3.4
There was a slight chill in the air as Victoria flew casually over the bay. Her power kept her from getting too cold, but she could still feel a slight change in the weather. It had been a cold winter so by now she was getting really sick of the cold. Hopefully spring would start soon. Still as the morning sun passed a cloud and the light hit her face she couldn't help but smile. As she started to approach the Protectorate's floating base she could make a lone figure in white standing on the big helipad. Her smile widened, the last few days had been busy for the two of them, but maybe today they could hang out a bit.
When she got closer however her smile faded.
"I thought you said you were going to try and quit," Victoria tried to keep her annoyance out of her tone.
Amy took another drag on her cigarette before stomping it out on the ground. "I know, I'm sorry. I've had a bad few days, they help me relax."
"But they stink, and you know what they'll do to you better than anyone. Not to mention what mom would do if she caught you."
Amy just snorted, and Vicky decided that the fight could wait. Amy didn't seem in the mood to listen. Landing next to her sister Vicky gave her a quick look over. She looked tired.
'Maybe a movie night or something.' Victoria thought 'Amy earned a day just vegging out.'
Amy seemed lost in thought, and stood staring out over the bay.
"Sooo," she drew out the word getting Amy's attention. "What was so urgent that Protectorate needed to wake you up at the crack of dawn."
"Samedi,"
"Oh god. Did anyone die? I mean um was err did they all make it?" Vicky bit her lip at her little slip up. Aunt Sarah kept saying she needed to practice more tact. Even when alone. New Wave didn't need the PR issues.
"No," Amy told her, and she let out a sigh of relief. "But she could have. All of them were out there, and she walked right through them. Seven Protectorate members against one lunatic and three of them were put up in the hospital."
Victoria shivered again, this time for reasons other than the cold. "So she got away?"
"Yeah," Amy was fidgeting at this point.
"Well then, you got to be more careful. No more going out alone, OK?"
"Me?" Amy asked incredulously.
"Yes you. You're the only one of us that can't fight if she comes after you."
"Samedi doesn't kill heroes."
"Yet. Samedi hasn't killed any heroes yet. I don't want you to be the first. Just...promise me you'll be careful. No going out alone. Please?" Victoria pleaded with her sister.
Amy let out a soft sigh, "alright, but you got to promise me something too."
"Anything."
"If you see her, run," Amy cut off her protests with a look. "She just took out seven heroes. I know you'll want to fight her, but don't. Just run. I can't lose you."
Victoria paused for a long moment. Then she nodded, "ok, I promise."
"Good," she held out her hand. "Then let's head home."
Victoria grabbed her sister's hand and felt herself smiling again as she lifted both of them off to head home.
XxXXxX
If there was one thing Sophia hated it was waiting. Not that there was only one thing Sophia hated, but waiting would be up there. Worse still was waiting to do something she didn't want to do. She never knew what to do with herself when she had to wait. Terry was watching some dumb show downstairs so she couldn't even watch one of her nature shows. So she was stuck laying on her bed with nothing to do, but wait for the time to run down.
'Stupid fattass,' Sophia thought bitterly. 'where does she get off acting so high and mighty? I didn't do anything wrong.'
Her thoughts were interrupted by her cell going off. She rolled over and grabbed the phone off the bedside table. A look at the caller id caused her heart to speed up just a bit. Taking a second to steady herself she pressed the phone to her ear.
"Hey there hero," Emma's voice called out cheerfully.
"Hey yourself," Sophia was a bit confused by the call, not that she was going to complain.
"So you ready?"
"Huh? Ready for what?"
"Duh, the mall. We're heading there with Madison, we've been planing it since Monday."
'Oh shit,' Sophia had forgotten about that completely. "Oh man, I totally forgot."
"That's fine, Anne's giving me a ride. We can swing by your place."
"I can't make it." Now she was really pissed at Piggot.
"What?" Emma practically shouted. "Why not?"
"It's Wards shit. I got to work monitor duty all day."
"You never had to work on Saturdays. What gives?"
Sophia debated how much to tell her. "It's all Piggot's way of punishing me. They found out about some the things at school, so she's decided she's gotta-what's the word?-castigate me? She's trying to prove she's still the boss of me. No more going out alone, monitor duty on the week ends, double therapy, and I even got to go to all those stupid 'stay in school' bullshit feel good things. Like I don't have better things to do than talk to a bunch of nerds and losers about life."
Emma gave a low whistle. "Man what did they find out about to earn you that?"
"I...can't say exactly," Sophia told her. "It's about Hebert, and I really can't go into it more so don't even ask. Trust me, you're better off."
"Hebert?" Emma snorted, "did they find that loser in a ditch somewhere or something?"
"Or something," Sophia rubbed her face and tried not to think about the truth she learned that night. Hebert might still be a weakling given how fast she went down, but still Sophia couldn't help the feeling in the back of her head that she could be in danger. Samedi didn't play the game like everyone else. She didn't go around in costume, she came to your house. Scary shit.
"Well if it's something like that can't you beg out of it? That Dr White guy said you had to hang out with people more, right?"
"Miss Piggy isn't the type to take 'my doctor said I had to go to the mall' as a valid excuse."
"I could always ask daddy to make a few calls."
That thought nearly made Sophia gag. She was grateful for all that Mr. Barnes did, but she didn't want to run to him with every little issue. "I really can't make it," Sophia told her.
"Oh, even if I said we were thinking of swinging by Victoria's Secret?" Now she was playing dirty.
"Tempting but that doesn't change my answer."
"Not even if I let you sit in the changing room with me?" She teased.
'I don't deserve this,' Sophia thought burring her head in her pillow. She cleared her throat into the phone, "don't tease."
"Aww," Sophia could almost sense the girl's pout. "Sorry, still if you're sure."
She sighed, "yeah I'm sure."
"Well I guess it's just me and Mads. The two of us can figure something to do. Might even find some cute boys."
"You deserve better than some mallrat." Sophia said before she could stop herself.
There was a long pause on the other end. "Uhh yeah, thanks, look I, um, I got to go. Anne's gotta be tapping her foot."
Sophia just grunted and soon the line was dead. With a harsh growl she threw her phone into the wall. Life sucked.
XxXXxX
There was something about Somner's Rock that always made Grue's skin itch. He couldn't explain it, usually he chalked it up to paranoia. Not that anything about the last few days had been good for his nerves. The entire group had been on edge since their run in with Samedi. Twice he had to convince Spitfire not to quit, Regent had either been really out of it or was latching on the excuse to do even less work, and Bitch had been away for most of the time. As it was only he and Tattletale had the inclination to head to this meeting. Not that the others would be allowed. Coil called the meeting and he set the rules, the boss and one bodyguard. Things had been tenser than Grue could remember, Samedi was turning this city into a powder-keg. One wrong move and the whole thing could go up in flames.
He and Tattletale had gotten there early, an old habit from his days as hired muscle. They took a table toward the door. If something went down they needed to be able to book it. Somehow despite being early Coil had already been seated at the table in the centre of the room. Behind him stood a woman dressed in full body armor. Grue had to give the man this, it took guts to go about setting yourself as a ganglord without using capes.
After a few minutes a few independent villains filled in taking up more seats. Normally small fry like them wouldn't get an invite but given the situation they had the most to gain or lose here. Grue tried to pick out a few familiar faces. Circus was seated alone in the back corner. Majestic and her latest boy toy were as close to the main table that they were likely to get away with. Dollface had somehow fit herself into a booth, she was likely looking to get help to kill her brother's killer, that at least Grue could understand. The rest he didn't recognize. Most of the one's that could leave, had. Oddly Uber and Leet hadn't shown. This was the kind of thing they always loved. Strange, but Grue pushed it out of his mind. He'd ask Tattletale later.
It wasn't until five minutes before the meeting was supposed to start that Kaiser walked in, his heavy metal armor clanking with every step. He was followed by one of the twins, Grue couldn't tell which. He sat to the left of Coil, giving the man a nod as a greeting.
After a moment Kaiser spoke, "he'll make us wait you know. His kind have no sense of courtesy despite their airs."
"More like he will simply like to prove we will wait for him." Coil replied, he smooth tone giving no indication he was offended by Kaiser's words.
"Either way he will make us wait."
"Of course he will. That's why I informed him that were planing on starting ten minutes ago."
"Clever."
"Not especially," during the entire exchange Coil hadn't taken his eyes off the front door.
After a few more minutes the door swung open, and in strode Lung followed by Oni Lee. His entrance seemed to drop the temperature of the room by several degrees. He stood scanning the room, and when his eyes fell on Grue there was a moments pause. Long enough to send the message, Lung hadn't forgiven or forgotten. Grue tensed but refused to show his fear. In a place like this that could mean worse than what Samedi promised.
With a deliberately slow pace Lung walked to his place at the table and settled his massive bulk into the chair, which gave an audible groan of protest.
"Good we are all here," Coil opened.
"The Merchants still haven't arrived," Lung pointed out, spitting out the word Merchant like it was a dirty word.
"Yes, well they declined my invitation. They claimed they would handle these issues in their own way. Though they were less...delicate in phrasing."
Kaiser let out a chuckle, "typical."
"It does not matter," Lung stated. "We are already filled up with vermin." He scanned the crowd while he said this, his gaze holding on Grue and Tattletale for a moment, long enough to make his point.
"Gentlemen," Coil cut in. "If I could bring us back to the issue at hand. She has become a problem. I don't think I need to clarify of whom I'm speaking of."
There was a rumble of voices in the crowd. Coil let the noise die down before continuing. "We can no longer afford the luxury of hope. Samedi poses a threat that we can not ignore. Some of us have lost business partners, others have lost friends, some even lost family to her actions. She needs to be stopped, permanently. If not, well it could be a second coming of the Fairy Queen."
That brought back the murmurers. The idea of another Fairy Queen, right here in Brockton Bay, sent a shiver through the crowd. Soon another noise could be heard, the sound of laughter. Lung's laughter.
"I had never taken you for a coward Coil." Lung said coolly, "and I see no reason to be so alarmed. This Samedi is nothing more than vermin. The fact she feeds on other vermin will not change that fact."
"You're wrong," Tattletale spoke up. "She is much stronger than you think. I have information, last night the heroes tried to take her in. She didn't even break a sweat."
"And how good is your source, Tattletale?" Coil asked.
"The best."
Coil nodded, "I've heard similar reports. At first I was going to dismiss it as rumor, but if Tattletale has had similar info then it can't be dismissed."
"Feh," Lung snorted. "Defeating these so called heroes mean nothing. They are weak. This Samedi has never faced a real fight. Until she does I will not quake at a shadow."
"Perhaps," Kaiser spoke in a calm voice. "If you are so mighty you could point this strength at the girl's direction. Do us all a favor."
"I will not waste my energy killing rats. If she were stupid enough to menace me, I would destroy her without mercy. She has not proven that foolish." Lung leaned forward over the table. "Unlike you I do not let challenges go unanswered."
"It is mere luck that you have so few followers worth her time."
"You call it luck? I say it is because I do not let weaklings hang off my back for the sake of numbers. Though fewer numbers now, after your woman left. Did she also take your manhood with her?"
There was a loud thud as the woman behind Kaiser slammed her spear on the ground. Before she could do any more Kaiser held up his hand.
"Peace, Menja, we will not give him the satisfaction of rising to his taunts. His kind are capable of little else."
Lung growled slightly at his words. Before the two could come to blows Coil stood.
"This is wasteful. We will solve nothing if we sit here and bicker. I can see a general merging of forces will be unlikely, so instead I offer this solution. The PRT has already offered a small sum for the capture of Samedi alive. Given their inability to hold her I have my doubts for this solution. Instead I say we offer a bounty of our own, for her death. We make it large enough to make the danger worthwhile and we all contribute an equal amount. Can that be agreed on?"
Kaiser was the first to answer, "it sounds like a fair arrangement."
"I agree," Lung added.
"Excellent," Grue couldn't see it but he had a feeling Coil was smiling under his mask. The itching feeling had started again.
XxXXxX
Madison hummed to herself as she entered her room, Pop-Tart in hand. Taking a little nibble she started her computer up. Today had been so much fun, it had been awhile since she got to just hang out with Emma without Sophia lurking in the background. She could be funny, but man she was such a weirdo sometimes. Plus Madison could see the way she looked at Emma. That was so not cool. Like she wasn't a bigot or anything but there should be rules about that sort of thing. Especially when it came to things like dressing rooms, or like the gym looker room. It was just like common sense. Like they wouldn't let boys in there. So why let girls like Sophia in?
Madison's thoughts were interrupted when her computer finished booting up. Quickly getting online she headed to the PHO boards. She hadn't gotten a chance to get on all day. She wasn't like a nerd or anything, having to be chained to the computer all day, not like her geeky little sister, but still she liked to keep up with the news.
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Madison did a quick scan of some of the newer threads when one jump out at her.
Topic: Uber and Leet dead!In: Boards ► Boards ►America ► News
A cold feeling spiked through Madison. Uber and Leet were losers, but at least they were funny losers. Like clowns. Who would want to hurt clowns? She clicked on the thread.
► Corps_Control (Original Poster)Posted on March 9, 2011:
Link to their stream here. Warning it gets pretty gruesome. NSFW definitely. Last 10 mins is all you need
► ZoneEnder
Posted on March 9, 2011:
Holy shit!
►Block_Buster (Veteran Member)
Posted on March 9, 2011:
What did they expect when they went after Samedi? These guys always bit off more than they could chew. I guess it caught up to them.
That caught Madison's breath in her throat. Samedi? Uber and Leet went after her? That's crazy. She scrolled down the page to read more.
►Night_BearPosted on March 9, 2011:
These scum bags got what they deserved. Guys like this are why it's not safe to go out at night. At least Samedi is cleaning up the streets.
►Inzayne
Posted on March 9, 2011:
Hey bigger question, this bounty they keep going on about. Is it legit? Samedi's really got the PRT that scared?
►Shh!
Posted on March 9, 2011:
Yeah it's legit. Also Night_Bear could you tone down some of the crazy? Two people died.
►Tin_Mother
Posted on March 9, 2011:
Indeed. I know that Uber and Leet were hardly the most stellar people and tensions are high since they kidnapped those zoo turtles a few weeks back, but two people are dead, let's not cheer on their murder.
Madison skipped the rest of the argument. Instead she clicked the link. She quickly slid the little bar thingy at the bottom to the end to see what happened. It was hard to see what was happening but they looked like they were driving like crazy, their camera was shaking all around, and they were yelling at each other.. Then suddenly a wall appeared in front of them. The screen when nuts for a second before it settled back down. Madison jumped back when the picture came back. Leet had his neck bent all wrong and blood and stuff was all over his face.
When Uber got out the camera swung around to match his movements. After a second Madison realized she couldn't hear anything. The crash must have broken the microphone. On screen Uber fell to the ground. He looked really hurt. There was a bright flash, and Madison realized it was his gun going off. Suddenly it flew out of his hands, and he got real still. In front of him she could almost make out someone. They looked like the two of them were talking. Madison really wished she could hear what they were saying. When Uber started to thrash she moved away from the screen. Part of her wanted to turn it off right there, it was too freaky, but she wanted to see what happened after. He stopped moving after a second, but when he skull fell off Madison thought she was going to throw up.
Then her heart nearly stopped. Samedi crouched into frame. Madison could see her face. She knew it, she almost laughed. This had to be a joke somehow. This couldn't be real. Quickly she went back into the thread to see if someone else figured out it was all some big prank. The last posts in the thread stopped her dead. As she read them over and over, she thought she was going to be sick.
►XxVoid_CowboyxXPosted on March 9, 2011:
Holy shit guys. I-I know her, she went to high school with me. That's Taylor Hebert. I thought she was dead.
►MaroonX
Posted on March 9, 2011:
Dude you've been here long enough to know posting cape names is a big no-no.
►ZoneEnder
Posted on March 9, 2011:
Does this count? Samedi doesn't wear a mask. I don't know if that's against the rules.
►Tin_Mother
Posted on March 9, 2011:
It's irrelevant now anyway. The PRT just put out a notice. They're confirming it. Samedi's real name is Taylor Hebert.