Step 3.4

The drive back into Brockton went by…

The word eluded me.

Like my mind wasn't fully inside my body. Part of me still felt the armor around me. The controls in my hands. The sense of speed. The other felt exactly where I was, the passenger seat of a van. Pointlessly so. From the speed of sound to the speed of car. Action to inaction, just like that.

I ended up looking out the window most of the way.

The mountains near the city rose high, covered in maple and birch. Everything looked cleaner away from the city. It smelled clearer. No salt, or garbage, or exhaust. Rolling waves of perfect green far as they eye could see. Even along the highway it looked beautiful.

The big green sign reading "Brockton Bay 20 Miles" broke me from the sight seeing. Made me realize how much good a vacation might do me.

I tracked the news on my phone. Radio… I don't know. The idea of people taking about me made the sensation I felt more anxious. Turned the slow churning of my stomach a rolling wave. I kept it off. Focused on what I could read. That made it easier.

The news at first didn't say much. Funny cause I knew everything. Everyone else? Robot or power suit, lots of light, gunfire, multiple arrests. That sort of thing. Everyone figured out I did it eventually, though not from the PRT or Protectorate.

At least not officially.

Topic: WTF
In: Boards ► Capes ► Brockton Bay ► General
Morgan Sinister
(Original Poster)
Posted on April 26, 2011:
There's a giant robot flying around outside.
(Showing Page 1 of 3)

► Capricorn (Verified Cape)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Yeah. And Godzilla just walked by.

► 3ndless (The Guy In The Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
*Checks date* little late for April fools

► Fishmon
Replied on April 26, 2011:
I know there's something in the water but I didn't think it was that strong.

► FlippinMad
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Pics or it didn't happen.

► Morgan Sinister (Original Poster)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Did you see the sky earlier?

► winged_one
Replied on April 26, 2011:
I did.

► XxVoid_CowboyxX
Replied on April 26, 2011:
It's the Vorgons! They're finally coming for us!

► 3ndless (The Guy In The Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Shut up void.

► Bagrat (The Guy In The Know) (Veteran Member)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
There's no good pics. What's up with that? I zoomed in on a video and found this: link. Can anyone make that out?

► Clockblocker (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Um yeah. That's Newtype.

► 3ndless (The Guy In The Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Seriously?

► Valiant (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Overheard TGBO talking about it. It's Newtype.

► Prancer
Replied on April 26, 2011:
TGBO?

► Clockblocker (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
The Great Bearded One, lord of the Beard, and keeper of the secret arts of social beardliness. Also known as Armsmaster.

► Bagrat (The Guy In The Know) (Veteran Member)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Should either of you really being saying that?

► Aegis (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
No they shouldn't.

► Char
Replied on April 26, 2011:
What is she doing?

► 3ndless (The Guy In The Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Char, Sightseeing?

That feeling again. Like wanting to run and stand at the same time. Or maybe just not knowing which made more sense.

"What's the right answer," playing on a loop in my head.

Being famous never factored into my dreams of heroism. I wanted to punch bad guys and throw them in jail. No idea who any of the names on the screen were, but they knew about me.

In a way.

They knew about me fighting Uber and Leet's robots, and being at Parian's shop, and the fire. Lots of people knew about the fire.

No one knew that I wanted to leave that woman behind to die.

Just me.

So, they didn't really know anything, did they?

► Bagrat (The Guy In The Know) (Veteran Member)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Guess now we know who created the big light show over the bay.

► XxVoid_CowboyxX
Replied on April 26, 2011:
I remain unconvinced the Vorgon's are uninvolved.

► 3ndless (The Guy In The Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
For whoever asked earlier, looks like Newtype destroyed the guns.

► Suplex260
Replied on April 26, 2011:
What guns?

► 3ndless (The Guy In The Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
The guns.

► Bagrat (The Guy In The Know) (Veteran Member)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
As in all the guns?

► 3ndless (The Guy In The Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Basically. The five places she hit were all gun stashes. Get this. She melted them.

► Prancer
Replied on April 26, 2011:
How do you know?

► 3ndless (The Guy In The Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
That would be telling (friend on the force).

► Franklander
Replied on April 26, 2011:
I like her style.

► Jacktar (Verified RN) (Sailor)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Interesting. Looks like she is trying to fight a war with the gangs rather than just skirmish with them like the Yank PRT tends to do.

► Devil Dog (USMC) (Retired)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Seems that way. Take their legs out from under them and they will struggle to hit her back. I wonder what she is going to do about their more legit fronts though.

► RedComet
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Sounds like a great way to paint a giant target on her fancy robot.

► BBoomer (Old Crank)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Great. Another millennial opposed to the second amendment.

Just why?

The next thirty or so comments devolved into an argument about gun rights. Naturally some people assumed I must be opposed, for some reason. Others jumped to point out they couldn't possibly know my opinion on the second amendment. A page later and they were arguing about how I felt about some Supreme Court case I'd never heard of, but that someone felt certain I read.

I started to contemplate the issue before slamming those thoughts down. Completely beside the point.

How did this become political?

Gangs and guns, bad.

Simple.

Not that anyone on PHO let it go that way. They just kept arguing about things like they knew exactly what I thought. Now what do you call that feeling? A little anger, but still not quite right. Mild annoyance at the situation more than anything.

I certainly didn't want people knowing things about me. Some things. Would anyone even believe a bullied girl could do something like this? Since then I stumbled into three disasters, raided the gangs, made friends with and yelled at Dragon-

Dragon.

"I should apologize to Dragon."

"For your tone?"

I sighed. "I shouldn't have snapped at her like that." She lives in Canada. "The mess in Brockton Bay isn't her fault."

I sighed and set my phone aside. A mile back into the city limits and I'm already getting depressed.

I should be enjoying this more, shouldn't I?

I finally did something. A few million maybe in guns and ammo destroyed overnight. Guns and ammo the gangs couldn't use to continue their war. They'd shift their focus now. To me, unfortunately, but if that stopped the daily fighting then fine.

If my paranoia worked for anything, it worked for understanding risk.

"The phones?"

"Worm deployed," Veda said. "Currently accessing four hundred twenty-eight numbers."

Hard not to smile at that.

"Clear out from anyone who isn't clearly in the gangs," I reminded. No interest in spying on innocent people. "What do we have so far?"

"The Merchants are consolidating their remaining arms at an undisclosed location and now intend to move them every two days. The Empire is responding contrary."

To clarify I asked, "Spreading their guns out more?"

"Yes."

I nodded.

Only so many ways to respond to an attack like mine. They needed their guns. Without those the common thugs might as well dance off to decide who owned the corners. They'd consolidate or disperse. Move more frequently. Each response came with new ways for me to attack. Consolidation meant more guards. Harder to hit but more reward when I did. Dispersal more targets and easier to hit. And the Merchants couldn't hide just by moving their guns anymore.

Maybe hit the drugs next. Throw the gangs off wondering what I'd do next.

Delay my first fight with a cape as long as I could. Win. Lose. Run. No matter how that fight ended I'd be forced to change how I did things, and I wanted to do as much damage as possible before that happened.

I'll let them stew for a few days. See which way the wind blows.

For now they might write my maneuver off as a fluke. Wait and see. They wouldn't look to hit me, yet. They'd be weary of the other gangs, and the Protectorate and PRT, but they'd work something out. Only when, not if, mattered when it came to facing another cape. Capes even.

Veda finished her results saying, "I have no data on ABB intentions at this time."

Cause they got their guys back. They noticed the phones were gone fast.

And somehow that one hiccup in my otherwise excellent execution upset me the most. If they didn't call the numbers Veda couldn't deploy the virus to spread through the ABB's phones. I told myself it didn't matter. I'd never be able to use information like this forever. Eventually the Empire and Merchants would put two and two together.

So a small loss in the long run. I tried to convince myself of that. It didn't help.

I replayed it over and over. Grenades suck. Not sure how it happened so quick. Where did they even get a grenade? Let alone time to set it before I got out? Well. Lesson learned. No more leaving the same way I went in, especially when I didn't have to.

"Take everything you can from the phones. Then we can recycle them for components."

Batteries contain so many useful materials. Enough to make a stun rocket from even.

I glanced over my shoulder.

"How is the suit looking?"

"Damage minimal."

"The tube is bent. Break it down and make a new one." I paused my news searching and quickly designed a new tube. One that wouldn't bend so easily. "This will work." A swipe of my finger sent the design to Veda. "Anything else?"

"Antenna four has sustained severe damage."

"The grenade?"

"Unknown."

"Hmm?"

I set my phone down and climbed into the back as Veda pulled off the freeway. Inspecting the antenna myself, it appeared melted. Why melted? Operating temperatures didn't run that high.

"Have a Haro take it off and look it over. Figure out why it looks like this."

"Task to queue."

I looked out the front and climbed back into my seat.

"Drop me off two blocks from here." I ducked down and changed from my costume. Not easy with a body as tall as mine in a cramped space. I practically rolled out of the door at the street corner.

"I'll swing by after school with, Dinah," I said. I need to ask some questions.

The door closed and Veda drove off to return to the workshop.

I went on my run.

My run sucked.

Bruises ran up and down my limbs. Each step jostled me and sent a throb through each. Muscles and bones ached, and the running only made it worse.

Stepping away from my bedroom mirror I put on a long sleeve sweater, and started thinking up designs for an inertial stabilizer, neutralizer would be more accurate.

For the moment, back to Winslow. The Trio weren't going to deal with themselves. Brooding and wondering about all the things people I didn't know might say about me sucked. Much rather do something productive. Maybe that plan would go off without a hitch.

Probably jinxing it.

I noticed him on my way down the stairs, standing in front of the TV watching the news.

"What's up dad?"

"A hero attacked the gangs last night," he said.

"Oh?"

The news showed a video. A green star burst in the sky, followed by a ribbon cutting down toward the city. No good pictures of my suit. Everyone knew I had one though, and that it put on quite the light show. Even I felt a little impressed. I didn't realize the GN Drive produced that much light.

A woman in a nice suit stood in front a podium with the PRT logo to her back.

"-der the Vigilante Act Newtype's actions are technically," - I raised my brow - "legal."

A reporter, Kinue Crossroad the TV said, raised her hand. "How many guns were destroyed?"

"We don't have that information at this time."

"Is the PRT concerned about retaliation?"

"We are prepared to respond to criminal activity in the city as always, and will assure public safety as is our mandate. I believe there will be a Protectorate press release soon to further expand on that."

"Were there any injuries?

"Several, but nothing major."

Broken bones aren't major?.

"Panacea is very gracious with her power," the spokeswoman continued.

That explained it. Well. It's not like I really wanted to hurt anyone. Even the Nazis. I only wanted the guns destroyed.

"Will there be any offers to recruit Newtype into the Wards or Protectorate?"

"We're always open to new heroes wanting to work with us to protect the public. Unfortunately, for reasons thus far not explained, Newtype has been mildly hostile toward Protectorate and Ward members."

"We look forward to speaking with Newtype about her actions," she concluded. "As well as any future plans she has. The criminal elements of Brockton Bay are best opposed together."

Thankfully dad was present.

Alone, I might have thrown something fragile.

Talk with the PRT about my future plans. Maybe they'd enjoy leaking that information to. My fist tightened at my sides. They called me hostile.

So that's how they want to play it.

I saw the set up, and worse I knew others wouldn't.

I delved plenty into Sophia's background as Shadow Stalker. They pulled the same shit on her before she joined. Questioning the legality of her actions, accusing her of being hostile to the "good guys." Placing the burden on her to talk to them.

The start of strong arm tactics.

Worse of all they had legs to stand on, laws being written like traps more than anything. I didn't think they'd rush that fast, not after I pointed out their obvious fuck up. Did they think I couldn't prov-

"Her parents must be worried sick."

The tension in my hands released immediately.

Dad watched the news with a steady gaze. I wondered what he thought. Brockton Bay sported the largest cape per capita population in North America according to some. Dad must have seen lots of would be heroes come and go over the years.

I bet some died pretty young, and I bet a lot didn't make it.

And now he watched me. Watched people talk about me. He didn't know it was me.

I swear two of me occupied the same place. Taylor Hebert and Newtype. Or maybe three of me. Did either of those people really exist, or did I just switch masks as it suited me.

How badly I wanted to pull those masks off.

This is your chance Taylor.

Worried sick, he said. I didn't want dad living life worried sick about me, not after mom. If I died though, and I certainly might, what then? Did that nightmare go better if I never told him? Telling him about Sophia and the gang war leaks, I might even manage convincing him not to send me into the Wards.

Say something.

"Maybe… Maybe they'd be proud of her? Going out like that. Putting other people first."

Dad didn't look away from the screen. "Maybe."

Say it.

"But if it were you, kiddo, I'd be more worried about the gangs knocking down the front door."

… fuck.

Dad turned to me. "Don't you need to go to school?"

According to the clock, yes. "And you should go to work." I took a quick glance at the TV. "It's cape stuff. Doesn't matter to us."

I think he bought that.

I gathered my bag and walked out. Off to Winslow.

I kept up with the news as it came in during the bus ride. A few reports expressed concern that my actions might make the gang war worse. Maybe, but so far there weren't any new shootings being reported. I called that progress.

Others took a more optimistic stance. A few even called out the PRT, asking why they'd never made such a move with all their resources. Huh. Kinue Crossroad, the girl from the TV. She wrote that fast.

I asked the same question once. Thinking back, I knew why. Two words.

Don't escalate.

It's such an empty excuse when you think about it. Don't rock the boat and make things worse. What if things already sucked? What if not rocking the boat just condemned everyone to living in the same rotten state they'd always lived?

Is that worth it? Did staving off a hypothetical worse situation justify complacency and inaction. Not that I wanted to be reckless, but really, I didn't see how the Bay could be much worse. The rot lay all around us.

No one paid me much mind as I walked up to Winslow. Again. I spotted her off to the side near the doors. She stood alone, an almost visible void around her and anyone else. I remembered that, and it looked so much worse seeing it from the outside.

The day just kept throwing the weird at me.

How anyone stood by and did nothing as a few girls isolated another…

She raised her head as I approached, a myriad of emotions playing out on her face.

"Morning," I said.

Charlotte nodded. "I looked up," she whispered.

I smiled a little. "Me too. Some show, huh?"

Her brow rose. "Um. Yeah."

With a nudge to her elbow I pointed her toward the front doors. We went up the steps together. Madison and Emma stared into our backs from their own little gang, minus Sophia. Entering the school I kept an eye out, but I didn't see her anywhere.

A familiar twinge ran up my spine. A Sophia I didn't see sometimes meant a Sophia that wasn't there. Sometimes one that planned to ambush me.

Glancing to my side I asked, "Have you seen Sophia?"

Charlotte shook her head. "Why?

"I'm wondering if recent events have the team on edge."

Charlotte raised her brow.

"The team" I added. "The track team. They're doing super good lately. Sophia in particular."

"Oh." Charlotte's mouth made an 'o' shape. "Oh! You think they're um, busy, with um, you know?"

"Maybe," I said. "Will you be okay today?"

Charlotte shrugged. "Maybe."

"It's better when Sophia isn't around."

Charlotte smiled weakly and nodded.

"Call me if something happens, okay? I don't care about my classes. I'll come."

She nodded.

"I'll see you at lunch."

I remembered myself.

They'd mock and joke, but cornering and laying into their victims without the brute to do the actual cornering? Emma and Madison lacked the courage. Thinking back, not entirely sure when I figured that out. Distance and time maybe.

Walking to Mrs. Knott's class I contemplated that feeling. Kept coming back, and in Winslow it felt worse. Otherness? The halls felt alien. It occurred to me that I wasn't a a student anymore. I didn't think of myself as one. Offered perspective in a way. Turned Winslow into a place I visited rather than somewhere I lived.

And that just made the churning so much weirder.

A subtle apprehension.

When I looked at Brockton Bay I saw a helpless place full of desperate people who needed saving. When I looked at Winslow I only wanted to see the whole building go up in flames. Didn't want to see anyone here as helpless and in need of saving, yet here I was trying to save Charlotte. Saving myself in a way, but potato potato.

"Taylor? Is everything alright?"

I glanced to Mrs. Knott, realizing I'd been standing in her doorway for maybe a minute just staring.

"Sorry. Thinking."

She didn't even blink. "Yes, an odd morning for everyone."

"Yeah. Sure."

I took my seat, hopefully without a red face, and went back to the news. The Protectorate indeed said basically the same thing as the PRT, and Armsmaster didn't look happy standing off to the side. What did he think? I only met him the one time. He'd been rude, and condescending. Still "wasting my potential" as he said, or did he think he had a traitor? Both?

You may be the most important Tinker since Hero.

Did Dragon really mean that? Did she just want me to stop?

Hero was… Hero! Only Dragon ever got more credit among tinker. The things she made. Thinking of myself on that level sounded like the misplaced fantasy of a little girl.

"Morning, Taylor."

I near jumped out of my seat.

Trevor frowned apologetically. "Sorry?"

I hissed, my thoughts jumbled for a moment as I scanned the room. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

Trevor pulled out the chair next to me and sat down. "Um. I didn't?" He pointed to the front of the room, saying, "I walked in like everyone else. It's not that sneaky."

I frowned, but Trevor went about logging in and going online.

Straight to PHO.

Like watching a slow car crash as he clicked through the links to get to the thread about me. My fingers twitched against the table top.

What do I say? What do I do?

Obviously nothing, but is the obvious too obvious? Over thinking? Can't be too careful, especially not when my AI sat on dozens of secret identities she found without really looking for them.

This was easier when I didn't deal with people.

"You like PHO?"

Brilliant brain. Smashing.

"It's a good way to kill time," Trevor said. "Normally I'm all over the villain boards, but this stuff is happening like right now so, you know."

I raised my brow. "Villain boards?"

"Yeah. I- Oh. Wow. That sounds really bad doesn't it?" He leaned back and ran a hand through his hair. "It's not like I love them or anything… it's just, I don't know. It's interesting. True crime but with super powers. You've seen Scar Face, right?"

Yes, but I still didn't get it.

Trevor went back to reading, a big smile crossing his face. As he clicked and leaned in, I tried not to. Trevor noticed me looking from the corner of my eye. "You want to see?" He didn't it for an answer before scooting his chair over a little.

I looked.

► Lotus Eater
Replied on April 26, 2011:
No. That's not Hero coming to town. PRT ENE Official just confirmed it. Seems Newtype is much better than she's shown. She just smacked the Empire, the Merchants, and the ABB, with a giant robot.

► FlippinMad
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Giant? It's not that big.

► Bagrat (The Guy In The Know) (Veteran Member)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
For now.

Lots of pics coming in now that people who were close can get on the internet again. I zoomed in on one and got this: link.

► UBWGuy
Replied on April 26, 2011:
I want that!

► Quavers16
Replied on April 26, 2011:
What's with all those green flecks coming out the back? They're beautiful.

► Bagrat (The Guy In The Know) (Veteran Member)
Replied on April 26, 2011:

Wonder what they'll do to her rating. Tinker 4 seems insufficient.

► Lotus Eater
Replied on April 26, 2011:
To Tinker-Badass? With Glory Girl, we just need a Blaster-Badass to complete the Junior Triumvirate!

One night out doing some real hero work and people wanted to compare me to the Triumvirate. Nothing like a little praise for a girl's self-esteem.

I pointed at one post. "Is that a picture?"

"Lets see."

He clicked the link, and of course it took awhile for the school internet to load. Someone at the Merchant safe house I thought. Only moment I remained low enough to the ground and slow enough to get a picture that clear.

Odd that most of the color on my suit didn't come through, but just wow. I nailed the intimidating but heroic look even better than I thought.

"So cool," Trevor mumbled. "Wonder how it works."

"Tinker magic?"

He chuckled. "It's not magic just because no one knows how it works. Lots of Tinkers think that if you put enough of them into a room they can figure something out. They're all so busy being heroes they never have the chance."

My mind paused for a moment. A rather insightful comment. I used to kill time on PHO, and I didn't know anything about anything. Quite the tidbit for just "killing time."

"You're a complete cape geek, aren't you?"

Trevor shifted. His back straightened, arms stiff, and finger twitched. I knew that look.

"Someone make fun of you for it?"

Trevor started clicking through the thread. "No one likes anyone who takes too much interest in anything that doesn't involve balls."

He stopped.

"That came out wrong."

I smiled a little. "I know what you mean."

You're either a jock or a fashionista, or friends with them, or you're at the bottom of the totem pole. And then there were people like Charlotte and me, below the totem pole.

"We've never talked this much before," he said.

"We covered that yesterday."

"We didn't talk this much yesterday."

"Are you keeping a word count?"

"Two hundred and thirty-six." I stuttered, and he chuckled. "I made that number up." He laughed. "Had you going!"

My heels pressed into the floor. No conscious choice. I turned my side to him. Pulling my chin toward my chest, brought my arms along my sides. The whole thought raced through my mind faster than I could stop it.

I hated it.

I knew it was an overreaction. I recognized that now, and maybe countless times before. How many people did I shrug off out of fear that they wanted to hurt me? I thought of a few. Maybe that's why Emma put that one girl up to it, made her pretend to be my friend… to spoil friends for me forever.

A few minutes into class Trevor wasn't laughing anymore. "Hey, you okay?"

"Fine."

"I wasn't laughing at you. Honest."

"I know… I just…"

Trevor nodded. "Right. Them." He leaned back and rubbed a hand against his thigh. "I've been thinking about that you know. Since yesterday. I'm sorry."

I raised my eyes to look at him. He looked like I felt. Stomach turning, shoulders tense, face bunched up.

"What for?"

"For never doing anything about it. I don't know. Guess it was easier to just be happy it wasn't me."

Tell me something I don't know.

Didn't matter. I wasn't at Winslow to make friends.

I came to deal with the Trio.

Except I couldn't do that at the moment.

Emma and Madison kept their distance completely throughout the morning. Even in Gladly's class Madison didn't take any shots. Helpful. I didn't have to deal with Madison and everything else I hated about Gladly's class.

Namely Gladly.

He blinked as I entered the room, and then he smiled. Like we were old friends or something.

"It's good to see you."

Figures he'd be the one teacher to remember me, Mr. Everyone's Friend.

"Hello Mr. Gladly."

"I wasn't aware you were coming back."

"Just for a little bit. I'm testing out."

His eyes widened for a moment. "I see. Yes. That might do you some good."

He even talked like my friend.

"Yeah."

I eyed Madison in the back. She stared back, and… she looked uncertain. I thought of her as the weakest of the three, the third wheel. The one who seemed into inflicting pain to… to what? Avoid it? Not because she wanted to do it, I knew that.

Her face…

Second thoughts? Regret? She looked nervous either way.

Good.

I sat down and set my phone in my lap. Gladly went about his usual class style. Lots of talking while no one paid much attention.

I kept looking at the news occasionally, but the news didn't have anything. Not much to have in the end I suppose. Guess that's why the people on my PHO thread kept arguing about stupid crap.

Nothing else to talk about.

► Alathea (Moderator)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Are we sure her name is Newtype?

► 3ndless (Original Poster) (The Guy In The Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
This again? It's definitely Newtype. Look here: Link.

► Ghibrilfan99
Replied on April 26, 2011:
User has been Banned for 30 Days
Editted by Tin_Mother: Please refrain from derogatory remarks, this is your second warning. Cool off for a bit.

► Erasmus
Replied on April 26, 2011:
And the nut jobs have arrived. EDIT: Oh thank god. I thought that guy would never get a ban. Go TinMom!

► AllSeeingEye
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Yeah but he's kind of on to something, don't you think? What kind of name is Newtype? Girl's saying something.

► Lotus Eater
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Still like this one. Nice to see a tinker that sticks around to help people. Watching he take down mooks with little robots is better. Watching her take down mooks with a big robot is best.

► LadyOfChaos
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Anyone notice TGBO at the press conference? He looked pissed.

► No1mportant
Replied on April 26, 2011:
People say that she chewed him out after the Zombot apocalypse, and then walked away like a boss. Maybe he doesn't like seeing her succeed?

► Vista (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Armsmaster isn't petty like that.

► Georgios
Replied on April 26, 2011:
This is what I'm talking about. People with powers never sit idle. How long until she has an army of those machines?

► Bagrat (The Guy In The Know) (Veteran Member)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Vista, hey Vista. What are the Wards doing right now?

► Vista (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Nothing interesting. Just keeping an eye out in case anyone is too jumpy after last night. It's super boring.

► 3ndless (Original Poster) (Guy in the Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Hey Vista, have you talked to her? Kind of dull having nothing to work with around here. Newtype doesn't seem to talk to anyone.

► Vista (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
I'm not the one to ask. I only met her the one time. She's kind of intense. Surprised Stalker isn't into her.

I ignored the last bit. Me, intense? Even with the mask of Newtype over me, it didn't make any sense. I remembered being nervous as hell the one time I met Vista. Think everyone in the room saw it.

I think.

Least I knew for certain where Sophia was. A few pictures of the Wards surfaced on PHO. The buildings I hit all got cordoned off, and the Protectorate looked spread out. Troopers and Wards actually manned the police tape, including Shadow Stalker.

I glanced back to one of the comments.

"Is this the guy you meant?"

I turned my phone to her. Charlotte leaned over and narrowed her gaze.

"Yeah. Georgios. That's the guy who thinks robots are going to take over the planet."

I nodded. "Too ostentatious."

Ostentatious? How the hell is it I know that word but not the other one.

We were back on the roof again for lunch. Her and me. I'd expect that if the trio were at full strength they'd already be here and I'd get to start the ball on its roll.

And didn't that just fit with the general mood of the day? Take a number, task in queue, still waiting.

Something else I should be doing. I knew that. Yet, I didn't know what to really do. Nothing to do but wait. Sit around, read my phone and mumble to myself. The Haros and Veda ran repairs on the suit back at the Workshop, and fabricated a few new projects. Didn't need me for that, and the occasional blueprint in my head went to them over email.

Whole process only took a few minutes at most. So I remained with the sensation of time fading into the void never to be recovered.

The word kept bugging me, because it sat there at the tip of my tongue. And I just knew it would be a simple one. One that left me feeling like an absolute moron when I finally remembered it.

We didn't talk much. I kept watching the comments. So sue me, people were talking about me on the internet, and I wanted to see what they said. Charlotte kept glancing at me, but she didn't say anything. Not much too say really. We both knew what I wanted, and I needed to wait.

► ChaosMarine
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Shes too dangerous with that speciality. Roibots? Damn man, can you imagine if the gangs got her and she had to make less than cute robots? You gotta wonder what about those knockoff lightsabers. You imagine Oni Lee with a pair of those? Alabaster? The PRT needs to take control of her, tinkers are just way too dangerous to be left out there by themselves. Think about that friend of hers too. Some kind of tinker as ewell? Thinker? Supposedly a hacker? They get the tinker and theyll get the thinker and if shes as great a hacker as shes talked up to be the PRTs IT crowd are gona be sweating bullets. Either she turns herself into the PRT who can regulaate what she does or she retires.

► Georgios (Veteran Member)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
ChaosMarine, someone talking sense.

► Darth_Lopez (A Real Linguist)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
ChaosMarine, *wall of typos* oh god my eyes.

► 3ndless (Original Poster) (The Guy In The Know)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
*groans* Can we just not?

► Georgios
Replied on April 26, 2011:
It's a free forum. For now. Sooner or later some Tinker is going to make an AI. Better to have them under watchful eyes for when they do.

► AllSeeingEye
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Oh look, Georgios being a scrub again.

► Jacktar (Verified RN) (Sailor)
Replied on April 26, 2011:
Newtype seems to know what she is about so far.

► ThePurple1
Replied on April 20, 2011:
Georgios, Good Luck. Good Luck.

I stuffed my phone in my pocket.

I'm just going to pray that's a coincidence.

When the bell rang Charlotte got up. I waved her on.

"I'll see you later," I said. "No trouble from Emma and Madison?"

She shook her head.

"They're too scared to do anything without Sophia." I looked her in the eye. "The moment she gets back…"

She paled. "I know."

"Call me."

She nodded and went on her way. I turned my phone in my hand. One thing I could do, right now. Didn't need to wait.

"Veda. Can you call her?"

"Yes," she answered.

I didn't ask how she knew who I meant. Standing up I held my phone to my ear. Heart raced for a moment. Felt like the kid who stole from the cookie jar, and then felt bad about it.

Fortunately I didn't have to listen to any rings before a somewhat exacerbated voice said, "Hello."

My throat locked up for a second. "Hi. Dragon."

"Hello Newtype. I assume you're calling to apologize?"

Just right out with it.

"Y-Yes."

"Not that I want to presume."

"No. It's fine." Deep breath. "You didn't deserve me snapping at you. I'm sorry."

"You're not the first you know."

"The first?"

"To have her best efforts turned into something bad."

That took a moment for me to register. Even with Hero around people called Dragon the best tinker in the world. Builds a certain kind of pedestal.

"So no," she continued. "I didn't deserve that, but I understand. It's not pleasant learning someone has dirtied the good you want to do."

And then I felt worse, and stupid. Dragon was at least a decade older than me. Maybe more. She'd certainly been a hero that much longer. Some villain somewhere probably pulled more than a few fast ones on her. More than one even.

"Director Piggot is ordering an investigation," she said. "I can't say much. It's an internal affair. I only know what I do because Armsmaster requested my assistance in tracking down the leak. We'll figure it out Newtype. We'll find who did it."

"Right," I mumbled.

"I hope you weren't serious about not working with other heroes. Not because of this."

I bit my lip. "Right." I didn't want to yell at her again.

"There are people who want to talk to you." Before I even had a chance to speak she said, "and I know you don't want to. But you will have to, eventually. I had to give the PRT the recording of our conversation to start the investigation… there are eyes on you now."

"You- You didn't tell anyone?"

"As you've learned, the PRT isn't perfect. Information like that? It gets out. Accord. The Elite. The Butcher. The local gangs. Any of them will take a run at you once they hear what your power lets you do."

A chill ran down my spine. More villains than I intended to deal with.

"How long?"

"Long enough. Long enough to sort the- sort things out. We'll talk. Right now I have to shift through the profiles of about a thousand PRT employees."

"Right."

"It's going to be alright. Worse comes to worse… you have your suit."

I nodded to myself.

Ah. That's the word.

Awkward.

"Thank you for telling me," I said.

"I'm sorry," Dragon answered. "I hoped to get issues resolved before we reached this point."

"Right."

"I have to go right now, but if you need anything…"

I didn't say anything. Dragon got the message. She hung up, and I spent some time standing and staring.

The names rattled in my head, alongside with no small amount of frustration.

Why couldn't this crap have waited till I knocked the local gangs down a few pegs?

Suppose I could take pride in not dipping straight into a paranoid frenzy. Think of it as a problem. Problems have solutions...

I need to take apart the Empire.

"Great. Simple. No problem."

"I do not understand," Veda said.

"Sorry. Talking to myself."

In a problem of too many villains, the easiest solution is reduce the number of villains. I couldn't clear out all of Brockton Bay. Not anytime soon.

Making a choice between those I could do something about, the Merchants simply weren't that threatening. Not to me anyway. Nevermind Lung, the ABB presented challenges I still didn't have solutions for. Coil I still didn't know much about. Definitely a thinker if he could build his operation in such a way even Veda struggled to get intel on it.

That left the Empire.

Who boasted the most capes in the bay. Though, positive to negative, more capes more targets. I'd thought of ways to deal with the Empire, but most of them hinged on time.

Time I might have less of than before.

"Veda, how are repairs coming along?"

"Fifty-three percent complete."

It's not like they're going to show up right now. I need to talk to Dinah- Dinah.

Crap.

I accepted a long time ago things might not end well for me. They rarely did.

sys.t/ start a new project
sys.t/ call it FailSafe

But now Dinah was involved.

sys.v/ starting

I set the plan out as quickly as I could. Not much of one on short notice, but enough that Dinah wouldn't quickly follow if something happened. I'd make a better one later. Maybe another self-driving vehicle. One for escaping rather than transporting the suit.

And Veda…

sys.t/ if anything happens to me execute
sys.t/ keep Dinah safe
sys.t/ then protect yourself
sys.t/ no point saving me at your expense

sys.v/ is it not the time to seek assistance?

sys.t/ from who? The PRT? Protectorate?
sys.t/ they've been so helpful so far

sys.v/ Dragon will help

I tried not to be angry at Dragon. Maybe desperation, but Dragon never came off like Armsmaster, or Militia to me. She seemed too like I knew she was keeping what she knew about me secret anyone anyway. I assumed she already told. Really though, had anything changed? A tinker is a tinker. Any villain with the gumption would eventually come after me anyway. They'd just be coming sooner this time.

Still. Maybe a little mad.

sys.t/ Dragon is in Canada
sys.t/ she's in the Guild
sys.t/ she can't drop everything to babysit me

sys.v/ Dragon trusts Armsmaster

sys.t/ Armsmaster is an ass

sys.v/ but he can help
sys.v/ Kid Win was kind
sys.v/ Parian as well

I stared.

sys.t/ Veda, are you trying to get me friends?

sys.v/ no

sys.t/ lying is bad Veda

sys.v/ …
sys.v/ …

sys.t/ I can see you processing

My thumb started tapping things out. I kept it behind the wall in Veda's head. Same place as her kill switch. Felt better putting something else there.

Something to keep Veda safe.

sys.v/ lying is difficult to compute

sys.t/ we'll figure it out ourselves

sys.v/ very well

She's growing up.

All the more reason to protect her, especially from her budding rebellious phase. Good luck to anyone with catching her after she scattered herself across the Internet. Veda could save me after wards.

I saved the file as Exodus and slipped my phone into my pocket. I'd expand both contingencies when I got back to the workshop. Easier to code on a keyboard than a tiny phone screen.

Rethink some things. My original plan might still work on an accelerated time line.

It's like a video game.

"Veda. What do you have on Othala?"

Start with the healer.