February 23rd, 2011 - Wednesday
Evening
Taylor drummed her fingers against her leg as the car pulled over not far from Somer's Rock. Webweaver was driving, with Vortex riding shotgun. As the three unfastened their seatbelts, Webweaver spoke up.
"The boys are almost in position. Coil's inside, seems to have brought a couple of mercenaries as insurance. Everyone ready?"
Taylor and Vortex both nodded. The three walked over to the pub and went inside. They were greeted by a dim, grey room and a man in a black bodysuit with a serpent's image on it, winding around his body from one of the man's legs to his head. Two mercenaries flanked him.
"Coil," Webweaver greeted him, taking the opposite seat. Taylor sat down to her left, Vortex to her right.
"Webweaver. Timed it to the second, I see." Coil's voice was smooth, calm. He's playing the chessmaster image so straight it's almost funny. Though Taylor wasn't sure the timing was deliberate. A waitress approached, but was waved off by Coil and Webweaver simultaneously.
"I doubt you arranged the meeting to exchange pleasantries. You would've done that sooner if it was the case. What is it you wish to discuss?"
Taylor picked up a minor pang of irritation from him, but it was quickly quashed. There was no outward reaction visible through his costume, even if she could count his individual ribs through the tight fabric.
"Very well. I am here to propose an alliance. I am aware of both the Elite's traditional methods and goals, and it would serve us both to avoid future... misunderstandings. Our interests are different enough to make conflict wasteful, after all."
"That depends on what your interests are, doesn't it? Protection rackets, smuggling, drugs and mercenary work are the obvious ones and we don't intend to compete over those, but that isn't everything. You're aiming higher than that. Politics?"
"You are correct. If I'm judging correctly, your own cell is mostly aiming for mercenary work and security?"
"For now. Future plans depend on the Elite as a whole, as you probably know. We'll be recruiting more parahumans to that end, but divided loyalties are more of a hassle than they're worth. Am I correct in guessing Circus is in your employ?"
Taylor could tell Coil did not like that last remark, despite his unflappable attitude. Under the table, she tapped the spider Webweaver had sent to perch on her right leg.
"I suspected as much. You can keep her. We'll be looking for recruits elsewhere," Webweaver continued on, leaving almost no pause after the previous question.
The snake-themed villain relaxed at that. Taylor tapped the spider's sibling on her left leg.
"I suppose there isn't much point arguing over who recruits the other independents. Let them side with the best offer?" Coil asked.
"They would do so already. As for the 'misunderstandings', as you called them, I doubt you'd offer the information on your operations we'd need to be certain we're not targeting you?"
"Definitely not."
"I expected as much. Unfortunately, that does mean we can only promise not to target what we know to be yours."
Coil shrugged.
"The price of secrecy, it seems. So you accept, then?"
"Yes." Webweaver reached across the table and shook hands with Coil. They stood up, Taylor and Vortex following a moment later. Everyone left the pub, heading back to their cars. Once they got in their seats, Webweaver spoke up.
"Coil got upset when we mentioned Circus as his, but calmed down when we mentioned we're going to recruit others, right Eris?"
"Yes, he did. Think he's planning something?" Taylor answered, buckling up.
"From the impression I got in there? If he's still breathing, he's planning something. In this particular case, I suspect he might try to bribe an independent to join us as a spy. Keep the possibility in mind when we're dealing with our future recruits, but don't let it slip that you suspect them."
She started the engine and drove off, beating the guys to the warehouse by a few minutes. She told them about the meeting, and drove Taylor to her flat.
~o~o~o~
February 24th, 2011 - Thursday
Late Morning
Taylor was woken up by a text message on her phone. It was from Jennifer, again.
Simurgh attacking Canberra. Keep heads down, no jobs for a few days until Truce ends and the higher-ups decide on whether Brockton Bay is the next in line for takeover.
Taylor's feelings were mixed. The Simurgh was perhaps the most terrifying of the Endbringers, and her hitting a capital of a large country was a disaster, but... it would've happened soon enough to somebody, and at least this time Ziz was on the opposite side of the planet from her.
Her musings were interrupted by another message. The last one had presumably been sent to the whole team, but this one was personal.
If there's a least likely time for heroes to pull something when you visit your father, today's the day. I can give you a ride once he's back from work, if you want?
Taylor's fingers only hesitated a few moments above the keys. She owed Dad an explanation, and frankly, she needed to talk to someone that wasn't a supervillain these days.
Yes.
~o~o~o~
February 24th, 2011 - Thursday
Late Afternoon
"All clear. Go," Jennifer said, and Taylor got out of the car and headed towards her house. Her dad was once again quick to open the door and usher her in after she knocked on the door. As soon as the lock clicked, he wrapped her in a hug.
"Taylor! I'm glad to see you're okay. What happened back then?"
"I'm fine, Dad, I'm fine. Better you sit down for this, though," she spoke, hugging him back briefly before letting go. A shadow of a concerned frown passed through Danny's face briefly before he sat down.
"First, you'll have to keep what I tell you quiet, okay? It could end very badly for me, my team and you if you mention it to anyone."
"Of course, Taylor. Besides, I'm pretty sure the PRT are done asking me about that - not like I told them anything useful anyway. I just heard a scream coming from outside while airing the house out and saw two people running off in the dark, after all," he smiled.
"You think they believed that?"
"Even if they didn't, they can't really do much unless they can prove at least some actual crime was committed beyond causing a disturbance at night," he shrugged. "...They won't prove anything, will they?"
Taylor noticed he didn't ask if no crime was committed. Even if he's not wrong...
"I... This will need a bit of context, Dad. You know about the journal, right?"
Danny gritted his teeth. "Yes."
"Well, when the PRT got their hands on it... apparently one of the main bullies was one of their Wards. Shadow Stalker."
Taylor waited a bit for Danny's litany of invectives to end. Taylor almost felt like she could see him glowing with anger. Did I look like that when I found out?
It wasn't as powerful as the rage she felt when the students of Winslow tore into each other, or when she turned the Merchants attacking her back at the ferry station on themselves what seemed like a lifetime ago, but this was no power's work. Only a father finding out why his daughter got hurt.
Taylor remembered the last time she saw someone that exact kind of angry. Assault was like that when he saw they'd taken down Battery. They really do care about each other, Taylor thought, guilt gnawing at her.
When he finally regained some measure of composure, Danny spoke again, this time in a dangerously calm tone that wouldn't have been convincing even if her power wasn't so eagerly telling her the truth.
"Is that why they got away with everything?"
"Maybe. I think most of the staff is actually just that incompetent, though. Anyway, when they found out, they apparently wanted to bring her in for questioning, but she ran for it. The day before... my last visit, Webweaver caught her snooping around here."
"Wait, she's been spying on me?"
"Only for your protection, Mr Hebert. Even if trying to coerce a cape by targeting their family is foolish, that's no excuse to get careless. Not everyone sees things my way, after all."
Well, we could've done without the reminder that she's listening in.
"So... yeah. If she's not working for the PRT, we figured she's keeping an eye on you to try to get to me. And she's a psycho, Dad. I was worried if she couldn't get me, she'd go after you. I... I couldn't stand the thought of that happening, Dad."
Danny's face was unreadable.
"Taylor? What did you do?"
"I... She won't come after us again, Dad. Never again." She closed her eyes, feeling her dad get angry again.
The silence was deafening for a few seconds. Then she heard a rustle of cloth.
She was wrapped in a hug and held tight.
She didn't know how long they stayed like that until he let go.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Taylor. Dammit, I'm your father, I should still be protecting you..."
Taylor didn't answer.
"I know I can't fight for you, Taylor. I know I can't advise you about being a cape. But I still love you, little owl. Always."
They stayed like that for a while longer, both slowly calming down, until Taylor decided it was time to go. Saying goodbye, she waited for Jennifer's all-clear and headed back to the car. The villainess had a somber expression on her face.
"Let's just go," Taylor said. Jennifer nodded and they drove off without a word.