2.10

Charlotte was reassured.

She'd been on her way home after shopping with some friends, but then they'd got turned around, and then she didn't know where they were, and then some men who looked like they were in the Merchants were looking at them and then-

But then some Techno Bots had arrived.

She let out a relieved sigh. Everyone knew that the patrolling Techno Bots protected the citizens of Brockton Bay and beat up and handed over thugs to the authorities. The streets were cleaner than ever, thanks to them. Thank god for that rogue, Techno Queen. True to form, the gangsters took one look at the Techno Bots and turned tail and ran. She smiled.

And then the Techno Bots approached her and Sadie and Jamie. But they didn't run because the Techno Bots protected people, right?

The Techno Bot's guns looked very big and dangerous.

Right?

The Techno Bots leveled their Tinker tech guns on Charlotte and her friends. They pulled the triggers. Sadie and Jamie screamed. A flash of light.

And that day, Charlotte learned that the Techno Queen was well and truly a villain, right to the core of her black sinful heart.

Brian stood staring at the jumbo screens the Techno Queen has prepared for their viewing pleasure, speechless. Of course, it was temporary, merely a 24-hour thing, but the citizens didn't know that, and they were freaking right the fuck out.

Lisa, Alec, and Aisha were doubled over each other in a breathless heap, crying with laughter, begging for mercy. Rachel was loudly asking in an extremely confused tone of voice what was so bad about what was happening to the people on the screens. Paige shared Brian's reaction, speechless, shocked, mouth hanging slightly open. The Dark Lady Plagg has been asked to join them today, as the hero response was no doubt going to be completely ridiculous, and the healer was gaping incredulously at the screens, but she was also smiling at the same time.

Taylor sat on her throne, exuding smugness.

"The Wards, Protectorate and New Wave have been spotted approaching the secret lair, High Royal Superior Mistress." A robotic voice that came from seemingly nowhere intoned.

"Thank you, Base System." Taylor said.

She snapped her fingers and the Techno Bots present handed out the new guns she had mass manufactured for her Techno Bots for the past week.

"Yes, your majesty." Those who had enough breath in their lungs to speak said.

And then the heroes arrived.

"You've gone too far this time, Techno Queen!" Armsmaster shouted.

"Not a villain, hmm?" Taylor said.

The collective heroes tensed, ready.

She pointed dramatically at one of the heroes. To everyone's shock and surprise, it wasn't Clockblocker. Dennis felt surprisingly hurt. Gallant put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"You can take me, is that what you believe, Aegis!?"

"How did you-" Aegis whispered.

"I'm a Tinker! I've got a Thinker on my team! It's called hacking, doofus!"

She gathered herself, breathing harshly.

"DASTARDLY TECHIES!" She shouted.

Armsmaster drew his halberd. Miss Militia readied her tranquilizer gun. Shadow Stalker loaded her crossbow. All of the other present heroes did similar things, loading or drawing or aiming their weapons, charging up their attacks and taking stock of the enemy, slipping into battle stances. Everyone forgot about Imp. Jailbird upped the volume on her collar. Tattletale's power went into overdrive. Darkness began pooling from Grue. Regent forced himself to stop laughing. Bitch's dogs grew.

THE TECHNO QUEEN rose from her throne.

"Ready your Gender Switch-Inators!" She cracked her knuckles and snarled: "Aim specifically for Aegis."