Mouse Protector
Downtown. Jan 31st, 2011.
Twisting out of the way, she vanished.
A moment later, she appeared right next to Lee, her sword already arching down and cutting into his side. When Lee's body turned to ash, she waited half a second before teleporting again. Tagging Lee's costume had been hard, but once she had it, the fight could only end one way.
Jabbing her sword into his side, again, this time she heard a muffled groan of pain before he vanished.
Pausing, she felt her mark make several jumps, heading in the direction of Chinatown. Waiting a minute before she was certain Lee had no intention of returning, she dropped her mark from the villain. Edition had warned her not to pursue Lee after he fled, and even she knew taking on the rage dragon would be a colossally stupid idea.
She could probably get away from a ramped up Lung. Probably.
The rest of the city though?
Yeah, no.
Whistling to herself, she turned around and walked back towards the coffee shop that served as an empire front. The various unpowered empire guys were still sitting in the place in stunned silence.
Not that she could blame them.
Seeing Oni Lee appear in front of you, only to be saved by the world famous Mouse Protector! Why, these kids – and they were only kids – were probably ready to throw off those Aryan crosses and start worshipping at the Temple of the great Mouse!
Oh! That would be a great idea! Well, if it wasn't for the Fallen, or Preacher, or, well, never mind. Capes with god-complexes tended to go Villain and Haven would pitch a fit. Hmmm… wellllll, maybe she'd talk to Edition and see what she said about the idea. The Temple of the Mouse sounded amazing!
And speaking of Edition.
Whipping out her phone, she shot a text over to her erstwhile guardian angel/employer.
Lee fled. Want coffee?
Walking up to the counter, the mousest with the mostest smiled at the blonde girl behind the counter. "Hi! Two double mochas please!"
The poor girl was so overcome with awe at seeing her in person that it took almost 10 seconds to process what the greatest hero in the world said, but, eventually, she seemed to perk up and say "Right away!" before scurrying off. Hmmm. Very mousey this one. She'd keep an eye on her.
Debating the ethical considerations of telling the girl she had forgotten to charge her, Mouse Protector felt her phone shake.
Good job. None for me.
Snorting, she walked by a bunch of empire guys. Giving them a cheery wave, she loudly dropped her sword on a nearby table before taking a seat.
Eventually, she would meet Edition. And on that glorious day, she would give the precocious little precog the biggest hug in the entire history of the world! Tapping out a quick message, she quickly sent back her snarky reply.
Typically a bodyguard actually has to MEET the person they are protecting!
The benefits of guarding a precog were that you had a lot of downtime. But the Bay wasn't THAT bad. She got to hang out with Hannah, annoy Armsmaster, and help corrupt the next generation of wards!
Leaving Boston had been tough, but, well, Edition had done her a solid. More than that really.
Some people you just don't poke, even she knew that.
How Ravager forgot that, she could not even fathom, but the Nine were not people you willingly engaged with . . . ever. Full stop.
"Ravager plans to leave Boston in the morning. She intends to broker a deal with the Slaughterhouse Nine for your death."
Even now, she felt chills at Edition's words – the absolute certainty with which she conveyed Ravager's plan.
Nope.
Just fucking nope.
So, after making sure Ravager wouldn't be walking anytime in the considerable future and then dropping her in the deepest fucking pit she could find, the Mouse had agreed to be Edition's bodyguard. Initially, it would be until the favor was repaid, but, honestly, at this point, she might keep at it afterward. The money wasn't private-sector good for a hero of her stature, but the benefits were amazing!
SAB was the single greatest thing on the planet! No way was she gona lose access. How else would she get to talk shit to both Accord and Bastard Son on the same day! Glancing down at her buzzing phone, she was unsurprised by the response.
Next 18 hours are clear. Check-in at the standard time tomorrow.
Well, she tried.
Standing up, she gave a thumbs up to the empire guys, grabbed her coffee and started to make her way to the Rig. Hannah might appreciate the caffeine before their talk with Vista.
Without a sound, she vanished.
Panacea
Brockton Bay General, February 7th, 2011
Another day, another patient with cancer. And not even interesting cancer. Early stage throat cancer.
Ugh, seriously? Was this lady even terminal?
Looking over the chart in front of her, Amy barely managed to stop from rolling her eyes. Michelle DeMichaels. Wife of Martin DeMichaels, one of the largest employers in the Bay.
Figures.
Technically, she could have said no, but that would lead to questions, which meant staying longer at the hospital. Taking the woman's hand, she quickly identified the cancer cells and went about removing them. Accepting the vapid praise from the woman, Amy made her excuses and headed out. Thankfully, that was the last patient.
Firing off a quick text to her sister, she made her way to the service elevator that would take her up to the helipad that also served as her sister's landing ground. Receiving a response, she glanced at her phone.
OMW! Check SAB! L33T and Armsmaster are talking shit to each other! It's epic!!!!!
Ugh. SAB.
She didn't know why her sister liked the damn messaging board so much. Well, okay, she did. Where else do you get capes – Villains, Rogues, and Heroes no less – from across the planet talking shit about each other. Honestly, if the average PHO user saw what got posted, the Internet would probably break.
Sure, Edition told the future every day. Posting every morning at 6AM EST on the dot, but SAB had quickly devolved into the single greatest troll chat room in the history of mankind.
To think, the most influential people and corporations paid millions every month, only to see Skidmark call some guy in South America a "rancid spluge-bucket."
But it was stuff like that which made Edition seem less-threatening. Edition didn't involve herself in the news; she just put it out there and let everyone else fight over it.
Edition was powerful, but ambivalent. At least that's what everyone thought.
"Good morning, Panacea. I apologize for waking you, but the news has to get out early, and I find myself with a quandary. But, perhaps, the two of us can help each other."
Help each other. Right.
She knew Vicky wanted to get on SAB. Her sister hadn't shut up about Edition since the first post, and Amy had been more than a little peeved at Vicky's begging for her help. Even after agreeing to do so, she never anticipated the Thinker would be calling her at 5:30am.
"It seems your sister will be having a miscue tonight. Crippling an unpowered empire thug. Very kind of you to fix his spine. That's what, the seventh time? No, lets be fair, sixth. That one merchant was trying to shoot her."
No. People didn't realize what it was like to be "seen" by Edition. Your actions, your secrets, exposed. Only kept hidden in the dark by her ever-changing whimsy.
Her supporters saw the friendly Precog that helped people – and she did help more than she hurt, Amy recognized that. Even her most vocal detractors only saw her as a too opportunistically entrepreneurial Rogue. Someone who was 'unwilling to "censor" the news from those willing to pay.'
Edition was more than that. Her tag was not a joke. She ruled SAB. Not only did she determine who was allowed onto the board, she created the rules, negotiated what people paid, and she made no qualms that she charged different rates.
"If I call, you will come. Immediately. If tell you to heal, you will. No questions asked."
Shivering from the cold January air, Amy saw her sister land with a huge grin on her face.
"Ames! Have you been following this?" Waving her cell phone around enthusiastically, Vicky sported a massive grin. "Armsmaster just called L33T's idea for a micro-teleporter, "a fanciful notion derived from the delusional musings of a substandard mind!" This is gold!"
"Didn't he have to go to a PR class after the vampire meme got back to PHO?"
Feeling a rush of pure joy, Amy couldn't help but laugh alongside her Vicky. She couldn't help it, it was funny, and her sister really was amazing.
"In exchange, I will keep your sister's discretions away from prying eyes. I will keep your secrets safe."
"He did!" Vicky laughed. "God, you should have seen Dean and Dennis' faces when I showed them the original thread. They are soooo jealous that we are on the site when the PRT and Protectorate don't allow Wards access. Thanks again for agreeing to help Edition with some healing, sis! I know you really don't like doing that."
Being lifted into the air, Amy unintentionally snuggled closer to her sister, the sudden chill returning as they took off into the air.
"Here I thought you don't make the news, just report it," she had snarked at the Thinker.
"It's no problem," she mumbled into Vicky's shoulder. "I know how much you like it."
This time, the jolt of happiness she felt when her sister looked down at her failed to make her feel better. Edition didn't just manage who was on the board and what they paid; she dictated what they saw as well.
"Call it, editorial discretion."
Dodge
Toybox, Feb. 8, 2011
All capes are broken.
Dodge didn't need Cranial's enhancements to recognize that fact. He felt it everyday.
Unsafe. Vulnerable.
His power gave him the knowledge of how to open paths to a safe-place – somewhere away from the dangerous world he lived. A world that was even more dangerous to him after his trigger.
Discovering that someone else occupied his new home had driven him into a crippling panic attack. Finding out that they were like him, Tinkers, only marginally softened the blow. His safety net wasn't as safe as it should have been.
But then they offered to help him.
Safety in numbers.
He accepted.
His new home was better than the alternative, but it was still dangerous.
To make matters worse, he had to 'earn his keep' in order to stay with the others.
How he loathed it. This was supposed to be his safe-space! Instead, he was forced to build bridges for others to access a portion of his new home!
Oh, he built walls around the paths he opened for his clients. The others were smart enough to insist upon it – as if he wanted more people here! This dimension was to be his escape from the world, but here he was, selling it piecemeal.
His security blanket, being chipped away, piece by piece, until there would be nothing left!
Maybe that was why he reached out to her.
She wasn't safe. Not really. Not with what she could do. Someone would come for her. Use her. Or manipulate her, like the others had done/are doing to him. He was still young – only eleven years old – and he couldn't see like she could, but he had to try and warn her! He reached out to help her.
And, now, the tables had turned.
Now, she looked after him.
Protected him.
He had hesitated at first. When she asked for him to convince the others to help her. He wanted to trust her, but the others in Toybox had seemed helpful at first. He had to know. He needed reassurances. So she told him. Told him about her power.
"Imagine a vast lake, stretching as far as the eye can see."
He could.
Back before he realized just how terrifying the world was, he remembered going out onto Lake Michigan with his dad. It was peaceful there. Calm. They took their boat out until they couldn't even see the shore anymore. The water was perfect, and the two of them had fished for hours before going home.
He missed those times.
His missed his dad.
"In the middle of the water, I sit alone in a boat, observing all around me."
It must be nice. Beautiful even.
"The future causes ripples and waves on the lake. The closer I am to the ripple, the easier it is to see, large disturbances are noticeable no matter how far away they occur. But, if I try really hard, I can see someone in particular. I can see you, Dodge. "
Her voice terrified him. Even now.
"Help me, Dodge, and I will keep you safe. We can offer the others the illusion of safety. Money. Influence. The things they desire. But it will be you I look after. You I will keep safe."
He had asked for proof.
She had given it.
The next day, she had told him his future. Describing the menial trials of his day-to-day life.
She could do it.
He was willing. He would help her, but, then, she offered more.
"Someday, I promise you will have your home to yourself, Dodge. It will take time. Maybe more time than you have lived in your life thus far, but it will be yours."
In that moment, his future changed. It didn't matter how much of his home he gave away. Eventually, it would all be his.
He was young.
She would keep him safe.
And, someday, he would have it all back.
For that, he would give anything.
Purity
Kayden's Apartment, Feb. 12, 2011
Landing on her balcony, Kayden could not help the uneasy smile at what she accomplished tonight.
She knew this day would come. The day when the final strings to her old life would be severed, and she could finally step out from underhiscontrol. Not just his control though, but also away from the Gesellschaft.
Now. Now, she was out.
For good.
Forever.
Let them call her a Nazi after dropping Rune, Krieg, and Crusader on the helipad of the PHQ.
Tied. Wrapped. Delivered.
She had flown off before security could so much as contemplate what was happening.
Stripping off her costume, she ignored the ringing of her landline. It would be him. Edition had already told her not to answer. He makes threats. He screams. He will say Edition cannot protect her.
The truth was, she had, perhaps for the first time, hurt him. Hurt him in a way that he would understand at the most fundamental level.
"You are not ready to face him. You will hesitate. You will lose."
Edition knew her. At times, it felt like Edition knew her better than she knew herself. Instead of taking on Kaiser like she had planned, Edition had pointed her at a different target. One that, while still a little painful, she could manage.
Rune. The girl would get to be a ward. Edition had promised that. The Protectorate would get her out of the Bay by dawn. She'd be rebranded and have a chance to be a hero. What's more, Rune's ability to move capes in mass around the city would cripple Kaiser's ability to respond across his remaining territory.
Ha. Empire territory more closely resembled Swiss cheese these days with the Merchants and Coil carving swaths out of it.
Krieg, Kaiser's chief lieutenant and main connection/sponsor to the broader Gesellschaft in Europe. He would be birdcage bound. Kayden always knew the man was a monster, but the sheer number of crimes he had committed in Europe. It was staggering to finally learn the truth.
Crusader. It had been hard to betray Justin, but Edition had been firm. One of the biggest threats in Kaiser's arsenal, he had to go. His projections' capacity to attack heroes at multiple vectors, assassinate people, or strike at multiple targets at once made him a dangerous force multiplier for an increasingly desperate Kaiser.
But the most important part of taking out these three capes was the damage it would do to Kaiser's standing. Krieg's loss will be the last draw for the Gesellschaft – already upset at the Empire's failure to procure them access to SAB – they would cut support. Without the Gesellschaft, Night and Fog would remain listless in Boston. Menja and Fenja would remain loyal, but the rest?
Glancing down at her burner, Kayden saw the text she knew would shatter Kaiser's control over the Empire.
V O taken out by Merchants.
That was it.
The empire was broken. Infighting and grudges long held in check by the loyalty of powerful capes to Kaiser would explode. Hookwolf, Stromtiger, and Crickett, sick of Kaiser's floundering and unwillingness to do what they thought necessary, would leave, taking the most violent people with them.
Alabaster might stay loyal to Kaiser, but he wasn't a heavy hitter. Given time, the heroes could plan a way to incapacitate him. What's more, Alabaster knew that. Unless Kaiser got to him first, he might decide to cut and run, fleeing the collapsing Empire for a better gang in Boston or New York.
Max would come at her now with everything he had. He would try to take from her, the way she had taken from him. Not with the steel blades of Kaiser, but with the lawyers of Max Anders.
Aster.
Walking into her precious little girl's room, she saw Theo sitting next to the crib.
"Good night out?"
Forcing herself to smile, she nodded. "Yes. Very."
She wished things could have been different, but Edition had been clear. She couldn't help Theo. It was him or Aster.
God forgive her.
"Well, I'll head out then. Have a good night, Kayden."
She didn't know why she did it. She had never thought too highly of Theo, always seeing a piece of Max lingering just out of sight. Still, she pulled him into a tight hug.
"Be safe, Theo."
Max's son stiffened in her arms, and when they pulled apart, he had an uncertain expression on his face. She doubted he would ever see Aster again. Kayden prayed Edition found a way to help him, but she had to look after her little girl.
Walking him to the apartment door, Kayden placed a hand on his shoulder. "Goodbye, Theo."
Whether it was her words or how she conveyed them, the boy's face paled. He didn't know what, but he knewsomethinghad happened.
His shoulders stiff and his arms shaking somewhat, he simply walked away.
Locking the door behind him, Kayden went back into her daughter's room and sat next to her. She didn't know how long she stayed there, but eventually the soft shaking her of phone brought her out of her musings.
Nicely done! Hope you enjoy the new tag.
Opening SAB, she quickly pulled up her username.
Purity(Independent Hero)
Try as she might, she couldn't hold back the tears in her eyes. The sound of her sudden, choked, sob caused Aster to wake up with a slight cry.
Picking her up, Kayden couldn't help but let out a laugh
"It's okay baby, mommy's here. Mommy's a hero. Everything is gona be alright."
And it would.
Edition had promised.
"There will be times when you don't feel like your actions are that of a hero, but you will be. Do as I say, and I promise, Kaiser will never threaten your little girl again."
Skidmark
The Den, Dockside. Feb. 13, 2011.
This was the fucking life.
Feet propped up on his chair from atop the raised platform, Skidmark observed his domain with partially glazed eyes.
His bottom bitch, laughing it up with her bitch boys – those oh so wonderful toolsheds that spent their days canvasing the yards for scrap so his bitch could create her masterpieces. The group was sitting on her latest and greatest tank – a couple guys hanging off the huge ass turrets that decorated the beast.
Shit, that name was lit.
The beast.
Yeah, he'd christen that motherfucker later night, maybe when he was putting in the work on his slam piece.
Allowing a grin to cross his face, Skids cast his gaze to his main man. Yeah, there he was. Holding court in the corner with a couple of his garbage men – the collectors of shit that allowed his bro to become the ace he was. He'd proven himself again, ambushing those Nazi cunts tonight.
For a moment, he closed his eyes and let the rush of his high fuse with the pulse of the sick beats that wafted through the air.
Yeah, this was the life.
The sound of cheers caused him to crack an eye open. Eyeing the group cheering, he let out a laugh and sunk deeper into his chair.
No. Not chair. Throne. Yeah. His throne!
Those guys were why they were parting it up. For fucking up the Nazis that tried to move coke through HIS docks. HA!
Well, thanks to Edition and some of his boys, stacks and stacks of blow now littered his table like a fucking snow-covered mountain.
Shit, getting into bed with Edition was the best decision he'd ever made. Not that he'd ever managed to get into bed with her. Bitch only dealt over the phone or the net. To think he almost hung up on her ass for that disrespect.
After less than a month, the motherfucking Merchants were now on their way to being kings of the bay! Ha! That racist fucking shit Kaiser, letting his whole crew get assfucked by the bigger Nazis! Who's the fucking moron now!
And Lung? Fucking prideful motherfucker that he is. HA!
His fucktard of a father said it back in the day. "When you get fucked for the cash you need, you're gona feel a certain pain in your ass, and, in that moment, you ain't gona wanna do it. That pain? That's pride fucking with ya. Fuck pride. Pride only hurts, it never helps. Get cash, get yours."
His old man was a right cunt, but he'd been right. Fuck pride. This city was gona be motherfucking his cause he'd swallowed a load of cum and made a deal with that cold pussy.
6 months. Six motherfucking months of free future knowledge, and she'd watch his boys' motherfucking backs. Keeping their big moves on the down low! And the best part was she unintentionally spread her legs for him like the whore he knew she was.
Ha!
"Make it look like casual violence, Skidmark."
Yeah, he'd done the deed. Took his boys and threw down at that hoity-toity mall. Trashed that shit and then knocked off the redheaded bitch and her cutesy little friend.
Shit. He didn't even need to try to make it look like the bitches deserved it. What kinda dumbass cunt tries to fight when a cape points a gun at you? Fucking dumb bitch lost her head, and he'd tossed her friend off the second story railing, snapping her neck.
And now, Edition was gona be his bitch! He wasn't giving up his kingdom in no 6 months.
Little miss prissy-ass Thinker thinks she can order a hit and he'd be fine with motherfucking six months? After living the goodlife?
Fuck that.
But he wasn't stupid. Hell nah. He'd wait. Then, when it was time, he'd make that bitch his bitch. But first, he was gona enjoy the fruits of his labor!
Nodding to himself, Skidmark managed to stand up and raise his glass.
"Hey all you motherfucking motherfuckers, listen up! Y'all having a good time?"
Letting the cheers, music and booze wash over him, he raised his glass.
CRACK
Swaying to the side, his smile still in place, he felt himself drifting as the cheers turned to screams.
CRACK
Falling forward, his last thought was that his bitch needed to shut the fuck up already. She was killing his buzz.
Private Message from Accord (Verified Cape)
13 February 2011
Accord: My contact reports a success. Do you have confirmation?
Edition: I do. Thank you. Two-months access and 8 complementary paid posts.
Accord: Rarely do I find enjoyment in such acts, but, in this case, it was truly a pleasure. Though, one thing still bothers me. Do you mind?
Edition: Very well, just this once.
Accord: What did he offer you? You did not need his money. Your actions are not those of a user. What couldhegive you that others could not?
Edition: Closure.
Accord: I see. Valuable indeed.
Edition: Have a good evening.
Accord: You as well.
A/N: Thus ends Arc 1. Still think this is a lighthearted comedy?
A/N 2: Dodge is 12 years old at the time of the S9 attack in canon. His specialty allows him to create doors between dimensions. I like to think my idea for how such a power emerged is fairly good.
Edit: Completed a minor rewrite in the Purity interlud