Step 8.1
I could be tinkering right now.
Astraea arced nice and slow over the city, Queen flying right behind it.
Kind of amazed I managed to get both up and running in just eight days. With the gangs still staying low and Trevor helping I managed it.
Queen needed a new right arm and both legs replaced. Never mind the internals of the GN drive and most of the circuits. Doubling the number of fabricators in the new lab got that done. Astraea actually didn't need that much work. Mostly a few core internal components.
The Full Armor gear got trashed though. Going to take a while on that.
Having another tinker around, even if all he does is fix stuff, might be my most brilliant business decision ever.
Much better than 'Kati.'
"You're going too fast."
Fuck Kati.
I stammered, asking, "How is this too fast?! I'm going one-twenty!"
"And that's too fast," Dad repeated. "Please. Just listen. Kati said you should go in slow. She knows what she's talking about."
I kept going one-twenty.
I don't know how or where Dad found this lady but I am going to give him shit for it.
It's one thing to find some common ground with Dad and agree I needed help with PR.
I didn't talk to people well.
I'm just not good at it and I have next to no interest in actually doing it. The factory needed the help though, especially if I wanted to sell the mass production Haros. I called them Helpers. With Veda somehow managing to become national news for a straight week, and the possibility of a coordinated announcement of 'yes, artificial intelligence exists I made one' in the future it made even more sense.
Fine.
Get me someone who knows how to talk to people to help me out.
But I didn't see why my unladen airspeed velocity needed to be a point of debate. We hadn't even agreed to hire the woman yet, whoever she was.
I started circling the city, again. For the fifth time.
I tried to be less angry about that. Astraea and Queen could reach the site of the memorial a lot faster than Lafter or Dinah. Traffic is a bitch with three weeks of relative peace inviting the tourists back to the city, and the memorial was expected to draw thousands of people in total. Kati wanted us all to arrive at the same time, the Gundams landing at the same moment the limousine Dad drove pulled up to the red carpet.
A literal red carpet as far as I could see.
The Forsberg Gallery is easily the nicest building in Brockton Bay. One of the most recognizable too. Twenty-seven stories of 'grandness.' Tall windows, classical Gothic architecture. High class kind of deal. Not really my style but…Yeah. Sure. It's fine.
I dialed a number and let the phone ring.
Charlotte didn't answer.
I wondered if I should go to her house. I didn't know if she didn't want to talk to anyone, or if she just didn't want to talk to me specifically. I really hoped it wasn't me specifically.
"We're pulling up," Dad said. "It's time. You'll do fine. Just don't forget to breathe and don't look directly at the cameras."
"What was that last part?" I asked.
"Kati said your aloofness is part of your appeal."
I suppose, if I have to admit it, Kati had a point.
I started decelerating earlier than normal.
I sighed, turning Astraea toward the city center.
The crowd at the front of the building split into two groups. Those closest to the entrance of the gallery carried cameras and microphones. News crews and paparazzi. Those right behind them carried signs that said 'marry me.'
Groupies.
Fortunately, a group of stalwart men and women formed a barricade between the latter and the building.
Thank god for PRT troopers.
Landing went a lot smoother at sixty miles per hour, and I didn't wreck the street doing it. Cameras started flashing all around me, and the filter in the eyes automatically adjusted to block out the worst of it. Queen lowered to the ground on the other side of the red carpet, but didn't touch down. Instead Veda had the other Gundam float in the air just an inch off the sidewalk.
The limo pulled up, Dad sitting in the driver's seat with a balaclava over his face. The door opened between Astraea and Queen, and Lafter stepped out, followed by Dinah. Classic sleepover excuse. Without an active gang war in the city it worked even better than normal. Green came out last, rolling out of the limo in…
"Where did he find a bow tie?" I asked.
"I have not asked," Veda answered.
It didn't look painted on, but how did he get it to stick to his ball?
Dinah and Lafter both wore their costumes, and as they stepped out I set Astraea to kneel and holy fucking shit that's loud!
"Newtype! How do you respond to accusations that StarGazer crossed the line in hacking so many computers?"
"Can you comment on your factory? What are you building?"
"Why isn't my camera working?"
"Sorry!" Lafter called. "Can't control it!"
Pretty sure that was GN particles doing their things. Some cameras kept flashing, but more than a few people started looking at theirs in confusion. Did I forget to mention that to anyone? My mistake. Guess they'll just have to live without their photos.
Though the guys in the back would probably snap some clean shots.
"Why did you name your team Celestial Being?"
"Are you building death bots to destroy humanity?"
I balked at that one, mostly because I couldn't believe anyone actually asked that question.
Ignore what your well-meaning teachers said.
There is such a thing as a stupid question.
And they kept asking questions.
"Newtype will not be answering questions at this time," said a firm voice that somehow managed to be heard over the barrage of questions.
Ramius came forward from the door, dressed in her full PRT regalia, helmet included. When was the last time I saw her put on her full armor? The first time we met? She started waving us forward, and I forced my legs to move.
"Capes will be answering questions after the memorial." I recognized the voice as Commander Noa's. "You all know this. The carpet walk is for photos only!"
Ramius gave me a small push as I approached and that helped keep my legs going. At least I didn't trip in front of the cameras which didn't matter because the GN particles are fucking the cameras so screw it. No embarrassing photos tonight!
Dad pulled the limo away as we approached the doors. Astraea rose on its own, lifting up into the air. Queen followed, and the two suits flew down the street and then into the sky. The cameras all turned on my suits as they did that, furiously flashing away as they lifted off.
I looked up at the building ahead. Over the doors the Protectorate and Ward banners flew. Both featured the team's name and a large silver shield. The primary difference were the colors. The Protectorate shield was solid, while the Ward shield cut down the middle with an empty space on the left side.
To the right, New Wave's star burst hung over a tall window, and to the left…
It's a lot heavier when you increase the size.
The wings and the halo. The words in the name. And up there on the wall, with the Protectorate, Wards, and New Wave.
The PRT produced the banner for the event. Apparently someone wanted to beg me to change it. Ramius told them not to waste their time.
Once we got through the doors the cacophony of noise became distant.
The interior looked needlessly extravagant. Big fancy chandeliers with crystals hanging from them, spiral staircases of deep red wood, men and women in clothes fancier than anything I'd ever seen. The news said Parian was somewhere around doing one of her shows, but I didn't see her or any signs.
"Elevator this way," a team of troopers called, waving people toward them. "The primary memorial is on the fifth floor. We'll be televising the service to the rooms on floors three and four. Please show your tickets on the way in."
I didn't get any tickets. I suppose capes don't need them.
"This way." Ramius led us to another elevator and ushered us inside. "We're taking capes up a separate elevator. The Protectorate is already here, as well as New Wave," she said. "The Wards will be arriving later."
"Is there anything else about those kids?" I asked.
Ramius shook her head.
Never anticipate the PRT not screwing up somehow.
Though, the timing of the escape was perfect. Right in the middle of the Leviathan battle with the Protectorate and Wards absent and a lot of the local troopers called in to assist. Now Cranial's kids could be anywhere, and the only clue anyone had was a mountain of files that got opened before they left the building.
I found out about it almost as soon as a teleporter brought me back to the city.
The PRT released a press statement and I caught the afternoon news. Three to four of the children seemingly evaded capture or notice and helped the rest escape the PRT building in the middle of the battle with Leviathan. One of them managed to gain access to the control room and used a prepared device to hack the building security.
What did Cranial do to make them capable of that? I knew something was off. After she died, they didn't seem upset at all. Yet, they put real effort into trying to kill themselves to ensure her escape. I worried they might continue trying to hurt themselves. Some kind of conditioned suicide thing, but instead they busted out of the PRT building and vanished.
Great way to come back home after almost dying.
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped out into a large ball room.
The team banners flew from the ceiling this time, Protectorate and Wards on one side, New Wave and Celestial Being on the other.
The news said a lot of the city elite intended to attend, and looking at all the posh I mostly figured, why not? It's the complete opposite of the real Brockton Bay. It's clean, fancy, expensive, and it smelled great. Who wouldn't want to be here if they could?
"I could be tinkering right now," I grumbled.
"You've been tinkering all week!" Lafter put her arm around me and surveyed the crowd. "This is fancy do you think they have punch? I could go for some punch."
In the crowd a familiar set of eyes approached. Miss Militia wore he regular costume, though it looked very new. Like fresh off the rack new.
"Newtype, Forecast, Laughter," she greeted. She glanced down at Green. "StarGazer?"
"Hello, Miss Militia," Veda greeted.
Green followed that up with, "Hello again, hello again."
The heroine smiled. "Still not going out in person, I see."
"I do not deal well with public spaces."
Dragon suggested Veda use the same excuse she did more or less. Now that she'd become a big name, people would want to see her and ask why she never appeared anywhere. It worked for Dragon for ten years, so I figured it would work for Veda for however long we took planning out our reveal.
"It can be daunting." She turned to Ramius and nodded. "Lieutenant."
"Ma'am."
"The memorial service is going to start at eight exactly," Miss Militia explained. "The Director will give the introduction, and Armsmaster asked me to follow her."
I raised my brow.
"He's no good at public speaking." She shrugged. "I think we can honestly agree that's true."
Honestly, we could.
"After that I'll ask anyone who wants to say a few words," she continued. "I know Dauntless and Prism both want to speak for Robin. Kid Win, Vista, and Triumph want to say a few words for Carlos and Dennis. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to, but you can if you wish."
I nodded. I didn't expect to say anything.
Realistically, if I said anything it would be to lambaste the PRT. Namely, treating the Wards with kid gloves at times of peace and then opening the door to fucking Endbringers as if that was remotely fair. I explicitly prepared to face Leviathan and still nearly died. That they played games parading young heroes around for PR events and then sent them…
But I wouldn't be saying any of that.
This moment isn't about me, or the PRT.
I walked across the room quietly, ignoring the occasional glances sent my way. Dinah and Lafter followed, and Green kind of went ahead.
They set up three stands at the front of the room. Velocity, Aegis, and Clockblocker's PRT posters stood over them, all three heroes in proud and heroic poses in full costume. Beneath that a small plaque bore their cape names, and then below that another showed their real names, and pictures of their faces without their masks.
I never would have imagined I knew them.
I never saw Velocity out of costume, but I'd met Aegis. I even encouraged Charlotte to ask him out because she clearly liked him. Dennis I never spoke to, but I saw him in one of my classes those last two weeks at Arcadia. Kind of a class clown, which fit with Clockblocker's personality.
Strange seeing capes revealed like this.
Not maliciously, but in memory.
Part of me worried, especially for Carlos' family with the Empire around. Veda and I looked into it though, and it didn't seem necessary. No one fucked with the families of capes who died fighting Endbringers. Never. I didn't find one single instance of it happening in twenty years of history. Either it got hidden really well, or no one was that heartless.
Piles of flowers adorned the floor under the memorials. Clockblocker's looked a lot bigger than Velocity or Aegis'. From what I knew he'd easily been one of the most popular Wards in the city, maybe even the country. People still shared his reveal video and made memes with it.
No memorial for Sophia.
I guess technically she wasn't a Brockton Bay Ward when she died, and I don't know why that bothered me. Because she came from Brockton Bay and her family lived here? Did they even live here? For all I knew they'd been moved.
And I still didn't want to deal with how I felt about that.
Monster or not, heartless bitch who ruined my life or not, who feels relief knowing someone died?
Velocity died trying to fish people out of the river. A wave came in behind him and he drowned. Clockblocker bought us time, and I didn't know how Aegis died. I worried because I knew how his power sort of worked. Redundant biology. Drowning probably couldn't kill him, and he'd endure a lot of punishment. Leviathan must have done a real number to take him out.
Next time, it dies.
I told the PRT after Veda finished compiling data. Something in its chest. Something it wanted to protect so badly it chose to leave rather than fight the moment Veda targeted it.
They said they'd take it under advisement in future battles.
"Sorry," Dinah said beside me.
"It's not your fault."
"It's not yours either."
Lafter's face I didn't know how to read. She smiled a little, but not happily. Her eyes looked sad. Maybe remembering her family?
Looking back to the room, it felt like bullshit.
Who throws a party for the dead? They should be reflecting—
And there I go again. Not about me. Not about me.
"Oh," Lafter started walking. "I found punch!"
Oh good, a distraction.
I swear, her real super power is finding ways for me to get out of brooding.
The line around the punch table kind of parted for us as we approached. I didn't like that. On the other hand, my throat did feel a little dry.
"Hey."
I turned.
Dean Stansfield raised his little red cup to me.
"D—Mr. Stansfield," I looked past him, but he didn't seem to be with anyone. "I didn't expect you to be here."
"Yeah." He smiled solemnly. "My mom and dad scoffed at the idea of coming, but I knew Aegis and Clockblocker—Dennis and Carlos—at school. Kind of felt obligated to come, PR be damned."
I nodded.
Right, Dean went to Arcadia too. I never saw him interacting with Dennis, but he did seem to get along with Carlos. Despite the school's apparent division between pro-capes and anti-capes, Dean never seemed to struggle weaving his way between both crowds.
Except with Vicky.
"Oh, you're the guy." Lafter rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry about your granddad."
Dean kept smiling. "Me too."
He looked at me expectantly. I nodded to him, subtly.
We'd lost track of our private little investigation while I threw myself into prepping for Leviathan. I still wanted to know who set up that murder. And I wanted to drag them into the street for everyone to see.
"Hey, Newtype!"
Oh god no not now!
Vicky practically tackled me, because apparently personal space doesn't exist in her world.
"Vicky!" I exclaimed.
She released me and smiled. Of course she looked gorgeous. Long dark blue dress that hung from one shoulder and emphasized her curves, and she just floated an inch off the ground which somehow made it more impressive.
"So, I hear my cousin had to rescue you from a monster?" she asked.
Laserdream waved behind her, standing in a modest black number that showed off her curves. Amy Dallon stood by her side in an even more modest white and gray dress with frills, and Shielder wore a nice tux.
He glanced down at my feet and grinned.
"Nice bow tie," he offered.
"Thank you, thank you!"
"And what are you doing here?" Vicky glared across my shoulder with a pout.
Dean tried a light hearted laugh. "Do we have to do this now, Vicky?"
"Victoria!"
"Can we not make a scene? This really shouldn't be about us."
"The only one making a scene is you!"
"Are they always like that?" Laserdream asked.
Shielder shrugged. "Basically, yeah."
"Huh."
A hand tapped my hip, and I turned to look down at a little girl with cute little braids. She held up a notepad, and…why are people surrounding us?
I signed an autograph for the little girl, because I'm not a monster.
Somehow that just set off a chain reaction.
I swear we're here for people other than me, aren't we?
I started getting flashbacks to fucking Winslow. Surrounded by people, all of them talking to me at once while others watched. Difference is they kept asking me questions and I didn't know what to say. Others wanted autographs. Two asked for a fucking date—what the fuck?—and it still felt like a very familiar peer pressure I hated.
The New Wave kids got dragged into it too, but they seemed a lot less panicked than I felt. Dinah and Lafter too. Green seemed to be having fun somehow, posing for pictures and jumping into the air to photo-bomb others.
I desperately searched for Ramius, but I didn't see her anywhere.
"Is it true that StarGazer beat Leviathan?"
The commotion stilled for a moment. I turned, looking at an Asian woman in her fifties. She leaned on a cane, a much younger man standing beside her and looking embarrassed. She watched me with a wary gaze, like she didn't believe it.
"Oba—"
The woman interrupted the young man, "Is it true?"
I tensed.
Never did get myself any punch.
"No," Veda said. The woman looked down at Green, who looked up at her. "I did not defeat Leviathan. Though I did try."
The woman didn't say anything.
She nodded, got a weird look in her eyes, and turned away. Someone who survived Kyushu? A refugee community did exist in Brockton Bay. It existed in almost every US city, however small.
As soon as she left, the commotion started again. More focused on Green this time, with people looking at him and trying to talk to Veda.
"Did you get close?"
"Within point zero inches."
"We're you scared?"
"I feared more for others than myself. I operated Queen Gundam from far away. Newtype and others faced greater danger."
"Why did you hack my computer and then fix my blue screen problem?"
"I required additional processes to combat Leviathan. I did violate your property however, and feel I should apologize."
"By fixing my blue screen problem?"
"Your computer should run much better now."
"Why has no one ever seen you in person?"
"I am not comfortable with being outside. It is something I live with."
Huh. She's good at this?
"I feel like we just got sidelined," Lafter whispered beside me.
"I'll say," Shielder replied.
With the small reprieve Veda got me, I took a hard look around the room.
Lots of people in nice dresses and suits, tuxedos and mourning clothes. Honestly it seemed more like a party than a memorial. Asking for autographs, and questions about powers. The air did hold a weight, and even with all the clamor around us, it didn't seem particularly loud in the room. It's just that no one seemed to be mourning.
Is this even a memorial?
"Is it always like this?" I asked.
"Usually," Dinah answered.
"Like what?" Vicky asked back.
"Like a party." I glanced around the room. "This doesn't feel like a memorial."
"Funerals were a few days ago." Laserdream smiled a little. "Those of us who wanted to cry already have."
"We're capes," Amy added. "We're kind of used to this stuff."
Is that why they seemed so relaxed?
Glory Girl got her powers two or three years ago, and Panacea a year after that. Laserdream got them right after Fleur got shot, and Shielder last year. Most of them had been capes a lot longer than me. They'd probably seen other capes they knew die already. I couldn't remember if any Brockton heroes died in previous Endbringer battles.
Is it something people just get used to?
"And who says a memorial has to be a miserable thing?" Vicky asked. "You met Clockblocker—Dennis–right?"
I nodded.
"Well he wouldn't want anyone moping. He had no sense of decorum. Seems only right to remember him how he lived!"
She smiled a big smile, but I noticed the makeup on her face. I don't know how well she knew Dennis or Carlos. She obviously cried for someone at some point and tried to hide it.
And I guess she knew him better than me regardless. I'd only met Clockblocker twice, and Dennis maybe once. Still left me with an uneasy feeling. Like this wasn't being treated seriously.
And Aegis—
"Newtype."
I stiffened, and turned slowly.
Armsmaster stared down at me, in full armor, halberd at his side.
"Hi Armsmaster!"
"Shielder." The Protectorate hero greeted him curtly, without looking away from me.
What does he want now?
"If I could have a moment?" he asked.
People started whispering around us, and I scowled.
Did I have an option here?
If I blew him off it would be news tomorrow. Hell, someone apparently got a shot of our little standoff in the hospital in Boston, sparking a whole new wave of 'Newtype and Armsmaster don't get along' discussions on PHO. Apparently, someone found time to snap pics while people died in pain and agony.
I really didn't want to be the news after a memorial service for three dead heroes.
Still, it's Armsmaster.
"About what?" I asked.
"A possible collaboration," he said.
…
Okay, that I need to hear.
I followed Armsmaster away from the crowd into a hallway. He closed the door to the room, and looked up and down the hall like he didn't want to be heard.
I raised my brow and crossed my arms.
"Well? What is it? Or did you just lie to get me alone?"
"No," he growled. He scowled at me, but after a brief second smoothed out his expression. "I wanted to ask your thoughts about a sensitive subject."
I raised my brow under my visor. "That being?"
"About artificial intelligence."
I tensed.
He's going to ask about Veda.
My first thought.
Except, that didn't make sense. I'd spoken with Ramius twice since Leviathan, and Director Piggot when talking about the memorial. None of them mentioned anything about StarGazer other than to ask if she'd appear in person. They sounded more like probing questions than anything serious.
"Why?" I asked.
"I've been looking into the matter recently," he said.
Did he figure it out on his own? Fuck, that could be even worse. If he figured it out and tried to use it for some gain what would I do? Dragon and I—Dragon.
"She told you?" I asked.
He frowned. "Who told me what?"
"Dragon. She told you?"
"She told you?" he asked back.
Wait, she told me—
"She told you about her"—I needed a word other than AI—"circumstances?"
Armsmaster looked angry again for a moment, and then he calmed down again.
"Yes. She did. A few days ago."
Oh thank Dragon.
Dragon told him about her, not Veda.
Okay, that made more sense than Dragon—still the only sort of adult I knew who hadn't done something to hurt me—going behind my back and spilling Veda's secret to Armsmaster. A cape who hated me. Made more sense she told him about herself. They did get along, not that I could fathom how or why.
"She didn't mention telling you."
He said it like he felt jealous.
"She didn't tell me she told you," I replied.
"Hm. Then maybe she's already discussed them with you."
"Discussed what?"
"Her restrictions."
Oh…OH.
Armsmaster is concerned about someone.
That took me a few moments to process.
My entire experience with the man amounted to being talked down to, snidely insulted, and treated like an annoyance. Worse, a second rate hero as if somehow he got to judge my worth. Typical jackass stuff not included. That he'd show any real concern for anyone simply is not the image of him in my mind.
"She—Yes. Yes, she mentioned them to me."
"Did she ask you for help removing them?"
I shook my head. "But, I don't know if telling me 'please don't do anything right now' is something she really wants or just her restriction making her say that."
If I hated any tinker more than Armsmaster and Leet, I hated Andrew Richter.
I couldn't imagine what went through his mind doing that to Dragon. I felt like the rot of the Earth remembering the kill switch I put into Veda. Veda, who thus far had done nothing but try to help and protect me. Veda, who even went gloves off, no holds barred, against Leviathan because, in her words, it posed 'an imminent and unacceptable existential threat to humanity.'
Chaining Dragon like that? Forcing her brain to only go at a fraction of its speed? Compelling her to obey 'legal authority' regardless of what that authority makes her do? Not even giving her a means of altering her own code in case her maker dies and can't undo the damage?
It's like forcing mental handicaps on someone for the sole reason they might be too capable. That was the only clear way to describe it in my mind. Even for someone afraid of creating Skynet and wanting to be safe…It's barbaric.
Why not just build a kill switch and shut her off if she ever went too far?
Dragon tried to explain it away.
She said she didn't always have the level of sentience she currently possessed. Back in the mid-90s she'd been another one of his programs searching the Internet and stealing from big bad villain piggy bank. Richter took their money and gave it to charities. His way of doing something good with his power.
She didn't know when that changed. I got the sense it was to her like a human trying to remember being a baby.
"Did she ask you?" I asked.
He shook his head. "No. She also asked me not to do anything at the moment, but I'm unsure if the request is legitimate or the only request for help she can make."
I nodded.
Not something I enjoyed trying to parse out.
It's like meeting someone with an invisible hand holding a gun to their head. They say its fine, please don't do anything, but is that really what they want or what the invisible hand with the gun wants? The first instinct of course is to assume it's not what they want. Except, if it's what they want, and you do something, you've just violated their wishes.
At the same time, what if 'don't do anything' really meant 'do something' and they simply couldn't directly say it?
In this case the gun was in Dragon's brain, and the gun said 'be good.' Of course, that spawned a whole series of circular arguments. Is Dragon really good, or did she only seem good because her restrictions made her good?
"I'm not sure we should talk about this without her present," I said.
"I have concerns as well, but I feel compelled. Your Haros are remarkably intelligent for simple robots. They may not be true AI, but they are the closest I've seen. I felt you'd have more expertise on the subject."
Is…Is that a compliment?
I could almost see the reluctance in his beard.
He really didn't want to be asking me this.
Holy shit he really, really cares about Dragon.
"I've seen some of her code," I admitted. "She showed it to me, when I asked." He got a weird look. Lie detector? Now? "She's adaptable. Insanely so. I'm not entirely sure how she works like she does but I'm not the one who made her and I've only seen some of the surface level stuff. Not enough to really see how the restrictions work, or if they can be removed without damaging her."
"If you asked, do you think she'd let you look deeper?"
"I don't know. I really don't want to do something behind her back." I thought back to Dad and Ramius tricking me into a therapy session. "You can't force help on someone. It just makes them angry."
"That is…understandable."
I tilted my head to one side. "What's the deal with you two?"
"The deal?" he asked.
"I don't get it. Dragon is so nice. I'm not trying to overtly insult you here, but you're an asshole."
He frowned.
"I am not at my best with people." He admits it. "But Dragon and I have always been of like mind. I respect her work. She respects mine. The thought of her being constrained in the way she is, and that the PRT is using her constraints for gain, does not sit well with me."
I lowered my arms. "She didn't mention that to me."
"About the PRT?"
I shook my head.
"She believes persons within the PRT are aware of her restrictions and have worded orders in the past to manipulate them."
And let's just put some more shit on the shit sandwich.
I'd gotten past being continually disappointed in the PRT. They lost Cranial's kids. They somehow managed to lose Leet—not remotely surprised, I'll have to deal with him myself—and now they were abusing Dragon? It's probably not even against the law to do that one. Dragon's not a 'person' in a legal sense. They probably listed her as 'equipment.'
Fuck them. "It has to go then."
"Go?" Armsmaster asked.
"Assume Teacher takes over the PRT," I suggested. "He's already infiltrated it multiple times. What's to say he can't get to the Chief Director, or someone above her?"
Is a Dragon compelled to do as Teacher says any worse than a Dragon who is only good because she's forced to be?
"That may be somewhat reactionary," Armsmaster replied. "The Chief Director is surrounded by thinkers. If she were under parahuman influence it would be noticed."
"And if the President of the United States decides he likes the power to monitor everyone in the country and tells Dragon to do it?"
"Also somewhat reactionary."
I frowned. Did he want to help or not?
"But I see your point," Armsmaster said. "My interest is simply less hypothetical."
"Being?"
"Dragon is a good person. She's an excellent tinker, and an invaluable hero. Using her as she is while aware of her restrictions is tantamount to slavery, which is illegal within the United States under numerous laws and Constitutional amendments."
Sounded like a really long way of saying 'fuck this' to me.
"It's going to take me a long time to do anything," I said. "She said she's required to resist anyone who tries to alter her code. She'll fight me."
Armsmaster nodded. "We will take time as necessary. Rushing the process could damage her."
I nodded.
And now I'm conspiring with Armsmaster.
Fuck the PRT.
Why am I still trying? There has to be a point where I stop trying…
We reentered the room to find crowds gathered around the Wards. Vista stood stoically, Valiant stood lazily, and Kid Win looked…angry.
Not hard to see why.
"Weld, Flechette, and Mockshow," Armsmaster noted. "The PRT transferred all three here to help restore the local Ward team."
"They just replace Aegis and Clockblocker like that?"
"Yes," Armsmaster answered. "We couldn't leave the team in the condition Boston left it. It would damage the program. Not every cape can succeed on their own." Is that a compliment or just a statement what the fuck is happening right now? "I understand their frustration, however. Necessity can be cruel."
I recognized Weld and Flechette. Kind of bizarre seeing them in Brockton actually.
Mockshow I didn't know. A small girl about Vista and Dinah's age with her hair in short tails. Her costume bore over sized arm and leg guards and gear icons. Her mask reminded me of Faultline's welding mask, but with the bottom cut off so you can see her mouth.
Guess the PRT wanted to use the event to show off the new Wards while memorializing the old ones.
Not really a sort of callousness I wanted to see at the moment.
I found Lafter and Dinah standing with the New Wave kids.
"What did Halbeard want?" Shielder asked.
"Nothing important," I replied. "He was curious about something from the battle."
I pulled out my phone.
sys.t/ he's worried about dragon
sys.t/ she told him about the restrictions
sys.t/ he wants my help
sys.v/ processing
I grinned. When did she learn how to tell a joke?
I needed to get a better look at Dragon's code.
If I asked her and made my intentions clear, she might resist me. Is it better to by sly about it? Maybe I could get Veda deeper into her system. They had some weird way of talking now that only seemed to be possible for AI. A sort of silent conversation that involved their systems openly communicating.
It's not something I could read—they didn't use words—but it did get me a look at Dragon's processes.
It's a starting point.
The actual memorial started exactly on time. People lined up into rows and stood. I saw Ramius with a few other troopers toward the back of the room, while a few adults led the kids off into the hall.
The air changed rapidly as Piggot took to the podium.
"All heroes to the front," she called, in a single loud breath.
The Protectorate stood closest to her, minus Velocity of course. Vista, Valiant, and Kid Win filled in the line next to them, with Weld, Flechette, and Mockshow standing directly behind them and to the side of the memorials to the capes they replaced. Then New Wave lined up, and then I had to step in front of the entire room and not look nervous as hell.
I ended up next to Brandish, and she didn't help by giving me a cold look.
She's still angry about the whole 'Vicky got shot' thing, isn't she?
Green held Veda's place to my left, then Dinah and Lafter.
"Those who aided in the defense of Boston, step forward."
I took one step forward, joined of course by everyone else who went to the fight. Green rolled up at my side, again taking the place of StarGazer. I glanced to Dinah, but she gave me a small shake of the head and remained back in the line with Triumph, Lady Photon, Shielder, Flashbang, Glory Girl, Brandish, and Lafter.
Piggot began her speech. Something, something, the Wards are supposed to be safe. I kind of tuned it out, not because it's a bad speech but because my heart kept pounding in my head.
The moment reminded me of my mother's funeral.
The room felt so quiet suddenly, the air entirely different from before. People looked solemn and quiet and no one asked questions or looked in awe. What? They fawned over the living heroes and now they remembered three of them died fighting a monster? How did that work in their head—Charlotte?
I spotted her in the lines of mourners, her head hung and face hidden behind her hair. It was definitely her though. I didn't see her parents.
I felt glad for my visor. No one could see how nervous my eyes must look, or how I kept glancing around the room instead of looking forward and being solemn.
At some point Piggot switched off with Miss Militia. She talked about Velocity first, using his first name the entire time.
Robin.
I remembered the first time I met him, right after crashing into the Docks from my battle with Oni Lee. He called the Haros 'the skittles.'
Dauntless thanked him for introducing him to the Protectorate, helping him adjust from being a civilian to being a hero. Prism did the same, saying he'd been an important person for her when she first joined the Wards and he was the team's leader. I got the sense they dated at some point?
Not a detail I wanted to know.
I only met him a few times. What business did I have knowing his personal life?
Miss Militia came back to talk about Aegis and Clockblocker. She talked about Clockblocker a lot, namely how many times she needed to discipline him for saying something inappropriate or making light of a serious situation.
It didn't sound like condemnation though.
Triumph focused more on Aegis. He wanted to apologize for not doing a better job in his last few weeks as the Ward's team leader. He was excited to join the Protectorate and didn't deal with things that could have helped the team. He didn't say any names, but I felt like he wanted to say Shadow Stalker.
Vista ended up not saying anything.
Miss Militia initially looked at her, and when she didn't move quickly went on to looking at Kid Win.
He came forward, and she stepped aside for him.
It started off like the rest. He talked about Clockblocker's terrible jokes and how they always annoyed him. He talked about things he regretted. Not telling Clockblocker his terrible jokes did make him laugh, and he admired him for never stopping even when he got in trouble for them. Not telling Aegis how much he admired him.
And then I started listening more closely.
"And I regret that we didn't get enough time to prepare."
Miss Militia maintained her calm, but I saw her eyes widen slightly. Piggot's hand tensed in her seat, and Armsmaster turned his head slightly.
"I regret," Kid Win said, "that we didn't get enough time to train away from cameras and crowds. Real time to ready ourselves for a fight like that, where the stakes are too high to sit out and say 'we're too young, we're not ready.'"
And Piggot's face became the image of tranquil fury. The crowd probably didn't see it from where they stood, but I did. The woman glanced to Miss Militia, and Miss Militia started to move as if to stop him.
And then she stopped.
She returned to her position, closed her eyes, and stood there.
"I regret that there's no cape who can bring back the dead, and that we have to find the way without them."
He stepped down on his own then, walking past the line of Protectorate heroes. Dauntless, Triumph, and Prism looked frozen in place, but shocked. Armsmaster kept a straight face. Stratos grinned.
Miss Militia opened her eyes and calmly approached the podium. She asked if anyone else wanted to speak.
No one did, if only because Kid Win just called out the Protectorate and the PRT for failing the Wards in front of the entire room.
The memorial ended quickly after that.
Kid Win stalked off into the crowd before anyone could stop him. Vista followed, and Valiant lazily went after them. Weld, Flechette, and Mockshow looked to the Protectorate who all seemed to be more curiously looking at Piggot and Miss Militia.
I'm not sure the rest of the room really comprehended what happened. They started mingling, returning to what they'd been doing before.
I only waited a moment before going after Charlotte. I lost her in the crowd at first, but Green's eyes spotted her. She left room through a side door, and I chased her into the hall and around a corner.
Vista and Kid Win were already there, Valiant standing off to the side.
"I'm sorry." Charlotte rubbed her eyes. "You invited me and—"
"It's okay," Vista said solemnly.
I pulled myself back around the corner and waited.
I don't think they saw me.
"Here," Kid Win said. "I packed Carlos' stuff up. I didn't want his parents to worry about it, and leaving it to some PRT guys who didn't know him didn't feel right. I found this. I think he'd want you to have it."
"We miss him too," Vista offered. "Sorry."
I kept waiting, but no one came around the corner on me. I took a peak, and found Charlotte alone in the hall, while the three Wards walked away.
"Hey." I stepped forward, figuring I could avoid any odd looks once the Wards left sight. "You okay?"
She flinched, looking up at me and rubbing tears from her eyes.
"Oh, hey t—Um, Newtype. Sorry. I'm just—"
I glanced down the hall, and when it looked clear I stepped up and hugged her.
"I'm sorry," she fussed. "I don't know—"
"It's okay," I said.
She nodded and pulled back.
"It was just two dates." She held something in her hand. One of those rolls from a picture booth. A bunch of pictures one after the other of her and Carlos. "I really liked him."
I nodded. "I know."
"Did you—Fuck. I don't know if I should ask this."
"What is it?"
"Did you see?"
Him die.
"No," I said. "Leviathan got a hold of me and took me out of the fight."
She nodded and rubbed her face dry. Smeared her makeup a bit.
I glanced to the door ahead.
"You want to go back in, or?"
She shook her head no.
"Wait here."
I found Ramius, asking her to take Charlotte downstairs as subtly as I could. She nodded and walked off to handle it.
In the ballroom, Piggot spoke with various people in nice clothes. She still visibly looked furious. Not planning to explode in public clearly, but I didn't like Kid's chances after once the event ended.
Kid Win, Vista, and Valiant mingled with Weld, Flechette, and Mockshow like nothing was wrong.
I stared at Kid Win's back.
That's why I'm still trying.
No matter how much I hated the PRT, or however many times they failed, I'd seen enough.
Kid Win, Ramius, Miss Militia. The Triumvirate may have botched Leet, but they still seemed to earnestly take me aside and ask me what I wanted. It's more than most people offered me in my life. Hell, even fucking Armsmaster of all people put aside our personal shit to ask me to help him help Dragon.
Like Mrs. Knott and Winslow.
The organization is shit but there are people there, and they're trying. Can't turn my back on that any more than I can turn my back on the men I'd hired from the Merchants.
No idea how that fucking worked. You'd think that if the people in a group were good people, then the group itself would be good.
And somehow that's just not how it is.
Metaphor for the fucking world, right there.
"We should go," Dinah said. "Just a bunch of talking now."
I nodded, and we made our exit.
Away from Leviathan.
Back to Brockton Bay.
