his head. "Presuming we attack them in the next week, according to the intelligence. After that, Hatchet Face might be replaced."

"Our sources?" Miss Militia asked.

"Yes. Backed up by Probability."

"If I can get a shot…" Hannah's weapon morphed into a heavy sniper rifle. "I can take out Hatchetface, but Burnscar and Shatterbird…"

"Once Jack is dealt with," Colin said. "We'll withdraw if we have to. Without his master ability, more capes can be brought in to deal with the rest."

Amelia snorted. "Once."

"Yes." Colin said. "Because now we know his secret. And he won't know ours." At least I hope so. If his power only worked on parahumans, Colin expected that he would hold non-parahumans in contempt. He'd want to chat and play.

And he'd die, because while Shadowdancer and Trollhunter might not be standard parahumans, they were definitely more than your average man or woman.

I was beginning to see why some people were annoyed at Clockblocker. The PRT guards looked at 'me' nervously as I stared through the eyes of the… genestealer? Well, it was what it looked like, but internally, it included a brain with a "receiver" based on insects. I would see through the eyes, feel the steel-hard hide…

And best, the creatures were 'natural,' unlike the two hulking hive-tyrants I had with me. They could run right into Hatchetface's field and be completely unharmed and the commands I would lay on them would endure, again encoded in normal memory and RNA.

There were more impressive things that Amelia would have been able to do, but they might have failed within Hatchetface's field. Now, he'd just deal with six-limbed killing machines that would immediately orient on him and tear him to shreds.

"Pity we don't have more time," I said. "I could have more."

"Yeah…" Clockblocker stared down at the pen. "Those don't look nearly as cool when they're not miniatures."

"No, they look nice." I tilted my head. "After this, do you think Amelia would be up to make… what was it called? Right, Dominatrix. The ability to spawn more allies without having to pester her would be beneficial. I could also ride it through town if I needed to make a point."

Clockblocker went still. I didn't say anything for a moment, then shrugged. "Did you freeze yourself?"

"Thinking of it," came the faint voice.

I smiled under my mask. It was nice to be kidding with someone my age.

Besides, the Dominatrix was far too obvious. If I wanted something to ride, I'd ask Amelia if she could modify a lictor for me to sit on.

But that wasn't important. Right now I had my pack of hounds. They'd tear the Nine to shreds and I'd not be anywhere near them.

"How do we know they're going to be heading for Akron?" Jim asked. He and Claire were in Emily Piggot's office with the director and a few representatives from the FBI. The PRT, for all that it worked to control and regulate parahumans had too many parahuman analysts in their intelligence section, which now that people knew about 'Broadcast' suddenly made a lot of inexplicable failures against the Nine all too understandable.

The FBI still had non-parahuman resources.

"Because that's where they're going to hand off Mouse Protector to Ravager." Agent Thomas said. The older man gestured at some information. "Ravager paid the Nine and was a little obvious in her movements. She is going to be the one to finally kill her rival, now that the Nine have her."

"Isn't that…" Claire frowned. "Sort of stupid?"

"Given that Jack has made an art form of correcting those who think his 'artistry' is up for sale?" Piggot shook her hed. "Yes it is. But Ravager has never been known as a paragon of stability."

"Is Mouse Protector alive?" Jim asked.

"We think so." Thomas nodded. "But your primary goal is the Nine. She's better off than most—usually hostages are written off. They either are killed or… End up being part of the Nine."

And now we know why. Jim's hands twitched. He was really getting sick of mind controllers.

"Remember, Master Jim," Blinky said. "Every hero here understands the risks. If this Mouse Protector were given the choice, she would choose to end this monster." The six-eyed troll shook his head. "I had never believed such depravity was possible."

"I warned you about looking into the records." Piggot turned back to Jim. "But your main goal is Jack. If he sticks to our non-parahuman profilers' predictions, he'll want to talk. He loves to talk, either to his victims or parahumans to get his hooks into them. He won't much care about losing the rest—"

"In fact, Jack makes a habit of losing members," Thomas said. "Probably to cement his place. Now Bonesaw…"

"She's mine," Claire said. "I can't belie—"

"She has a tragic story, but she's dangerous." Director Piggot said. "Secure her, alive if you can, but dead if there's any risk to you. It may be possible to recover her." Her expression said what she thought of that chance.

Jim glanced at Claire. He knew just what she thought of the idea of killing someone who was only a few years older than Enrique. But… Claire looked back at Jim and nodded.

Whatever happens, you'll deal with Riley. Jim had refused to call Dinah the Butcher and he'd refuse to call Riley by the… name, Jack had given her.

Why does it always come down to bullies, whatever excuses they give themselves?

"The number of parahumans we can have in support, even attacking the subsidiary members is limited," Piggot said. "We have no idea how expansive this power is. It's been subtle—but that was before someone was actively trying to work around it. So we have to err on the side of caution. Let me reiterate, Trollhunter. You are not to even attempt to capture Jack alive. I'm assured that his power will remain accessible for at least thirty seconds after his cessation, which means that we have to depend on Alexandria to retrieve it. But if it's a choice between disappointing the Simurgh and risking your life…"

"I understand." And it makes sense. What Broadcast could do… well they had guesswork. And for all of Cauldron's logical reasons why they hadn't nuked them, Jim wondered if maybe Jack's power could put its fingers on the scales of Contessa's power.

He hated to think it, but Jim was starting to appreciate Merlin. Claire knew what her powers could do, and wasn't wandering around blindly, with no real idea of what her limits or blindspots were.

Well after this, these people will have one less blindspot.