[27th March 2011]
[The Docks, Brockton Bay, Maine, United States of America, Earth Bet]
{We've incoming, on time it seems} I telepathically told the other four members of the delegation as I opened my eyes once again after looking through the eyes of some local crows. They were paying me well enough to burn spells after all, and this one Karguk had utilised quite a bit after screwing up the familiar ritual when he was learning. Cheshire nodded silently across from me, then matching my steps forward as I pushed off the wall and strode towards the entrance gate as a car approached, escorted by an armoured man on a bike and two flyers...
{One's a drone unit or an AI just to confirm} I further clarified as my eyes picked up the life signs now they were entering visual range as the seagulls squawked in the clear blue sky above us. Links were more M'gann's thing, but I could cast and main the relevant spell well enough to get us secure communications, hopefully, as a backup for this situation. Truth be told I was under as many protective spells as I could muster, as were the others in our delegation, and Doctor Fate, John Constantine, Jason Blood, and Giovanni Zatara could help put in place.
Course my own were things like Iron Body, Haste, and the like rather than just spells against mind reading, legend reading, or outright mind-control...but I was the bodyguard so I deemed it necessary. Something I deemed so when what was the local version of Superman, save being a woman, was one of those hovering over the approaching car as escort. Alchemical help kept my mind focused and calm as the seconds ticked by and the moment of truth neared; sure we were only a short distance from 'home' but that could be eternity to try get through if they'd some dimensional or teleportation blocks.
Myself and Cheshire were in illusion disguises of course, something resembling the local rent-a-cop uniforms the security on these docks used over variations of our persons. Didn't want to draw attention on the off chance the local media were lurking about, though the police cordon further out, and lack of other people nearby the Docks, showed otherwise. We'd warned them about that fact at least in the meeting data-packet, so the vehicle slowed and stopped, as did the armoured motorcycle man as the flyers descended, a few metres away from where myself and Cheshire stood. So, to amuse myself as much as being friendly, I waved.
"Hello! I'm Enchanter, though you can call me Tim if you wish..." I began, the wave turning into a gesture towards Cheshire "...and this is my lovely assistant Cheshire, pleasure to meet you. I hope we're all here willing to talk under agreed upon terms? And, as should have mentioned in our brief, myself and Cheshire are under an illusion effect. If everyone is happy with the terms set out, I will lead you all to the Portal and the rest of our delegation"
"I am Alexandria, though we expect you already know that..." the local senior superhero, seemingly in charge of the delegation, stated calmly and coldly as she landed in front of us and the other four joined us. I merely gave the faintest of apologetic bows as she continued gesturing at the others "...and this Deputy Director Barry Renick of the PRT, Armsmaster of the Protectorate, Dragon of the Guild, and Clyde Radcliffe from the US State Department. We have agreed to terms, and you will lead us to this portal, also as agreed. First though, you will drop your Stranger effect"
I bowed politely as this had been already, somewhat, expected "Of course, as you request"
Snapping my fingers, just to be dramatic, I dropped the illusion on myself and Cheshire so we both stood in her combat gear. Not very heroic I'll admit, but being the bright shining beacon of encouragement wasn't mine, nor her, job and the armours had as many protections I could get unto them. It wasn't as if I had many of them due to time constraints, and the last one getting utterly wrecked by an angry, drunk, Greek Goddess. Unhappy looks from the Deputy Director and State Department guy as the illusion dropped, and this Armsmaster and Alexandria's faces might as well be carved from stone.
"Lead on"
The non-living unit, Dragon apparently, though had a feminine and almost friendly tone as she inquired politely while we started to walk "Did you take your cape name from Monty Python? It seems our Earth's have some commonalities?"
"Well...there's a story behind that, but essentially yes. It was that, or the Dread Rabbit of Caerbannog...not that it stops people calling my other things" I answered in my suit modified tones as maintain my guard, while also attempting to ease the big ball of tension caused by the situation. Reaching out mentally I signalled our approach to the three waiting inside as the cameras in the building transmitted back to Portal security site in another dimension...
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[27th March 2011]
[Protectorate ENE Headquarters, The Bay, Brockton Bay, United States of America, Earth Bet]
Emily Piggot maintained a stoic demeanour despite the stressful situation, one that was irritating her injuries, which could utterly ruin her career, or even lead to a war that could destroy the city here. What was worse all she could do was watch and listen helplessly as others went about the task; Renick was a good man, but she'd have preferred to have been there herself. Too valuable to risk they said, especially with a parahuman with confirmed parahuman with Stranger powers in the field, and therefore potentially a Master nearby.
'Nonsense when they're sending in Alexandria and Armsmaster' she thought coldly as she watched the introductions by the outsiders who'd invaded her city. Beyond them lay a shimmering mirror like...thing...on the wall of a warehouse in the middle of the docks area, large enough to drive a truck through. It was absolutely horrifying, and the situation critical enough to be treated like an Endbringer Truce between the PRT, Protectorate, and all the vermin and scum that made up the membership of the Empire 88, ABB, Merchant's, and Coil's group.
"...can't get a proper read on him. His Stranger ability maybe? Hnn...ugh, hurts trying focus on him. The other, the girl, trained killer, but there's a similar effect on them all, only to a lesser degree..."
Down to dealing with the likes of small time gangs like the Undersiders, as she switched to Tattletale's feed, as the Protectorate brought together every Thinker, or Tinker with analysis systems, to bear on the problem. One concern was said parahuman with Stranger ability making analysis somewhat more difficult than it should be in these negotiations. The next was the...oddities, of why an supposedly Irish parahuman was present, along with the references to the United Nations rather than the United States propping up this Justice League equivalent to either the Triumvirate, or the perhaps Protectorate as a whole?
Questions to be answered at a later date as the conversation before her, led by a normal human being rather than a parahuman as six people sat at the table, three on each side, while four each stood watching each other. It seemed they had a lie detector too like Armsmaster had according to four of the Thinkers observing the video, along with some, currently invisible and silent, means of communication with each other. Thankfully both sides had cameras, and some degree of agreement of watching for potential Mastering, along with Dragon's remote drone.
Nor were the garb of the two 'escorts' they had indicate a heroic nature for public consumption, though general overview was the three parahumans were varying degrees of deadly between perceived abilities and clear Tinkertech armour and weaponry. The third parahuman, Captain Atom, was judged to be a Blaster-Brute-Shaker with, disturbingly, assumed radioactive based powers, and merely stated his responsibilities as a member of this 'Justice League' and bland platitudes for peace while letting the two normal humans do the actual negotiations.
"There owning up to spying on us with remarkable ease"
Emily nodded at Miss Militia's words, as was somewhat unexpected, along with an offer of an 'inspection' of their side of the portal if requested "Yes, without a hint of shame. Logical reasons being laid out for doing so I'll admit, but we only have their word for their intentions towards us"
Every Director was watching the negotiations, along many members of the Protectorate, in case this was prelude to an invasion. Any moment something could happen and the teams assembled nearby ordered in, and the reinforcements from other areas of the PRT and Protectorate brought in immediately. Even Lung and Kaiser had been notified of the danger, along with Coil, locally in case their forces needed to be thrown into battle against these threats...
--
[27th March 2011]
[Secure Meeting Room, Cauldron Compound, Multiversal Lattice]
Fortuna was...concerned, and she did not like that as she watched the video feed alongside Numbers Man and Doctor Mother "We cannot access their dimension...Doormaker cannot open up a Door there, nor can I find a Path to opening a successful one, beyond this portal"
Numbers Man nodded idly, fingers dancing over the computer before him "Concerning. Markets are reacting poorly as word is spreading. Our funds are growing, but will require significant movement to bolster the forces in Brockton Bay. Sealing portal as with Earth Aleph would be likely detrimental to our efforts"
Fortuna nodded herself at that, ignoring the 'effect' that related to the Portal to this, seemingly, unreachable dimension "Whether they are preventing us, or it is a natural effect for that Earth's reality, accessing their side...and if the effect is something we can duplicate, if viable to contain Scion, it would open up many new avenues..."
The original plan had been simple; ensure the portal was concreted up like the one to Earth Aleph, and that would ensure Cauldron would have the only access between the dimensions. Unfortunately that was proving impossible, and an urgent one note update had been sent to Alexandria and her body double to immediately shift to the alternate plan; the Portal must be kept open at all costs. Abilities like being able to either block or blunt numerous Thinker abilities, her own Path to Victory included, were simply too valuable to lose access to by the portal closing.
"We risk war not sealing it up of course..." the Doctor reminded them, not looking up from the many, many, live reports from their own assets, as well as PRT sources "... though, considering other factors, I think remains a lesser danger. Along with the loss of the Brockton Bay experiment, I would judge that our decision to change strategy till we understand this effect in more depth is the best course available to us"
Fortuna merely nodded again, plotting a path to achieve that, to avoid feeling a little lost when it came to dealing with something other than the Golden Danger and the Endbringers. All they were fighting for was in danger due to their lack of understanding, and potential meddling of parties they had little to no knowledge of, nor ability to influence. Even with Earth Shin they had options to Door in and eliminate problems before they began, or to test out scenarios, but here that was denied to them even...
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