A Waken 14.2
Judge nodded, arms crossed over his chest. "No, no I get it."
He held up my rough drawing. It was crude. Basically a stick figure standing inside a human-shaped bubble. Standing wasn't really accurate but I wasn't sure a word existed of half sitting. Except maybe 'half sitting.'
"I guess it's bigger than I thought," Judge mumbled. "I thought it was smaller."
"The first one was," I noted. "O Gundam was only seven or so feet tall."
Judge nodded.
"Why not make a bigger robot?" Colossus asked.
I frowned. "Because anything bigger and keeping the gangs off the streets is literally all I'd be able to do."
"They do say bigger is better."
"Less is more," I retorted.
"Please do not build a giant robot," Armsmaster implored. "The Protectorate does not want a repeat of Paradigm."
"Who?" Judge asked.
"Yes."
I wasn't planning to build a giant robot.
Colossus grinned. "You know, I was there when that happened."
"I remember," Armsmaster admitted.
"It was crazy!"
"He really likes hearing himself talk," I whispered. At least he'd stopped pestering Kati, for now. "Should we—"
"I can handle a loudmouth with no restraint," Kati replied in a low tone. She turned the page of her book. "Let him prattle."
If she said so.
"If I had to put a word on it…hmm. Maybe 'makes it better'?"
I turned my attention back to Judge. "What?"
"That's what you do. You make it better."
"Make what better?"
"The stuff you build."
I blinked. "You mean my power?" Judge nodded. "How—"
"Sorry." Rosary patted the boy's head. "This is what he does. He figures out how things work and how they can fit together."
That was his—His power let him figure out powers?
I glanced toward Armsmaster warily. If someone saw the Fallen in Maine, why were they traveling to New York from Brockton Bay? Why not take a flight? Was the Protectorate trying to figure out more about my power?
Though, "I make something, and then I make it better?"
"I think. It's hard to do stuff with ideas though. It would be better if I saw some of your stuff. Armsmaster and Win are wearing armor, so they're easy. Stuff that fits together." He nodded to Chris. "And making stuff better, but different."
Armsmaster turned his head curiously. "Different how?"
"You make things smaller or stronger. Neater? I'm not sure if that's the right word."
"Efficient?" Armsmaster offered.
"That works."
Armsmaster didn't sound impressed with that answer. Given his experience, I had to assume he knew what his power was about. Though, I wanted to know.
"And me?"
"Better. Just better. You make something and then you make it better. Lots of words and not that fancy an explanation I guess, but it's what I get from you. You can make it smaller. Stronger. Faster. Bigger. Better."
"So she can build a giant robot!" Colossus exclaimed.
I never said I couldn't. I just didn't see the point. "I build a suit, and then I make a better suit?"
"Yeah. The more you work at it, the better it gets."
That made an accurate amount of sense, actually. We'd never pinned down my tinker specialization. I could build such a broad range of tech. Some things went beyond my power, but it wasn't enough that I felt a need to try and narrow down whatever specialization I actually had.
"Better tinker doesn't have a very good ring to it," Prism mumbled.
"Developmental?" Chris suggested.
Judge sat up straight. "I like that word! Developmental! That sounds good with what I'm getting!"
Also disturbingly on point, maybe more than anyone else in the bus knew.
AM: Chris' reactor design
AM: you made it 'better'
Well, anyone else but Armsmaster.
SG: she developed it into something practical
AM: yes
AM: there are interesting implications here
Understatement. If what Judge said was right, my power didn't just work on things I built. It would work on things other tinkers built. Although…
NT: the tranquilizers never panned out
AM: they are not my specialty either, necessarily
AM: perhaps if you were working with a bio or chemical tinker
SG: someone like Glace
Or Bonesaw. No thank you.
"Can you only do tinkers?" Weld asked.
"No," Judge answered.
Colossus leaned forward and pointed at himself. "What about me?"
"No."
Colossus frowned.
"Capes like you are weird," Judge clarified. "Give me a headache."
"What kind of cape is he?" Chris asked.
"An annoyance," Armsmaster answered bluntly.
Colossus laughed and patted his armored shoulder. "Good one!"
No one apparently knew what kind of cape he was though, not publicly. Theories online ranged from shaker to trump to stranger. I wondered if he might be like Alabaster. He got hurt and his body just reset or rewound or something. That would explain how he kept getting back up like it didn't matter.
Turning his attention to Judge again, Colossus asked, "What about—"
"We're almost at the city limit," the trooper at the wheel called. "Might as well get a look, kids. It doesn't get prettier."
Turning toward the window, I glanced past Kati and Chris. It was easy to spot the smog-shrouded city rapidly approaching us. The buildings put Brockton Bay's downtown to shame. They were huge and there were dozens of them. They stretched out across the sky and reached for the clouds.
The size is a lot more impressive from ground level.
Smaller structures stretched out for miles around. Highways and over passes. Suburbs. We'd left the forests behind a while back, and civilization just kept getting denser around us. The city still seemed more distant though. New York City put the capital in 'City.'
Looking toward the sea, I didn't see any water. Taller buildings rose up where the coastline should be and blocked the view. I'd seen the ruined isle, of course. Who hadn't? But I'd never seen it in person, and not from ground zero. I suspected the view would be different with my own eyes and not through Exia's cameras.
"They built all that up after Scion died," Prism offered without prompting. Or maybe she took everyone looking the same way as a prompting. "No one wants the memory."
"Hard, hard," Red chirped.
"Did you live here?" Rosary asked.
"My family moved to Providence after the war."
"Tinker-tech?" I inquired, looking at the distant buildings.
"No," Armsmaster answered. "Uppercrust has assisted in building coastal defenses and infrastructure but the buildings are not part of that system."
Uppercrust, a member of the Elite. One of the better ones supposedly. New York's destruction played a role in Brockton Bay's demise. When the ports there took a dive after everything, there was a rush to get them up and running. Tinkers came from all over to help. Turned the ruined facilities into some of the best in the world.
No one needed Brockton Bay's decrepit old port anymore, not while the shipping industry as a whole was sinking. Pun intended and apt. I probably shouldn't feel jealous or bitter about that. Behemoth hit New York about fifteen years ago. Then the Gold War happened.
The worst thing in Brockton Bay's past was probably when the Nine went through. I hadn't been alive then.
"Why'd it happen?" Judge asked. "The war."
"No one knows," Prism answered.
"Aliens," Colossus said with a pointed finger. Everyone gave him skeptical looks and I joined in just to not stand out. "Oh you'll laugh now, but there's no way Scion was human! No cape is that strong. Alien."
...What a weird day.
It wasn't even half over yet.
As our bus moved closer to the city, we drove into a tunnel. Lights flashed by in the window, briefly illuminating the interior as we went along. Armsmaster swept past me and leaned toward the driver.
"We have confirmation?"
"We do."
"Good."
With that, the bus suddenly veered right and turned into a brief darkness between two lights. Traffic continued moving behind us. The tunnel darkened to the point of being pitch black, but we didn't hit a wall. Probably some kind of guidance system. The troopers could track it with their helmets or something. The bus lurched forward, angling down and moving along a ramp I couldn't see.
"Very clever," Veda noted. "A service tunnel?"
"After Behemoth, much of the ruined parts of the city were built over." Armsmaster straightened up as much as he could. "The PRT commandeered old tunnels and constructed new lines to get around the city."
"New York is a lot bigger than Brockton Bay," Weld added. "The local teams need to get around a larger area. They use the rail lines to get just about anywhere in a couple minutes."
And right now, it would reduce the visibility of Wards arriving by vehicle. Made sense.
"You've been to New York before?" Chris asked.
Weld nodded. "The New York and Boston Wards do training together twice a year."
Chris frowned. "We never did anything like that."
"Director Piggot never wanted to send the Wards away," Armsmaster revealed. "Other cities did not want to hold exercises in Brockton Bay. The new Director may be more partial to participation."
"But New York is so nice!" Colossus protested.
NT: is he always this scattered?
AM: you know nothing of what I've seen
I should have expected another tinker-tech elevator.
When the bus came to a stop, the ground started moving beneath us and an illuminated room slowly drew up before us. Vehicles lined the walls of the garage. Armored vans and trucks I was familiar with, as well as more mundane vehicles. Troopers moved back and forth, and a few capes as well.
One cape stood waiting for us.
Armsmaster grumbled as he stepped out of the bus.
"My favorite beard!" Mouse Protector threw her hands up. "It's been so long!"
"Mouse!"
"Colossus!" Mouse Protector suddenly hunched forward as he followed Armsmaster. "Shit, they let you out of LA."
"I know right!?" Colossus crossed his arms over his chest. "Finally getting the credit I deserved."
"Or we're that desperate," Mouse Protector mused. Armsmaster looked at her like he couldn't believe she'd said that.
Kati and I got off next to last, just in front of Mu and the other trooper.
Colossus moved fast. "Can I take your bag?"
"No," Kati answered.
Judge looked up at the redheaded man. "I'm ten, and I know it doesn't work that way."
"What doesn't work what way?" Rosary asked.
"A gentleman doesn't speak of such things."
Colossus laughed.
On the one hand, it was almost admirable that someone could be so oblivious. On the other hand, he was pestering Kati again and I didn't like it.
"New York is pretty great though! Lots of places to walk and talk!"
"I'm aware."
On the other other hand, Kati really didn't let anyone under her skin and that was impressive. Last time I'd been in a situation like this I ran into a Victoria's Secret to get Greg to leave me alone. Colossus was at least thirty. I could choose not to hate Greg because he was a horny teenage boy. I wasn't sure what Colossus' excuse could be.
"Not much time to talk on the trip. Seemed kind of rude to talk over everyone."
Kati offered him a very brief glance. "You do realize you're here because the PRT is afraid someone is going to start shooting."
Or maybe he'd finally managed to peeve her.
Colossus looked up at the ceiling. "Suppose I do get carried away sometimes." He grinned and shrugged. "My nature I guess. No worries! I know what I'm doing! Nothing bad will happen while I'm around."
I was about to say something when arms closed around me and hugged.
"My third favorite tinker!" Mouse cheered. "Hugs!"
I flustered as the shorter woman held me and squeezed. My eyes danced, searching for help but no one was really paying attention. I stammered for a moment...and then kind of relaxed because fuck when was the last time anyone besides Dad hugged me?
"Third?" I asked.
"There's this guy in Ohai. Fantastic barbeques!"
"Okay…"
She pulled back and put an arm over my shoulder. "Been to the Big Apple before?"
"No."
"Well get ready to be disappointed!" She leaned in and whispered, "The apple is a lie."
Around us, troopers and capes moved. There was something akin to a subway station at the far end of the garage with a wide tram sitting in place. The troopers were waving everyone forward and Armsmaster suggested we hurry so we didn't have to wait.
Mu and the other guy got everyone's bags out of the bus and then we started going.
Chris looked inside his as we went, fishing around.
"Tools?" I asked.
"Tools," he answered. "Five days without my workshop is kind of uncomfortable, but I'm not going anywhere without tools."
"Same."
As we approached the tram the crowd thickened.
"Have there been any problems?" Armsmaster asked ahead of me.
"Nah," Mouse answered. "With all the guns getting called into this, I kind of want someone to try something. The humiliation would be amazing!"
Then the Protectorate expected trouble. Made sense. They had their own thinkers and they couldn't be that blind. If someone wanted to hurt the Wards, this is where they'd want to really rub it in.
Around me I spotted a dozen or so other capes my age. Some younger. Some older. Judge and a girl in a silver and pink costume seemed to be the youngest.
"Weren't you escorting someone?" Armsmaster asked.
"Eh, Grace will be fine. Wherever she is."
I liked Mouse Protector—sort of—but that's the exact response I expected and it made me wonder why she was assigned to escort anyone.
"I'm right here."
Chris and I looked left at a girl in silver armor and cloth wraps. The material served as a mask, giving her a sort of ninja look. I'd heard her name before. Olive knew her. Some kind of martial arts cape.
"Oh good!" Mouse laughed. "It would be pretty irresponsible of me to lose you!"
Grace shrugged. "I'm used to it."
We stepped onto the tram, and I glanced back for a moment to check on Kati. At least Colossus seemed to be assessing what to say next and not saying anything. She was still ignoring him. Somehow, that still wasn't good enough for me.
"You don't think you're coming on a bit strong?" I asked.
Colossus stared. "Me?"
"Yes. You."
He glanced at Kati. Then to me. "Am I?"
Kati, Armsmaster, Chris, Weld, Judge, Rosary, the troopers, and Mouse Protector all stared back at him. Prism asked, "Do you not?"
Apparently all you need to get through to him is say something, because he looked pretty cowed.
"You haven't changed."
I paused and turned. "Director."
Piggot didn't smile.
"I'm not a director anymore." She looked past me. "Armsmaster. Win. Weld."
"Ma'am," Chris and Weld replied. They both looked surprised, and confused.
"Don't mind me. I'm here to have a few words with Ms. Hebert before we begin the festivities."
Were we? I squeezed past someone and found myself a seat beside the woman. She actually looked like she'd lost some weight, and her complexion was better. Leaving the stress of running a city behind must be good for her health.
Green and Red jumped up onto the seat with me, looking at Piggot and waving.
She didn't seem amused.
"Well, you've arrived in one piece. Not that I expected you wouldn't."
"It was a quiet ride." I glanced toward Colossus, who seemed to be giving Kati some space now that he'd been called out. "Mostly."
Piggot scowled. "I can imagine." She pulled a bag up from her side and withdrew a file. "As you are not a member of the Wards, I am obligated to inform you that there are extra rules. Not that I expect you to not try and find a way around them."
"You know me so well."
"It's why I'm here."
Chris and Weld took seats nearby and watched us like we were a show. Capes and others piled in around us as the doors closed.
Seeing Piggot again the first time was weird. Seeing her now, less so. I don't know. It felt a bit like being old war buddies or something maybe? I'd never been to literal war so I could only hazard a guess. She didn't like me that much and I didn't like her that much. We crossed a threshold at some point. Bickering over this or that seemed a waste, so now we just...were.
I took the folder and waved it as the tram started up. "Yes. I'm just a guest."
"Dragon's guest," Piggot noted. "And I'd point out anything you do will reflect on her."
"Sure is a good thing you were here to explain that."
"Yes. One might suspect after all this time you were some kind of fool."
"Well, I promise to be on my best behavior."
"Your best behavior, I'm sure." Looking at Kati she said, "I don't believe we've met."
"We haven't," Kati answered.
"I'm obligated to inform you that the PRT reserves the right to confiscate any images portraying proprietary property."
Kati smirked. "That's the entire building."
"Exactly."
"Such good playmates we are," I mumbled.
"You'll find this event more agreeable than you suspect I think. I'm only here to push the paperwork along and provide the standard disclaimers."
"You're bored," I suggested.
"I'm doing my job."
"If you say so."
"She's definitely bored," one of the capes nearby said.
"You're lucky I'm not a director anymore, Sergeant," Piggot replied curtly.
Sergeant? I glanced up at the man I thought was a cape. He certainly looked the part. Tinker, I'd guess from the armor. Gold in color with some exposed cords around the waist and neck. Black coloring over the ches—Wait.
"Dragon?"
"Close," the man replied. "But no cigar."
"Sergeant Fleming is part of a new pilot project," Piggot explained. "The Dragon's Teeth."
"Teeth?"
"Celestial Being's logo?"
Okay, she had me in a corner on that one. I glanced at Fleming, and asked, "Troopers in tinker-tech?"
"Yeah," he answered from the other side of his helmet. "About sums it up."
"He's here for you," Piggot clarified. "I'm sure you've noticed, but morons are taking shots at capes. The last thing we need is one of them to succeed this week."
"And the PRT gets to show off New Trooper."
"That would be something just for you," Piggot clarified. "You're Dragon's guest, not a Ward. Technically, the PRT has no obligations toward you."
"But Troopers in Dragon's gear require some concessions. I get it."
And in turn, they got to use my fame to roll out the new toys. Whatever. Let them capitalize on me if they wanted. That street ran both ways. Though, I may need to find a way to ditch them to achieve some of my goals. That would be awkward.
Shit. That means I had to ditch Dragon. That might be a challenge.
"I don't suppose there's a program for this week?" I asked. The materials Piggot previously provided were oddly vague, but with the security concerns and thinkers the PRT might not want to broadcast anything.
"No," Piggot answered.
"No?"
"Someone thought it would be a good idea to gather a bunch of superpowered teenagers together in one place and give them nothing to do."
...The awkwardness was not letting up today.
I distracted myself by looking the armor over. Synthetic muscle from the looks of it. Compact power supply. It definitely had a slight Dragon style to it, though leaning more toward knightly than draconian. Suppose it fit.
The color could have been a better pick.
"If there's no plan, then why are we here?" I inquired.
Piggot smirked. "You're the future heroes of the world. Think of something."
The tram came to a slow stop and she didn't elaborate. Figured. We both knew this was something of a farce. I didn't want to play nice with the PRT and the PRT didn't want to play nice with me. I was here for my own reasons, and the PRT couldn't afford to shut independents out now. They had enough scandal.
The tram doors opened, and I rose up from my seat.
"Welcome to the Thunder Dome," Mouse Protector announced as people started stepping off.
Just beyond the platform was something that looked like a proper subway station. Marble tile, worn and chipped in a few places. Benches and lockers on the sides, some couches and chairs mixed with tables along the center. Dozens of capes and troopers were already present as dozens more of us filled in.
I stuck close to Kati and the rest of the Brockton Bay entourage.
Also Mouse Protector and Grace.
"So, Tinker huh?"
"Yup."
Grace nodded. "Tecton's around here somewhere. He has a crush on you." Tecton. I didn't know the n—crush? "Don't tell him I said anything."
"I've taught you so well," Mouse pined. Armsmaster scowled.
Grace shifted her attention to Chris and Weld, asking, "How's Mockshow doing?"
"Mocksho—Oh right, Chicago. You were teammates." Chris glanced at Weld and when the metal boy shrugged he said, "She's okay."
"I heard you guys got invaded by a master."
"She made it out," Weld said. "The troopers and some staff got the worst of th—"
"Weld!"
We turned as we walked, catching sight of a hand waving over the ground. The girl wore a pale white costume with a sort of ghostly visage. I recognized her.
"Spectre?" Weld called out.
She moved between people quickly and as I got closer I caught sight of her feet, arms, and shoulders phasing through people rather than bumping into them. She avoided just straight walking through anyone, but I guess avoiding knocking into anything didn't bother her or anyone else.
"It's good to see you," she said. Her arms closed around Weld and she leaned into him. "It's only been months but it feels like years."
I reflexively flinched at Weld's reaction.
"You okay?" Grace asked.
"Fine."
I knew that look in his eyes. The wary search for threats. The uncertainty. Not knowing if his friend was really his friend, or if she was someone's agent. Did the PRT ask her to be so nice? Was she in on it? I would guess the answer to both questions was no, but Weld was still asking them and unhappy with the uncertain answers his mind imagined.
I need to do something about that.
Recoil and Lightning caught up, the former sighing as they settled into a small space beside us.
"Don't do that," she warned. "I'm too old to be chasing teenagers all over this place. Armsmaster."
"Recoil." He gave a glance toward Prism, and I found that curious.
"Prism, right?" Lightning asked. "Lightning. Boston."
Prism flinched then, and I raised my brow at the exchange. The man held his hand out and Prism met it with her own.
"Yeah, that's me," she answered.
"I hear you're headed our way soon. Not enough excitement in Brockton Bay for you?"
She pointedly didn't look at me when she said, "Something like that."
So they were transferring Prism to Boston? Guess that was inevitable. With no major gangs and only small timers in Brockton Bay, it's not like the future of Armsmaster's team was certain. He knew it as well as anyone. Thinking of it, I remembered him talking about transferring Prism specifically; something about her lacking opportunity in the Bay.
"Granny!" Mouse cheered.
"Don't call me that," Recoil snapped.
"But you're so warm and welcoming!"
Weld and Spectre shuffled off to the back of our group and started whispering. I turned my head trying to listen but the arena was quite loud with so many people packed together. Kati had her phone out and took a few pictures with it. Gina—who I'd practically forgotten about because she'd been so quiet—was doing the same with Chris and Grace.
I felt apprehensive as it all caught up to me.
I didn't know where Rosary or Judge vanished to. Colossus was nearby but apparently had decided not to keep pestering Kati. I stood in a literal sea of people I barely knew, and it felt a little claustrophobic, actually.
There were Wards all around. Maybe a hundred? A few were probably independents like me. The rest of the station consisted of older capes, members of the Protectorate mostly. Then there were dozens of troopers. Remembering Fleming, I glanced around and saw him standing a short distance away, helmet looking my way while he talked to two other troopers in armor just like his.
It's weird.
Standing in the sea, I think I'd have enjoyed being here once upon a time.
Dragon was right.
The people here were being set up as the future of the cape world. Rubbing elbows and making connections was important. These were the ones who would stand with me and mine when shit hit the fan. Against Endbringers or the Nine.
That was still true, I supposed.
But events made it hard to be thrilled. War was coming. End of the world type stuff.
We didn't have the luxury of playing hero together.
"It's a little tight," Chris noted as more and more people filled into the arena from trams.
He wasn't wrong. Red and Green crowded closer to me. We had to shift a bit here and there to make room. I thought the place was full when we arrived, but it kept filling. At the far end of the arena—I assumed it to be an old subway station—a wide set of stairs led up into the building above. New York Protectorate headquarters, probably. Maybe PRT. Maybe both.
No one was leaving. At the top of the stairs, Rime and Eidolon were talking together.
"Thanks, by the way."
I glanced over my shoulder at Spectre. "Thanks?"
"It has been you sending out the flares, right?" She waved her hand in the air. "That psycho with the gun last week?"
Oh. That. "Forecast will appreciate the thanks. It's mostly her doing."
"Yeah well, given how hard you are on the PRT, I'm glad you're not half the bitch some people think you are."
I scoffed, more at the thought people thought I was that petty than that anyone thought I was a bitch. "I didn't put on a mask to watch people die."
And that's why I was here. I had to be social. Good thing I'd been getting lots of practice at Arcadia. High school kids and high school capes. It couldn't be that different.
Focus.
I looked back toward the steps, watching as Chevalier and Myrddin descended from above to join Rime and Eidolon.
Rime, Myrddin, and Chevalier. The 'new' Triumvirate.
It was weird looking at them in that sense.
I knew what the Triumvirate did, and yet…they were heroism. When I began, a lot of what helped orient me were Hero's comments on tinkers and their potential. Alexandria's determination. Legend's inspirational leadership.
Those three, whatever they were, defined the world of capes I'd come into.
No one had seen any of them in over a week. They stuck around here and there after announcing their resignations, and then a bit later for a week or so. Then they just vanished.
"I believe that is everyone we are expecting." Dragon's voice echoed through the room. In an instant, all the quiet conversations died, and the rumbling echo that came with it. "Welcome all."
"Thank you, Dragon." Chevalier looked over the room. He stood slightly ahead of Rime and Myrddin. "Welcome. I'm glad everyone arrived safely. I'm not going to do those of you gathered here the disservice of lying about where we are.
"The world has changed for us overnight. Legend, Hero, and Alexandria have stepped down. Blue Cosmos is demanding we be shut down and thrown out. Violence is being targeted at us. I know it's probably very confusing and hard for many of you, especially those who have been attacked themselves or lost their friends and teammates in the chaos swirling around us."
Chevalier turned his head slightly, and nodded toward a screen off to his right. Dragon nodded back, and in a flash the room lit up. A holographic display projected into the air over our heads.
At first it only displayed static.
Then the image seemed to come together.
"This is why we matter," Chevalier said. "These are the stakes. That is the cost."
I looked at what I could only assume was a live feed of Manhattan. The point-of-view—one of Dragon's suits I thought—moved through a ruined street. Shattered glass covered everything, a lot of it eroded into a glittering dust. Rubble spilled into the street. Skeletons of buildings lined either side and it looked so empty.
There were no bodies. No weird funky lights. No signs of plants or animals. There was nothing. Just a place people used to be and now there were none.
"I know many of you are very young." That's about when I realized he wasn't addressing any adult in the room. "It's not fair. This isn't what you should have to deal with. It shouldn't be your problem. Unfortunately, it is."
The point-of-view continued forward, turning a corner and looking toward the ruins of the World Trade Center. One of the towers lay in the street, knocked off and twisted by some long past blow. The other was leaning, looking ready to collapse any moment.
Actually, mathematically speaking, it should have already collapsed at that angle. Some residual power?
"But this is the cost of what we do," Chevalier continued. "We're asking you to step up. To start being the leaders of tomorrow today, and I don't think it's fair to treat you like the children you won't have the chance to be."
The man looked up at the display.
"Legend, Hero, and Alexandria are gone. I don't buy this nonsense about a new Triumvirate. Regardless of what they did"—A few heads snapped up at that—"they were what it meant for many of us to be a hero, but they don't own this. This place, this team, this calling is ours. It's our responsibility now. Our burden to carry.
"This is the cost of what we do, and this is why people need us. I'm afraid it falls to me now to ask all of you to remember that."
This was a lot more candid than I expected.
There was something personable in Legend, something indeterminately human. I honestly found it hard to reconcile what seemed like a genuine earnestness in the man with what he'd done behind the scenes. There were elements in Alexandria and Hero's personas that made it less shocking, but Legend…
Well, he was gone and I could see why Chevalier now stood in his place. Chevalier was not Legend. He carried himself more seriously. He spoke in a deeper tone and it didn't have the same weight. When he spoke in Japan right after Behemoth appeared—giving a speech for a battle everyone knew we wouldn't be fighting—it was hard not to see how he didn't measure up.
But he had that earnestness in him. The sense of a man who wanted to reach out and inspire those around him. Someone who didn't want to be telling the people listening that many of them were going to die.
Myrddin stepped forward, his face half hidden under his hood.
"There is no itinerary for this event," he revealed. "No scheduled meetings or training exercises. No specific PR events."
My brow went up at that extremely un-Protectorate-like statement.
"Reporters will be circling through the building and the arena," Rime added. "We're hoisting responsibility on you, and you wouldn't be here if you weren't ready to accept it. So we're not going to treat you like children in need of sitting."
"Though, it would be nice if no one made us look too foolish for saying that," Myrddin quipped.
That got a few laughs.
"The local PRT has converted an entire floor into quarters for you all to use," Chevalier explained. "Those who are not members of the Protectorate or Wards are welcome to use them, or find their own accommodations.
"We will leave it to all of you to decide how you will spend your time here, and if you need any direction or suggestions, I'd start with hello. The capes around you now are the capes that will be standing with you twenty years from now, when we're gone or retired and it falls to you to stop that"—he nodded at the display—"from happening again. You're all the future, together."
And that was it. The three of them stepped back and the room started to file out. The display hung in the air, the camera now set on the Statue of Liberty where it lay half sunk in the water.
"I'm going to talk to Spectre for a bit," Weld said. "If that's okay."
"You know your way around," Armsmaster responded. "I'll take your bag and carry it to the room."
Weld nodded and turned to his old teammate. Armsmaster took his bag and looked to Prism. "I have a meeting with Chevalier. Perhaps Lightning and you should acquaint yourselves."
Prism looked uneasy but nodded.
She and Weld stayed behind. Part of me wanted to stay, but what was I going to do? Telegraph to the entire room what I'd done in telling the Case-53s the truth? That wouldn't help anyone.
"If you're ready to head on up, we can show you the way."
Behind me, Fleming stepped up with another man in armor.
"Dragon made your arrangements," he explained.
Ah. Yes. That good old awkward relationship where the PRT can't not have me around, but isn't exactly happy to have me around either.
"Lead the way." I glanced back at Chris, who other than Weld, was basically the only Ward here I actually knew. "I'll find you in a bit, I guess. We should entertain ourselves somehow."
Chris nodded. "Maybe get all the tinkers together?"
Not a bad idea.
Fleming and the other sergeant—Lorenz—led Kati and I toward the stairs. Initially.
"I'll catch up," Kati whispered. "I need to go taunt someone for information."
Taunt?
She moved off, slipping through the crowd toward a corner below the stairs. There was a man there, round and red-faced with a blue faux-hawk. He was talking to a bunch of other men and women in suits plus a few capes. Someone she knew?
We started up the stairs, and Chevalier looked my way. "Armsmaster." Or past me, again. "No trouble?"
"Only our escort," he answered from behind me and my escort.
"Sorry about that." Chevalier took a breath. "He was available."
"He's always available."
"We know," Myrddin replied. "Strange company we all keep this week." He looked right at me. "I'm sorry about Lieutenant Ramius. That was a very petty thing for Director Tagg to do." I paused, surprised he'd come right out and say it. Chevalier seemed content to ignore the comment and keep greeting people, while Rime looked annoyed. "If you haven't spoken with her recently, Ms. Kholer is doing well. Robin has her somewhere pleasant and out of the way. It'll do the girl some good, I hope."
I raised my head slightly. I had heard from Murrue, but joining the Youth Guard had kept her busy.
"Good," I said. "Nothing that happened was her fault."
"No it was not," Myrddin agreed. I turned and carried on up the stairs. "It wasn't yours either."
God damn anxiety. This is why I related to Weld's problem. Did he really mean that, or was this the start of some good cop bad cop? Was I important enough in their eyes for that kind of effort? At the moment, my position seemed a bit precarious.
I was famous enough to be a national name, but what did that mean in terms of influence? Power? Recognition? Would other capes really listen to me, especially those with their own deals going on. Capes like the Wards.
Watching through Green and Red, I kept an eye on the three capes behind me.
Rime was watching a bit more intently than anyone else, her eyes fixed on my back as I ascended the steps.
She's one of them.
Along with Eidolon and Triumph, that made three members of the Cape Illuminati I knew with certainty. Something to file away for later. I'd have to confront them sooner or later. Preferably later. I had enough on my plate for the moment.
At the top of the stairs, the line slowed down as groups filled the elevators. Armsmaster had hung back, and with everyone else peeling off that just left Chris and me, plus our escorts in Gina and the Dragon's Teeth troopers.
I wondered if I'd been so distracted by Weld, I missed Chris' visible uncertainty.
"Nervous?" I asked.
"A little. Never thought I'd be here. Seems more like Vista's thing."
"How is she?"
"Better. A lot like her old self I guess. Maybe a little more sure. I guess stepping away for a bit was good for her."
I nodded. "Worried you haven't earned it?"
"Maybe."
"I wouldn't."
Even Armsmaster had to have noticed the change in Chris. Ever since Boston, he was different. More determined. More focused. Ambitious even. Maybe he should get transferred from Brockton Bay too. There weren't opportunities in the city for him to shine anymore.
"We should go this way." Lorenz pointed me to the right of the elevators as we got close. Another hall led down that way. "Dragon has a small shop here, mostly for supporting us. She set up some space for you there."
"I'll find you later," Chris said with a wave. He looked back, spotting Armsmaster walking our way.
I nodded and followed the sergeants.
I was about halfway down the hall when the message flashed on my visor.
Dragon: I didn't want to intrude
Dragon: you seemed to be enjoying yourself
The second time in one day, someone thought I was happy.
NT: maybe
Dragon: no need to be shy
SG: she is uncomfortable in social situations
NT: et tu Veda?
SG: I am merely observing
Dragon: well, being social can be anxiety inducing
Dragon: especially when you set yourself to being critical
I scowled, but before my response was done being typed out, Dragon replied again.
Dragon: I know you mean well
Dragon: the PRT is not perfect
Dragon: they should be criticized for mistakes made
Dragon: especially the ones now coming to light
Dragon: what you need to do is convince everyone else
Dragon: you can do it
I smiled inwardly. The hallways were long, and most of the areas we passed seemed to be storage or meeting rooms. The New York PRT was the largest in the country. The Protectorate and Ward teams too. While Brockton Bay was often held up as having the highest capes per capita in the country, that didn't mean we remotely compared to somewhere like New York. My hometown was a small city in the grand scheme.
We didn't pass many people, and many of the rooms themselves looked cleared out. Made sense with so many outsiders around.
Dragon: next door on the right
"Right up"—Lorenz paused as I turned toward the door—"or you already know."
SG: you do that as well?
Dragon: I have my fun
The door opened and I stepped through into what looked like a typical hotel suite. Two beds, with a couch and TV. Red and Green were fighting over the remote before I made it three steps in.
"Welcome," Dragon said aloud. "I hope this is alright. It was a bit of a rush since the PRT decided not to support the guests of third parties directly."
"It's fine." I honestly couldn't tell what she thought was lacking. "Is it secure? I don't ask to be rude."
"I've proofed the room," she answered. "It seemed appropriate. You and Ms. Mannequin can hold private conversations if it suits you."
I nod—"Mannequin?"
"Kati Mannequin," Veda clarified.
...No wonder she only used her first name. "Right. Thanks, Dragon."
"We'll be one door over," Fleming called from just outside. "A couple of us at least. Brass has us set to parade around all week showing off the new duds."
"Ask and we can help," Lorenz added. "We owe Dragon the favor anyway, and Commander Noa said you were one of the better capes he'd worked with."
Huh. "Commander Noa said that?"
"Word gets around." Fleming stepped back and waved. "If you can't find us, then something's probably horribly wrong."
"Send help! Send help!"
I turned as they left, finding Green spinning across the floor as Red turned the TV to the Discovery Channel.
"Assistance! Assistance!"
"If you're going to fight over the remote like babies," I noted, "then you're going to have to live with the outcome."
"No fair! No fair!"
The door closed and I set my bag on one of the beds. Huh. Not sure I'd ever spent a night away from home. Not in years at least. The summer camp before high school, I thought.
And glancing around the room, I couldn't help but ask, "Dragon? Are you still here?"
"For a moment. I promise I'm not peeping. I was just checking on something with Veda for a moment."
"The Hashmal armor is nearly complete," Veda revealed. "However, due to interference from Saint, Dragon prefers to let me develop some of the machines' final systems."
"It's a bit of a chore," Dragon sighed. "I have to vacate the local network and let Veda enter to finish up."
"It's almost done then?"
I did a quick look around the room while we talked. There was a bathroom and two closets. Probably more space than Kati or I needed.
"Hashmal will be at the next Endbringer battle," Dragon confirmed. "Assuming we can keep it."
"Saint hasn't made any bids to steal anything from you lately. He didn't even take the bait suits we laid out."
Of course, I knew why. He knew when a suit was bait given his inside line to Dragon. I also now had to consider he knew I was onto him, but maintaining the charade couldn't hurt.
"He will," Dragon determined. "Last lead I had, Saint's little band was somewhere in south-east Ontario. That's not far from one of my depots and the Dragonwork's factory. Michael escaped your battle with them mostly intact, and they may have enough of the Victory to effect repairs or rig a new suit."
"They might go for parts rather than a new suit," I concluded. Returning to my quick look around, I noticed the thin windows on one wall. They weren't very big, and were near the ceiling. "Maybe this new trooper armor you're working on?"
"The Type 100 armor should be secure. It's been developed solely within PRT facilities and Masamune's lab in Kansas City."
The last time Dinah saw the Dragonslayers, they weren't in Ontario. They were in Manitoba. They gave Dragon the slip, and I couldn't exactly ask if she had anything in Manitoba without giving up the ghost. Though, if Veda was in Dragon's system she might be able to find out.
Which meant more lying to Dragon.
Setting her free sooner rather than later had that upside at least. It would be done and I wouldn't have to lie to her anymore.
Walking over to the window, I rose up onto my toes and almost instantly stumbled back.
"Ah. I hoped you wouldn't notice."
Grabbing the lip of the window, I balanced myself and looked again. "It's fine. I—I wanted to see it, with my own eyes."
I fixed my gaze on the ruins across the water. It never occurred to me that the PRT building in New York was so close, let alone facing the waterfront. Manhattan lay not even a mile away from me, a wrecked heap of ruins.
"It's different, seeing it in person?" Veda asked.
"Yes," I said.
"I am uncertain if I can understand that," she replied. "I only see the world through the eyes of others. Physically, that is."
"Yes," Dragon agreed. "I've often noticed people react to things in person differently from how they react to images or words. It is a different experience. I think Chevalier wanted to tap into that a bit, in his own way."
Over a million people were dead on that island.
And Chevalier was right.
It would happen again. At the rate things were going, it would happen again very soon. Maybe not in such a spectacular fashion, but heroes and villains playing a game of cops and robbers—however violent it became—wasn't a war. The rules were set up that way for a reason, to provide the excuse. To ensure those of us with the power to level cities weren't fighting for our lives every waking moment of the day. Someone with our kind of power fighting for their life did more than just knock over some walls. They brought down buildings.
The future always comes, whether you like it or not.
Stepping away from the window, I remotely accessed Black.
"On a more chipper note," Dragon offered, "I was thinking of having another tinker get-together, like we had before."
"Get-together?" I asked absentmindedly.
"There are currently forty-three tinkers in New York," she explained as I focused on something else. "More than half are under the age of twenty, given current events. I think it would be a good idea to have all of you get together and talk about what you seek to do with your lives going forward."
I stopped and raised my head. "That—Yeah. I could do that."
"I thought you might." I heard the smile in her voice. "I'll leave you to settle in and won't intrude again without announcing myself. I can contact you when I've finished making arrangements."
"Please."
"It is a good idea," Veda offered. "Yes?"
"Yeah, and maybe the start of whatever they don't want to admit they have planned."
No itinerary my ass. No way the PRT arranged all this with nothing in mind. Which begged the question. What did they have in mind?
Turning my attention to Black again, I had the robot pan around the room. Aisha was sitting on a bed with her mask off watching TV. Tattletale sat at a table nearby, tapping away at a laptop. Her eyes momentarily drifted up as Black looked toward her and a small smirk came over her face.
She waved.
I ignored her. Working with Tattletale was weird enough as is.
Instead, I looked at the girl by the window.
Their hotel faced the waterfront too, and I wondered if it was fate or preparation that Relena Peacecraft was looking at Manhattan just like I had moments ago.
"The future always comes." We all had to face it eventually, and now was the time to take stock. To know where we all stood and why we stood there. "Let's see what future it is they want."
