PRT HQ

Emily Piggott was giving Armsmaster her best glare.

"Why didn't you tell me, Calvert was conducting an operation in Brockton? I could have had our division's PRT troopers ready to back you. I could have secured resources to follow up on this victory. Instead, it looks like we have our pants down."

"Director I was instructed to tell no one the multi-jurisdictional nature of this bust. Any leaks could have compromised inner department cooperation" Colin replied.

"That's bullshit and you know it. Calvert is making a play for my job." Her glare turned to a smoldering fury.

"It sounds like you wanted a personal favor. We have worked together well and professionally, however, when have you ever done something for me? Even taking personal command of the Wards only did me an incidental benefit. It originally was a critique of my skills with younger capes." Colin said flatly.

"I expected better than a stab in the back. I've given you every professional courtesy-"

"You have given us the bare minimum cooperation while shifting every possible scrap of blame. Meanwhile, you ensured that you and your command absorbed any positive press.

Despite the low intensity, the patterns are clear once analyzed. You used my lack of social adroitness to strike out against the ENE Protectorate. You did so out of undeniable prejudice. We don't owe you, director. Whether you stay or are replaced there will be changes. The ENE Protectorate is through being the local PRT office's victim." Colin said, turning away.

Piggott glared at Armsmasters back. She knew she'd never gone out of her way to harm the local Capes; it would have been self-defeating to do so. She knew she disliked them, no particular individual but having come up through the PRT trooper ranks she knew how few Capes were decent people.

'Calvert must have gotten to him.' She thought. Colin lacked the social awareness to have picked up on, or done anything about her bias. With no one complaining, she had not monitored herself to check her inclinations.

Nothing she'd done would warrant being fired or even could be pointed out as wrong. With Calvert controlling the spin, it would look worse than it was. A string of low-level events, or a sort of hostile environment complaint. She could see that gaining some traction.

With this proven success and a complaint that could be somewhat substantiated, she would be moved laterally or down. Calvert then would move in.

She truly hated her job. She could not abide being considered a failure however and the very idea of Calvert's smug ass in her office made her blood boil.

Catching Skidmark and Squealer wouldn't be enough. The Merchants were small potatoes. Scavengers, not the predators the E88 and ABB had been. It was only a move to buy time. She would have to work fast.

Piggott realized what few cards she had to play and hurried to put them to good use while she could.

Entering a conference room she eyed the two bedraggled teens waiting for her. Dragon's digital avatar was on a screen on the wall. She gazed at Dragon and then started asking questions.

"So NuWave fell into a fugue state. It seems to be related to whatever Danger did to stun Manpower and Laser Dream. How did that affect you?"

Amy Dalton sat up "My sister and I were in this base. We came to turn over Rune. When Victoria collapsed I panicked. I don't touch the brain for ethical reasons even the slightest of changes can have dire effects. I could however feel the issue was her Gemma Potinia. As there are no known thought centers in that region, I decided to try a passive scan in my rushed and panicked state. That's also when I yelled for whoever was nearby to get Nova. Her healing power can affect brains far more safely than I."

Nova didn't sit up but added "When I arrived she was out of it I touched her shoulder and flooded my aura through both her and Victoria. It helped Amy who like the others was lost in a set of dissociated sensory hallucinations. It was just like the textbooks refer to as happening when a Parahuman is near a trigger event."

"With Nova's power fortifying me I was able to retain some of the visions. More importantly, I could see - the effects of larger phenomena that I can only surmise are extra-dimensional extensions of our gemma. It's how I would guess our powers work. They tap other universal energy sources. Nuwave except me are related and it seems the extra-dimensional components are close to each other in some way."

Dragon spoke up "As Amy was adopted her gemma lobe is not as close to the rest of the family. Our best guess is when she brushed her sister's gemma the effect still chained to her."

Amy nodded.

"Why didn't it then chain to Nova?" Piggott inquired.

"Her power isn't like ours. I'm now sure she's as different from us as we are from unpowered humans. Convergent evolution or something but her power doesn't feel like ours or react like ours. The only way I can describe it is she pulls power from between dimensions not across them." Amy tried to explain.

"Universal micro rupture. Energy and matter are pulled or dissipated into the quantum ether from which universes spring during creation and collapse back into when they fail. It's part of the telluric model of dimensional mechanics." Nova rattled off.

"And you studied these effects?" Piggot glared.

"I must have. I'm pretty sure I didn't understand them. I just knew the basic answers. Just as how most people know gravity warps space and relativistic speeds dilate time. I don't understand why or how. I just know it just was accepted that it did."

"Humm" Piggott mused.

"I'll bet someone else understands it better. I don't recall everything but there were pulses of power similar to Novas flashing between NuWaves powers. I think Danger is like Nova. What is more, Dragon thinks she knows what he was doing." Amy revealed.

"Oh?" Piggott demanded.

"He was mapping the network. Second-generation capes are people who live in close proximity not necessarily genetically related. If all powers form links to closely related powers they'd form a lattice or web he's looking for patterns. He's mapping the dimensions we draw on and learning more about how our powers work. That is likely the key to how he's been able to generate Trump effects." Dragon speculated

"It could. It's all good theory but ultimately a hunch. Nothing I can do much with for now. I will pass the notes on. I have another set of tasks for you two that must remain confidential for now. The two of you are going to help me get back into shape so I can be ready to take action and stop that bastard Calvert from trying to take over my city. Then I'll have plenty of time to deal with that snot-nosed brat Danger."

"I can grow you a new set of kidneys easily enough Nova's aura repairs microdamage she could give you the effect of days of bed rest in less than an hour." Amy pondered.

"That wouldn't help speed up learning for someone who didn't already have training. But you already know how to use your body. You have the mental pathways they just need to be refreshed. Your body needs to be able to meet what it once was able to do. What your brain remembers it has already done." Nova added.

"Crunch the numbers and give me a preliminary plan," Piggot ordered waving the girls out.

After both filled out Piggot looked at the screen. She spoke quietly to Dragon "I have noticed a trend people who dig deeply into how powers function tend to either go insane or vanish suddenly."

"Yes, I could encrypt these records but there are limits to how well I can bury them" Dragon admitted.

"What Amy said about Nova's powers being different?"

"I have cause to think it's true Nova does seem to lack certain basic drives that push other capes. In some ways, she's more human. If Danger is like her we can not count on predictable patterns of behavior." Dragon admitted.

"You wanted to recruit him are you willing to give us aid in capturing him?"

"I will have to ponder how that objective would be met as well as what an appropriate level of force would be justified for his capture," Dragon responded.

"While I am in this office I would be willing to authorize quite a bit. His disabling capes that were significantly removed from his location can be used to justify a fairly large push."

"I will get back to you as soon as I have a proposal director," Dragon said logging out.

Piggot nodded to herself if she could be personally involved. If she was on the scene when it happened well that might well break the PR web Calvert was spinning.

Sentinel Park

Missy and JD were back at the same table this time eating shredded pork sandwiches with potato chips. JD had explained while they couldn't legally sell them there was nothing to stop them from making them.

The guitarist was back. After Pop-pop made a few comments on his form a challenge had been issued. Missy wasn't the only one surprised when the old bean pole had taken him up on it. Pop-pop had launched into a song. He both played the guitar and did the vocals which he had filled with such emotion and skill a small crowd had formed.

"What was that?"

"Tyrant, it's Judas Priest from Sad Wings of Destiny, '76 I believe. They're Pop-pop's favorite band." JD explained.

"Huh, so he plays guitar, sings, and cooks a mean barbecue. Is there anything else Pop-pop is keeping under his hat?"

"He's an irascible old coot. I'm sure there is a bunch of stuff even I don't know from his storied life. He was in the military but he never talked about it. I think Mom knew more."

"Not your Dad?"

"Nah, he and Dad never really got along. Neither ever talked about it. Odd too as they both hated the same people." JD explained. His eyes went distant with thought.

"Like who?" Missy inquired.

"Oh, the normal political and popular culture figures," JD replied, snapping back to the here and now.

"So the PRT has escalated Doctor Danger's threat level. They are pretty worried about that weapon that can lay out Capes on the other side of the city. They did some digging and found both Triumph and Battery had weird headaches twice in the last week. Both happened at the same time Armsmaster picked up some weird readings on his sensor net. They say it's evidence he's been fine-tuning the weapon."

"Trust the government to think every experiment is a weapons test."

"Well, he did weaponize it even if it was a non-lethal attack."

"When you're right you're right. Retrospect is a hell of a drug."

"I just think if he really wanted to be a hero he should think about going legit. Think of all the good someone like that could do in the Wards."

"I hear most of his stuff is for sale through the Toy Box. If they want his work so badly they could buy it." JD countered

"I doubt they're willing to fund a criminal pseudo-revolutionary."

"Well, that sounds like a personal issue. It's not like the government hasn't dealt with unsavory sorts before if it advanced their interest."

"You are so hard-headed." Missy sighed and shook her head.

"Well, Ethan means solid so I guess I was well-named."

"I thought your name was JD? Ethan starts with an E if you were Ethan Darling you'd be ED"

"Ethan is my middle name."

"JED so you're Jed?"

"Nooo. JD doesn't stand for John Darling, it stands for John-David."

"Huh?"

"John-David Ethan Darling JD E then D"

"You have a hyphenated first name?" Missy incredulously inquired.

"Yeah, pretty hick huh" JD admitted.

"Yup." Missy summed up.

The two looked around realizing they'd finished their meal they started to clean up.

"Look you're not what I expected JD but don't think that if Vista finds Danger she'll take it easy on Him."

"You be careful out there Missy, there are much more disturbing things hunting at night than washed-up TV personalities."

"See ya around JD," Missy said with a finality that JD found concerning.

"Till next time Missy." He called after her. But she didn't turn around.

Dangers Lab

Tattletale was familiarizing Victor and Othala with the base. Coil was setting most of them up with personal lairs but the two former Nazis were being kept on a short leash. Victor would work here as an instructor for Coil's mercs. He would also guard Othala when she was sent out to use her powers on any of Coil's teams that needed a boost.

Purity had not returned. She had turned state's evidence on Max Anders in her civilian identity and on Kaiser in her Cape one. They weren't disguising who she'd been, only giving her a new name Luminous.

Tattletale and Danger had both given even odds of her falling back into her racist ways without Danger's support. She had liked the deal the Protectorate had offered, however.

Weaver was emotionally exhausted. She's been studying the information Danger had given her on powers while monitoring the news about the fall of the E88. It walked her through the nature of the power granted and the methods used to grant them.

It was a lot of homework to digest. This however was something she needed to do before making any choices about augmenting herself she needed to know about the processes and options before her.

Entering a room she'd never been inside she saw the setup used to broadcast his webisodes. Danger sat in his chair behind his metal desk staring blankly ahead. She paused something didn't seem right.

"Hey! Nice to see you, Weaver! JD will be back soon till then pull up a chair!" The Doctor suddenly said becoming incredibly animated and cheery.

Taylor cocked her head to the side and stared.

"Oh, sorry I guess I should introduce myself. I'm the PAL one thousand and I'm remotely operating this simulacrum of the Doctor while he's away on other business."

"Wait you're an android?"

He motioned for her to come closer once she did she could see beyond the desk.

"So that's what Bad Canary was squicked out by."

Tubes ran from below the camera view bringing blood and other fluids into the torso or taking waste fluids away wires connected the partial simulacra to power and data feeds. It was not an independent being but a puppet set up for a show.

"Why?"

"JD is a great multitasker he can record his show using this setup while doing other things. The bio-animatronics are not good enough to make mobile decoys yet but he keeps working on it" The overly cheery AI informed her.

"The broken goggle thing?"

"JD likes screwing with people sometimes a bad habit I also indulge in from time to time."

"Then where are you at really?"

"In a secure room wired into the electrical grid and internet. Physically I look like a sphere of crystal that uses quantum filaments in the place of neural pathways. Eventually, my medium will fill up but I have a lifespan measured in eons it's far more likely I'll die of random happenstance than old age.

"Neat how powerful a computer are you?"

The most powerful computer in the world can do over four hundred thousand trillion calculations a second. It is roughly the power of four thousand human brains it takes up almost five hundred racks each the size of a pair of large vending machines. I have about the same processing power and am about the size of a basketball. Plus I have much more personality."

"I don't doubt it."

"So the Doctor was explaining we had some sort of symbiote that gave us our powers."

"Yes! Each cape from Bet has one. The nodes on your brain are an interface with an extra-dimensional being that grants you the powers you wield. They facilitate communication between symbiote and host."

"And they influence our actions?"

"Apparently so. They seem to be responsible for the drive Capes have to fight and test each other."

"But why? If they are powerful enough to make powers and tinker tech why give them to someone else and make them fight anyone else?"

"We have theories. Our prime theory is that they are weapons tests. The powers are meant to be given to alien shock troops. The Endbringers are the equivalent of Armored support. By having everyone fight they test the limits of their systems."

"So we're lab rats? And Scion is what? the scientist observing the experiments?"

"Possibly, there is also the possibility they lack something and hope to find it by allying with humanity. That would explain the attachment some symbiotes have with their hosts."

"Which you say mine seems to have?"

"Yes, it makes you a prime candidate. We think enhancement will enable increased interest and tempt them to direct communication.

We would have preferred to work with the lazy side of the network but that has proven untenable."

They are networked? Like computers?"

"Yes, they might have a gestalt intelligence as well as their individual minds. But part of the network they use to communicate is remarkably inactive. It also has the least security and we've penetrated furthest into it but we still can't directly translate the messages.

That side also has more symbiotes that seem indifferent or hostile to their hosts. Noelle, the Travelers, all Case 53s we have investigated, Battery, Leet, and Gallant all seem to be on that side of the network."

"Maybe it's broken, that's why those powers cause so much havoc in their host's lives or with their bodies."

"It is a possibility that we're entertaining. So far our data is inconclusive."

"What do you hope giving me enhancements will do?"

"Open a line of dialogue. We propose having an active symbiote and your own power will give you the ability to be self-aware of the connection. Possibly to decode the data flow. Then we can use your understanding as a rosetta stone."

"Ahh then read the information on the network, learn more about what is really going on."

"Yes, maybe fix some case 53s while we're at it."

A door to the side opened and Danger entered wearing street clothes.

"Hey, Weaver. Here to check out the options?"

"I'd be crazy not to."

"Remember while the symbiotes seem to mix and match energies the powers I can grant are less prone to do so."

"So I read."

"Alright, I'll present them from least to most risk.

"First there is this. It's an experimental retrovirus called Kaga-2. I give you an injection and you get mild broad base super-powers that pull on quantum energies. It was invented in Nipon umm Japan, but it's still experimental. It has a seventy-five percent effective rate. The other quarter gets no powers but sees improvements across the board just not on a superhuman level."

"Powers?"

"It can push all your physical and mental baselines by tenfold there are reports some pushed further but those were never confirmed. With work, you can also develop some slightly esoteric quantum power. Similar but slightly stronger than an old-fashioned Stalwart. Unlike the Stalwarts they can't grow into Nova. Don't count it out however the synergistic interplay of power could be eye-opening. It is also least likely to affect what you have already in a negative fashion. It also works with nearly a zero percent negative effect rate."

"So this is the safe option."

"Least risky nothing is safe."

"Right"

"Then there is the Telluric Vortex which replicates the Hammersmith Event. You would be bombarded with all three energies in the Telluric spectrum. There is a slight chance of death included in the two percent chance of a negative outcome. That's with the knowledge of you already having a high resonance. There is a chance you'll become a Nova a bit better than ten percent. About triple that you'll become a Stalwart weaker than the Superior but not growth-limited. With time and work, Stalwarts can erupt later in life when their Quantum fields gain enough strength to support it.

The remainder is made of wild cards you could end up with Neotic powers Flux based fortune or something weirder. There still is much that is unknown about the Telluric energies and the unexpected has been seen almost every time this was done."

"Why was this not done more? I'd have thought even if it was random more Capes would have been better." Taylor queried.

"Environmental factors lead to it being of reduced effectiveness. The last time it was used in this form was almost a hundred years before we evacuated. Existing Telluric contamination and abuse of certain Quantum powers as well as some flux events that were suspected to be extraterrestrial in origin. Not that anyone would publish that."

"Why not?"

"It wasn't like here we didn't have Scion and the Endbringers proving extraterrestrial life existed. Aliens were still the topic of conspiracy theorists and crackpots. We had proof but no one wanted to see that. It challenged deeply held assumptions and the government had a political incentive to lie."

"But you weren't. I mean I would presume you weren't. You have no incentive here to lie."

Danger just nodded. Looking tired.

"So your world was also visited by aliens?" Taylor redirected.

"Yes, but they were not open about it like here and they were almost assuredly malevolent or at least highly anti-Nova."

"What if those same aliens exist here?"

"If they do Scion or maybe the Enbringers have them too scared to do anything. I checked there is no sign of their work here on Bet."

"Well, that's at least one thing we have going for us."

"True that. Ok, now the last is the Eruption Catalyst. It was never successfully used on Earth the same environmental factors sabotaged its trial. The one-live test was held by some very unwise people from a criminal empire called Camparelli-Zhukov. It created highly tainted Nova's most of them Abberants of greater than normal insanity.

"If it's never been successfully used can you be sure it works?"

"Ahh, I said it was never successfully used on Earth. Some members of our research group managed to assemble a unit like this in a mineral processing plant built in the asteroid field. Absent the environmental influence it worked. With a sample size of one, I can't assign the odds of its success or failure but the theory is sound that it will be much more likely to turn you into a Nova."

"Why did they only test it once?"

"The proof that the alien interference didn't extend much past the lunar orbit raised the question of escaping their manipulation. Which started the genesis of their plan to relocate from Earth to another planet."

"I guess it didn't go through?"

"No, they left Earth."

"Why didn't you go with them."

"Missed the boat. Our train in the underground railroad went off tracks and crashed so to speak."

"Oh, sorry"

"Well, that's life sometimes."

"OK then. Well. I've made my choice. This one" Weaver said pointing.

"Cool, I'll start working to set it all up in a few weeks we'll be ready we'll have to work out getting you a week or two of downtime for the process. I'll end up seeing you without the mask so build up to that"

"Here I'm good now. I mean why wait?" Taylor said, ripping her mask off.

"Because I have to go over the gear with a fine tooth comb make sure everything is working with absolutely no flaws then custom calibrate everything to your very specific resonance and physical make-up. Giving someone powers isn't a let's 'wing it' seat of the pants operation woman chill."

"I was sort of hoping needing me to commit was the hold-up. You'd be ready once I said yes."

"If I was looking to get you powers before you backed out maybe but I'm not that unethical you get cold feet you quit this is even for me serious stuff Weaver.

"I'm not going to get cold feet if I said I'm going to do I will. I just don't feel like wasting time waiting. We even have the perfect opportunity schools closed the city is in chaos and I told my dad I was going out of town for a while."

"It's not time wasted to do it right. If you're all fired up to speed the process I'll let you help. We only get one shot at doing this right for you so I'm going to be one hundred percent before I flip the switch so to speak."

Taylor frowned and crossed her arms but gave a nod. She was after all committed.

Protectorate Base

Colin was looking at the results of the scans they had run on the armor Danger had gifted Purity. It was almost enough to make him weep at the waste of talent.

"Sandwiched layers of mono-molecular material in every bit of electronics. Not just where it's required or even where it improves performance. Every circuit was formed of molecules forced into the desired alignment. It speaks of a mature technology base that uses that level of precision and control." Dragon responded.

"What a criminal waste," Colin said while pondering the sort of improvements he could make to his own kit if he had such technology.

"And sadly nothing we can do if it breaks. We would have trouble even recycling the components. The integration is so tight even our most precise tools would not be up to it. "

"Perhaps not, I have a feeling like this is not beyond my power. I might ruin the suit but I could work with its parts so that I would be able to make the needed tools to then make something out of this. I'm holding a lid on the urge. The working device is far too useful to risk casually but, the feeling does lend me to believe obtaining other Danger technology could be useful." Colin admitted.

"Perhaps I can use that as justification for another purchase from the Toybox."

"As much as I hate putting money into that delinquent's hands it's not as if he wasn't already making a fortune selling this sort of thing," Colin said looking up from the work area to check on what was going on around the rig

"I think we've learned as much as we can here then I'll slate the suit for storage. It's too valuable to risk in day-to-day activity. It will be a valuable asset in emergencies."

"Dragon the Endbringer early warning system we've been working on-"

"Yes? Oh, I see that is some unusual activity. It can not be confirmed yet but I will give everyone who is not local a heads up to be on standby."

"I had better do that locally as well. I will have to let Purity know she'll be needing this back sooner than expected."

"Luminous you mean."

"Not to me. Not until she's earned the rebrand," Colin replied as he left the room.

Colin called Miss Militia on the way to the garage and gave her the orders to start mobilization of the Protectorate resources. He ended the call just as he hopped onto his motorcycle. He put it in Jetski mode and took off into the bay headed for the PRT HQ downtown. It had become the epicenter of the bickering between the feuding PRT factions.

Kreig, Alabaster, and Rune had been brought in by the forces from out of town and we're Calverts' responsibility but we're being held here in the only cells rated to hold capes. He could not transfer those who had not revealed their para-human nature to PRT cells. At least he could not without severely bending the law.

Piggot was not being helpful in his attempt. She had been present nearly full-time since the 7th. She wasn't looking haggard or overworked however if anything she looked to be in better health than Colin had ever seen her.

"Director, agent Calvert."

Both turned to glare at him for the interruption. Colin pressed ahead, not the least bit intimidated.

"Dragon and I have picked up sensor readings that indicate a high probability of Endbringer attack within the next few hours."

"What are the odds?" Calvert inquired.

"If he's here telling us it's good enough to sound the alerts. Get your prisoners over here I'll take them. Send word to the rest of the prison to be evacuated as fast as security will allow." Piggot responded.

"I'll use my PRT operatives to move the Medhal prisoners. After that, they can potentially stay and help alongside your command. I will lend my assistance to the other departments that have far less experience with this sort of thing. The last thing we want to see is a mass escape in the aftermath." Calvert spoke as if it were a decree.

Piggot simply nodded as she turned to get her forces moving. They both noticed Colin had also already moved on.

As Calvert rounded the nearest hall and was sure he was out of the direct line of sight of any capes he split the timeline in one he picked up the phone to call the DA's office in the other he called his base on an encrypted line.

"Yes?" Danger answered the call.

"This is a throwaway that will need redirecting." He replied.

"Okay, hold-. Alright, you're good to go." The reply came.

"Armsmaster just reported he and Dragon have picked up an Endbringer headed our way. Use my codes and check their data."

"Working on it. Hey, Dinah come close, we have a code Magenta. Coil this looks legit I'd peg it at greater than eighty percent let's not waste a question on this part."

"Agreed. Attacker, best stratagem for advancing the grand plan balanced against survival."

"We can drop the attacker it's going to be Leviathan too much lines up on that and with the drop we have fair odds of finding his goals."

"Then do it."

"Dinah activate the system, look up array J12 on the Matrix, and give us the results."

Calvert waited. While he had been aggravated by how the girl had originally slipped through his fingers it had not been without a counterbalance that forced him to accept the timeline. Danger seemed to understand the limits of the girl's power and how to eke every last drop of use out of it.

The Matrix was a computer bank filled with conditional questions. Fiendishly complex if, then, and, or, else, statements that would give a programmer fits. A piece of learning software was continually updating the list downloading briefs explaining the nature of terms needed for the girl to understand the questions or subjects of such. The results spoke for themselves, they had prepared a Coil daily array that used a mere two questions to eliminate a wide range of dangers freeing him to spend more time as Calvert.

"Got it Doc. I can hardly believe it but these results look good for everyone. Mister Coil's grand plan gains eight percentage points with a one-year upswing of worldwide stability of two and a third percent. The shadows close in after that. All you have to do is use plan A. Plan B and C see similar but substantially lower numbers. The others are varying degrees of failure. There are two goals it wants to collapse a sinkhole under Brockton and to send Noelle into a rampage." The girl reported.

"Do you need more details or are we good?" Danger inquired.

"Just one additional did your array show the best use of the prisoners?"

"Should have. Let me check just to be sure the computer ran the updates. Yes, it's in here default is to leave them in containment the ones we control. Piggot is out of your control. She'll make use of hers if we do the same it looks like escape is likely. Bad PR from that move I don't think it's worth it."

"Checking the side branch... No, it's not good the numbers lift a bit in the immediate but crash shortly after. It has something to do with Max Anders dying or being crippled. It causes blowback for the reputation of Calvert." Dinah responded.

"Good, save the rest for now. I must insist we maintain a safety net."

"Right, I'm forwarding this into the redirect. Give me a sec to compress the data." Danger replied.

Coil waited to drop the line. Danger had said he wasn't sure what would happen if he ever dropped a timeline before the mysterious data storage device was finished uploading. The lab he had stolen it from in his world had not tested it with a power that worked exactly like what he did.

"Good to go. No need to call the other me. I set it to alarm him. I'm sure you'll have a full plate."

Coil dropped the timeline but held off on splitting it again. Once he was off the rig he'd open a safety line.

Unaware of Calvert's other timelines, or plotting Piggot made her way to the holding cells. She had plans of her own to work with. She entered the cell block and stopped in front of Brad's cell.

"An Endbringer is coming. It's likely Leviathan."

"Sounds like you have a problem then." Brad snarked.

"Yes, I do and you have an opportunity. We have a Neo-Pagan or Astru on staff. He hates white supremacists he came here to fight you. He finds you offensive to his faith."

"And?"

"Even as offensive as he finds you he believes you can be trusted to fight if given the opportunity. You can die fighting an Endbringer and go to Odin's hall or the Birdcage and end up in Hel's"

"What if I live?"

"Don't"

"What about my crew?"

"You're the only one on your final strike they live and you don't? Well, I can put in a good word, reduced sentence, and good terms."

Brad pondered the offer. The E88 had always sent people to the Endbringer fights. Kaiser knew the government and heroes went easier on Capes who showed up at the fights. He had volunteered for more than his share.

Max knew why. He knew that for most being an Odinist was a way to reject Jeudo-Christian norms. That wasn't Brad he truly believed. Deep down he was mortified he had not died fighting Armsmaster. He wanted to die a warrior not a rat in a cage. If he had to help save this piss stain of a town to do it. He would but that didn't mean it would be free.

"One condition"

"My terms aren't negotiable."

"This is a personal matter"

"Then let's hear it."

"You didn't offer I volunteered and you don't tell the others I'm taking a one-way trip. They might suspect but if they know they might do something stupid. I don't need them to be distracted with thoughts of saving me or seeking my escape."

Piggot looked at Brad as she thought about it. "Done, they'll be coming to prepare you for transport."

She made her way out and down the hall, with Brad's agreement, Stormtiger and Cricket were sure to go. The twins she wasn't going to risk. Kaiser had his legal team on their defense and their convictions were not assured. Being young and pretty could sway a jury more than Piggot liked.

She rounded into a cell she'd had the last of the Archers Bridge Merchants brought.

"I'm willing to cut you degenerates a deal."

"Talk like that it's a fucking Endbringer. You can screw that shit! We ain't that kind of powerhouse." Skidmark replied.

"I can give Squealer a few hours to bash together some weaponized vehicles for our agents to use. Mush can help with pulling downed heroes from the field. I was going to put you and Whirlygig on shielding the medical staff in our safest place but I started with a half inch of mercy and you've already brought me down to about a quarter"

"What are we getting back?" Squealer asked.

"Reduction in charges. The capital offenses will be tossed and a note on your volunteering will reduce the jail time on the others but you have just two minutes to think it over. I have places to be."

"I'll do it," Whirligig volunteered.

"Bitch you ain't in charge!" Skidmark said nearly standing up before the warning beep of his restraints changed his mind.

"Neither are you. Forget the sideline crap too. If I'm going to fight I'm going to fight!"

"Bring it, sister I'll build you a boat and I'll drive it just give me some gunners!" Squealer declared.

"Have you lost your damn mind?" The former leader responded.

"I'll do your search and rescue, I'll take the deal," Mush responded.

"You clowns are shit negotiators. We could have made a better deal and got our lawyers on board. This shit ain't worth the breath she used to say it. Unless it's in writing with the DA's office signing off it's a fuckin lie."

"Times up, you're going back to your cell then I take it?" Piggot said in a deadpan.

"Now that they screwed us over? What choice do I get? You'll leak this shit so everyone will turn on me the one Merchant who didn't face the Son of a Bitch who flattened the Bay. Nah, fuck that I know when my ass is snagged in a trap go on you cast iron cunt you got me I'm gonna fight."

Piggot gave a grim smile of victory as she exited the room and waved for the Agents to get the Merchants moving. The chance she had taken with bribing Whirligig earlier had certainly paid off. The right push that came from an unexpected direction was all it took.

Piggot stalled around a bit longer seeing to this and that till operations called for her. A brisk walk to the command center revealed why.

"Why, director, certainly a fine sight." A youthful voice came from the speakers around the screen for one of the video conferencing stations.

"What is he doing on that?" She demanded.

"Don't worry, director. This is the search and rescue line. It wasn't secured in any serious fashion." the Junior villain explained.

"We don't have time for your antics."

"Oh, I think you do. I take it you already know an Endbringer is inbound. I'm bringing some tools to share and friends to help out. Please don't shoot at us even if you haven't yet turned on the sirens."

"We have to wait for confirmation to turn on the sirens."

"Yes, I figured as much. Bureaucracy is a beast that will not die. Have the Wards ready. Most of my gifts are for them. I have a soft spot for fellow minors going into battle. Well, that and I shelved projects for the adults when Armsy made me have to reattach half my foot."

"This had better not be a waste of time. Come on, we'll be waiting."

Piggot stormed off to get Colin. She would be damned if they were using any tinker devices he'd not at least given a cursory examination of.