"Wow this feels classy," Lisa said as she looked at the recorder that Medusa had placed on the table, along with the pen and notebook.
"Believe it or not, I am a professional." Medusa said as she took a seat in what she was using as her 'interview room' for the moment, one of the extra office-type ones that was disconnected from hers and Sabah's. "Now, anything we say can and will be heard by, at minimum, Armsmaster, and most likely will be heard in a court of law. If there's anything you need to say off the record, motion it but don't indicate verbally."
Lisa gave a thumbs up. "That will be it."
Medusa nodded, before clearing her throat and pressing the record button, and began to speak in her most formal voice. "Monday, May 9th, year 2011. Interview with Lisa Wilbourn, also known as the Undersider, Tattletale. We'll start with some of the simple questions and work our way up, so: how old are you, Lisa?"
"I am 16," She answered.
"And how long have you been Tattletale?"
"I have been Tattletale for almost ten months."
"At what point in those ten months did you meet the Undersiders?"
"The first week," She answered.
"Would you care to go into detail about how that happened?"
"Coil arranged for a meeting with Regent, Grue and Bitch and formed the team in the trainyards after a bit of talking," Lisa explained.
Medusa hummed at that. "Mhm. Let's rewind a bit then: how and when did you meet Coil?"
"I 'met' Coil during the summer shortly after I arrived in Brockton Bay, I was shopping when a Fake Boardwalk Enforcer apprehended me and took me to an alley where Coil called my phone and told me he wanted to 'buy' my services," Lisa exposited her face a bit red from embarrassment.
"I see. Now speaking of Coil, he's a Thinker much like yourself. Would you care to demonstrate your ability?" Medusa said, making direct eye contact with her and actually thinking of some things.
"Your phone password is-" Lisa started as she accurately told Medusa all her personal login information for all her stuff. Which thankfully wasn't much, just her phone and her PHO account, she hadn't been on anything else that needed a password. "-Really need more stuff, it makes this more fun."
"I'll be changing my passwords before the day's out I suppose…" Medusa muttered. "So to elaborate, how did you know those were my passwords? Did your ability simply inform you of the words?"
"Yes, I can get them from various sources, from which buttons are pressed most, to how you decided to wear your clothes, and how some styled their hair, I can divine a lot of stuff from small information, both big and small secrets, like before I was found by Coil I told a girl that her boyfriend was cheating on her."
"Mhm. So to a degree, a Sherlockian information gatherer and contextualiser."
"Times a thousand, I am better than Sherlock Holmes as I am not a crackhead," Lisa rebutted.
"Good." Medusa said, before stopping the recorder. "Just to be clear, are you on any drugs? Including over the counter medication, this is just something I should have asked you earlier."
"No, thankfully not as I learned quickly, pain medication doesn't really help with Thinker Headaches," Lisa answered.
"Noted." Medusa said, before turning the recorder back on. "With your abilities established, let's go into Coil's then. Using your abilities and your experience with him, you mentioned previously you've determined the most likely form his take?"
"Yeah, I had several theories, but now I have narrowed it down to one ability I am certain of. He has a pre-cognitive ability that allows him to simulate two timelines of actions, with the ability to choose the one he wants to happen. That is how I believe his power generally works, the minutia I am still working on," Lisa answered.
"Now, when you say 'choose the one he wants to happen', you mean that he simulates how events would play out based on his own actions, and then chooses to perform those actions in order to 'choose' that timeline." Medusa elaborated. "And not, for instance, creating alternate timelines and choosing which is real at any given time."
"It might look like that for some people, but it is not that, it is just a simulation of his desired actions and how they are responded to. From what I can tell the simulation is two fold, it has been created and then he experiences them in real time, making it like both are occurring at once."
"So is that to say that when he uses his power, he can't do anything but, or he experiences them in real time with the current time?"
"Kinda the later it is hard to explain, like I give the coin trick again, like he flips a coin, uses his power 'splits the timeline', call heads in one, tails in the other, so even if both versions lands on head, he just ends his power and 'picks' the one he called head in."
"I know I'm not a professional parahuman analyst, but that doesn't sound like a simulation if he effectively choose the way a coin lands. That goes beyond the way a simulation works."
"Except he doesn't choose… it's hard to explain, which is why he says his power allows him to control destiny," Lisa said.
"So in effect, he's simulating two possibilities and choosing one or the other in real time, and projecting the idea that he is controlling the timeline to others in order to intimidate and use his power more effectively via manipulation of the variables, i.e. people, around him. Yes?"
"Yeah."
"With that confusing power and not-so-confusing usage of it firmly established, let's get into the actual meat of the interview." Medusa said, leaning forward and steepling her fingers in front of her face. "Your operations under Coil. Preferably in chronological order, but descending severity of those operations would also work."
"All our jobs have been thievery of various places," Lisa said as she began giving a list of all the places they had robbed. "With the last two places being Lung's Ruby Casino and Brockton Bay Central Bank."
"And you've exclusively been stealing for Coil from these high-end targets? No other operations under him?"
"No," She answered.
"I see. So despite having a metaphorical/literal gun to your heads, he was only using the Undersiders for what they were willing to do."
"Yes, he liked to present himself as a 'good' and 'reasonable' Boss."
"Speaking of the 'boss', would you mind telling us about his other 'employees'?"
"Mercenaries outfitted with laser guns he bought from Toybox, former soldiers, PMCs, along with a few compromised PRT Agents, and of course his newly acquired Travelers," Lisa explained.
"No other 'villain' groups, even ones that have since been taken down?"
"Not that I know of," Lisa answered.
"And what about 'interns', so to speak?" Medusa asked, certain that the Merchants had been, at minimum, influenced by Coil's plans.
"Well the Merchants being the latest cattle, and probably Dinah Alcott."
"Mhm, Dinah Alcott you say? Are you implying that Coil is responsible for the disappearance of the mayor's niece?"
"95% sure," Lisa said.
"And if you don't mind me asking, just to ensure this isn't conjecture, what leads you to that conclusion?"
"She was kidnapped exactly as we robbed Brockton Bay Central, and he would be the only one with the desire to do so out of everyone else," She said. "Too young for Lung, too White for the E88, and too protected for the Merchants and normal kidnappers would have put out a statement for ransom by now."
"I see, I see." Medusa said with a nod. "Moving back a touch, you mentioned that the Travelers are under Coil's employ, yes? Is there anything you can tell us about their membership, identities, or abilities?"
"Not what you don't already know, I have only interacted with them once, but I know that Coil promised to help one of their friends called Noel."
"So he is blackmailing or otherwise coercing all of his employees then."
"Yeah carrot or stick, carrot for them, but he is never going to help with whatever problem that Noel girl has, he is just going to string them along for as long as they are useful," Lisa said. "For that is what kind of person he is."
"Duly noted." Medusa said as she literally noted it. "Then about the ones you do know. The Undersiders. How do you believe they're acting at the moment, with one of the members missing?"
"Probably being told by Coil that I got arrested, and waiting for orders while staying at the Hideout for the moment," Lisa said.
"And do you believe they'll listen?"
"Yes," Lisa said. "He is the one that pays the bills."
"And do you believe he knows where you are right now?"
"No," Lisa replied with confidence.
"Good." Medusa said as she picked up the notepad again. "Now with personnel established… Let's get into locations."
They spent the next ten minutes going over places of operations, meeting points, and where he primarily operated. Which was mostly the commercial district with a bit of the South-West area of the Docks South and West downtown. Lisa figuring his primary base to be somewhere in that area. The fact she didn't know much about his operations and how he got most of his money to pay his men frustrated Lisa to no end.
"But the moment I know who he is, I can take everything from him."
"Everything?" Medusa asked curiously. She didn't follow.
"All his stuff, his money, his men, for that is the thing about Mercenaries, they ain't loyal. Well only one is, but Mr. Pitter as he is called is the same kind of Sadistic Bastard as Coil is."
"Mr. Pitter?" Medusa parrotted. That wasn't a name she'd heard before.
"He is Coil's personal nurse," Lisa explained. "Treated us for injuries once, when we were too far away from the doctor we normally use."
"Is this 'Mr. Pitter' a Parahuman?"
Lisa shook her head. "Nah just a normal Nurse, well was."
"Lost his license, assumedly?"
"I think, I just know his wife ruined his life and Coil took care of her for him," Lisa explained.
"Mhm. And… I think that's all the questions I had about Coil."
"And that is all I have to give, he knew my powers and kept me out of the loop as much as possible to only let me know what I needed to know to do my job, which he was good at," Lisa said with a sigh.
"Then… unless there's any other specific operations or information you wish to discuss, including any questions for me, I believe that's where we're going to end this interview."
Medusa waited a moment, before clicking the recorder off. She was pretty sure she'd gone about the procedures correctly, and hopefully this would prove to be helpful in taking down Coil- no, she knew it would be.
"So what now?" Lisa asked after a moment.
"Well, now, while we're here, I'm going to ask you some stuff about your personal life that will not go on record and will mostly be for my benefit as I figure out how to actually legally adopt you/make you my ward, and then if there's anything you want to know about me you can just ask."
"I don't have to do the latter, and for the former do we really have to?" Lisa asked.
"I just wanna know about stuff like your food preferences, if you're already going to school and if you'd want to, how much illegally acquired money you have stored up that could potentially get us both in a lot of trouble, that sort of thing." Verity said.
"I like organic food, with as few chemicals as possible, I have a GED and all of it is pretty much illegal, but not that anyone can find out or tell as the Number Man is good with numbers," Lisa responded back quickly.
Verity's brow furrowed. "You have a GED?"
"Yep."
"...Did you cheat?"
Lisa just gave Verity a pointed look.
"Right, right, dumb question." Verity admitted as she began to write in her notebook. "So organic food, no schooling necessary… money has been sufficiently laundered that I won't get in trouble…"
Lisa chuckled at that. "So anyway… What kind of juicy secrets do you want me to tell you about others?"
"Juicy secrets…" Verity repeated thoughtfully. "...Ragyo. She's human right?"
"As much as Parahumans can be," Lisa responded. "You worried about alien clothes again? I already vetted that thread, it has no conscience nor is it alive in any way or Parry wouldn't be able to control it with her power."
"Listen, I have a very reasonable reason to be worried about that, okay?" Verity insisted for what had to be the fifth time at least, since she'd had Lisa check, double check, and triple check that the Power Fibers were not Life Fibers.
"You keep saying that, but outside of the worlds strongest MILF besides you, is there stuff you want to know about other people or groups? Like New Wave?" Lisa asked.
"...Is there something I should know about New Wave?" Verity asked cautiously.
"Depends, but there is something you probably want to know and I have been holding this back for weeks," Lisa said.
"Go on."
"While the Pelham family is relatively okay, the Dallon household is a toxic wasteland," Lisa said.
"Nooo, shit, really?"
"Yeah, Brandish hates Panpan, and favors Glory Hole as she was forced to adopt her against her wishes and she constantly believes she is going to turn out like her father," Lisa began. "And become a Supervillain."
"Don't call them that."
"Fine…" Lisa pouted.
"But… you're saying that Panacea is… not only adopted and not liked by Brandish, but the daughter of a supervillain?" Medusa asked seriously.
"Not just any supervillain, but Marquis himself who was taken down by New Wave when they were still the Brockton Bay Brigade," Lisa explained.
"Mhm… well… shit."
"Doesn't help that Mr. Dallon is depressed and basically non-functional most of the time, Panacea knows who she is related to which is why she goes so hard in on the healing even if she hates it, because she has to make up for her dad's actions and convince herself and Brandish she is a good person. Made even worse by the fact that GG sometimes hits a bit too hard and has her sister cover for her by healing up her victims."
Verity bit her thumb claw almost hard enough to break it as she processed this. "That's…"
"Which she goes along with because Panacea is in Lesbians with her adopted sister."
Verity's claw snapped. "What."
"Yep. And it is so hard, because GG is the only person that really cares about her existence."
Mendax's whole body twitched.
"What is it?" Lisa asked.
"On the one hand, I can't let that stand on any level." Verity said.
"On the other hand, I want to help them, but right now I have more pertinent issues to deal with." Medusa stated.
"And on the other snake," Gorgon growled. "This will not stand."
"So I'm a little… torn right now." Verity said.
"Yeah, I think most people would be, like I was pretty shocked when I first learned this," Lisa said. "Which is why I wanted to tell you, because I… believe you're the only person that can stop that from becoming a disaster considering what Panacea can actually do."
"...What can she actually do?"
"She's lying about her powers, she is actually a full blown Biokinetic, not just a 'healer'," Lisa answered.
She thought about the implications of that for about a minute, going completely still and completely silent as she did.
"Yeah…"
Finally, she began to move again. "Well." Medusa said coldly. "I know what I'm doing today. This takes priority, once I've secured the information you've provided today. Thank you for your assistance." She said as she got up and moved for the doro. "I need to make a phone call."
"...You do that…(Hopefully I made the right choice)," Lisa mumbled.
Medusa paused as she was about to leave the room. "Are you okay to spend the day here yourself, Lisa?" Verity asked.
"I am not going anywhere," Lisa responded.
"If anything happens, you have my direct line." Medusa said before leaving the room and pulling out her cell phone, dialing up Carol Dallon, one of the few phone numbers she'd gotten for the hero side of her new life.
"Carol Dallon speaking, who is this?" Came Carol's voice after a half a minute of dialing.
"Hey Carol, it's Verity," Verity said, friendly as ever, her smile audible.
"Hello Ms. Mendax, what can I help you with this morning?" She asked.
"I was just thinking about having lunch and getting to know each other a little better, just something nice and casual if you don't wanna get suited up."
"I have no problem with that, just a bit surprised by the suggestion."
"I'm a very spontaneous person generally speaking, and today is one of the few days I don't work, so I was hoping to just… maybe make some new friends, I dunno."
"Well I guess we could get to know each other better, women against the patriarchy and all that," Carol said. "Do you have a place in mind or do you want me to choose?"
"Oh I've literally only been at an eatery in Brockton Bay twice, you choose."
"Then I suggest this sandwich place," Carol said, giving the location to Verity.
"Alright, got it. What time works best for you then?"
"I will be clear for two hours at 12:30."
"Awesome, see you then."
"See you then." At that the call ended.
As she hung up, the smile across Verity's face faded.
Medusa checked the time. She had a solid two hours before then, and decided to use them properly.
"Good news, bad news." Medusa said as she entered Armsmaster's office, the man himself already turning off Dragon's access. "What do you want first?"
"Let's do good news this time first," The Tinker replied.
"Good news is," Medusa said as she took the notepad and a few select pages of her notes and held them out to him. "Interview with a teenage supervillain was a success, and while I didn't get anything immediately incriminating to his identity, we do have significantly more information about his operations."
"That is good news, I will be going over this later," Armsmaster replied. "So what is the bad news?"
"Interview with a teenage supervillain was a success." Medusa repeated. "And in the process, I learned some… very sensitive information that I'm going to try confirming since, for now, it takes priority in my personal list over the Coil, as I can acknowledge I am not suited for the subtle work necessary to properly investigate him from this point onward."
"It is good to acknowledge where your limits lie," Armsmaster replied. "So will you share this sensitive information at this moment?"
Medusa nodded. "According to Tattletale, who has not fed us erroneous information before and has no real reason to lie, Brandish, aka Carol Dallon, is abusive towards Panacea, aka Amy Dallon, who is not actually the biological child of the Dallon's but the stolen child of Marquis. Additionally, Flashbang, aka Mark Dallon, is complicit in this abuse through inaction and is apparently severely depressed."
"The adoption of Panacea is a known factor, just not of who… that would be kidnapping, the same for Mark's depression but I was under the belief that he was getting medication for it."
"I've not done much research into this mess yet, but Tattletale apparently has due to her curious nature." Medusa explained. "Additionally, through my interactions with the sisters, Amy has always seemed rather skittish and broody, very tired and frustrated, which previously I assumed to be because of teenage superhero problems, but she isn't field active. I checked on the way, she only does the consultations for us and volunteering at the hospital. Furthermore, New Wave, or at least the Dallons, has been insufficient in training Glory Girl to properly use her strength against non-parahumans, which Panacea apparently covers for."
What followed was Medusa witnessing the most emotional sigh Armsmaster had let out so far as he brought a hand to his visor. "That is… very concerning."
"Yeah." Medusa said blandly. "Which is why I'm not only bringing this information to you, I've also got a lunch planned with Carol to try and confirm literally any of that, and am planning on having a talk with Amy at the earliest opportunity, likely during or after her volunteer time for the day, since I like to think we have an at least okay relationship so far."
"You do that, I will go at this from an official capacity, as this is definitely concerning information that needs to be looked at and confirmed," Armsmaster said.
"Does that complicate the snakehunt?"
"No it should not," Armsmaster replied.
"Good. Is there anything I need from you, or you want to know from me?"
"Not at the moment, though it is going slow as a lot did happen that needs to be processed and worked on before we can fully go in on Coil, and we're also reaching the point things generally slow down as everyone waits for them to act."
"Them?"
"The Endbringers, we're reaching the point where one of them will choose a target," Armsmaster answered.
Medusa's entire body stiffened for a moment in panic. "Is there reason to believe we could be a target?"
"There actually is a look at trends, they tend to attack places where a lot of 'conflict' happened. But Brockton Bay is not unique in that regard," Armsmaster said. "But we're reaching the end of the three month grace period. So we know Leviathan will drown or sink a new place pretty soon."
"...And how long do we have till then?"
"Sometime this month."
"...Fuck."
To Medusa, the timing of this was too perfectly aligned to mean anything other than one thing.
Leviathan would be coming to Brockton Bay.
—
"Good day Ms. Mendax," Carol greeted Verity as she joined her at the table she had sat down at outside of the sandwich cafe Carol had chosen.
"Hi Carol~! And please, just call me Verity, Ms Mendax makes me sound old." Verity greeted back.
"Very well, Verity," Carol replied.
"Thanks for coming, I'm certain you're very busy working two jobs like that."
"Only one really, haven't really donned the suit the last few months outside of Friday and Saturday," Carol replied. "But the aftermath of that is and is going to keep me busy."
"Oh, for sure. So much is just piling up right now around here, huh? It's just one thing after another."
"Yes, but things are going to be quiet for a few weeks now that every Villainous Parahuman in the city outside of Lung has been taken care of," Carol said.
"Eheh, I mean that's what'd you hope." Verity said, a tinge of frustration coming through. "Anyway, that's enough about work."
"Yes, let's order some food," Carol said as she pulled out her phone. "What kind of sandwich would you like?"
After a moment of putting in their orders, and then getting their drinks (Verity getting a pitcher of water for herself, Carol getting coffee), the conversation picked up again while they waited on their food.
"So, you've been at the whole 'public identity superhero' thing a lot longer than I have, Carol, and I've been very interested in your and the rest of New Wave's insights into living like this." Verity said.
"Troublesome, we were rather idealistic when we conceived of the no secret identity thing, and since then I have regretted it somewhat," Carol answered.
"Oh, right. Sorry."
"It is fine, it is only natural you would ask since you sadly had no choice," Carol said as her eyes scoured the rest of the area, Verity being able to tell she was looking at all the people looking at them and taking pictures. "It is the part of being a celebrity I could deal without."
"Heh, yeah, it's definitely something I wish I didn't have to deal with." Verity said, also eyeing the crowd-something she'd had to get used to doing very quickly with her appearance, and at this point just did every so often, using her snakes to cover for her. "Like, I'm happy to help around here, but I definitely would like to be able to go to the supermarket without people taking pictures."
"Same, but we have been here for so long people have stopped with that mostly, it is only Victoria really that gets any press at this time," Carol said.
"Oh? Why's that?"
"She is the only one outside of my nephew that is out doing stuff, and she's done sponsorships a few times," Carol explained.
"Ah, I see. How are the kids doing anyway?"
"They are fine, being teenagers and all that, I try not to get involved in what they do outside of the house, well besides suggesting useful things to do in their free time," Carol answered.
"Useful things?"
"Amy going to the hospital to use her powers to heal people, and Victoria to do some community things, like you did with the Boat Graveyard. I told her she should go and help you, but she said you had it handled and went to 'have actual fun.' though since her grades are good and she is even already taking a few college courses, she deserves it."
"Wow, already taking college courses? That's impressive for anyone, let alone an active superhero." Verity said, genuinely impressed.
"Yes I am proud of her accomplishments," Carol said with a smile of pride.
"That's awesome. What about Amy then, is she doing anything that impressive?" Verity asked, paying keen attention to Carol's reaction.
"Sadly not," Carol replied, her smile turned downward and she let out a sigh of slight disappointment. "She could do better, but besides her healing she is not putting in as much effort as she could."
Verity bit her tongue to keep down her immediate response to a sentiment she'd heard several times over before coming to the Bay. "Really? Every time I've talked to her she's seemed really uh… what's the word, like she's trying too hard."
"Really?" Carol asked.
"Yeah, she always seemed a little like… burnt out, I guess. It's a look I saw a lot in college."
"Huh, I don't know what she could be burnt out about, considering she again doesn't nearly do as much as Vicky, between the two of them I would have expected her to feel burnt out with how much effort she puts into everything compared to Amy." Carol sighed at that. "But that is just nature I guess."
"I mean, yeah, different people can handle different things. Different strokes for different folks and all that."
"Yes, some people are just born differently, though it makes me wonder if Amy had been mine, if she would be more similar to Victoria or not," Carol said as she drank her coffee.
"Maybe, maybe not. Black sheep of the family is a thing."
"That is true."
"So what do you do for fun?"
—
"...Not again." Amy groaned the second Verity approached her.
"Good to see you too." Verity said flatly. "Do you have a moment?"
"What do you want?" The smoking girl said.
"Well first of all, can you use your power to negate that?" Verity asked, pointing at the cigarette.
"My body is always at perfect health," Amy replied.
"And lemme guess, you're not addicted, it just calms your nerves?"
"Helps me relax, and I only smoke like two a day," Amy replied. "Not that you're going to tell anyone that, are you? Carol would throw a fit if she found out."
"Well, that's actually why I'm here." Verity said, not commenting on the 'Carol' part for now, watching Amy's reaction carefully as she spoke. "I had lunch with your mom today and we ended up talking about you and Medium V."
"Really?" Amy asked with a tone of dull surprise.
"Yeah, she said about how you could be doing more with your life or something, and that's why I'm here."
"Of course she would, and you're here to get me to be more social, do more, well I am doing as much as I can within the confines of the laws of this nation, so even if I want to heal more, I can't," Amy refuted angrily, vitriol clear in her voice.
"...Wow, uh, sorry, intentionally misleading phrasing, sorry." Verity said, not having expected such an intense reaction from her (in immediate hindsight, an error on her part). "I'm not here to give you more things to do."
"Then what are you here to do?" Amy asked as she blew out a cloud of smoke that hit Verity in the face.
"First of all, fucking rude, dude."
"Sorry… bad day in school today," Amy replied.
"Secondly, do you have a more private place we can talk? I'm here right now because it's the only place I knew I could talk to you without your mom there, and I have a feeling this conversation is going to go in a more sensitive direction."
Amy raised an eyebrow at that. "Okay… we can use the roof, nobody goes up there."
Easily enough, and with surprisingly few looks from the staff, they were on the roof, which Verity very quickly sweeped for any surveillance devices- nothing pointed at the roof.
"What are you doing?"
"Checking for sssspiessss." Gorgon hissed.
"You're fucking weird you know that?" Amy asked.
She twitched. "Sorry, last time someone was spying on us, it was during the Gala when uh, when Squealer… you know." Verity said. "Just making sure no ones fucking with us. Just in case."
"Yeah that was a cluster fuck," Amy replied.
"Yeah," Verity agreed. "And speaking of a cluster fuck, that's why I'm here. To help you with the clusterfuck you got caught in."
"And what cluster fuck have I gotten caught in?" Amy asked.
"New Wave. Or at least, the Dallon family."
"And what do you mean with that? Sure we ain't perfect, but no family is."
"Well, remember how I said I had lunch with Carol earlier?"
"Yeah."
"That was because a little birdie started singing about the dirty laundry of Brockton Bay, including…" Verity still leaned in close and whispered barely audibly even knowing there were no cameras. "About the bone issue."
"No idea what you're talking about." Amy replied looking confused.
Verity pulled back, eyes wide. "Oh my god you don't know do you?"
"Know what?" Amy asked. "What are you talking about?"
"Uh," Verity said, her whole plan thrown out of whack with this. "You weren't… fully legally adopted, in a fully lawful sense. And were uh… kidnapped? Technically? By the legal definition?"
"Uh, huh?" Amy asked, clearly not believing her.
"And the parent involved was uh… Marquis." Verity said. "A bone based biokinetic."
Amy's face froze for a second. "And you believe that nonsense? Me the daughter of a supervillain, of Marquis?"
"I'm not here to condemn you or anything, the actions of progenitors do not determine your value or worth whatever." Verity said.
"But they do," Amy muttered.
"Excuse me?"
"...Nothing."
Verity kneeled down closer to her level. "Amy. Who told you that?"
"No one told me anything, I realized that on my own, fine, are you happy now, you dragged me up here and are now wringing my secrets out of me!" Amy shouted. "Leave."
"...If I told you my father killed someone, would that change your opinion of me?"
"Don't lie."
"I did not lie." Verity said truthfully. "If I told you that, would it change your opinion of me as a person?"
"Of course not, you have proven to be a good person if that was the case."
Her expression softened. "Do you not think you're a good person either?"
Amy's face froze again. "I… not yet."
"Why?"
"Because my father was a murderous supervillain and I have to make up for that, even if am terrible at it!" Amy shouted. "You happy?! You got what you wanted from me!"
Verity slowly and very clearly went for a hug, giving Amy plenty of time to pull away, the healer instead freezing up at the contact.
"The sins of the father are not the sins of the child." Verity said. "And you're not terrible. I can tell you're trying really, really hard, and you're the best at what you do… at least the best in the city, I don't really have much experience there."
"But that doesn't matter to other people, that doesn't matter to Carol."
"It matters to me." Verity said. "And Vicky, I've heard the way she talks about you. And I'm pretty sure it matters to all the people you've already helped."
Amy didn't respond.
"Listen, Amy, the most anyone can do is their best. Not the best that other people say. Whatever goals you set for yourself, whatever you think is the most effort you can put in, that is the most effort you can put in, regardless of what other people may think."
"You say it like it's an easy thing."
"It's not."
"Then why do you say that to me?"
"Because I don't you or anyone else tearing yourself apart the way I did. This- this is what adults are supposed to do, use their experiences to help prevent the younger generation from making the same mistakes."
Amy was quiet at that.
"I know it's not the same, but… I also have a genius sister, and brother for that matter, who have always been so much better than me at everything. And… I was the oldest, so the comparisons were… maybe not the same, and I wasn't adopted, but in a way that made it worse. Because I was a gifted kid in elementary, so therefore I had to be a role model, I had to be good at everything, I had to be perfect, and I'm not. And I broke, and they gave up on me."
Amy was still quiet.
"And… after that, well, my little sister became the golden child, and she proceeded to do all the things I tried so hard to effortlessly, my brother not far behind. I… I just did nothing for a while, and nothing mattered. I was… really bad at school even though I loved learning, and my GPA in freshman year was 2.4. And that… that bothered me, and I decided that it was a competition, now. Because that was… unacceptable, to me, because I knew I could do better than that. So, I worked my ass off, and in my senior year I had a 4.0. No social life, of course, but I wasn't exactly the most social person anyway. And with that working my ass off, I got myself into my state college, with almost no help from my parents and no scholarships, nothing, and I was proud of myself for the first time in a very long time."
"What's the point?"
"That two years later, my sister graduated with honors, top of her class, and got a full ride 130k scholarship to a private university." She said with a bitter smile. "And you know how that made me feel?"
"How did that make you feel?"
"Proud." Verity said. "I was obviously bitter on some level, of course, but… that's my sister, I want her to succeed. And by that point… I'd been out away from my parents, talking with real people and actually learning my limits and how to properly use them, and, and work with my limits, and… I think I lost the point somewhere."
"You did. Because how is any of that related to me?" Amy asked.
"Oh, right, you're mom's full of shit."
Amy immediately laughed at that, her voice cracking as she tried to contain it.
"The point was, others' expectations shouldn't matter to you. The point was, set your own goals, set your own expectations, don't judge yourself against others because everyone does things differently. And most of all, do what makes you happy." Verity said. "My mom wanted me to be a nurse, could you imagine me as a nurse? My bedside manner sucks."
"I can tell from this they are, and here I thought mine sucked ass," Amy replied.
"At least you don't end up trauma-dumping every time you try to empathize with people."
"Yes, wasn't this about me and not you?" Amy asked sarcastically.
"Yeaaaah, but I think you asked me why I cared." Verity said back with a touch of sass. "Bringing it back to you, I'm here to see if you wanted to leave the Dallon household so you're not forced to do… anything, really, other than, like, brush your teeth and maybe get some sleep every now and then."
"And go where? To the PRT?" Amy asked. "I am pretty sure they would have me do more than what you said."
"Pfft, no, the Snake's Den, obviously."
"...You named your home?" Amy asked incredulously.
"Duh, I'm a 24 hour superhero, of course I named my lair."
"I am pretty sure superheroes don't have lairs," Amy said back pointedly.
"The Bat Cave's a lair… wait you're like 12 you probably don't even know what the Batcave is, oh, god!"
"Sixteen, and no I don't," Amy replied.
"Yeah, I know, I just like messing with people." Verity said. "Especially you youngins."
"You're not old enough to use that word."
"Hey, you don't know, I could be old enough to be your mom." Verity said 'defensively'.
"People who say that are not old enough to be that," Amy shot back.
"Fine, guess you're right, I'm not old." Verity said, very clearly taking the 'win' for herself.
"Yeah you could be a hundred and still be young, with all those cheats of yours," Amy said.
"Hey, don't be getting jealous on me now, what were we just talking about?"
"I am not, I would never want that much unnecessary fat on top."
It was at that point Verity stopped hugging Amy and pulled back, crossing her arms and pouting. "It's not fat."
"It's literally fat, I've seen enough bodies to know, though your glands are larger than the average in comparison."
"What, like my thyroid?" Verity said, remembering her mother's thyroid gland issues.
"Mammary glands, your body is the epitome of female fertility," Amy said.
"...Every time you tell me something about my biology, it always feels so creepy."
"Sorry, but yours is the most fascinating I've seen, with the only one that matches being Weaver's after you did your thing."
"To clarify, I meant learning my biology at all was creepy, not that it was you specifically, I completely agree with you my body is fucking wierd." Verity said. "But anyway, I was serious though: would you even consider wanting to come join Team Snek instead of living with the Dallons? Because, while I can't speak to her career effectiveness, she has been a really shitty mom towards you from what I've seen, and I want to at least give you an out here, y'know? Offer's open to Vicky, too, but she probably wants to keep doing hero stuff and I feel like that might lead to pressure for her to join the Wards. You won't be pressured at all by the way, Parian, my gf, is definitely not joining the Protectorate anytime soon."
"I don't know, if I did that I would probably confirm all of Carol's suspicions or something like that."
"What, that she's actually a horrible enough person that you'd wanna leave?" Verity asked. "That she should have treated you better? Like, I don't care about her opinion over this if you do want to leave, and I also don't care if she's a lawyer or not, I don't have any ground to press charges, if you really wanted to, you could but you obviously don't have to if you wanted to keep this on the downlow… but basically, fuck her opinion."
"You make a compelling argument," Amy replied. "I can't come up with good denials to what you're saying."
"Despite my appearance and my blunders when I try to empathize, I'm actually very good at talking." Verity said proudly.
"Yeah, yeah, you are," Amy agreed.
"And, see, this is actually part of what we were talking about before- my little siblings suck at talking to people." Verity said. "Find your own ways, find out what you're good at or like to do, and I know I'm harping right now and I'm stopping with this. Broccoli."
"Sucks, and is a useless food alongside spinach, you would be better off eating a bit of dark chocolate instead."
"...Ok, now I'm curious, you don't like spinach, do you like lettuce?"
"No, just hard sour water," She answered. "Like only in a burger I would maybe be willing to accept a single leaf."
"Ah… you ever had brussel sprouts?"
"I actually like them when they are fried properly," Amy answered.
"Oh thank god there's a leafy green I can feed you." Verity said in relief.
"Sometimes, most vegetables just suck and are filler food, as due to how they are stored lose most of their nutritional value, so don't buy fresh but frozen."
"...Do you take a multivitamin?"
"Yes, you start to care more and less about food when you can read their genetic makeup."
"Okay, well just keep in mind that your body has needs that do need to be met, and if you go heavy on the chocolate instead of the 'filler food', that's an easy way of putting on weight."
"I know more than most, and unlike Vicky, I have the super metabolism where I can just eat and eat and not put on anything," Amy said smugly.
"Oh you lucky little gremlin." Verity said, jealousy evident.
"Hehehehe."
"Alright, gremlin, I've been holding you up long enough, I'll give you some time to think about my offer."
"I will," Amy replied.
"And if you want to, tell Vicky the offer is open to her, too, I don't wanna separate you two, you seem really close."
"Yeah, she is the only person that really cares about me," Amy said.
"Oi, what were we just talking about."
"One of the few people that care about me." Amy corrected herself.
Verity smiled at her. "Alright, I'll stop hogging your time now, go do whatever you wanna do… unless what you wanna do is crime, in which case maybe don't do that."
Amy gave her the finger in response.
"Big place." Taylor said as she was let inside by Verity.
"Yeah, Ragyo doesn't do anything in small doses." Verity said as she closed the door behind her after quickly checking for paparazzi-none, thankfully. Not that she'd had to worry much, but there was that fear in the back of her mind. "So, welcome to the Snakes' Den!"
"You named it?" Taylor asked.
"I'm the most Silver Age hero in town, I'm going to act the part." Verity said with a smile. "Which means, cool-yet-lame names! Plus, this place is too shaped to be called the Shapeless Isle."
"What about Lesbos if you want to go for the Greek angle?"
"I'm cheesy, but I'm not that cheesy, c'mon, I have some tact."
Taylor just raised an eyebrow at that.
"I'm a bulldozer, but I know how to use my brakes."
"I thought you were a snake?"
"...Shit, you right."
"Always… so what does the place look like?" Taylor asked.
"Right, the tour! Come on, there's so much stuff and we've barely moved in." Verity said, beckoning Taylor to follow as she walked. "Like, I have an olympic size swimming pool in my backyard, there's so much stuff to show."
"Sounds like a typical rich person thing to have," Taylor responded.
"Yeah, but I'm not rich, I've barely been paid for my work so far." Verity said. "Plus, with all the people that'll end up living here soon it'll probably see plenty of use."
"More people?"
"Oh yeah, this place is basically going to be a…" "Don't say super orphanage, don't say super orphanage." "...super orphangadamn it!"
"Mama snek," Taylor muttered, but Verity heard it clearly.
"Anyway," Verity said, pretending that didn't happen. "That was the foyer, this is the main hall that leads to the main kitchen and dining room, gonna be seeing a lot of use." She said, leading Taylor into said kitchen.
"Hey Verity, hey Skitter," Said Lisa in the middle of eating a sandwich, which she placed on a plate.
"How did I forget she was here…" Verity whisper-groaned.
"...What is she doing here?" Taylor asked.
"Got kidnapped by the snek to keep me safe from Coil," She answered. "So I hope we can redo our relationship, because again really sorry about what Bitch did."
"First, sure, I don't care or think about what happened, also what?"
"Uh, so, there might be a, itty bitty, tiny little, conspiracy and anti-conspiracy afoot?" Verity admitted sheepishly.
"Ah huh," Taylor said back.
"And I might be engaging in illegal snake fighting."
"Illegal snake fighting?" Taylor asked.
"Iiiiii'm not doing anything under PRT jurisdiction quite yet?" Verity admitted, knowing she was probably further shattering Taylor's image of her as an upstanding, good, role model of a person. "But! But but but, I am working on bringing them all in and making it official Protectorate stuff."
"That's good I guess," Taylor said. "What do you want me to help with? Coil was your secret wasn't he?"
"Yeah, the one you wanted to find out by infiltrating us." Lisa stated.
"You knew I was planning to do that?" Taylor asked.
"From the second he was mentioned, but Verity talked you out of that plan, a little saddened by that as you would have been a great member of the Undersiders, but that's a different reality from the one we live in," Lisa stated.
"Don't be getting meta on us now." Verity warned. "...Oh, wait, you just meant in general, didn't you."
"What else would I mean?" Lisa said as she reached for her sandwich but blinked in confusion as she grabbed air instead. "Who took my sandwich?"
"...Taylor, please tell me you've spontaneously learned sleight of hand." Medusa said, suddenly completely on edge as she wrapped a snake around each of them defensively as she searched the room. No visuals on anyone else, but she could smell someone. Someone she didn't know.
"No I didn't…" Taylor replied as she looked around the room.
"Mhm. Okay." Medusa said, before rapidly grabbing at where she was pretty sure the smell was coming from-
And then was confused as she grabbed the air for some reason?
"What the…?" Verity asked in confusion.
"There is somebody else, but I…What was I talking about?" Lisa asked.
"...Den of Snakes, commence lockdown sequence." Medusa ordered, since something was… what was wrong again?
"Sssspiessss!" Gorgon hissed as she reached out and lifted the filthy spy to squa-!
"Gah shit, don't crush me!" A young voice said in her hand.
There was now visibly a person in her grip, a younger african-american girl with a pink streak in her hair and wearing what looked like normal clothes.
"Aisha! What are you doing here? And when did you Trigger…" Lisa asked.
"When the Nazis went fucking nuts," She answered. "Ah, shit, I am sorry okay, didn't mean to fucking spook you Boss Lady."
"..." Verity let out a deep sigh as she placed the girl on the ground, and then put a hand on her shoulder and kept it there just in case. "Word of advice: don't go sneaking into the home of a parahuman. Period."
"Shit I am sorry, I know that now, I just wanted to see how the coolest person in the bay lived like for a bit," The girl, Aisha said.
"...Aisha. How long have you been in my house?"
"Since you got back home," She answered. "Saw you walking and I followed."
"Which was immensely stupid, by the way." Medusa reprimanded. "Because you found out multiple identities and secrets that are secret for a reason."
"I ain't gonna tattle like her," Aisha said as she pointed at Lisa. "I am the coolest middle-schooler in the bay."
"You're a middle-schooler?" Taylor asked in shock.
"And how do you two know each other?" Medusa asked, motioning to Lisa.
"She is part of my bro's team," Aisha answered and Lisa facepalmed.
"You just said you're good at keeping secrets and then immediately disproved yourself."
"I thought you knew who everybody was," Aisha responded and Lisa facepalmed even harder.
"...You know what, no, that's on me, I will know soon." Verity said, giving Lisa a look. "But for now… I think I'm gonna call Armsmaster."
"Why you gotta call Halbeard?" Aisha asked.
"Because you've just made a very complicated situation even more complicated."
"I can just go and you'll forget I was even here," Aisha said.
Verity looked directly at her as she pulled a pen and paper out of her bag and wrote out 'Aisha, parahuman, knows too much' on it. And then added 'works like The Silence' to it after she was done showing it to Aisha.
"Huh… right doesn't erase that," Aisha laughed nervously.
"...Wait, doesn't that mean you've got two hostages now?" Lisa asked but her face was one of vulpine smugness.
"...Huh."
Xxx
