Hebert Residence
Taylor watched the video of the Webisode cut back to a very tired-looking Danger. He was behind his customary desk but looked like hell.
"Right so that jumped up a notch." he half leaned over to adjust something "Going to be in a boot for a while thanks to that."
"I can't believe you went through all that" a female voice called from off-camera
"Well, it was a bit more than I expected. I mean I didn't go in expecting to nearly lose a foot. By the way Armsmaster, there are moments where history turns and you can look back and point at them and say there. THAT is the one moment where everything took a wrong turn. You stabbing me was one of those moments. So thanks for that you just make life worse for literally everyone"
"A bit hyperbolic isn't it?" the woman asked
Taylor wondered who she was; it wasn't Purity.
"No, not really. It wasn't going to stop me from escaping. It was petty and cruel. I embarrassed him so he hurt me. He couldn't be sure I had tech that could reattach body parts so it was an attempted maiming. I can't afford to lose any more parts." Danger said touching his broken lens.
He reached up and grasped it and to Taylor's surprise pulled on the lens with a sharp tug. He pulled out the lens and with it a spike of metal and circuitry over an inch deep. It had just a few drops of blood and a clear fluid on the end. He held the thing up to his other lens revealing a gaping hole of circuitry some sort of plastic mesh in the place of an eye socket.
"Oh gross! Don't do that out here please I appreciate what you've done for me but that is sick!"
Danger tossed the broken device which landed with a thunk that sounded like it hit a waste bin. He reached into a drawer and pulled out a duplicate whose end was wrapped in plastic. He unsealed it and slid it into the empty socket.
"Sorry, the screw-up readings were getting very distracting." He said and slapped the front of the Lens seemingly to seat it in place. He then gave a little shiver of the head that Taylor had seen people give when changing a contact lens
"Right well, I have no video to provide. Recording it wasn't in the contract but while I was out making a political statement and drawing fire I hired a few experts to help me with a grand project"
"Might I introduce the newest soul to join us in the Danger Zone and the first to be in our studio? Yes, our first musical celebrity guest. Bad Canary!"
The blonde songstress stepped out and gave a little wave before looking down with a look of disgust. She carefully maneuvered a chair and took a seat.
"You really need to get that looked at." She stated.
"Yeah, no the machines working on it. It's not as bad as it looks. Granted it does look pretty bad. Alright so speaking of as bad as it looks. Here is a picture of you in court."
A window inside the webisode window opened. It showed Bad Canary in a full-face mask that sealed her mouth and a prison jumpsuit. Each hand and both feet conformed into heavy lead-filled buckets so she couldn't move.
"Trust me it was unlike your injury far worse than it looked. The weights were set to hold back someone who had a brute rating. The mask contained devices meant to disrupt my thoughts to prevent me from using any thinker power. That collar could sedate me at will" Canary explained
"All of this for a known power that gives hypnotic suggestions to people after being charged up by a musical performance."
"They claimed you could never tell I might have powers I had hidden. We both know it was to cast me in a certain light. I'm... I was a star. I know all about PR spin branding and making a statement."
"By the law, it's required that you have three strikes on your record to be sent to the Birdcage to which there is no lesser sentence than life. You had one minor incident which did not count as a strike when you first got your powers. A common occurrence and this one incident which was accidental and at best could stand the burden of proof as an attempted homicide. I don't get it. Why were you on your way to the Birdcage?"
"The Judge said he was making an example. That despite my good record he had to send a message to other Parahuman rogues."
"In any normal case that would never hold up before an appeal."
"Birdcage sentences are not allowed an appeal. By sending me there he prevented any review of how the trial was handled. No investigation of jury contamination of witness tampering or trampling my rights to face my accusers or provide for my own defense."
"So he retroactively gave himself the power to get away with anything. He admitted in court that he had no right to send you to the Birdcage. However, because once he did there was no mechanism for review he could not be stopped from denying you your legal rights?"
"That is very much correct."
"And he could do this to anyone?"
"To any Parahuman. The Birdcage is a Parahuman only facility."
"But hypothetical if the judge declared that someone was a Parahuman and sentenced them. Would it be allowed to stop and test that status without an appeal?"
"I have no idea."
"I doubt that anyone does. Any final thoughts Canary?"
"That maybe if they do this to us the day isn't far off that they do it to others. They start targeting people who are hated or just less popular. That is to say, those who aren't among the majority. People who feel differently, love differently, worship differently, or are just born differently might well be next. It opened my eyes. I'm going to fight to end this. I'm lucky to get the chance. I thought it was someone else's problem. That if I behaved and followed the rules I was safe. Now I see you are only safe if you join them and let them control you. So if that's not for you? Then you have to fight, it's your only option."
"Nice. I have a different takeaway. You see these laws are illegal, they violate not only the Constitution but basic human rights and dignity.
It clearly shows that to these people we are somehow less. We are undeserving of the same protections humanity is recognized as having.
This line of thought, dehumanizing the Parahuman, runs a terrible risk. A risk that is more horrible than its application to other groups" Danger intoned sounding exhausted.
"What is that?" Canary asked, leaning forward with horrified curiosity.
"That they will convince us that we are not human. You see once we stop sympathizing with humanity. Once we conceive that there is no social compact. That we are a people apart. At that point, all laws and every social compass go out the window.
No one will try to behave and live the life of a quiet rogue. No one will seek safety in service with the Protectorate.
The only law will be the whims of the powerful. They will be cold and distant Gods if we are lucky and callous and cruel children playing with ants if we are unlucky.
They will break the world over their knee and those of us who still care about our neighbors, our family, and our friends. We will watch the world these petty tyrants built eat them but have no time for celebration as it devours everything else in its path."
There are billions of people who would work together. They'd stop it they'd hunt us down" Canary argued she sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
"Sweet child. they can't even stop the Slaughter-House Nine when they still have Parahumans on their side. What chance will the world have when that sort of Aberrant behavior is commonplace?"
Canary's eyes widened as the camera focused back upon Danger.
"No links tonight kids. Hopefully, our next show won't be such a downer."
The episode ended. Taylor pondered its message. Lone Heroes and Rogues even independent teams had to have powerful human backing. Many of those seemed convinced their patronages gave them ownership over the Capes working for them.
She and the Undersiders were going to meet the boss tomorrow. Would he be yet another manipulative controller?
Fearing the criminal gangs forcing Capes to join them was a major reason to join the Protectorate or an established Hero team.
Her time at Arcadia had proven that the world was not Winslow. Despite her experience with corrupt bureaucrats who had a disdain for their charges it was far from the norm for the population at large. It sure was looking like the norm for those with powers.
A Secret Location
Under Brockton
The Undersiders looked around impressed. Their mysterious boss had sent a van to collect them. It had driven to a hidden entrance inside a parking garage past a movable wall. Beyond that was a fortress-like secret compound.
They entered a room that appeared like a large meeting hall. Coil awaited them. He was seated at a large circular ring of a table with a hologram of Brockton floating in the open middle.
"Right on time, we have a few others to wait for. You will find your chairs are labeled. Each has customized features." Coil announced
Tattletale sat to Coils' right then Grue, Regent, Bitch, and Weaver brought up the rear.
The Travelers entered the room next. The space next to Coil had no chair but a video screen and webcam turned on revealing a blonde who could apparently remotely control the camera as it followed Trickster till he sat down. Fanning out from there was Ballistic, Sundancer, A red-haired girl whose spot was made for the wheelchair she drove, then a boy with an
oddly attractive yet bland appearance.
More capes entered. A local cat burglar with a grab bag of odd powers called Circus sat down next to the mysterious boy followed by Leet and then Uber.
A solo villain named Trainwreck sat his bulky train-themed power armor in the special chair next to Weaver. There was plenty of space left but only three more chairs
Coil turned to Tattletale "Are they intentionally late?"
Tattle poked some buttons on her armrests and the hologram showed the base with one light nearly entering the room and two others further back catching up.
"No personal trouble from that one. He wasn't going to join us until she arrived." Tattletale explained nodding to the line dot which was right outside.
The door opened and Purity entered. She was not powered up. She had a visor over her eyes and wore the fancy new armor she'd used the last few days.
"Sorry, I had a last-minute personal issue." Purity said taking her place. Next entered the Doctor and a girl about his age. She had fairly straight hair that wasn't quite dark enough to make the jump from brown to black. The Doctor had a chair directly across from Coil it seemed but he moved it placing the girl between himself and Purity.
"Please don't ask Oracle any questions directly, her power sometimes activates without control. It's worse than Tattletales in that regard." Danger said, taking his seat.
"Well this is impressive," Regent said looking about at the gathered mass.
"I have carefully hidden the true influence I hold. The time is fast approaching when open moves will have to be made." Coil revealed
"With the ABB gone the only thing standing in your way is the Empire. You have the numbers to face them but Kaiser does have an advantage in direct combat." Purity summarized.
"None of my agents are experts in direct conflict. Thus the empire will be felled by indirect assault. I have a plan to deal a crippling blow to the E88. Your part has been planned. It will require you to walk a careful line. Trust is paramount you need not trust me, however, Doctor Danger has had input into the plan and managed to alleviate any conflict of interest. Do precisely as you are instructed and you will come out better than you can imagine" Coil instructed.
Purity looked across the young girl to her Boss. Danger gave a slight nod and she relaxed into her chair.
"Everyone else is to keep a low profile. The Undersiders, Travelers, and Trainwreck will be on standby to take and hold portions of the city in the wake of the collapse. Moving quickly and supporting each other will be critical to prevent snags."
"Coil you're our boss, and we all owe you. However, this sounds like a massive change in our status. Our rep was built as getaway artists, why were we left out of the loop? It sounds like we still are only getting pieces of the plan." Grue asked with a calm but powerful tone.
"Because your power had nothing to contribute Tattletale and Danger have thinker powers Noelle's power lies on a different path but at Danger's request she has seen and helped debug the plan. It is true this will be a major change and I will be talking to you in smaller groups and individually about your parts and how you will be compensated.
I have a high degree of confidence you will all find the terms acceptable or better. In the interest of time, however, it's best for the overall plan to be explained here to everyone. As well the Doctor will be presenting his own reasons why we should work together." Coil explained giving the young man a wave.
Danger stood "Thank you. If you direct your attention to the middle space a presentation will begin. Don't worry Bitch this won't drag on and you'll find it interesting.
"These are charts the data comes from the Guild and is under tight controls to prevent its accidental discovery by the general population
"I've taken the time to simplify it. World population, industrial production, environmental quality, and violence level. Up to here is a baseline tracking back to 1910. There are the Endbringers showing up and projections for the future. Lastly, here is our world's outcome summarized in one rude word."
Four letters floated in the air as every graph but violence fell into an abyss followed by it also crashing as the population neared zero.
"Hold on! There's no hope at all!" Uber started standing up in surprise.
Coil motioned for him to sit "The Endbringers have never suffered a true defeat. They are destroying cities faster than we can rebuild. The rate at which humans gain super abilities is increasing but outside the remote chance of multiple high-powered Capes, we are talking Triumvirate, or powered-up Lung level. No there is no hope in sixty years at the very best Earth Bet is doomed.
"There are contingencies in the works evacuation of portions of the population via technology based on Professor Haywires' portal device. Those were thrown for a loop by a Simurgh attack. They might save a few thousand
"There is the chance they will just follow us. Simurgh at least seemed to understand that plan and the technology we needed to complete it.
"As well there are the problems we bring with us. Parahumans test each other, we compete, form rivalries, and push back against limitations placed on us. Most major governments fear the growing numbers of parahumans and the challenge we represent to their rule. Please allow the Doctor to continue." Coil interjected.
"You might be asking what we can do about this. How can anyone make a difference and if we can not what is the point in any of this?
"First a matter of disclosure. I am not from Earth Bet. The Earth I came from had a higher degree of understanding of paranormal powers and technology that was at least a century ahead of where Bet is at."
"Your world was destroyed by inner Parahuman rivalry no more than that war with baseline humans" Tattletale deduced.
"Very true. The breakdown occurred on multiple levels. Parahuman supremacists called the Teragen showed no respect for governmental power inviting reprisals. Increasing expectations for Parahumans who wanted to live normal lives to volunteer their time and energy. It came to the point that the only acceptable Parahumans were glorified slaves."
"Like the CIT use here?" Purity asked.
"Different chains but same purpose yes. Those who wished to fight back against tyranny made common causes with those who were willing to kill humans and cast off morality. We called them Aberrants very like your Slaughterhouse Nine."
"An army of psychopaths, not a cheerful thought" Trainwreck grumbled
"No, it was not soon we were all tarred with the same brush. All Parahumans were killed on sight. Rumor of a town or neighborhood harboring Parahumans was regarded as collateral damage and acceptable losses to cleanse an infestation.
Many of those who started with the conviction that human life was precious and peace worth fighting for lost those convictions. After my parents died I chose a different path. I retreated. Now here I am. If this world is going to evade the mistakes mine made it has to have a plan. In places of weaker government warlords is the rule of the day.
Coil here has a different plan, one significantly better."
Coil nodded. "I am admittedly ruthless. Some of you have run afoul of my less public relations-friendly face. However, believe this. I am quite aware that long-term stability requires those under me to remain satisfied, and happy if possible.
"Whether you count humanity as a family, friend, or merely a resource that would be better used than wasted, no one here is the sort of monster that would embrace mass slaughter or genocide.
"This city can become a model for Parahumans we can rule, prove our strength, and protect the people we count as ours all the while buying time for more new strong Parahumans to be born for the advanced technology Danger brought with him to be marketed and made into new weapons or enhancements that can help us repair what the Endbringers break and even fight back.
"This is what I offer, not despot warlords, Kings, Barons, stewards who might well fleece mankind but will never let the wolves tear them apart."
"And that's just your base offer?" Circus asked
Coil nodded "For each of you I have additional honey to sweeten the pot. But given the strength of that presentation alone, I ask who is with the plan in the broad strokes."
Slowly every hand raised. Coil nodded "Then it begins"
Brockton General Hospital
Two very tired teens sprawled over chairs in a small break room. Nova had made a deal with Amy. She came to help her at the hospital Friday night. Amy would then rest and do normal fun things with her as Mary all of Saturday.
A wrecked bus however led both girls to stay late. Now it was the middle of the night and they were still out. Luckily Jane and Ethan knew where they were. Once finished Nova would fly to the base and an unmarked Protectorate car would drop her and Amy at home.
Nova rubbed the back of her neck trying to knead out some of the stress that had built there.
"I don't see how you do this nearly every day. I would be a basket case. It's emotionally and physically draining." She gripped at Amy.
Panacea shrugged. "Dean asked me the same thing. I told him about how I was worried about how caring and compassion didn't seem to come to me naturally anymore. I would see people with problems and think about how much more work it was. He told me to tell the hospital staff. It happens to doctors and nurses too.
"They offered to let me see their therapists and they wanted to limit my volunteering. I managed to talk them out of that. I don't want to be home any more than I have to." Amy explained.
"Why? You and Vicky seem to get along so well. Your dad seems nice too." Nova wondered.
"He's fine when he remembers to take his meds. It's Carol. I don't know if it's something to do with being adopted or what but she's judgemental. I mean impossible to please nitpicking. Work, even as stressful as it is, became my refuge" Amy admitted.
"That's not right," Nova fumed.
"Come on, I'll show you what is edible if you know the cafeteria. It's not that bad a place to eat," Amy said standing up.
Nova followed Amy. Her nerves were frazzled. The side halls filled with abandoned medical equipment took on an eerie feeling.
Nova nearly took flight when an old woman rounded the corner naked as the day she was born. She was dragging her IV stand behind her and calling for a dog.
Amy had stalled her firmly ensuring she stayed put while Nova fetched a Nurse. With a shake of her head, Nova watched them lead the elderly woman away it seemed she wasn't even supposed to be on this floor.
They finally made it to the cafeteria. The pickings were slim, and the hot bar was closed but the remains had been containerized for reheating.
"The salads are normally safe, the hot stuff is hit or miss. The cold sandwiches will be awful by now, at this hour the bread is mush." Amy advised.
"Anyway, to tell what is good to reheat, I kinda want something hot," Nova asked.
Amy looked around and spotted a Raven-haired nurse chatting with a female Doctor, raised her voice.
"Hey, McKenzie! Are any of the leftovers good?"
"The lasagna was but I think I got the last. What did you eat?" She asked the Doctor.
"Nothing from here my husband tried making fried rice. The man can fry a mean schnitzel but I think he's lost when it comes to Wok dishes. Hey, ask the delivery guy." The Indonesian doctor replied.
"Hey, was the meatloaf good?" McKenzie said half turning. A tall well-muscled man in ripped jeans and a slayer shirt turned. His hand truck full of boxes and company snapback that held his thick brown hair back was the only thing identifying him as working for the vending company.
He looked over at the girls and Nova gave a slight start at his pretty blue eyes "You can trust the meatloaf but stay away from the mac and cheese. If you need a side, go with the potatoes." He said in a very laid-back tone.
"Thanks," Amy replied pulling the cartons out she waved at the woman behind the register who marked something down
"You have an account." Nova guessed.
"Yeah. He's dating a cop." Amy said, leaping from one thought to another.
"Huh? Oh, the delivery guy?"
"Yeah, I overheard some nurses lamenting that she made detective and he might be quitting to work with his band full time. He's a guitar player." Amy expounded.
"Due to the extra income, I guess. Well good for them. People should chase their dreams." Nova mused.
Amy punched the buttons on the microwave while eyeing Nova. Whose gaze was drifting around the room.
"What are you looking for?" She asked.
Nova shrugged, "Whatever is here to see."
Amy shrugged, "Well if you are ogling him like the old ladies at the nursing stations you're way better at being discreet."
Nova sighed, "McKenzie keeps pepper spray on her keychain. The Doctor she's with is trained in Jagdkommando CQB of all things. Blue eyes back there however has killed before."
Amy looked up from mixing her potatoes in surprise "How do you know that?"
"How do you and these doctors know what illnesses someone's got before they run tests? Subtle cues and experience. I just don't remember the experiences. They have to be buried here somewhere."
"No, they don't, memory isn't always connected like that. The human mind is not a logic engine like a computer. The framework the brain builds for judgment doesn't necessarily need the raw data anymore. All part of why I refuse to mess around in there."
"This meatloaf isn't half bad," Nova admitted.
"Yeah well, just because all that is true and you do feel a paranoid need to scan about for threats all the time doesn't mean what I noticed was wrong.
You liked what you were looking at and your heart rate increased, then your eyes dilated when you saw his admittedly pretty eyes." Amy said refusing to change topics
"Yeah, I guess I did. Is that a problem Amy? Because I don't want it to be a problem. I like having friends and you're one of my oldest friends."
"When you say it that way it sounds more impressive than I've known you two weeks longer than anyone at school."
"Yeah, I guess," Nova admitted
"I'm not mad or anything. I just wish things were different. It's complicated." Amy admitted
"How so? I'm your friend Amy. I'm here to listen."
"When I was little Carol didn't treat me badly. Looking back I realize she treated me as a part of Vicky. So long as Vicky was happy I was a good girl. It was Vicky and Amy are doing well, or Vicky and Amy did this, Vicky and Amy are having trouble in English. It was either both of us or just Vicky alone, never me alone."
"That can't have been healthy." Nova mused.
"No, I guess not. Regardless, I absorbed that. I guess Vicky became the center of my world. It didn't hurt that she was the only one who seemed worried about what Amy wanted or how Amy was doing."
"What about Mark?" Nova wondered.
"His illness affects him; he tries but his efforts are... hit and miss. I know in my head he does what he can but it hurts here." Amy said, pulling her fist to her heart.
"Damn, say have you thought about trying to help without touching his brain? Maybe give him a gland that time releases his medication so he never forgets."
"That. . That might work."
The two girls sat for a second letting the words reverb in their minds while they chewed their food. Then Amy continued
"We were always sort of isolated because our family is openly Capes. That made it hard to have regular friends and I don't have Vicky's gift for socializing.
After we got our powers that got worse Carol started treating me like a time bomb instead of an accessory for Vicky. Other people wanted to be near us because of who we were, not who we are if you follow me."
"Trust me I understand that" Nova admitted.
"Vicky was the only friend I had who was real. The only one I could trust in. Then we started to get older and no one else became that close to me." Amy admitted.
"So you hoped our friendship would grow into dating?"
"I don't know what I wanted specifically. I want your friendship but I guess somewhere deep down I wanted more."
"I can't promise anything on that front Amy. I like guys well, a couple of guys anyhow, I don't know if I like girls in general but I know there is one that I've got a crush on."
"Who?" Amy asked obvious suspicion rising in her voice.
"It's pretty embarrassing and it would never go anywhere. But, I did have a little tiny crush on umm... my Aunt."
"What? Oh? But Ethan!" Amy exclaimed in a mixture of shock and relief.
"Yeah well... He sort of tickles the right places too."
"So you're living with a married couple that..."
"Require me to maintain a high degree of self-control. So I don't make a fool of myself. The reality of having them be my family is more important than any fantasy.". Nova explained.
"Wow, and I thought I had it rough. Well, I still do with Carol making my life hell but that's another issue for later."
Nova pondered this statement as she finished her water "Ahh crush on Vicky. Yeah, I don't think she'd respond well to that. It would get awkward fast."
"That apparent?"
"Only when brought up in this context. Shit Dean has to know."
"He does but he's not telling her he's actually trying to help in his own way. He's sort of annoying about it really."
Nova nodded. "Come on, let's get out of here. We have the rest of our lives to look for romance and figure out our place in the world. For the rest of the day let's do goofy shit and unwind"
"Let's," Amy said, rising to join her friend. Regardless of what the future held, she knew Nova would be there supporting her.
Coil's Base
Weaver was watching everyone familiarizing themselves with the base. Bad Canary was in the base. A recording booth had been installed for her use. There were places overseas where her music could be legally sold. Coil and Danger we're both going to get a cut of what profits came from that.
As disquieted as it made Taylor feel to share space with criminals the knowledge of how Canary had been treated made her equally uneasy about trying to stop this swelling power.
When the existing authorities were so capricious, so willing to chuck out their own rules and law? What made them any better than the villains here?
"Weaver! The Doctor needs you in his lab" a minion stated as he walked by her.
Taylor headed in that direction, her head still filled with questions about her own future plans.
The doctor's lab space was not sterile but he did have an air curtain that kept most bugs out and some ultrasonics that drove away the rest. She was pretty sure she could force some bugs to enter but saw little point they'd stick out and he'd know who sent them. She still had what was in her costume's storage compartment.
Danger was sitting in a swivel chair in the middle of the room. People worked on projects around the workspace he'd shown he was able to multitask enough he could respond to nearly anything happening regardless of how distracted he seemed.
Right now it seemed he was talking to Coil on speakerphone while disassembling and working on some of his gear.
"I said it's the aura type we know the most about. Not that it is what we need."
"Noelle is becoming increasingly hard to control despite your efforts. With no cure in sight, your research has to show some movement on some front." Coil replied
"Well she's here, we'll see how it goes. I'll call you back when I know more."
Danger spun to face her, giving her an encouraging smile. "Hello Weaver. Thanks for the work on those spider silk samples."
"No problem thanks for getting the Darwin's Bark Spiders"
"You know what I'm trying to do here right? I won't work with a government that does the things going on out there. The Protectorate and PRT are guilty by association at best, willing participants at worst. I have to give them a chance to use some of the technology I am trying to recreate but I can't morally work with them directly."
"I understand your reasons for sure."
"But you're not sure you agree with them."
"I'm not sure what I agree with."
"Coil knows you were originally trying to be a hero. If you want to go that route we can help you safely defect. We have some information we don't mind leaking out enough to see you safely admitted into the Wards with a hero's welcome."
"Why would he do that?"
"Because in the end, it doesn't matter to him he's going to control the entire city. You're a smart girl, Taylor, you can put it together."
"He's either in the PRT or has a puppet there. Taking down the E88 will be a significant event. they've been a problem for more than a decade before I was born. Even if it doesn't happen now he's going to eventually have power over Brockton. He'll have iron-clad control of the city. With all of the remaining villains here on his payroll each taking just enough to live well. It will look like the lowest para-human crime city in America. She realized."
"Controlled levels of criminal activity just enough to keep anyone else from trying to latch on to the city if there were no criminals every two-bit operation in the country would try to stake a claim in the Bay." Danger agreed
"It would look clean too, every incoming crook simultaneously fighting a knowledgeable Protectorate group while muscled out by the very organized local villains," Weaver replied with a mixture of sick despair at fighting such a plan and admiration at its cunning.
"The important part is no one here is going to be under the levels of violence and mayhem they were and a low crime Brockton will be a city that attracts investors in particular when Coils shell companies start churning out tech years even decades ahead of the curve."
"Is that what's in it for you? A place to push your technology?" Weaver accused.
Danger stood up and motioned for her to follow. Once a few rooms over he stopped. The room was some sort of monitoring station recording gear and a smooth glass wall like police integration rooms on television. Danger clicked a button. The glass became clear. Weaver took an involuntary step back and her insects moved within her pack
Beyond the glass was a monster from out of a nightmare. A rolling mass of limbs, heads, mouths, and teeth from an assortment of animals. It was big, nearly the size of a car. Sprouting out of the top of this warped nightmare was the girl Noelle Weaver had seen on the screen at Coils' big meeting.
"She's a Case 53?"
"Not exactly but similar enough. You see the Travelers are from Earth Aleph they were pulled into Bet in 2009 when Simurgh attacked Madison Wisconsin. After being brought to Bet the Travelers found the remains of a lab with Case 53-like parahumans in it. They also found a set of vials that reportedly gave you powers. They used them and thus the Travelers were born. With their new powers, they were able to escape the Quarantine zone. You know the sort erected around the Simurgh attack to prevent her Clairvoyant plans and mental manipulation from weaponizing the population. But one vial backfired."
Wait? They are experiments? The Case 53's are someone's lab mistakes? Someone is making powers in a lab? Weaver's mind raced to work out what any of that would mean.
"The powers that have been seen among the Parahuman population of Earth Bet, as well as the less numerous and weaker heroes of Aleph all, come from a creature either a symbiote or parasite some of these beings are more passive while some seem to sabotage their own host like Leet's A few change them mentally or physically."
Weaver nodded having already figured out a part of that in how Racheal's power seemed to make her think more like a canine.
"They are all part of a Network they can communicate with each other. How they do so is something we are still working out; however, we do suspect they are part of a larger whole. Some seem to have more volition and some degree of authority over others. One theory is there is a hub or lynchpin somewhere they all report to. The actions the Endbringers have taken seem much like many internal Cape mental changes. They are driven to cause the escalation of inner cape conflict. It is like they are idiot programs running a script that drive you to fight each other and conveniently a big threat to unite against also showed up just in time to prevent the world from getting a handle on the situation. Suspicious don't you think?"
Weaver put her hand to the glass "We are what lab rats? Insects they wish to study?"
"I don't know but this is all related. These Passengers, the Endbringers, Scion, the timing is all too suspect for it to be otherwise. I watched one planet bring itself to the brink of utter devastation on the weight of people having powers alone, without some alien beings playing with it."
"Why are you showing me this?"
"You might think it would give you a sense of perspective to show you why I need an oasis of peace to work in. We have big mysteries to solve before they drown the world. You already knew we were working against a countdown clock from my presentation the other day. All of that is part of why you are here. But there is a bigger reason that brought me to call you here today. Regardless of if you stay a hero or villain Coil can use you if you work against him he'll kill you. At least he plans to if he must."
"But that's not all of it." Weaver realized.
"Remember when I said some symbiotes seem to hate their hosts, a few are the opposite. They actively seek to work in the other direction bending whatever alien rules they work under to help their partner. You, Weaver, are one of this minority. Your power seems to like you. It also appears to have a higher level of command in the network than most and more freedom of action. That is still only a small part of why I need you."
"Then why?" Weave said in a voice that was tired of the lengthy preamble.
Danger pulled his goggles off and set them down and turned. Weaver was unsurprised to find his eyes were fairly normal. She even recognized his face.
Because you have level five Quantum resonance. Before I left my own world I was associated with a lab that was one of the only places that researched not only Quantum powers like I have but Psionics and Paratemporal ones. They studied the Hammersmith event that brought the first low-level powers into our world as well as the Galatea event that started our superhero age. I can change the dynamics of the world. Weaver, I can give you powers."
"But I have powers."
"No, you have a partner that grants you powers. I can give you powers of your own."
