Emissary of the Courts, pt 2
* Deep Space, not so long ago *
He'd warned them.
The whole Path to Victory shard exchange had been part of the warning. The world they were heading for was a nexus. The Thinker had stated that just meant more energy to be harvested.
The world had Something watching it. There were older things than themselves. Things best not disturbed. The Thinker had scoffed.
So the trade had been made in the manner of their kind, but the Path To Victory shard should have warned them the first time it had come into use. Do not approach that system.
Watching from a distance as he'd voyaged through the dark between suns, Abaddon had noticed the moment the Thinker had gotten locked up in the Do Not Approach warnings from that predictive shard. And then she'd gone and splattered herself running into the planet.
Abaddon had no face nor palm, but if he'd had both he certainly would have felt the need to facepalm.
Well, his species hadn't had any particular loyalty amongst itself. They'd brought it on themselves. He was going very very far away from that particular mess, thank you very much.
* Earth, the present *
She got up in the morning, stretched, and did the usual routine of getting up. There were a few things that threatened to derail the morning routine though.
Getting back from the usual first-thing morning bathroom activities, she found three outfits laid out on her bed. Probably by a certain sylph.
First problem - she did not own any of the three outfits.
One looked like it was woven of the starry night sky. Problem was that a kimono looked really heavy and would probably send a message she didn't want to send in a town with the ABB.
The next was a jogging outfit that didn't look TOO bad. It was dreamsicle orange though, and it had the design of little wings on the back. Still, dreamsicle orange.
The third outfit was the most problematic of all as Taylor thought as it looked perfect. If you were going to a RenFaire. And had someone to buckle all those buckles. And had a bit more up top than she had.
So instead she went to her closet, picked out an outfit that was of clothes she'd actually had the day before, and wore that.
That there were several other outfits that she didn't remember at all was a detail she decided to ignore.
Letting out a deep breath, Taylor walked past the oni, nekomusume, and the yuki-onna who were doing that rock-paper-scissors thing. Still or again.
Taylor stopped at the bottom of the stairs. "You know, if you really wanted to settle that. Why don't you do a pluses and minuses list."
"Oh, nya already settled THAT," said the cat-eared yokai.
"Oh? Good," said Taylor.
"I already snyuck the cards in nyour pocket," said the catgirl.
"Cards?" asked Taylor, not looking or touching them because they might be yokai but that was close enough to faerie.
It was the snow-woman who answered. "A compromise between the two Courts and the yokai. You will have transformation cards where you can switch between one set of abilities and another. That way none of the Courts gain advantage over the others."
"I see," said Taylor, thinking that was something else to look at. Later.
The oni woman stood up, her horns brushing the ceiling. "All three of your sponsors agree. You should get more exercise. Train your abilities. As you are now, you would not last long as either hero or villain."
"Or she could be a heroic villain, a villainous hero, or something," said the yuki-onna. "Though I think the villainous hero is called an anti-hero for some reason."
"Wait, hold on, I'm a parahuman?" asked Taylor.
"No, you're not," said the yuki-onna. "But you've been adopted by three Fae Courts or at least two Courts and a Realm which is basically the same thing just using different terminology."
"You're such a nerd, Oyuki," said the oni.
"So I need exercise, I could take up running I suppose," hedged Taylor.
"That's a start," said the female oni, flexing and showing off muscle definition. "You've got two weeks before school starts. Your base form there has the beginnings of elven grace and beauty. We just need to build on that."
* August 30, 2009 *
* PRT HQ ENE *
"Armsmaster verbal report, addendum to written report dated August 30 2009 at 2215hours.
"Was alerted via video of new parahuman contact previously dubbed Tauriel on PHO boards, as she made her way through the health food market Willoughby's in Uptown.
"Tauriel is either a tall teenager or medium-tall adult female. Dark curly hair reaches mid-back, thin build but with some gymnast muscle present. Clothing is representitive of a renaissance fair or similar venue. Green-tinted fabric, leather bracers, long boots. Tauriel has twin long-knives or shortswords at her belt, a quiver and collapsible shortbow also present. Attempted to apprehend in order to recruit for the Wards as she appears to be within that age range.
"Subject is accompanied by a glowing projection, approximately six inches tall and flying, noteable due to slight glowing effect.
"Subject ignored calls for standing down and surrender to authority, choosing instead to run up the side of a building and escape. Tentatively assigned a Mover-1 rating for exceptional agility and parkour-style evasion tactics.
"The direct observation of Tauriel plus the two videos posted on PHO indicate enhanced senses particularly some form of night vision, stealth abilities that might be a result of natural ability and some training, and some speed/agility enhancement. Tauriel is being given a Thinker-1, Mover-1 rating so far. Her projection is of unknown use and capabilities at this time."
* Monday, January 5, 2009 *
* Sophia Hess *
The sheep bleated and milled about. Most had their little territories that they tried to defend in various pathetic little ways.
"Here she comes, I see that dumb hoodie she wears."
"Got it," I told Emma. "Cut that dead weight so you can fly on your own."
"This'll be fun," said Emma.
I frowned though on seeing the figure approaching. Too tall, not hesitating, moving... hell that was almost like a prowl. Something was off. She'd come running up like a puppy previously, and then ran off like a whipped one.
"Gee, what is that awful smell? Like something died. Oh, Taylor. I didn't see you there..."
Emma's voice trailed off as Taylor walked past her.
I did what Emma had planned, stepping in front of my target, using my athletic build and promise of violence to intimidate prey. Little bits of posture and expression to put the prey on the back foot.
Prey moves, I move to stay in her way. Except prey is twisting and moving past?
Well, that couldn't be allowed to stand.
I grab at her, shoving the hood to the side to grab hair and manage to get a good grip and pull it. Easy handhold and you can tug on it and immobilize... what the hell.
"Those ears? You're TAURIEL?!"
Who? Oh that was me. Crap. I just outed someone in front of a crowd. I wouldn't appreciate the same being done for me but it's kind of late now.
Prey froze for a moment as the crowd suddenly began making a LOT more noise.
"Oh my god! When her hair got pulled away..." "How did she hide those?" "Hey Fakebook! Checka this out! Status update: a Cape done got outed!"
Tauriel broke my grip, jumped back and looked around briefly before making a dash to the side and shouldering past people.
I looked to Emma who looked like you could push her over with a feather.
So, the elf-girl who'd been talked so much about the past couple of weeks was Emma's ex-bestie?
Emma must have been wrong. Capes aren't weak. Unless they got really lame powers.
I looked around, and came to a quick conclusion. One of the easiest ways to prove your strength was to beat someone else down. You established that you weren't to be challenged and were up the whole predator-prey chain. There was a chance that could still work, but now Tauriel had cause to not hold back.
That could be bad.
* PRT ENE HQ *
Armsmaster let out a deep sigh as whoever was calling was not simply giving up and going away. "Pick up."
The voice-activated system answered the phone and put it on speaker.
"Armsmaster. This is Deputy Director Renick."
"Yes, Deputy Director. Something came up?"
"Tauriel was just publically outed during a bullying attempt at Winslow High School. We're attempting to take down all the videos and chat logs but her name is out there. Taylor Hebert. She ducked out rather than escalate the situation."
"That's... unusual and promising," said Armsmaster. The usual response to being publically outed in such a manner would be precisely directed violence.
"Just a moment. Okay. Got it. Her father is the head of hiring at the Dockworkers Association. I'm sending Miss Militia to Winslow. I'm sending you the address her father works at."
"Get there before any of the gangs do, got it," said Armsmaster, clicking the panels on his spare halberd to close it up. Then he went to a rack of halberds that looked identical, chose the #4, and brought it around to his back so the magnetic clamps would lock it into place.
"Good luck," said Renick as the call closed.
He waited until he was out of the elevator in the parking garage before he activated a recorder.
"Armsmaster Armslog 01052009 Zero-Nine-Forty-five hours.
"A call for an intervention at Winslow. A dark and troubled school in a dark and troubled city.
"The parahuman known as Tauriel has been outed in public. Possible that this is part of a forced gang recruitment. Suspects include the Empire 88, the Asian Bad Boys - which I continue to point out is a particularly stupid name for a gang, or Coil.
"En route to Winslow High School, a known recruitment center for two of those gangs. Tauriel is not of Asian descent, so that is unlikely. One of the girls flagged as an assailant is named Sophia Hess. Considering that last name, Empire 88 having suspected ties to Gesselschaft - that makes them the most likely suspect.
"It is possible this is not the case... DAMN BMW cutting me off. Use your damn blinkers! Ahem. It is possible that this is not gang recruitment though, in which case the attack and outing of a cape identity was specifically to cause harm to an independent. Such instances have a statistically high rate of causing the parahuman to begin the slide into villainy. I... DAMN IT. Decide which lane you're going to be in!
"Edit out that for later turn-in. Note for later research: legality of a mag-clamp launcher that has a bright orange tag declaring the operator of the vehicle is an idiot. Possibly something for mass production and sale. If it helps my Tinker budget, that would be appreciated.
"Computer - end log."
* Elsewhere *
"I have searched. They were kin in all but blood. Sworn friends. She has betrayed that trust and faith twice now. Worse, she goes amongst these others, spreading poisonous tales and using secrets sworn to further her own standing among these children."
Queen Mab took the report from one of her oracles with a slight inclination of her head.
Those who knew of her, and all within her Court DID know her, knew that when the Queen of Winter was most tranquil - that was when one needed to be most quiet around her.
When Mab, Fae Queen of Unsidhe, was angry - even the strongest of the Fae sought not to draw attention.
"I see," said Mab. "And these others?"
"One views the world entire in terms of predator and prey and sees herself as the chief amongst the predators."
Mab quirked an eyebrow. "The Wild Hunt may find a new target soon then. Will she join the hunters or the hunted? Others?"
"Pack of hyenas there, opportunistic scavengers," said a member of the Wild Hunt. "Show weakness and they'll lock their teeth in flesh. Show strength and they'll avoid the fight to seek easier prey. They are uncertain as to now."
"Well, now. The trick will it not being linked back to my faerie god-daughter," said Mab. "I'll have to be... creative."