The last week had been hell. It was bullshit stacked on bullshit stacked on even more bullshit. It all kicked off with Bakuda bombing the city in an attempt to free Lung from PRT custody. Luckily the big salamander was still missing too much of his body for Oni Lee to get him out, so Lung was still left in PRT custody but now the PRT was down a few troopers. Then the Wards were relocated to the Rig because Bakuda fucking detonated people who were getting scanned for her bombs. That killed more troopers and a did major damage to the buildings infrastructure. Apparently not being able to get Lung out meant Bakuda felt like she had to increase the number of bombs to do more damage across the city. I had all of us running around helping where we could and trying to find the bitch, but she was hidden too well.
On top of this I had to deal with fucking Purity. Theo explained he invited her and she was willing to change and all that noise. I had words with him about that, but we took her in since it was better to have a powerhouse like her than let her fall back into the hands of the Empire Eighty-Eight. It pissed off Grue pretty bad when he found and it took Theo talking me down from giving her a very intimate view of the bottom of my shoe when she called me a Jew to my face like it was an insult.
The only silver lining was school was canceled because even in Brockton Bay they didn't expect life to go on with a crazy bomb Tinker going wild.
That gave me more time to go out and do what I could to help. I mostly fixed the damage Bakuda had done and healed people who were injured. I learned I had a very limited capacity to bring people back from the dead. The specifics of what did and didn't work were muddy at best, but I knew I couldn't help people who had been transmuted into something else entirely and I couldn't revive people who were dead longer than five minutes. Reattaching limbs or fixing any damage done by the bombs was easy, but when it came to the dead I felt pretty box blocked.
We coordinated with the Undersiders, Lisa's power being incredibly useful for helping us be where we needed to be to get the most done, and that had led to the confrontation between Grue and Samael. It was going well. Grue was convinced they could get along, but the moment he heard about Purity he got uncomfortable. Which I could understand since she was pretty violently racist. I was surprised the only problem we had by the end of the week was the whole "Jew" thing.
It was during a coordination meeting with Lisa yesterday that she clued us in on the villain meeting going on today. Coil had organized it, apparently, going though the trouble of getting in touch with the other gang leaders to discuss the Bakuda situation. We were to meet at some place called Somer's Rock in Downtown. It bothered me to no end that the only neutral ground in the city was in Empire territory, but there wouldn't be need for it once we were done.
"I'm not sure about this." Purity said as we walked through the Garganta that would open up in front of the meeting place.
"Relax. It's not like Kaiser can do anything to you while we're in this meeting. He won't be able to act until we leave the building at the very least and if he does." I shrugged.
"We'll kill him." Nihilus nodded. Both Purity and Samael flinched at that.
"Well, I hope we don't have to take it that far. I'd really prefer not to murder anyone if I can help it."
"It would definitely solve their problems though."
"To an extent, I guess." I acquiesced.
"Much as I hate my dad, I'd prefer he be alive to watch everything he holds dear crumble around him." Samael said.
"That's honestly pretty fucked up. But more power to you. I'd feel the same in that position."
"I'm so glad my parents are normal." Nihilus sighed.
"I would prefer you not talk about people I considered friends like they're nothing." Purity said.
"They aren't your friends, Purity. They used to be, I guess, but you're not with them anymore. You're with us. That makes them enemies by default. We're getting rid of them either way." I stated.
"I know, just…"
"Yeah, yeah, it's hard getting over old friends. I know better than anyone. But if you're going to give up your racist ways you can't think of them as friends. They're not people you used to grab a drink with after work or whatever. They're not the people you sent Christmas cards or had Sunday dinner with. They're rival Capes. For you especially this is a problem because they know you. You have a target on your back and they'll be out for blood for your betrayal. If you can't bear to think of them as enemies then why are you here with us instead of there with them?"
Purity was silent, but nodded her head.
We stepped out onto the empty street across from our meeting location.
"Is there anything I need to know before we go in?" I asked as we walked toward the little hole in the wall restaurant.
"Leaders sit at the table. You're new so Kaiser may try to deny you a seat, but he should have an idea of your power so it's up in the air. Subordinates sit at the surrounding booths. No powers. Anyone who uses their powers will be attacked by everyone else. It may not be a major threat to you, but you should still respect the truce. Also, expect Kaiser to either talk down to you or bring grievances when he realizes I've switched teams. It will really hammer in that I've left for good and he'll be really pissed off about that."
"That's a hell of an understatement." Samael scoffed.
"Got it." I nodded as we approached the door. I took a deep breath and put on my "Queen Bitch" pants and we stepped inside.
Somer's Rock was rather impressive in that it managed to be the most bland and rundown looking building on a street full of hole in the wall businesses. The rust of the metal bars on the windows had dripped down and mixed with the peeling grayish paint to leave streaks like tears under the windows. Thematically, it was a perfect fit because this place was depressing even by my standards. The inside had stained wood floors the same color as the count and faded dark green tablecloths and curtains. The only color to the place came from the bright yellow lights hanging from the ceiling.
Everyone turned to us as we stepped into the building. Some of them were surprised to see us. Kaiser didn't give anything away at seeing Purity with us, but I could imagine he was pissed off.
We had apparently arrived late since almost every other gang was there already. Coil sat at the head of the table, his hands folded in his lap calmly. Kaiser sat near the head of the table in his knight's armor. He had Hookwolf, Krieg, and Fenja and Menja with him sitting at their own booth. Faultline's crew was sitting at the booth behind her seat far from Kaiser. Labyrinth looked pretty out of it from what I could tell, but Spitfire and Gregor the Snail were keeping her together while Newter seemed to be talking to keep her present. I'd never seen a Case 53 before and I idly wondered if there was anything I could do for them. The Undersiders were sitting at the booth behind them and Grue was at the table across from Kaiser. A bold choice for him, but I wasn't going to question it. Skidmark and Squealer were sitting in a booth both looking like they were ready to break the truce. There was a group I didn't immediately recognize at another booth. When I saw their leader, Trickster, sitting at the table I remembered who they were: The Travelers. A nomadic group of Capes that started up a little more than a year ago.
I waved everyone over to a booth and walked towards the table. There was only one seat left next to Trickster, who had his feet up on the table.
"We're not too late, I hope." I drawled, grabbing the chair. I wasn't surprised when it was held in to keep me from taking it. Not that I couldn't just take it if I wanted.
"Sacrosanct." Coil started coolly. "I can't say I was expecting to see you here. I was under the impression you were heroes."
I gave a dismissive half shrug. "Our purpose is… Ill defined at the moment. Regardless of whichever side you think we fall on, if this meeting is about Bakuda I believe we'll be useful in stopping her."
"And what makes you think you deserve a seat at the table." Kaiser asked.
"Well," I started, "I suppose the only accolade I hold of any real note is the defeat of a fifteen foot tall Lung."
"Who you then turned over to the PRT. How do we know you aren't wearing a wire?" Faultline asked.
I shrugged. "The Protectorate was there by the time our fight finished. He would have been taken either way. I suppose you'll have to take me at my word I wouldn't dare involve the cops in a neutral meeting like this. I'd consider myself about as enthused as all of you with the current rise in police activity. The longer this goes on the more difficult things become for us. I'd prefer to rectify that as quickly as possible."
"What about Mush?" Skidmark shot. "You and your shit stain crew got him locked up! You're a cop if I've ever seen one!"
"Who cares about your drug rat teammate? Far as I'm concerned you all need to fall down a pit anyway." I shot back. "And you shouldn't be calling other people shit stain with a name like Skidmark."
"Why you…" Skidmark started to stand but was pulled back by Squealer.
"She ain't worth it, Skids."
I turned back to the rest of the group. "What we lack in reputation, as we've only been around for two weeks, we more than make up in terms of power. I suppose it's your choice if you want our power with you or not."
My voice was calm and daring, but it was a bluff. There wasn't much I could do if they denied me a seat at the table simply for bad timing preventing us from moving our plans the way I'd wanted to. Putting on a show like this and throwing a tantrum if they denied me like I'm sure Skidmark had would win me no points with them. I'd just be some petulant child throwing a tantrum. A tantrum that could potentially destroy the city, but a childish tantrum nonetheless. That wasn't how I wanted this part of my Cape career to start off, but circumstances didn't allow for us to start the way we had initially planned.
If anything this situation just showed me how volatile the Cape scene could be and that we'd need to move faster. Even if we didn't have anything going on we needed to claim territory quickly and without remorse. A show of force is what we needed to get the respect our power commanded and I'd have at worst until the end of this meeting to figure something out.
"Honestly," Grue spoke up, much to my surprise, "having been on the receiving end of what she's capable of and seeing first hand what she did to Lung, I'd say her strength alone earns her a spot."
The older villains stared at me for a few more moments before whatever was holding the chair released.
"I appreciate the hospitality." I nodded, taking the chair and sitting at the table.
"This is fucking bullshit!" Skidmark shouted, shooting up from his seat.
"Maybe." Kaiser started. "But she has potential. She's not some doped up loser with nowhere to go but down. And if Purity," he tried not to spit her name with venom but there was still noticeable vitriol in his voice, "Can see something in her, then she must be worth something."
I knew that wouldn't win me any favor, but I was okay with that. I'd rather be a Cape Poacher than a petulant child.
"Well, I as I was saying before our late arrivals joined us," Coil started, "The ABB is getting out of hand. Fifty-five confirmed deaths, more speculated, and well over a hundred people hospitalized in the past week. Armed presence in the streets, ongoing gunfights between the ABB and combined police and military forces, the ongoing bombings of the city and our businesses. They've seized out territories and have shown no sign of stopping any time soon." Coil laid out the situation.
"It is rather inconvenient." Kaiser spoke.
"They're being reckless." Faultline said. She made it sound like the worst possible crime.
"Which brings me to my next point; the ABB can't sustain this. Something will give and they will self destruct from this. Had things played out differently this is a situation that could have been tolerated or ignored. The ABB would burn themselves out and that would be less competition. The problem is all the attention they've been drawing to our fair city. Homeland security and military forces have set up temporary bases to help keep order, especially after the attacks on the PRT HQ, and the heroes are being bolstered by outside support and Capes from other cities. At this rate they may start making things more difficult for us after this is all over." Coil explained.
"Bakuda is at the center of this." Grue joined. "Everything hinges on her. She's conscripted new members by attacking people while they sleep and planting bombs in their heads. Then she forced those people to bring her even more people. She's got to have more than three hundred soldiers right now, all willing to lay down their lives because it's the only way. Either the Feds kill them or Bakuda does. Or she forces them to watch their loved ones die."
"The bombing of the PRT HQ proves that. She detonated every single person who was captured." I said. "I'm not sure if things would've been better or worse had she managed to spring Lung like she was planning, but she's got no qualms about killing anyone that's not herself. All her pieces are expendable."
"More than that, she's got every single one of her bombs hooked up to a dead man switch. The second her heart stops beating half of New England gets glassed." Grue continued. "Our ultimate goal is Bakuda, but she's done everything she can to make it damn near impossible to get to her."
"So," Coil said slowly, letting the word hang for a moment, "We're all in agreement the ABB needs to be dealt with?"
The others murmured between each other for a few moments before nodding, agreeing that it was the best course of action. I noticed Faultline was largely silent.
"Then I propose a truce." Coil said. "Not just between those of us here, but between ourselves and the law. I would contact the authorities and let them know that until this matter is handled we'll reduce our illegal activities to only what is absolutely essential and extend this to those operating in our territory as well. This will allow the military to focus on the ABB. There would be no violence, no infighting between us, no grabs for territory or theft or insult. We band together with those we can tolerate for guaranteed victory and ignore those we cannot."
"That's agreeable." Faultline said. I never met her before but she seemed oddly tense for such a professional.
"I was talking with my group about something similar earlier, so this is fine with us." Grue said.
"Good. Kaiser?"
"That's acceptable." The tin can said.
"Sure," Trickster said, "We're in."
"That works for me." I nodded.
Hands were shaken all around. Hookwolf brought up some grievances with Bitch attacking his dog fighting rings, but I tuned him out. I was already working on my plans for after the truce was over. After all, I couldn't be the only one there not planning on fucking over the others.
AN: The call of the deadline was too strong. I decided to delay the blow up over Purity. Kaiser is smarter than that. It will definitely come up later.