Detonation 5-1

I eased down onto the sofa next to my girlfriend, a concept that still was strange to me. "You okay?" I placed the back of my hand to her forehead. "You're a bit warm."

"Been helping out with the Raids on the ABB." She gave me a tired smile. "Used my power too much going through the after action reports."

I moved my hand from her forehead to grasp her hand in mine. "You shouldn't push yourself too hard."

"I know." She squeezed my hand gently. "But I got this bad feeling that I can't shake. Bakuda is going to do something stupid once she gets desperate."

"Seems like she is already doing stupid things." I said dryly.

She gave me a small smile. "To us yes, but on the other side of the law? She is the de facto head of the ABB and had to prove herself. It makes sense to her."

"Her fault." I pointed out. "She's the one who trapped Lung in the time bubble."

Lisa swung her legs onto the couch and shimmied down so she could rest her head in my lap. "Yeah that one is going to bite her in the ass. Possibly literally."

"What do you mean?"

"I overheard Armsmaster telling Miss M that the time bubble holding Lung is deteriorating exponentially."

"Huh?"

I could hear her smile in her voice. "Lung will get free within the week."

"What the Fuck!?"

"That's as best as Armsmaster can guess anyway." Lisa adjusted her head to be more comfortable.

"What about your power?" I asked.

"It figures that Armsmaster and Dragon's math is probably pretty good." She rolled onto her side, once more trying to get comfortable.

"I meant about Lung." I poked her ribs with a finger causing her to jerk once in place.

"So did I." She sighed and sat up. "Your lap is not a good pillow.

"Duh."

"Well I wouldn't have guessed from all those romance novels you have." She retorted.

My cheeks warmed. "I don't see how my choice of books would effect how comfortable my lap would be. Besides, it always seemed impractical to me."

She blew a raspberry at me.

I rolled my eyes at her and placed a hand on her left cheek, tracing the tip of one finger along the scar at their temple. My mood souring knowing that she had gotten it because of me.

"You keep frowning like that and your forehead will get wrinkles like an old lady." She teased. "Stop worrying, I'm fine."

"I can't help it." I confessed. "I wanted to be a Hero. To help people. To save people like me." I shifted my gaze to look into her eyes. "Like you."

"You are a hero." She met my eyes and said plainly. "You saved me." Lisa twisted towards me and threw one leg over my lap so she was straddling me. "You and I both need a distraction." She breathed placing her hands on my cheeks.

Then she kissed me.

I kissed back.

She hummed in approval as her hands slid from my cheeks up into my hair pulling me more into the kiss.

My hands found her waist and snaked around her back to pull her body closer. I could feel her smile on my lips.

We had never kissed like this before. There was so much heat and emotion in it that it completely smothered my downward shift in mood.

Goosebumps erupted across my skin as I felt her tongue brush across my lips.

She shifted her weight in my lap and I couldn't help the quiet sounds of disappointment as she began to lean away.

She untangled one hand from my hair and put it onto my shoulder, gently pushing us apart until we broke the kiss.

"Wow." She breathed.

I nodded trying to reboot my brain.

"Okay, I need a second." She untangled her other hand and pressed her face into her palms.

I moved my hands back to her waist allowing her to lean back fully away from me but holding her in my lap. "What?"

"We need to take a breather and settle down or hell maybe a cold shower." She laughed. "Other wise there are going to be some tough questions if someone walks in on us."

"I-" I didn't know what to say.

"Whew, I knew you needed that," she grinned. "But I didn't realize how much I did too."

" ju-" my brain continued its whiplash reactions to my emotions.

"Earth to Taylor." Lisa waved a hand in front of my face. "You in there? I didn't know I was that good." Smug smile in place.

"Yeah." I breathed.

She beamed. "Well if that isn't a boost to my ego. You snap out of your funk?"

I felt like I was made of air, jelly, and fire all at once. "I think so."

"Well good." She placed her hand on my shoulders and rolled off of my lap back onto the couch beside me. "Kinda wish we had our own place." She mused. "That could have gotten real interesting."

"Why'd you stop?"

"With our luck? Someone is bound to be back soon so we kind of had to." She said waving a dismissive hand up at the corners of the ceiling. "Besides cameras."

The lighted turned red over head.

"See what I mean." She tapped her head. "It's like I'm psychic."

"You got lucky." I returned.

"Not yet." She winked at me.

I picked up a blank mask off the side table and tossed it to Lisa and teleported into my room and back for another before the light could green and a familiar face came through the door.

"Vicky?" I asked.

She was followed by Battery and a pair of people I didn't know. An older man and a college age girl.

"Oh, shit." Lisa muttered from beside me and grabbed my hand with hers.

Her comment made look a bit closer. They all looked shell shocked.

Battery spoke quietly to the man and pointed them in our direction.

Lisa pulled me aside to give them better access to the couch.

Whatever good mood I had vanished at the look on their faces.

Disbelief and despair.

What had happened to them?

"Wisp, Alice?" Battery waved us over. "New Wave was attacked at hime by the ABB."

"Bakuda?" Lisa asked.

Battery grimaced. "It appears to have been her bombs but she wasn't present. Can you two stay with them? I have to get back out there, we are evacuating all families tied to the List."

My stomach turned cold. "My Dad?"

"Rawlins' squad is already on their way to pick him up." Battery assured.

"That's going to pretty much confirm the List is legit." Lisa warned.

"Better than taking the risk." Battery put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently. "It's going to be okay." She turned and hurried back out the door.

Lisa blew out a breath. "And here I thought it was going to be a good day."

A choked sob drew our attention to where the girl next to Vicky started to break down.

"Laserdream, or I guess it's Crystal at the moment." Lisa whispered to me. "And Neil Pelham."

Neil was holding his daughter to him as she sobbed, his expression pained and fatigued.

"What do we do?" I asked Lisa quietly.

"There's nothing you can do." Vicky turned her head to us. "They're gone. Everything is gone."

She sounded completely defeated.

Lisa pulled me to a chair and pushed me to sit in it while she leaned against the arm. "What happened?"

"Aunt Sarah and Eric were over." Tears welled up in her eyes but didn't fall. "It was their turn to help."

"Help what?" I asked.

Lisa bumped me with her elbow, I guess to tell me not to ask questions.

"Our family hasn't been the same since the Bank." Vicky took a shuddering breath. "Well Dads always been kind of a roller coaster but after what Amy did to me? It hasn't really felt like home. Mom blamed Amy, Amy blamed me, and Dad was Dad. A real shit show."

Neil pursed his lips but didn't interrupt.

"There was a noise out front like people banging on trash cans. I put my force field up to go kick their asses when the window broke." Vicky's voice was hollow. "I woke up in one of the neighbors yards. Sirens everywhere." She trailed off.

Neil took over, rubbing crystals back as he held her. "Crystal and I were at the University when I got the call. Vicky was the only one who survived."

"Please don't call me that." Vicky shuddered. "She called me that."

I opened my mouth to ask when Lisa bumped me.

Neil grimaced, "Victoria then."

She shook her head. "Tori. No one has ever called me Tori before. That's who I am now, let Vicky die with the rest of our family." Silent tears emerged and streamed down her cheeks.

Crystal choked out another sob and pulled Vick- Tori to her and held her as they both wept.

.

"Dad!" I squeezed my father in a hug.

"Hey kiddo." Dad put his hands on my shoulders and leaned away to look me over.

I tried push my self conscious feelings away, my costume was awesome and I needed to project confidence.

"Wow kiddo," he seemed unsure where to with my visor on. "I'd see you in costume on TV but it's really something else in person." He prodded my shoulder with a finger. "Feels a lot tougher than it looks."

"It's has to be." Alice said.

That truth crushed his fragile mood. "Hello again Lisa."

"Call me Alice in costume if you wouldn't mind." Her smile was unapologetically false.

"Alice?"

"As in Wonderland Dad." I gave my girlfriend a look to quell any impending snark on her end. I just wanted this to be a good thing. I didn't want this to turn into one of Me and Dad's fights.

"Oh." He looked away from Alice. "What's going on Taylor-"

Alice sighed audibly.

"-the PRT picked me up from work and no one would say anything. I thought you got hurt again."

I took a bracing breath. "The ABB has started targeting capes out of costume. So the PRT thought maybe that meant their families too."

Dads face darkened. "My people at the DWA, will they be okay?"

"I don't know." And I didn't.

"I'm sure there are PRT troopers in the area looking to pick up whoever might show up." Alice said. "We still don't know where Bakuda is hiding even with the Villains getting in on the search."

"Villains are helping?" Dad's tone was skeptical.

"Of course they are." Lisa scoffed. "Throw out the sugary coating of how the ABB is breaking the Rules and yours still left with the number one reason Villains do anything, profit."

"Profit?" I prompted. She did love to lecture.

"A government sponsored crackdown of there number one rivals in the city? The Empire had to be all over that. Throw in a chance that they can expand with little effort, the Merchants will at least look like they are helping. In fact the only ones not helping can all be tied back to the same place." She gave me a pointed look.

"Him." I guessed.

"Probably." She nodded.

Dad sighed through his nose, a sure sign of his frustration. "Who?"

Alice shook her head. "Can't say, orders."

Dad looked to me.

"Sorry."

"Who am I going to tell, my secret villain girlfriend?" He asked sharply.

I winced.

"Exactly the point. Who would you tell if you do know anything?" Alice snapped, angered at the jab. "The proper response should have been you wouldn't tell anyone, ever."

They were glaring at each other.

A knock on the door thankfully headed off any escalation of the argument.

I glanced around the room and motioned for dad to cover his face with the temporary mask he was given.

"Okay." I called to the door.

Assault poked his head in.

"Hey I thought you were out in the city." I greeted but faltered as I saw the seriousness of his face.

"Who?" Alice asked.

Assault shook his head. "We getting everyone together to do it all at once." He spoke to my Dad next. "Sir we are having all family members gather as well. You are invited to stay with Wisp here until the meeting is over."

"Fuck" Alice swore.

.

My gawky height finally working to my advantage as I scanned the gathered Wards and our families. Assault, Battery, and Miss Militia making up the Protectorate presence.

"It doesn't look like any Wards are missing." I whispered to Lisa.

"There's that at least." Alice grimaced back.

"Thank you all for coming." Miss Militia said stiffly as she climbed the stairs to the platform placed at one end of the Wards training room. "As you now know, the ABB have begun targeting civilian identities and potentially their families."

Behind her a screen clicked on and showed the shredded remains of a suburban house. "This is the remains of the Dallon household…" she let it sink in for a moment before continuing. "All occupants except one were killed in the blast. As of this moment only Manpower, Laserdream, and Glory Girl remain."

My stomach twisted at the sight of the house.

Alice took my hand and squeezed it for support as the parents around us began to mutter to one another.

The screen changed, this time showing an apartment building engulfed in flames, silhouetting Kaiser as he looked on from the street.

"As best as we are to determine, this was the home address of Purity and many more besides."

The screen changed again.

"No!" Vista screamed.

Lisa squeezed my hand hard.

Brockton Bay Memorial Hospital is the biggest and best funded hospital in the entire Bay Area.

Or it was.

The screen showed a section of the hospital was just gone, almost as if it was scooped out in smooth rounded shapes.

The very same section that was used for the recovering Wards after the disaster at the Bank.

Where Dean was supposed to have been in long term care.

Miss Militia's voice was tight. "There have been no signs of anyone caught in the affected zone. They are presumed lost at this time."

Battery knelt next to Vista as the young girl choked back sobs.

"There have been a number of other instances where families home have been attacked or bombed, each suspected as having either been a case of mistaken identity or as diversions for attacks like at the hospital." Miss Militia continued. "With this in mind the ward and their families are being given the option to relocate with the assistance of the PRT and the Protectorate."

Mutters ran through the assembled families.

"That said." Miss militia took a bracing breath. "We need all the help we can get. The mayor is declaring martial law this afternoon and the national guard as well and Protectorate members will be arriving throughout the night."

"Then why do you need our kids?" Dad demanded over my shoulder.

I started to turn towards him but Alice squeezed my hand and mouthed 'no' to me when I looked at her.

I frowned back at her. Why the hell shouldn't I confront Dad?

'Not here' she mother back at me.

Fine.

"The city needs to see that it's Heroes remain to keep them safe." Director Emily Piggot stepped up onto the platform. "I understand your concerned but please rest assured, your children will be used in largely a propaganda roll to ease the public while the ABB are systematically apprehended to answer for the travesties you have seen."

Alice squeezed my hand and let go to step forward. "Arresting the ABB won't work."

Director Piggot's eye twitched but said nothing.

Alice went on, "Bakuda has been planting bombs in civilians, likely to force them to follow her." She gestured to the images on the screen. "If you arrest them, who knows what will happen to them or to the arresting officers should Bakuda flip the switch."

The gathered parents visibly grew restless at Alice's words.

"Surely you aren't suggesting we shoot on site." Director Piggot sneered. "This isn't some game child."

"I think I and fully aware the consequences of a bullet Director." Alice snarled back. "The time for half measure and wishful thinking has passed. The ABB have broken the rules, and given any more space, will only get worse."

"That is why we need the Wards to work with law enforcement to maintain the perimeter while the Protectorate, PRT, and National Guard move in and finish this." Director Piggot's face was Redding by the second.

"I don't disagree," Alice returned. "But don't slow pitch the sale. Anyone who stays will be in danger and will have to make hard choices. The perimeter cannot work one way. We as Wards will have to turn back anyone trying to flee the cordoned area as threats until Bakuda has been stopped , however that turns out, and each person checked for explosives. We cannot stand on sentiment if we want to save as many lives as possible."

Silence fell on the room.

Piggot turned her head to Armsmaster looming in a corner.

"Containment protocols used in Madison would be highly effective in our situation." Armsmaster agreed. "Substitute lethal force with containment foam and conventional deterrents and we could ensure survival rate dramatically in all but extreme cases."

"Make it so." The Director nodded. "Inform Alexandria of the changes."

Alice stepped back next to me and took my hand again, radiating smug satisfaction.

Director Piggot returned her attention to the gathered families. "There you have it. You see what is at stake and the rolls your children will play. I take no pleasure in asking this of you or your children but we need their help."

Alice squeezed my hand and swung it forward a bit. 'Now's your chance' she mouthed.

We stepped forward together. "We will stay."

My Father stepped up behind us. "I hate everything about this." He placed a hand each on our shoulders. "But this city is my home and I cannot let my daughter go while I wait in the back. Let me get a hold of the DWA, there are a bunch that live in the Docks and nearby. Some of them may know a thing or two about the ABB."

Aegis pulled away from his mother and siblings. "I will stay."

"Me too" Kid Win hurried forward.

Each Ward volunteered to help, sometimes accompanied by their parents offering any help they could think of.

It struck me in that moment.

The dam had broken.

Brockton Bay was going to be a warzone.

End chapter

Well a day later than I intended but here we go. This marks everything I've got completed since my laptop overdosed on caffeine goodness. Back to the grindstone for me. See you in the next chapter!

K. Raiden.