Somer's Rock
April 23rd
The Undersiders entered the bar. Even Weaver, their new member was not surprised at the dinginess inside matching the exterior.
The deaf waitress sullenly provided the most barebones service one could manage. Her lack of attentiveness was fine with Weaver. She was highly uncomfortable with the level of attention she had received so far. The bank's connection to the E88 made her feel a bit better about robbing it. The attention that the data leak and follow-up interview had brought to her was disquieting.
The one upside was before the interview the 'Doctor' had insisted she have a permanent Cape name. He had helped her brainstorm until she came up with Weaver. She liked its simplicity. It was elegant and implied a creative rather than destructive aspect. Inwardly she hoped it didn't end up wasted. It would be a shame if she had to rebrand once her undercover work was over.
She chided herself that the idea would be silly. The whole purpose of her undercover work was to raise her profile. To prove she was a Hero worthy of respect. Anyhow it was much better than the name the PRT tried to saddle her with. She hadn't disliked Skitter at first listen but as Danger explained the connotations behind it she got a little angry.
Something that skitters was something that hid. It implied something good at running away and little else. It conjured images of unworthy pests that could be brushed away. She wasn't about to be dismissed like that.
Kaiser came inside flanked in Heifner fashion by his personal Valkyries Fenja and Menja. All he needed was to trade his metal armor for a smoking jacket. More of his crew followed after. Kaiser's two lieutenants Hookwolf and Kreig. He took a seat at the High table, his crew fanning out behind him.
Next came a man who was tall and painfully thin with a costume that was a skin-tight bodysuit in black with a white serpent wrapped around it. Tattletale leaned over to explain to Weaver that this was Coil the mysterious Cape who hired mercenary forces and outfitted them with tinker weapons. No one was even sure what his power was.
He came alone however showing confidence that seemed inverse to Kaisers showing off his power via force of numbers. Perhaps an intentional dig? He took his seat at the opposite side of the table facing Kaiser.
More mercenaries next, Faultline and the crew who operated out of a club called Palanquin. Two of her members Newter and Gregor couldn't pass for humans. Spitfire and Labyrinth might be more human but it was hard to tell with their concealing costumes.
Faultline passed close by eyeing the Undersiders with derision as she took her seat and her crew piled into a booth. She sat at an equal distance between the two men and it made a perfect segway for Grue to get up and take his chair across from her.
The doors opened again and in came the Archers Bridge Merchants Skidmark Squealer and Mush. Skidmark headed toward the table to take a seat between Coil and Grue.
"That trash doesn't sit here, he can sit in a booth. Those of us sitting here might not get along but we have something to contribute that garbage has nothing." Kaiser snarled and pointed
"Da fuck is this! Because I'm black. You can fuck off motherfucker this isn't your show! Pasty white ass thinks you can dictate terms! A buncha punk kids and a middle schooler have been owning your ass! You can't demand shit!" Skidmark spouted.
"I don't think he objects to your race Skidmark" a voice came from the door. "I suspect my opposition leadership objects to you based on your being a degenerate lump of feces squeezed out of the rectum of a diseased rat." came a cheerful tone from the door
Skidmark whirled to face the door and the short youth standing there. Matching the tone, a joyful smile was plastered on the visible part of his face.
"You think I'm afraid of you! Asswipe you don't even hold territory!" The rotten-toothed villain shouted.
"You're a scavenger Skidmark. You take what you're given, be glad you're given a booth and allowed to listen." Kaiser snarled.
Danger picked up the knocked-over chair and sat down. For a long minute, Kaiser stared at the youth who gave the impression he was staring back. It was hard to tell with his Jet black goggles.
Skidmark looked back and forth "Fuck every last one of ya sideways with a tent post. These undersider bitches get to sit and I don't?"
Faultline turned "How many times have you gone up against Lung or faced down Bakuda? If you had earned respect you'd be sitting here."
"You ain't even a real villain you juicy queef bitch!"
"Your trash that sells poison to kids. Sit in a booth or get out" Grue stated
"Assholes! Stanky unwashed assholes!" Skidmark finished as he backed away into the booth with Squealer and Mush.
"I think I'll be taking a seat if holding territory isn't a requirement. A new voice from the door called. In came a dusky-skinned young man with a red and black costume. It was cut like a ringmaster with a tophat The rest of his crew followed suit. They were an odd lot all in matching costumes the last was inhuman a giant four-armed gorilla thing.
"Ahh Trickster, Sundancer, Ballistic, and Genesis. The bulk of the notorious Travelers, late of Boston if my information is correct." Danger said without turning.
"Yes, you're well informed."
"My new subordinate has friends in Boston. Very sad to hear Perdition is no longer with you. Betrayal however can never be tolerated. My condolences, however. I know how hard it is to have to put down old friends even if they have become mad dogs." Danger said with sympathy.
Trickster took the seat between Faultline and Coil while watching the 'Doctor' use ASL to make his order to the waitress.
Tattletale laughed at something. When the others looked at her it was Coil who explained "The girl said Dangers gloves give him an accent."
"What friends did you have in Boston? No one we provoked I hope?" Trickster inquired.
"Not my friends hers," he pointed back to the door again without turning after a couple of seconds it opened. The figure within paused surprised that everyone was looking her way. It was the halogen bright form of Purity. She crossed the bar and stood behind the Doctor. Her body emitted stark white light so bright as to make a mask redundant.
Kaiser leaned forward, his glare intensifying. His subordinates' bodies filled with tension ready to spring into motion.
"I don't think that is warranted, Kaiser. You know the rules: no violence here." Coil pointed out.
"Oh come now my fine adherent to a debunked philosophy. Surely you don't believe a woman named Purity is the sort to kiss and tell?" Danger said with a smirk.
"You are with this clown?" Kaiser said to his former right hand at just under a shout.
"He is working against the ABB. The night she hit the Undersiders he contacted me and told me Bakuda had to die. I had hoped to become a hero. I guess being a villain for a good cause is the best I can hope for."
"Order anything you want, Purity. I'll pay. I'm not a stingy boss. Foods are probably low quality, likely microwaved. You know it's odd like most great inventions it was created by accident. They were doing variant frequency radar tests. People kept getting sick. Come to find out they were cooking themselves. They finally figured it out when a guy went to eat a foil-wrapped chocolate bar and found it melted. The foil accelerated the heating. A part of why you don't want to put metal in a microwave.
As for being a hero my new compatriot? The founding fathers would have been hanged for treason. Being on the right side of history is how you become a hero. My dear Purity, you already know which side the Nazis were on. They took their place on the ash heap of history. It's rather sad if Kaiser only had the courage to match his skills. You could be a force that would dominate the eastern seaboard rather than be confined to Brockton. Instead, you play king of the hill on that ash heap."
"What do you mean courage? I am not afraid of you little boy." Kaiser snarled.
"This is not why we are here," Coil stated in an annoyed tone.
"No, it's fine Sir. I'll answer that question best to get this out in the open. No, I don't mean you fear me. You are too risk-averse. You work for an organization that is your master the same as your father. If you dared to take what you have in a new direction you could do far better and make greater strides toward your own goals while showing your distant leash holders a better way to achieve something near enough to their goals to keep them happy.
We all know the difference in the amount of melanin in someone's skin is pretty meaningless next to whether one can or can't do the sorts of things most of the people in this room can do. We all want to protect our civilian lives. That is why those who cling to racist views keep it secret. We also know how a double life is hard to balance. So if you softened your racist spiel and accepted all parahumans as worthy to treat with you could make more allies. As for your European benefactors, you could point out even Hitler sent a letter of congratulations to Jesse Owens and noted that other figures were worthy of respect despite their racial makeup not being the Nazi ideal. It would be a simple stretch to apply this to all parahumans.
Then you could attack something indefensible. The NEPEA-5 is an insufferable set of laws that keep our kind from having the wealth our power should easily be able to provide. You could become the local pushback against government tyranny over parahuman lives. That would bring you to the attention of recruiters for a much larger group.``
"The Elite?" Kaiser responded in shock.
"Even the PRT does not directly challenge them. Being a bridge between your current European masters and the second largest body of united parahumans on earth would free you to be your own master. The question is does your collar chaff? Or have you gotten used to the feeling of the leash? It's the move I would expect of a man of your caliber. Yet you remain dragged down with a millstone. Then again few dare to stare fate in the face and dictate terms. Shame wasted potential" the youth said, taking a Pina Colada from the hands of the waitress.
The way Coil sat despite wearing a full-body concealing costume, was obvious he was actively staring in the direction of the young teen. "Are you quite finished?"
He waved to continue as he swallowed his first long pull of the fruity drink
"Is that virgin?" Purity whispered
"Are you?" Danger replied.
Purity folded her arms in disapproval.
"Just to be sure I understand the ground rules. No powers. No fighting. Not baiting others to attack you?" Trickster asked.
"Yes," Coil responded, still giving the diminutive doctor a glare impressively telegraphed solely via body language.
"I haven't volunteered any threats. If people don't want scary answers they shouldn't ask frightening questions. I will however strive to behave."
"So the subject is Lung," Kaiser stated.
"Lung has to go but it is Bakuda who started this mess. She's the one that's out of control." Grue countered.
"The entire ABB is on the chopping block. They can't hold out against the force being brought to bear on them. The Protectorate and military will keep adding manpower until Lung is ground down. We could bide our time, and wait for them to finish with the ABB. However, with thirty-five confirmed dead and hundreds in the hospitals, the military patrolling the streets? That is beyond anything we can tolerate. For our protection, we have to help take them down." Coil explained.
"A truce then? Or an offensive pact?" Kaiser asked.
"At this point, I doubt the authorities would hold us blameless if we didn't take an active role in stopping the chaos." Coil countered.
"It would play better with the public. In the end that is far more important." Danger chimed in.
"The ABB is reckless and unprofessional. I hate what is happening. But I have a firm policy we work for hire. I have to maintain my code. The crew works for pay or we don't work at all." Faultline countered.
"Bakuda wouldn't pay you, she'd stuff a bomb in your head. That makes ABB an untrustworthy employer. If you can't take their money you can't be neutral really." Grue pointed out.
Coil turned to face Faultline "I can resolve this I am eager to get back to normal operations. If you want a fee for your services so future employers don't expect freebies? I will absorb the cost. Mercenary forces are what I have to contribute after all."
"Purity and I are already focused on the ABB. We will continue to do so but if we are doing mixed raids she has a request." Danger said, waving at the older woman to continue.
"I don't want to work directly with Kaiser, anyone else in the 88 I'm fine with. I can't be seen as taking his orders again. I don't want people to think I've gone back." Purity explained.
"We were a powerful team once"
"Once." was all she replied.
"We all know the sort of free fall that will occur in the aftermath of collapse on that scale. Almost a third of the city will be up for grabs. We have to work together in mixed teams to ensure we limit backstabbing. However, what particular members are in which groups I think could be flexible." Coil said.
"I doubt Kaiser here is the sort to force his attention where it is unwelcome, surely he's a more civilized villain than that." The Doctor said as he swallowed the last of his drink.
"If I make you that uncomfortable by all means Purity. If our names come up in the lots together the second one chosen will be redrawn."
Purity nodded
"This will be useful. In our first encounter with her new forced conscripts, we saw how Bakuda's bombs work. We spun it all off on disc and I have plenty of copies." Grue said pulling them from his jacket
"Information is a valuable commodity," Kaiser admitted.
"I have one too. Purity, go to the door and you'll find a package has been delivered to the side of the door. Bring it here please." The Doctor stated. Again pointing at the door without turning around.
Purity opened the door and with body language showing she was surprised brought a wooden crate that was on a hand truck.
"Coil you use Mercenaries I believe. Ones that you arm with Tinker tech weapons? Well as you are paying Faultline far be it from me to not chip into the communal pot." The Doctor said as he pulled at the lid
Purity leaned over and with 4 short blasts shattered the wood around the nails.
"Ahh thank you yes where was I oh yes. Microwaves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum like Radar or visible light. If you put metal in the sun or other electromagnetic source the light will change into heat and electrical current. That is a little experiment you can do at home with a voltmeter."
"You were talking about weapons. Microwaves, was when you first walked in" Kaiser snapped.
"Was it? Funny because like visible light Microwaves can be organized into coherent beams, tightly packed waves of increased power. Such beams are invisible to the naked eye due to their penetrating nature they are less disrupted by the atmosphere. A powerful beam would have a range based entirely on a line of sight to the target and ultimately the curvature of the earth." He said pulling out a flat black rifle with a powerful scope.
"Non-lethal? The government has played with microwave emitters as urban pacification devices that cause intense pain and mild burns." Coil inquired.
"Toys compared to this. This dial ups the power at this setting it would make the sort of effects you describe but up at maxim, it would cause flash vaporization of all moisture in the body. A human being would rupture like you had popped a water balloon. As for pain, imagine every nerve in your body being set on fire simultaneously. The victims might well die of shock before they explode. Aim for the head if the brain goes first it's painless." Danger said with a cheerful tone and lifted eyebrows.
"Microwaves tend to short out transmitters that might stop any deadman switch" Tattletale interjected.
"Perhaps, not sure I would risk it but these four fine devices are meant for Lung. You see a light coating of metal like when his scaled first form wouldn't protect him. It would be like the silvery sleeve that gives the microwave Crispy Pockets their name. His subdermal tissues would fry like crispy delicious bacon on an overheated griddle."
"Oh god," Purity exclaimed.
"And once he powers up?" Grue asked.
"If we wait till his armor gets thicker then the current flow between segments will pass through his soft tissues on its way to the ground. Ever seen 'The Green Mile'? Electrocution if not carefully done is a very messy death and in that case, well there really is no way to ensure the brain goes first. It's very unlikely his regeneration will be able to keep him alive. These are nasty weapons. I only made these four. I was saving them for a rainy day. I mean it's not every day you meet people wrapped in foil or who bury themselves in plates of metal. You know, just in case weapons. Your best shooters please if these things miss the collateral damage is ghastly."
"Maintenance issues? What sort of breakdowns can we expect?" Coil asked.
"That's my specialty you see. None! My stuff lasts till you physically break it or wear out the moving parts which with so few in these I'd say two to three decades with normal use. Hell of a recharge however internal batteries are fully charged now but it takes the output of about two dozen normal homes a full day to recharge one shot so... there is that'' Danger stated putting the weapon back into the crate.
"I can work with that how many shots per full charge"
"Twenty shots per gun from full status. Oh and don't try to take them apart or let anyone else. I don't even have to put a sabotage device on them. You mess up the internal power storage and you are likely to release all that at once in a sudden discharge. As for damage occurring from normal use lifetime warranty. You do anything weird with it or tamper with the seals and that's invalidated."
"We can use these. Too high profile and lethal for day-to-day work but for special targets. Yes, I think they will do nicely" Coil admitted.
Kaiser and Hookwolf only glared knowing what other metal-shelled beings they were alluding to.
Weymouth shopping center
April 24th
Curfew was coming and Taylor and Danny were trying to get to the registers before the rush. On the way up, however, they both saw the crush at the front was even worse than coming in.
Manpower had been on watch before but while they shopped he had been relieved by Battery and Nova. The press and Cape fans were trying to get a look at the new Ward and popular heroine.
Nova's outfit was a bodysuit in midnight black that had small spots of white making it look like the night sky. It had an integrated face mask that covered her upper face and eyes while leaving her mouth exposed. It ended at the hairline. Her hair was as dark as Taylor's own but had waves rather than curls.
It was as close to skein-tight as a Wards costume came. It definitely had something to hide the intergluteal cleft among other modesty enhancements. Taylor's research on costumes had shown her how to make similar costumes based on dancewear.
Rumors were she had a full Alexandria package of powers and half of Legend. It was known she'd blown out of the Bay area at supersonic speed about the time Lung was escaping. She didn't look worse for wear for all that so she must have done well.
For their own part, both heroines were scanning the crowd for troublemakers.
"Say, isn't that truck the guys who found you?" Battery asked.
"Looks like it. They're going the wrong way for me to thank them. I'll have to try later."
"Did Armsmaster say how his interview with them went?" Battery inquired
"He couldn't find anything too suspicious about them, refugees, from southern Tennessee. Came from a place called Iron City. It seems a cell of the Fallen hid there a year or so ago. The locals knew they were a cult but didn't know they were capes. A mob went to run them off and it escalated. The entire town was destroyed." Nova explained.
"They should have called the police rather than try vigilante justice."
"Apparently the city had none. The police department closed in 1987" Nova stated
"How does a city survive without police?"
"A city doesn't. A town survives on citizen vigilance. Apparently, it wasn't that rare even a hundred years ago. At least that's what Armsmaster said."
"Oh so they were only a century out of step with the times, that's reassuring." Battery quipped.
"Might also be where their manners and taking responsibility for helping a stranger came from so it worked for me." Nova pointed out.
"This crowd is getting too thick. The sightseers and gawkers need to move on. With the mall emptying, maybe the security inside can come out and help disperse." Battery didn't phrase it as a request but Nova recognized the tone
"I'll go check but this is more about getting me out of easy camera range isn't it"
"Well, it won't hurt."
"No offense next time say it you won't hurt my feelings the press is approaching creepy stalker levels of interest in my opinion anyhow."
"Oh, child you have no idea. This journey has only begun. Most female Wards find these guys trying to get wardrobe malfunctions from literally the hour you turn eighteen."
"Damn pervs. Or perv enablers at any rate." Nova said as she sailed off over the crowd and landed by the door
Inside she passed a message on to the officer in charge and made a circuit of the facility to make sure everyone was headed to the exits. Hovering above the crowd for a line of sight she saw a sudden violent movement. In a second she'd landed next to two men and what must have been their daughters.
"What was that for?! Emma didn't even say anything!" the more affluent-looking man said.
"I'm so sorry she's recovering from a concussion. It's been affecting her moods. I thought she was doing better. She hasn't done anything like this before!" the thin one said to both the other man and Nova.
The Curly-haired girl snarled her lip "Do you want to know why I hit her?"
"Perhaps but not here. Step away from the girl and her father over there please I'll take their statement then I'll take yours. Don't move from that spot." Nova instructed.
"Sir you and your daughter step over this way so we can talk privately. I'm sorry we had to meet like this. I'm Nova and you are?"
"Allen Barnes and this is Emma, my daughter."
"I'm going to ask Emma a question or two, sir, as a parent you're within your right to stop the questions but It will interfere in my ability to get to the root of this."
"I'm a lawyer, I know how this works."
"Knowledge and practical experience don't always line up sir. Being a matter you are personally involved in can make a large difference. That being said Emma describe please, in your own words what happened."
"Oh Dad was just talking to Mister Hebert, they haven't seen each other in a while. I didn't really have much to say to Taylor so I was just waiting quietly for them to be done. Then out of the blue Taylor slaps me. Not that I'm surprised she's always causing trouble at school. Doing stuff to call attention to herself trying to start trouble with me and my friends."
"What you'd never said anything about you and Taylor having a falling out." Alen interrupted.
"She started changing big time when we started at Winslow. I think she's jealous because I'm friends with Sophia." Emma replied.
"And Sophia is?" Nova inquired
"Umm Sophia Hess she's a track star at Winslow pretty popular girl I'd imagine" Allen stated.
Nova frowned a bit "I see"
"Yes well she was also recovering from her Mother dying that's been known to change a person too" Allen added.
"Well, whatever it is she's always showing out," Emma added.
"Has she ever been violent before?" Nova asked.
"Well no but Sophia is really tough and in shape, she'd be too much of a coward to start anything with Sophia around."
"Well it's good you have someone strong to protect you then." Nova absently said.
"I don't need anyone to protect me Sophia has taught me to be strong and stand up for myself!"
"Well, I for one am glad you didn't escalate things here sweetie that's not the way to handle it there are plenty of police and even heroes around to take care of things," Allen interjected.
"Right well I have to ask if you two want to prefer charges. I don't think it's likely much will come of it with both parties being underage and a possible medical excuse offered but it is within your rights if you should so choose."
"No, I don't think we'd need to. I'm sure Danny will rethink her going back to school if she's having that sort of trouble. You might encourage him to think along the same lines. I'd hate for something more to happen and we would be forced to take action." Allen replied.
"Of course, thank you for your time," Nova stated as she headed away from them over to the Heberts.
The girl Taylor was obviously emotionally distressed. Her father looked angry, his eyes following the Barnes away.
"I take it you two have been talking? They're not going to press charges for the slap which is a plus. Now, why don't you tell me what is really going on? Because the story I got from them is leaky as a sieve and I'd like to know what's really happening?" Nova said with sympathy.
"I doubt it will matter. It's not something you can help with." the girl Taylor said.
"I think at this point just listening will help don't worry about the time if I need to I can escort you both home when we're done"
Taylor blinked then the story started to pour out like bile out of a lanced wound. "Well, Emma is one of the ringleaders of a gang of bullies that have been tormenting me all school year they've been picking on me every day. I've received thousands of threatening emails. They stalk me through the school. They destroyed my projects and stole my homework. They even stole the flute I brought to music class. It belonged to my mom and she's not with us anymore. They filled a locker with used hygiene products, let them sit over winter break, and then the first day back they shoved me in and locked it. I was inside there for almost two hours."
"Holy Christ," Nova responded
"You believe me?" Taylor said surprised.
"Yes, that fits even with a concussion that sort of impulse has to come from somewhere and it fits better than the narrative Emma gave. Which was news even to her dad. I take it you two haven't talked much since you lost your loved one?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Danny said defensively.
"It explains a great deal about why you didn't know, Mister Hebert. Your daughter here didn't want to burden you with her troubles along with your own. But, listen to me. A burden shared is not one place on another. Many hands make for a lighter load. Sharing will help you both. Just knowing you're not alone, helps tremendously. Trust me all the Wards have to go to therapy sessions for just that sort of reason. If you can't or won't go to a professional be each other's confidant it will only make you stronger. Also if you give me your number I have a friend whose mother is a lawyer. She might know someone who'd look into helping you seek legal action against the school. There are normally a few lawyers who would work cheap or free for this sort of thing, most are recently graduated students but with Mister Barnes being a lawyer you need that sort of edge." Nova offered.
"Oh? Well, thanks, here is our home phone we don't carry cells" Danny offered writing on the back of an old receipt.
"The pleasure is all mine, Sir. Stay strong Taylor."
"Thanks for taking the time to listen and understand. You're not what I expected Nova." Taylor admitted.
Nova Smiled "Dealing with supervillains is the flashy part of the job but this? Well, this is the part that really matters. Helping people is what I really started doing this for."
