Interlude 2 - Alexandria Redux

There was silence in the boardroom. The paused screen flickered gently, showcasing the burning wreckage of what used to be a testing facility.

"Huh." Harbinger said, breaking the silence as he flipped to the end of an official looking document. "I don't believe I've ever seen that many tens applied to the same person."

"Those are just the suggestions," I told him, grimacing. Once a criminal, always a criminal, no matter the cause or the number of times he changed his name. "For now, we're keeping the ratings lower."

"How much lower? Specifically, his Brute rating?" Eidolon interjected. I scowled at him; he was having just a little too much fun with this. He'd known since he began to lose his powers that we were looking for Eidolon 2.0; his sense of irony at the reversal was just a little too strong to hide completely. Harbinger hadn't even bothered to try, cracking up about it halfway through the video.

"Brute 10 for the main ability," I said stiffly. "Mover 7, downgraded due to the drawbacks present at his maximum speed. Thinker 6 for the intelligence and senses. They wanted to stick him with Trump 2 and Stranger 2, but since the anti-precognition only works on parahumans I'm folding it into the Trump 2 rating. It's specific enough that I doubt it'll come into play that often, especially with PRT troops."

Harbinger snorted. "Some drawback - it sets things on fire, so what? The lack of a physics divorcing Manton effect makes itmorepowerful, not less."

"Not everyone is as bloody minded as you are," I reminded him, narrowing my eyes. He simply smiled, refusing to take offense. "If Joshua wants to be a Ward, he'll keep it to a lower level."

"We're nearing the topic that most concerns me," Doctor Mother spoke for the first time in half an hour. Contessa shifted next to her. "You said he is aware you are a parahuman?"

I nodded. "Unmistakably. There was an unusual Thinker power reaction caused by similar abilities. However, connecting me to my parahuman identity would require an astounding leap of logic, especially with the red herrings we've put in place."

Doctor Mother grimaced, rubbing tiredly at her temples. She was on her fifth cup of coffee; I had been forced to wake her up early for this. "The problem is compounded by his precognition immunity. The girl, you believe she's enough leverage?"

"It gains him nothing to expose me and everything to secure my cooperation," I said, "and without proof of his claims, we have the better position. While he can't be seen by esoteric means, mundane methods work just fine. He won't tell anyone."

"We could always just introduce him to the Slug," Harbinger suggested.

"Might be a little shortsighted," Eidolon mused. "If Contessa can't see him, and her modeling isn't working yet -" he glanced at her, then continued at her nod, "- it's in our best interests to wait and see. After all, if we botched an abduction attempt the consequences would be. . . dramatic."

There was a moment of silence. Presumably, everyone nearby was imagining a Brute 10 rampaging around the Cauldron base.

I could take him,I thought pensively.Probably. It would likely end up a stalemate.

"Subtlety, then," Harbringer said, steepling his fingers. "There's a certain issue Legend has been agitating over for years; why not cripple two birds with one stone?"

As he began to explain his plan, I couldn't help but note that this was most definitely a plan made by a villain. When everyone at the table - myself included - agreed with him afterwards, I couldn't suppress the shudder of existential loathing as the words left my mouth. It was almost physical, a sort of mental vertigo that told me I'd crossed an important line long ago.

Since when was thisme?

I glanced at Contessa, but she was still looking at the frozen image on the screen. Normally, this was the point she'd weigh in to modify the plan, to smooth away the remaining doubts.

Looking around, I realized I was the only one doubting. Everyone else had fully committed.

How did I end up working with a group of villains?

Worse, why was Iagreeingwith them?

"Then we're agreed," Doctor Mother said strongly, redirecting everyone's attention. "We'll contact Legend; he has the most contacts with the Guild. This will be a joint op, using Contessa's abilities. This many steps removed from Joshua, her abilities should be working perfectly."

Contessa frowned, but nodded. "The path ahead is clear. It will be done with minimal public attention."

Eidolon's beeper went off. He sighed. "It seems duty calls; are we done for the day?"

"We'll meet again in three days to discuss the repatriation of the Slaughterhouse Nine," Doctor Mother said. "Harbinger, I want a progress report on Jack and Manton's movements and actions by tomorrow. Use Clairvoyant, but avoid distracting Contessa. With that, we are adjourned."