Brockton Slums
April 30th
Purity dodged another burst of high-caliber machine gunfire. Skidmark was spewing lead into the air with reckless disregard for where his bullets would hit when they missed.
He was ensconced in a turret built into what was once a bucket lift truck now it was a tank the swivel repurposed and upgraded to turn the turret. It was custom-made for the foul-mouthed leader of the Archer's Bridge Merchants. Small antennas around the structure bent and shaped Skidmark's force fields. This made a protective dome quite different from how his power normally worked.
"We know what you and that asshole licker did bitch now you're gonna pay!" He screamed even as Squealer did some moves that nearly rolled the vehicle. Only her erratic driving had saved them so far from one of Purity's blasts.
It was a dangerous game of tag as large as those bullets were Purity doubted she'd shrug one-off. She was wearing a new armored costume. Danger had told her it was safe from even large caliber handguns but not to risk rifle shots.
The costume also had some built-in capacitors that helped restore her energy in combat. The integrated visor had a HUD and showed her a wealth of information. Its sensors picked up something that made her smile. An invisible beam was focused on the tank's wheels.
Suddenly the truck tipped, it rolled to the passenger side and tumbled over and over. Due to the repulsive effects of Skidmark's dome being nearly frictionless, it stopped tumbling. It slid upside down for a mind-boggling distance
Danger lept from the top of a nearby building. For a brief second panic hit Purity before her mind caught up to and shouted down instinct. True to what her mind shouted had to be Danger had a device that slowed his fall making the five-story drop look more like a hop off a porch.
Purity had learned Danger made two basic types of gear, some like the suit would work without undue maintenance. They would work for anyone or in her case anyone who had her unique powers
Others worked only for Danger himself. There was also a limit to how many devices he could use at once. Devoid of his special touch they were inert.
Thus, he likely couldn't include the fall slowing effect in her suit. It would have been nice for emergencies.
"Skidmark you wretched vomitous mass. How have you been doing? Problems with your truck?" Danger asked jovially.
"Fuck you! Mother fucker you stole from me!" The former soldier screamed trying to twist his machine gun to fire. The force field finally shorted out and the cursing Merchant leader barely slid out before being crushed.
"You'll have to be more specific. I steal from a lot of people. Are you coming out Squealer dear? Don't worry I won't shoot you. I've always had a fascination with women who have a complete lack of breeding."
"That thing popped the tire from way up there? NO, screw that shit. I'm not getting in your sight." Squealer shouted back.
Purity hovered nearby. She started charging up a blast that would destroy the truck and annihilate the two capes.
"No no no I am a man of my word Purity Squealer had a free pass today you get a clean line at Skidmark however fry him." Danger instructed.
"Why?" She inquired.
"Wait and see. All part of the plan." Danger said, still grinning
"This ain't over mother fucker! You're life's over, you hear me? Every drop of chemicals you took that we needed to keep our labs up is one more reason to see you dead!" Skidmark screamed.
"Never going to happen. You know how this will end already Skidmark. You're a parasite and it's time to find another host. This one is growing too strong for your infestation. Do you think you can make it in a town that crushed Lung?"
"Danger, they're moving out the back!" Purity yelled as she fired a beam at them.
"Kill him if you can but don't hit Squealer."
Purity's power lanced out again. It hit between Skidmark's desperate dodge and Squealer rush toward him the shot missed the target and melted a dumpster.
Danger rounded the other side of the truck and aimed. Skidmark dove for Squealer and seeing he couldn't keep her between both enemies he stuck his gun to her head.
"What are you doing!" Squealer shouted.
"Ahh, so being a human shield is fine but a hostage that's something else's." Danger said with a smirk.
"Shut up! Your manipulative ass set this shit up. You knew if she was the only safety I'd use her to get out. Now I'm calling you on that shit. What's it gonna be you letting me walk or is the bitch you trying to pry away from me gonna get shot?" Skidmark asked with a snarl.
"Go on and run, You showed your hand today so you can call me. But winning this hand doesn't finish out the game. Next deal you better have more than a pair of deuces" Danger said with a wave.
"Don't even think about following me!"
"We are not letting them get away." Purity said in an imperious tone.
"Oh yes, we are" Danger stated his jovial tone unchanged.
Purity saw a message pop up on her 'HUD. He wants us to follow. Mush is a few blocks away with more gangers. They have an ambush set. Once Skidmark is away follow the HUD marker. We'll set a counter-ambush for that group.'
"Fine" Purity said letting her response do double duty.
"No tricks you swastika saluting Nazi Hun bitch!"
Purity shot a beam of light close but distant enough to be an obvious warning "Run more and talk less you Ni- punk-ass trash"
The pair watched the pair of Merchants escape. Purity then confronted Danger. "What was that all about!"
"Good recovery on the insult. I know it's hard to break old vocal habits. You absolutely can't use your former racist language if you want to clean your image."
Purity squeezed her eyes shut. "I know your mind jumps around but, please focus. I need an answer to this and I need it to be one I can live with."
"I had two goals today. Weakening the Merchant's offensive capacity and planting a seed in Squealers' minds. Taking out that tank and what we are going to do to their heaviest armed thugs will do well for one."
"Planting a seed in the mind? Careful Danger you're starting to sound like that manipulative bastard Kaiser."
"Perhaps, I intend to help her, however."
"Because following you is better than following Skidmark?"
"No, because I'll help her reclaim her self-worth."
"She's a drugged-out whore. She never had any self-worth.
"You don't understand. Picture a girl just growing into a woman. She is not only the first in her peer group to develop. She's larger than most, perhaps overdeveloped. Suddenly all of her overly hormonal male classmates pay her an undue amount of attention. She's not used to it.
Her father is at best distant at worst emotionally abusive. Her mother has already been destroyed by that. Her female friends become jealous and catty.
All she has is this unwanted attention. Those who can fake true emotion over their lust make the most impact. For the first time in ages, she can at least pretend someone cares.
Thus, the downward spiral begins. She takes part in her own deception. She will do anything to silence the nagging voices. The voices that say this isn't real because they sound just like the ones that say she was never worthy of anyone caring for her anyhow."
"Quite the house of cards you have built around Squealer. Do you have any evidence or is this your inner hero fantasy? Even if all that is true it doesn't mean she can be saved." Purity said.
"Squealer? No Purity. That was my Aunt Belinda. She was an inspiration. Many people thought my dad was crazy to help her but he wasn't one to shy away from the hard but just path. I might not be able to save everyone but I will try. Don't judge me for the same compassion you benefit from."
"I'm sorry. I was seeing ulterior motives where there were none. I do this for my daughter. To make a better world for her. She saved me when I was drowning in Kaiser's bullshit."
"A worthy endeavor. Now let's get moving to catch Mush. You blast his garbage armor. I'll sweep away the trash that follows him. Once he's on the run I'll knock him out and you can string him up like the world's worst pinata"
"On it. Are you going to use the microwave pain gun?"
"No, testing a nausea inducer but I have the other as backup."
Purity raced ahead of Danger. She found just what she was looking for. Mush was stomping along covering the rear for a pack of merchant flunkies. They expected an attack from the direction they were backing up from not behind. She had plenty of time to charge up a powerful shot.
Her energy beam blasted the legs off Mush's junk body. It fell and shifted into a pile as he tried to fight the pain and reform his armor.
The small force of Merchants fired their weapons into the air. Danger slid around the corner, his left hand down for stability, that glove and both boots were glowing. The effect seemed to negate friction. As he passed them he lifted his right hand which held a pistol grip attached to what looked like a small radar dish.
The bulk of the Merchant thugs started to stagger while some wretched. However, being used to inebriation and impairment they continued to spray bullets into the air in hopes of hitting something.
Purity unleashed a flash of blinding light in their direction. Danger stopped sliding as he neared an ally which he ducked into. Using the edge as cover he drew his other weapon and fired. The screams that started up proved pain had a stronger effect than disorientation.
Purity flew down and let Mush have it with a haymaker punch. His bulging eyes seemed to nearly pop out before he collapsed back into the pile of trash that was once his armor.
Most of the gang members were falling over in exhaustion from the combination of pain and vertigo. A few were stumbling away. Danger gave chase to them.
Purity sprayed Mush with one of the Doctor's healing foams and then as promised closed him up in a strong fabric sack and tied it to a light pole. She gave a kick to the face of a few thugs who seemed too active and then took off after Danger.
She found him standing on the stoop of a building talking to an elderly woman. She landed next to him.
"What's going on?" She asked
"This is his grandmother he's in there."
Then the old woman gave Purity a suspicious look. She was black and the former E88 member's reputation didn't sit well with her. "He's hiding between the mattress and box springs. I told him hiding wouldn't do him any good."
"Why aren't we going in?"
"Politics. I don't want you following me inside there."
"Because if something goes wrong the assumption will be it was my fault."
"Correct. I have had a few weeks on you for helping out the community and didn't have your negative reputation. With Mrs. Freeman here to vouch for our good intentions. We should be covered. Wait here while I fetch him out."
Purity folded her arms but nodded. Danger drew the configurable pistol from his holster and walked into the building.
"Are you honestly trying to do better? I hate to think you're just using that boy." The older woman inquired.
"Sometimes I wonder if he's using me. I left Kaiser because he was full of it. I realize there are a lot of things I've been carrying around that didn't come from him. That kid has a way of making you take a second look at things. Making you wonder if what you think is true is. I went to help pass out care packages. I talked to the people when I did, the stories I heard." Purity shook her head.
"You've never been poor. That child's been poor. He had to wonder if he was getting the next meal, not just when it was coming. I can tell from how he acts. We're alike when we're that desperate. There's just more poor among the brown folk down here and less with the whites up there." She said pointing back towards uptown.
"Maybe so. He's made me think at any rate."
The merchant came out, hands held up at chin level in front of him. Danger followed, with his pistol aimed to strike between the shoulders.
"Alright hug the lamp post. Purity if you would do the honor of zip-cuffing him to the post. Mrs. Freeman, if you would discourage anyone from freeing him I would be appreciative."
"Don't worry it'll be better on the babies if he goes away. Once upon a time, he brought money by for Cheryl and the little ones. That's been less and less often. Easy to see he's been using more and more to stay high."
"Sorry to hear it. I have an inside source that tells me the pantry that is in the old 'grab and go' building is about to get a large supply of baby food in the next few days. Cheryl might find something to help there."
The old woman nodded and sat down on her glider chair.
"Mission accomplished for tonight, the Merchants are on the defensive. They won't be taking any new territory." Danger said.
He stopped to do the electric slide. With his frictionless field on it was impressive. Whichever hidden drone was filming would pick it up. He'd use it in the final cut of the fight for the web.
"So it's time then next we go after the E88. I am afraid of what this will kick off. Kaiser is my baby's father. He could start some serious trouble for me. I'm not going to turn aside, however." Purity admitted.
"Good but you have a short reprieve. An unexpected mission has fallen into our lap. Once we're out of here I'll fill you in and we'll prepare."
Brockton Public Library
Taylor looked over at Lisa. They had ridden together to the library. Taylor had informed Lisa she needed to talk in private. Lisa suggested this trip. They told her dad it was a study trip.
Lisa had paid for them to have access to a private study room saying she did need to do something while here. She had logged into a computer with enhanced access to academic databases.
Taylor had collected a few reference books on entomology and started reading. The books were good but she was starting to wonder what Lisa was up to.
Lisa looked up with an apologetic smile. "This is taking longer than I thought. Why don't you tell me what you need? I might have to come back and finish this later."
"Sure but first, what are you doing?"
"Something my power is not meant to do. At least it keeps straying in that direction. The boss wants to know more about Danger. Having exhausted all the other sources of information on him I decided to see if reading the papers he released. He sent them to Brockton University claiming that they were his Doctorate work. The problem is they are beyond my meager understanding of science. My power keeps making efforts to explain the subject matter. I'm more interested in phrases he uses, implications of his writing style, and other things I understand"
"So he's not just a Tinker but some sort of scientific thinker?"
"No, he's not a standard Parahuman at all. He doesn't fit the model. His power didn't give him an ability. It enhances who he is."
Taylor gave Lisa a confused look.
"Right, let me explain better by comparing my power and yours. You control bugs. I make deductive leaps. Everything we do is keyed to those tasks or derived from them. You stay aware of the space around you for example through your insects I can give the impression of mind-reading by enhanced cold reading."
"I think I see what you mean. Assault redirects energy, his speed and strength are really just applications of his power." Taylor responded.
"Danger doesn't seem to work like that. He doesn't have the power to build stuff that fits a theme. He just has a more advanced tech base and uses it to build stuff. In this paper, he refers to a comparatively simple means of producing antimatter. The process would require a power output and magnetic field control only feasible if you already had cracked fusion power. Hinting he knows how that is done as well. The entire paper seems to refer to the production of antimatter as being the solution to the limits reached on fusion."
"He's hinting he has the solution to problems, a full technical revolution ahead of where we are now."
"The scary thing is I don't think he's lying. There is also the chance this isn't his power. We're only seeing the side effects. I thought for a while he might have a sensory power but I'm pretty sure he was giving me false clues. The sensory stuff is that pair of goggles."
"So the Boss, whoever he may be, is worried about Danger?"
"Not exactly, they already have a deal. Their interactions at the bar were window dressing. Danger showed up in Boston to buy information. Accord set him up to work with the Boss. Now that the Boss is getting ready to work on his master plan he's looking for a way to gain more leverage on Danger. He seems to be able to evade all of the Boss's normal methods of exerting control."
"Any clue on the big plan?" Taylor asked in what she hoped was an innocent fashion.
"We should be let in on it soon. But enough of that, what did you need?"
"Right well. I know who one of the Wards are and I'm likely to find out more. I seem to have fallen into a Ward clique at Arcadia."
"Christ Taylor, can't you have any normal problems?"
"Sorry"
"So you're warning me because I'm likely to figure it out too and end up with the same issues you are?"
"That and I thought of a possibility I want to prepare for. Do you know how the other day I had the thought that Rachael's powers screwed with her perception?"
"Sure."
"Apply that logic to yourself."
"Well, I think that's why I've never had any luck with romance. Romance requires mystery and my power shows me turn-offs."
"Right, well what if it pushes you to bait people?" Taylor explained.
Lisa sat quietly for a while. She reached for her bottle of water and fished her headache pills out of her purse.
"You think I might be right?"
"I think you might be onto something. It may be bigger than just us. When you said that my power went into hyperactivity. Think of how much Capes fight. Is it a coincidence? I suddenly doubt it" Lisa admitted.
"Interesting idea but more to the point can you control the impulse? Please!" Taylor pled
"I'm certainly going to try. The last thing I need is the entire Protectorate trying to silence me."
"That's a relief. Anything I need to know about this meeting with the boss?"
"When it happens, keep your wits about you. We're not going to be the only ones there. I think he's calling all his employees and prospective allies. So it will be something pretty big. Likely some sort of expansion in the wake of the ABB collapse"
"Pretty big alright. I guess I had better prepare some of the upgrades to my gear and strategy I've been working on in case things go bad."
"I don't expect things will take a sudden turn. The boss is pretty cautious with situations he shows up for. Still, preparation never hurts."
Unknown
A monitor lit up the darkness. A young boy in a lab coat could be seen behind a steel countertop. He had dark goggles pulled up into his hairline.
"Hi! I wish I was here to recap our day's adventures and give you hints as to our next program. Sadly today's our final adventure. There are plenty of people who didn't like this show, they said it being picked up was tone-deaf to the times we live in. That Novas aren't celebrities anymore and a kid Nova was just a gimmick.
That was never our intention. I wanted to do two things. First to share my love of discovery and wonder with you all. Second, I wanted you to see my family and how much we love and care for each other, Nova and Non.
I'm really going to miss doing this. I'm going to miss your wonderful letters and videos. Seeing how much you enjoyed the thrill of discovery. I-" the young boy's voice cracked up
He took a moment to wipe his face and compose himself
"I want you to know I'll miss every one of you. I hope no matter how bad things get between everyone you remember our time and adventures fondly. Goodbye, everyone. And remember! Goggles down when it's time for Danger!" He pulled the goggles over his eyes and gave the audience a thumbs up.
Out of the darkness a gloved hand reached towards the screen.
"Low blow Pop-pop. Low blow." Danger said as he moved to switch off the screen.
"I just want you to stop and think about what you are doing JD. This is going to kick things up more than a notch, Son. Make sure you aren't being played by this Coil fellow." The old man said.
"I can handle Coil."
"Oh, I'm sure you think you can. Don't forget Divis Mal thought he could keep the Aberrants in line. How did that go for the Terragen movement?"
"We made a plan, Pop-pop. After what we've had to risk to get here I'm not backing down yet."
"A plan that's had no sign of success."
"Somebody once told me when you're fishing you need more than the right spot and good bait. You need the patience to let the fish bite."
"Sounds like a smart-ass know-it-all. But, it is good to know you occasionally listen to your elders. Fine Son, go stick your foot in the bear trap just don't holler at me when it hurts." The elder groused
"Love you too Pop-pop." Danger said as he exited the Van and made his way down the street.
Forsberg Gallery
May 5th
Armsmaster normally despised this sort of political event. Rather than hobnob, he'd have preferred being in his lab prepping for the next likely threat scenario.
However, the credit was going to him and the Protectorate. He'd realized this was a necessary use of time if he wanted to impress his own superiors and climb the ladder. If he didn't press their claim to glory. If he ignored the social games someone else would take it and with it a hunk of the resources that should be allocated to the ENE office.
He had prepared to make a maximal impact. He'd polished his dark blue and silver armor to a sheen. Most of the ENE heroes were in attendance and looking crisp.
Miss Militia was in new army fatigues and a slightly different flag face bandana. PR swore its colors would stand out on television without oversaturation. Her power kept reconfiguring the weapon it always provided her but she'd kept its form ceremonial. Batons, military sabers, and occasionally a holstered ornate pistol.
Triumph's golden Greco-Roman lion-themed armor had always struck Colin as a bit much for actual use in the field. In this environment, its flashy nature served well.
Velocity was noticeably twitchy. The reports said he had overfatigued himself during the raid. Medical had given him the okay to be here because it should be pure PR.
Battery's costume on and off showed she'd charged her powers with its electric circuit-prints tell-tell glow.
Colin, having kept watch, noticed Battery charging up coincided with Assault acting suspiciously. At least she was taking keeping Ethan's overdeveloped sense of humor under control seriously.
Dauntless having not contributed much to the victory was Colin's choice to stay out on patrol.
The Wards who had helped most were present. Vista, Clockblocker, and Nova having disarmed the Nuclear Device did more than a Ward's share.
Amy Dalton had been invited by the city for doing so much to heal the injuries of civilians and agents alike.
Her sister Glory Girl was there so PR had insisted Gallant go. Colin was not opposed. Dean hadn't had a hand in disarming a bomb but his empathic powers had led to him finding more trapped souls than anyone else on search and rescue.
Glory Girl or rather Victoria Dalton as she was in civilian attire was sticking close to Gallant. She had on a stylish formal dress and was quite at home with the attention it drew
Her sister's dress was more modest. However, she was less comfortable with the attention. Amy tended to stick close to either Nova or Gallant and Victoria.
Armsmaster was cautiously optimistic. Everything seemed to be impressing the luminaries of Brockton and the press alike. No one had committed any social faux passe.
He had programmed his helmet's lie detector to monitor for negative reactions. I would also suggest social scripts that would help steer his efforts. On Dragon's advice, he had tailored the program so it would be bland and inoffensive.
A complete revolution of his social skills in a day would be suspicious and artificial. Using the program as a training device would allow him to give an impression of more organic growth.
A progressive scan of the crowd fed through the body language and facial processor. The readout indicated a high degree of engagement and enjoyment. A genuine smile of satisfaction crossed Colin's face.
A voice with a strange reverb called out from above.
"Did you think we had forgotten? Did you think we had forgiven? Behold, now, the terrible vengeance of the Forsaken!"
The glass roof shattered but a vortex of low pressure pulled the glass up and away even as canisters spewing thick gas fell to the floor.
Purity flew into sight as an armored form landed in the center of the room. The figures' armor seemed archaic but Armsmaster picked up energy signatures that told a different story.
It unsheathed a sword and spun it. A cold frost froze the gas in place. Everyone was suddenly locked in what looked like nearly clear crystals of ice. It was not as cold as it appeared. Colin's sensors said it had catalyzed into an aerogel that was stronger than PRT confoam or Bakuda's knock-off.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" A familiar voice called. "Do not be alarmed we have dropped by to provide you additional entertainment and to help celebrate the downfall of our mutual enemies."
Danger floated down to the floor near the armored figure with the frost-coated sword.
Gallant yelled "That's Uber and Leet! Their characters are from 'the World of Warcraft.' I guess you won your little bet?"
"Oh hi Gallant you solve that little overloading problem I abused last time? If you shunt the build-up in the floating ground back into a physical ground or electro laser discharge you wouldn't have much to worry about."
The Lich King gave a small cough.
"Oh right! Introduction. You see my fine aristocrat Brocktonites. I am here representing the villains of our city who defeated not only the bulk of the unpowered ABB members but also the deadly assassin and the terrible dragon while your fine champions captured the third leg of the tripod.
Odd that we who did two-thirds of the work didn't receive an invitation to this celebration. Oh well, I suppose it was an oversite."
Armsmaster tried to flex against the strength of the aerogel. The scans were accurate. It was well beyond his armor's ability to break.
Danger's hidden cameras and allies could see through the smokey substance. Those struggling were getting extra attention from Leet Uber and Purity.
"You are not going to rob this charity event, it isn't your MO. Why are you even here?" Armsmaster challenged.
"I have a little something for everyone. Leet the case, please" Danger said looking towards the robed and masked villain still looking down from the roof.
A blur of motion shot past him knocking him to the ground. The blur became Nova as it came to a stop open palms extended outwards in a shove. Uber in his armor flew into the aerogel which deformed like a marshmallow Nova spun and started to blur again as she dodged a beam from Purity.
Vista, Clockblocker, Gallant, and the Dalton sisters ran forward Vista having widened the hole Nova burned in the aerogel.
Nova herself spun off in a crazy arc shooting past Purity and into the night. Victoria's flight smacked into the floor. Gallant and Clockblocker swayed as if drunk. Only Vista continued onto the target. Armsmasters helmet alerted him to an ultrasonic vibration targeting the inner ear. Emanating from Danger's belt.
Danger spun to face the onrushing heroine. "Interesting I take it your power is compensating for the Equilibrium Un-equalizers effect!"
As in their first encounter, he dodged and weaved only this time Vista pulled a snap-out baton from her belt. The increased range forced her foe to dodge with more vigor and attentiveness to her increased range.
"Come on now. Vista your training does you credit but our first battle showed you can't hope to win like that. I'm too quick for you. You can't use your power near me for fear I will absorb it" Danger bragged
"You talk too much," Vista said
Danger suddenly missed a step and slid while taking a backstep. He landed on his back and then rolled suddenly to the side as something nearly sliced into his gut.
The floor had been forced out of temporal synch by Clockblocker. Vista had used the separation from the bottom of the aerogel as an opening to expand forming tunnels. All well away from Dangers reach.
"Oh, now that was very clever."
Danger's boots glowed as he did a kick that sent him feet overhead and then pushed with his arms to return to standing up. He did a twist again to avoid a second stab from Armsmasters Halberd. A follow-up spin brought the haft around to interact with his face, spider-webbing the right lens in a nasty-looking fracture.
"You can do the world more good if you abandon this foolishness. Give yourself up now and we can offer limited amnesty. If you choose not to accept you will be helping the world from the youth detention center." Armsmater stated with a glower.
Miss Millita reshaped her weapon into a basket-hilted saber. Despite staggering, she launched herself at Uber who was rising back up, and heading to help Danger. Battery had built her charge to maximum and threw herself into Assault. He used the charge to do a super leap up to the roof to face Leet who was using some sort of vambrace to simulate the powers of Grand Apothecary Putress.
Velocity did a short burst of speed only to stop and clutch at the wall. Triumph seemed unaffected by the sonic attack; his first action had been to strike Purity with his own sonic shockwave. He was hurrying out of the room to the roof to follow the powerful villainess as well as backup Assault.
"Right..." the Teen villain exclaimed, tilting his head to glance at Gallant and Clockblocker helping each other to stand. Vista had moved to block the way to the balcony. The heroes were all clear of the foam and the spatial tunnels shut down so he couldn't absorb the space warp. They had rightly guessed he couldn't absorb Clock's power while it was active.
"I came here to have a bit of fun, and make you admit you didn't solve the ABB issue in a vacuum and clear out, no harm no property damage, didn't even bring my guns. Still, if you want to make this real, I'll make it real. How dare you ask me to join you.
How dare you call yourselves heroes. You support a broken system that illegalized any legitimate use of parahuman powers. You are forcing a binary choice between villainy or joining you. Independents caught at even minor crimes are railroaded and tossed into the Birdcage with only the thinnest sham of a fair trial? The Birdcage itself is a prison with no official way to be released from. Which someone can be condemned to, for life without ever setting foot in a courtroom?
What Diseased warped mind can call supporting that Heroism?"
"We support organization and unity in the face of chaos and threats like the Endbringers. Your anarchy is no solution!" Armsmaster said coldly.
Gallant held out a hand "If you hate the system we have to work to change it from within!"
"A kind offer. Thank you. But more than that thank you Clock."
"What did I do?" Clockblocker asked.
"Without your help, this floor couldn't stand more than sixty pounds per square inch of force."
A bright flash made the visored Teens flinch. Armsmaster dove forward his visor displaying a sonar map. The butt of his halberd sought to connect but Danger's ascent was too fast. His overloaded repulsive force boots had built up enough charge to toss him violently to the roof.
Upon the roof, He got a good look at what had been holding up Purity. She was holding off Triumph and Nova in a dangerous stalemate. Nova had braced herself and her aim was poor but highly deliberate. She was doing her best to compensate for the dizziness.
At some point, he had missed Uber, and Miss Milita's duel which had climbed the stairs. He was backing toward his partner Leet.
"So this is it backed into a corner with no escape. You had a great plan for showing up and making a scene but it's over now" Nova snarled.
"Did you really think I wouldn't have a plan to escape after I kicked the hornet's nest?" Danger inquired.
Leet removed a purple crystal from his robe and it exuded a glowing purple portal Purity struck with a wide beam to cover the escape. As Danger crossed into the portal the blade of Armsmasters halberd came through the floor. It sliced into Danger's boot and from the blood, the foot under it Purity, however, pulled on his coat and he fell into the portal as it closed.
Armsmaster made his way to the roof. "We have to contact PR at once. He will be putting this on the web, we need to get our spin on it first as damage control."
He stopped to glance at the metal case Danger had asked Leet for. He tapped it with the end of his halberd and glowered. Great."
"A bomb? I saw that case and figured he had brought a suitcase nuke." Nova asked.
"It's two million dollars and a note with a speech giving it to the charity fund. It notes that it should be once added to what we collected tonight about two-thirds of the recovery effort. Continuing the trend of them contributing twice what we do." Armsmaster said with cool derision.
"Oh. Oh no you mean I escalated this for nothing?" Nova asked in a panic.
"No. We can't let Villains deliver political statements under the force of arms. Even if they are using softer weapons. It only encouraged more of this sort of political grandstanding. Remember we represent more than Brockton. For issues like this were protecting the world. If we don't put a stop to it Political dissidents and attention-hungry villains alike would turn every gathering and rally into a showpiece. We preserve order so people can live their lives as more than the puppets of parahuman whim." Armsmaster said in a tired voice.