That's Right! Two days in a row! That has to be some kind of record for me :)
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Interlude Assault
"I've got a bad feeling about this." He grumbled mostly to himself.
"It will be fine Assault." M&M assured.
"Says you." He snorted. "I've played on this side of the street. We may be under some idea of a truce but if we are a juicy enough target they will jump us and blame someone else."
"So we don't make ourselves a target." Armsmaster said as if it was simple.
"People ain't so cut and dry as that. That goes doubly so for capes." He rubbed his temples. "Why did you guys have to bring me along? Why not Dauntless?"
Armsmaster frowned.
"Dauntless, Velocity, and Battery are all on standby in the area." M&M lightly kicked his shin with her boot. "Plenty of back up."
"If Kaiser brings Hookwolf and Purity then things will get too ugly too fast for anyone to do anything." He groused.
"And I thought you were the optimist." M&M sighed.
He shrugged. "Hope for the best, expect the worst."
"Two minutes out." Armsmaster rumbled. "Coms check."
A series of voices returned to the affirmative, including M&M, and when he didn't respond the look he got from Armsmaster almost made coming along worth it. Almost.
"Yeah, yeah, copy." He relented.
Armsmaster kept up the stare as he issued his orders. "Everyone be on alert and report any suspicious activity within a three block radius of the meeting."
"There isn't a good vantage point into the parking garage that would give us away to any observers." Dauntless reported.
The truck rumbled to a stop and the driver knocked on the ballistic glass window separating the cabin from the passenger compartment.
"Acknowledged." Armsmaster returned. "Keep an eye on the perimeter. We will handle the interior."
M&M pulled up her scarf and opened the rear door. "Game time."
He groaned to himself. This was such a bad idea.
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"Told you." He voiced quietly into the com. "I told you they would be here."
M&M rolled her eyes at him but he saw her hand move the knife at her waist.
Armsmaster showed no reaction to his words, leading them right up to the waiting Empire capes.
"If it isn't the venerable Armsmaster, you have my respect for coming yourself." Kaiser's eyes swept over M&M and himself. "Could stand a better choice in teammates though.
He ground his teeth. He really disliked sanctimonious assholes like this that thought they were hot shit just because they had powers. Sure, powers were fun but they didn't make you better or worse than you were before you had them.
How had so many people forgotten that?
"Kaiser." Armsmaster greeted. "I haven't seen you since the last Endbringer fight."
"Yes well I was a busy man before some stupid little child thought he should out the whole damn city." Rage burned behind the man's eyes. "I appreciate the Protectorate and the PRT honoring the truce. It has given my people time to get their affairs in order."
Purity turned away from the conversation at that.
"I'd say we all have had our hands busy since the list was released." M&M said.
"Keep your filthy mouth shut bitch." Hookwolf growled.
Assault tensed.
"Now now there's no need for that. We are under a truce after all." Kaiser soothed.
"Fuck your truce." Hookwolf snarled. "We don't need anyone's help to take down the ABB," he gestured towards M&M." Especially not-"
Purity spun and unleashed abeam of blinding light slamming into Hookwolf and sending him tumbling away before being stopped by a cage of blades that grew from the ground.
"Apologies. Where were we?" Kaiser ignored Hookwolf snarled curses. "Yes, the end of the ABB."
Armsmaster seemed unperturbed. "We propose to gather together and seek out Bakuda to put an end to her actions in the Bay.
"Hmm it would be simpler to just put and end to the ABB period." Kaiser mused aloud. "It would certainly allow for more civilized structure in the area."
Armsmaster ignored the implications. "We have evidence that Bakuda is forcibly implanting civilians with bombs."
"That presents a problem." Kaiser hummed in thought. "We will undoubtedly encounter hostages along the way and will be unable to make any progress without casualties."
"Exactly." Armsmaster agreed.
A sick feeling grew in his gut.
Kaiser laughed. "So you want My people to get their hands dirty so you can stay clean on the sidelines? Very clever but also very stupid." Kaiser glared at Armsmaster. "The game has changed, with our identities out for every piece of trash on the street to see we cannot afford to be your necessary evil any longer."
The sick feeling turned into a cold weight at Kaiser's implication. From the vehemence and word choice he could assume Kaiser was quoting something relevant to the Protectorate. What would he tell Puppy?
"A joint effort then?" Armsmaster offered.
"Hah." Kaiser scoffed. "As if you dogs knew the meaning, but yes it would seem to be required if the goal is to prevent Bakuda's escape. I would recommend you reach out to other groups in the Bay. This is going to be ugly in the worst way."
"We already have reached out to Faultline's crew and negotiations are pending." Armsmaster's tone suggested an end to the conversation.
"Oh?" Kaiser snapped his fingers. "Now there is a novel idea. Compensation." Kaiser smiled. "It shouldn't be too hard to wrestle some funds to secure my Empires assistance wouldn't you agree?"
Armsmaster frowned. "It is possible. Though keep in mind we have held our end of the truce and have not moved on information provided in the list. Including any investigations regarding parental rights."
Purity spun on Armsmaster so fast she could have teleported and it would have looked the same.
Kaiser grabbed her wrist and directed the blast away from Armsmaster, M&M, and himself.
"Choose your words carefully." Kaiser growled. "And should you consider such actions, know that it was not just the Empire on the list."
"Apologies," Armsmaster lied. "I only meant that in leu of some measures of compensation that considerations be made to how we are handling the truce."
"And you are supposed to be the heroes." Purity spat.
Armsmaster said nothing.
Beside him M&M shifted her weight.
"Very well you have made your point. Would you consider two hundred thousand per cape we commit to this endeavor to be fair?"
Armsmaster tilted his head and after a moment nodded. "Agreed. Payment in cash to be made upon completion and prior to the end of the truce."
"Very well." Kaiser let Purity go. "We have preparations to make." Kaiser gestured over to Hookwolf. "Perhaps it would be better if you left first. Makes it simpler."
Armsmaster nodded and lead them back to the truck.
The rear door of the vehicle had only just shut before the words were out of his mouth. "What the fuck was that?"
"I find myself agreeing with Assualt." M&M's tone betrayed her suppressed anger. "Did the Director approve this?"
"The director had a direct feed from my systems during the meeting." Armsmaster reported. "It was her who agreed to the price."
"It's not about the price!" He said. "Jesus man. I understand that working with the assholes may, in some fucked up way, be necessary, but what I saw back there? That shit was way too familiar between you two. It's like you've worked with them before."
"We have."
End Chapter
Bonus Interlude
URGENT REPORT
The time stasis field imprisoning Parahuman criminal Lung has started to weaken. Urgent attention required. See attached readings and images for corroborating data.
Emily Piggot examined the information provided.
"Fuck."
She pressed a button on her computer. "Armsmaster?"
"Ma'am?"
"Get up here."
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If i had a suitably evil laugh, it would go here ;)
I have most of the First Chapter of the next segment titled Detonation written out i just have to finish it and reread through for any glaring mistakes before posting it. I'm aiming for a Sunday release but I've not met a single release date goal yet... fingers crossed.