2.8
Dragon was thoughtful.
Emily Piggot, Director of the local PRT sat at the head of the table. Armsmaster, leader of the local Protectorate, sitting on the chair to the Director's right. Aegis, leader of the local Wards, sitting on the Director's left. Dragon herself, represented by a blank screen, was "seated" across from Armsmaster. And then there was Clockblocker.
He was making a paper airplane using some of the documents that had been dealt out to everyone present.
"Clockblocker," Director Piggot gritted out. "You will pay attention. This is serious."
"Is it though?" he asked with a philosophical tone of voice.
"Yes. I think that anything that has remotely anything whatsoever to do with Lung is automatically serious, Clockblocker." Armsmaster answered in Director Piggot's place.
"But is it really-"
"Shut up, Clockblocker!" Aegis hissed loudly.
The young Ward opted to shoot his paper airplane at Armsmaster instead. It collided lightly with the hero's face and he sputtered indignantly.
"He does have a point though." Aegis said, desperately derailing any ensuing fights that were doubtlessly just about to erupt. "Sort of. What I'm trying to say is… isn't this a cause for celebration?"
Not really, Dragon thought.
"He's hunted down and beaten up each of the remaining E88 capes into a bloody pulp." Clockblocker said agreeably. "They're in the Birdcage now. We're not Racist City anymore!"
"Did people really call us that?" Armsmaster asked, concerned.
"Oh yeah, all over the internet." Clockblocker said, blasé.
They'd been called much worse things on the internet, Dragon knew. She practically ran the damn place, after all.
"While yes, that is cause for celebration, that isn't why we're having a meeting, and everyone in this room knows it." Director Piggot said, glaring in particular at Clockblocker.
Clockblocker squawked. Armsmaster held up his hands in the air in an overly feigned gesture of innocence. He'd thrown the paper airplane back at Clockblocker when no one had been looking. Dragon would have laughed if she was capable of involuntary reactions.
"As I was saying," Director Piggot said. "We're not here to discuss Lung's actions concerning the E88 capes. We're here due to what he did afterwards. Why Clockblocker is attending this meeting as well."
"I am the one and only THE- I mean, the one and only Techno Queen expert, after all." Clockblocker said, remembering all of his collective superior's anger directed at him after he'd activated the Thunderclap-inator one time too many for the tastes of his bosses.
"Last evening," Director Piggot recapped, "The Techno Queen took control of the nation's televisions broadcasting for five minutes. Lung took this opportunity to give a speech about how he'd take down any villains who dare try and make their career in Brockton Bay."
"And that's good, right?" Aegis asked.
"No. It may seem so, at first glance, but Lung effectively just told the entirety of North America's population of ambitious and upstarting villains to come at me, bro." Dragon said.
Clockblocker snorted at her choice of words, despite himself. She was pleased to note the miniscule upwards twitch of the corner of Armsmaster's mouth. She could read him well.
"Still though," Aegis persisted, "Lung's stopped all his drug trafficking, sex slavery, and forcing Asians into his gang. Faultline's Crew are mercenaries, the Techno Queen and her team are harmless, Über and Leet are a joke, and with Lung a vigilante the only serious villains left in this town are-"
"The Merchants," Armsmaster said gravely, "who are rapidly expanding their territory and the market now that it's free for the taking."
"They're weak," Aegis said confidently. "We'll be able to disable that operations in a matter of months, if not weeks. Maybe even sooner if Lung is actively hunting for them."
"That Lung is doing so is mere speculation, Aegis. Remember, Lung isn't doing this for justice or morality. He does this because he wants challenging fights." Dragon said.
"My first point still stands." Aegis said. "We can deal with the Merchants."
"And Über and Leet?" Director Piggot asked.
"Still a joke and just as easy to take in, if you want." Aegis replied.
"Circus?"
"A lone not particularly strong thief with no allies."
"Faultline's Crew?" Director Piggot persisted.
"You know, I don't think there's anything in their policy that says they'll say no to letting the government be their client for once."
"And what of the Techno Queen?" Dragon interrupted.
Aegis shrugged. And then he said It.
"Meh, we can take her."
