Danger's Safe House
Weaver was surprised to find how comfortable and well laid out Danger's safe house was. It was just a finished basement In a run-down house but he opened a couple of crates and inside were neatly stacked things that at first glance seemed bizarre modern art. They swiveled and twisted into a table, chairs, and a bench. He set an electric camp stove on the bench along with some packages from in the crate that held a range of emergency and camping food. He had even given her an extra mask. A domino-style she could eat in. He'd kept his goggles on claiming they were terribly comfortable.
"None of this is tinker tech, it doesn't have the look," Weaver stated.
"No, all ordered out of catalogs. Between survival preppers, off-the-gridders, and outdoors enthusiasts, why not? Waste of my time to make what I can buy. Everything I need is a few clicks away." Danger admitted
"You said you might have stuff for the dogs?" Bitch barked
"That crate there should have random pet stuff. Take all of it you want, these shelters are disposable. I won't be back."
"How many do you have?" Weaver wondered.
"Plenty each is outfitted differently. I made various orders mixed up to avoid drawing attention. I will direct someone who doesn't know me to send some shelter workers down to scavenge the site later." Danger said while whipping batter.
"Sounds expensive," Weaver stated
"It's all cheap compared to tinker tech, which I sell by the way. Traded through the Toybox market it's very lucrative. I can afford to give away my leftovers."
Bitch pulled some dog food and toys out of the crate. She'd started a division of the spoils.
"You're really serious about helping people. Why aren't you a hero? What made you go the villain route?" Weaver asked.
"Due to prohibition ultimately." He replied pouring batter into the grill
"The thing from the 20s?" Weaver asked, puzzled.
"Quite right however it's the issues around it and the thought process"
"You have to explain that one," Weaver said in disbelief.
"The founding fathers the night they signed the constitution ran up a bar tab of over sixteen grand in today's money. They embedded principles in the foundations of the nation. Yet around one hundred and fifty years later the rights of a majority of Americans who were drinkers were trampled by an overly moral minority. How did that happen?" Danger asked with false puzzlement.
"Umm..."
"The people behind it lied and abused authority. The voters thought prohibition was only for high alcohol content liquor. The public was surprised to find beer and common wine were prohibited. The minds behind the prohibition campaign turned ministers, newspaper reporters, and public officials to make false claims about the evils of alcohol and associated whiskey with drunken minorities and immigrants. Then when this bait and switch was over they repeated the same tactics with marijuana enabling the creation of a culture that rather than by and for the people existed to trick the people into supporting the causes elected officials were getting campaign finances for. It was the start of the decline of Western civilization. Now it's the government of the corrupt for the wanton." Danger said with growing sadness.
"This isn't about prohibition, it's about NEPEA-5. I looked it up after you talked about it to Kaiser," Weaver said as she accepted a double stack of pancakes and a generous side of bacon.
Bitch wiped her hands off on a wet nap and took her plate and dug into it with gusto.
"Only the latest episode of the same sad show. It is the direct reason so many use their powers to steal, threaten, or abuse. They seek fortunes they are forbidden from gaining legally. It happens every time you forbid something the majority of people don't find immoral." Danger said, putting away his cookware to start on his plate.
They ate a while in comfortable silence. It helped that the food was quite good.
Bitch broke the silence "Do you think Kaiser is going to stop the dog fights?"
Danger nodded "If he doesn't I'll help you shut them down."
Bitch pushed her empty plate away. "Good"
"I've had my issues with people in power using their authority to hide their misdeeds. I wanted to be a Cape to get away from all that and help people. Sometimes I worry I can't even help myself." Weaver admitted as she passed her plate.
"Most such issues are solved with money or clever lawyers. Which is sort of the same thing." Danger stated as he cleaned up.
"I've been trying to find a lawyer. Price is a huge bar. I can't use my villain money or I'll out myself."
"No, not really, most lawyers are pretty willing to help hide where the money for their services is coming from or how much it is. I can loan you a lawyer. I have one on retainer. You can tell people he's being paid by a philanthropic institution. It would even be true."
"Wouldn't that out me to you?"
"Weaver. I don't mean to brag but if I wanted to I could run the number of school-age girls of your height with your hair through an algorithm then eliminate those that don't match various criteria and find you in maybe three days. I don't care to pry. I don't bother learning identities because to weaponize that just leads to bad places. Here, take this card and I'll get in touch with him. I'll call and have him wait to hear from you. Tell him Risk Reductions authorized you to use their account."
Weaver took the card "Risk Reductions?"
"A nonprofit I started to help people. They overturn evictions, fight unjust convictions, wrongful terminations, that sort of thing. Helping you isn't likely to look the least bit odd."
Taylor nodded slowly. Putting the card into her storage compartment.
"And keep the spare mask you might need one Oh and Bitch I haven't forgotten the flea dip. I'll be sleeping in today as early as it is now. Tomorrow I'll make it up. Expect delivery the day after, maybe one more day if I run into problems."
Bitch was busy pocketing pet supplies "You said you're not keeping this stuff. Can I have it?
"All of it? Stove and all?" Danger asked.
Bitch nodded.
"Have at it. It's all yours."
The three villains took off each their own way. Bitch planned to use the stove to reheat stuff. She was surprised to find how much simple to prepare food was in the box. It served her well in the weeks to come.
The Suburbs
Friday, April 29th
Mary bolted upright in bed and stared around the room. It took her a moment to recognize her surroundings. She was in her new room at Jane and Ethan's place. She had not been here long enough to start thinking of it as home.
The pair had helped her settle in and had gotten her fairly comfortable with being called Mary.
Jane and Ethan had been adapting to their new house and to having another person living in their home. They were kind and helpful despite what could have been seen as a massive invasion of their private space.
She had technically moved in just after her fight with Lung but she hadn't spent any real time here till after the ABB capes were put away.
It was the same time that the nightmares had started. Jane had noticed Mary awakening at night with emotional turmoil. She would have dreams she couldn't remember she always thought they had something to do with a nuclear holocaust. The psychologists thought it likely Mary's world had known an armageddon scenario. It would do much to explain her particularities.
Despite the emotional stress from vague dreams of fear for a family she couldn't remember or the sense of searching for something, she couldn't find she had started school.
She seemed to be ahead of the curve on most subjects and was very intelligent so the work didn't bother her much other than the time it tied up she could be using on honing her cape-related skills.
Looking at the clock by her bed she realized she wasn't getting back to sleep and so got up early and prepared for school.
Not long after she was sitting in the kitchen nibbling on a bagel when Jane came in.
"Hey kid, trouble sleeping again?"
"Yeah"
"Wanna talk about it?"
"Not much to say. A vague feeling of dread and needing to find my mother, whoever she was. Some sort of announcement that nukes were coming. Then I was shocked and woke up." Mary relayed.
"So little to go on. How are you holding up?" Came the sympathetic inquiry
"I'm ok they are not getting worse." She said reassuringly
"I noticed you didn't say they were getting better either. Maybe I should see if Piggott can swing some more therapy I know those guys stay overbooked but almost getting nuked should count for something" Jane groused
"Don't there's not much they can do. They even prescribed a sedative. But Amy confirmed my body just destroyed it. Besides they'll just recommend I be taken off the duty roster and not doing anything will just be worse."
"Alright, just keep us informed. Are you going to wait for Ethan to drive you or are you taking the bus?"
"Bus I'm up plenty early"
"No heroics out of costume you see something on the way to school. You call it in."
"Right see ya tonight," Mary said heading out.
She wished they'd approved her to be an open Cape. Flying cleared the head better than walking. After asking Victoria she knew she didn't dare cheat. Even the villains knew flying was too much of an attention grabber to do much of.
The trip to school was uneventful. She was early. She milled around with the few other early arrivals when she saw someone she recognized.
Pondering how to approach this Mary headed over.
"Hi, you're not one of the normal early birds. Are you new?" Mary asked.
The girl she spoke to looked blank yet mildly alarmed. It was Taylor the girl from the mall.
"New - yes I am. Just transferred from Winslow." The tall thin teen replied.
"I hear that place is bad. I'm glad my Uncle didn't live in that district. I'm Mary. I've been here less than a week myself." She revealed.
"Oh? How is it?" Taylor asked.
"Pretty good I guess I heard my Uncle say no one in Arcadia acts up because they know the Wards are hidden among their classmates. Cuts down on bullying and the like knowing a superhero might step out to bat for the little guy you know."
"Wouldn't know Winslow is pretty much nothing but bullies," Taylor admitted.
"Damn, I'm sorry to hear that. Well, at least you got out of there."
"True. I'm kind of worried about my grades. I fell behind. I used to have good grades but the last two years have been rough."
"Me too... what I can remember of them." Mary internally winced she hated the necessity of lying.
"Remember of them?" Taylor asked, rising to the bait.
"Yeah well - I was in a car wreck. There's a lot of stuff I don't remember. Still, I guess I'm the lucky one my grandparents didn't make it." Mary said, establishing her cover story.
"Oh my, my mother died like that a couple of years ago," Taylor admitted.
"Oh damn, I'm sorry I didn't know. I hope I didn't drag up anything." Mary started.
"No-no don't be, I'm the one who asked you."
"Looks like as painful as it is, we have a few things in common. Maybe we will find some less painful common ground later?" Mary suggested.
"Yeah maybe hey how about you help me make sense of this diagram of the school? I'm not going to give it the honor of being called a map." Taylor requested.
The girls examined the map and Taylor became acquainted with the school's layout while they waited to go inside.
Mary left for her first class glad she was able to help that girl get out of a bad situation. She decided to do what she could to befriend her. She seemed like. a pretty nice person. It would help balance the time she spent with her Cape friends too.
Taylor was fighting paranoia all day. Arcadia seemed too good to be true; she kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
She was pretty sure Mary was some sort of Cape. First, there was her friendship with Glory Girl and Panacea. Second, she was too perfect in her interactions. She seemed to always know just what to say or how to respond. Taylor would have thought she was being manipulated if the effect hadn't been so genuine. Last, there was how she'd set a mosquito to bite her leg as a test and it had been instantly annihilated.
There were only three female wards so it was pretty clear Mary had to be Nova. That made it clear why she had spoken with her that morning. She truly wanted to be sure her advice had helped.
This put Taylor in an unfortunate place. The unwritten rules said she shouldn't make use of this information. However, she didn't have a reason to break off the interaction. Doing so without cause would be suspicious.
The longer she hung around Mary the greater chance she'd work out the identities of other Wards. Taylor pondered the possible landmines she'd have to navigate.
She concluded that as long as she resisted the temptation to use that information it should be fine. Hell, it might even prove she was worthy of trust if she didn't abuse what fate had dumped in her lap.
Between Vicky Dalton's aggressive friendliness and Nova's quiet but inescapable charisma, she had found herself invited to an early dinner out.
Taylor exited the school she was looking for Mary or Vicky when she spotted them both they were with Amy and a younger blonde Taylor hadn't met.
They were headed for what looked like a food truck which made no sense given where they were going next. Upon nearing she saw the truck had been converted into some sort of mobile repair center. JD's electronic and computer repair! The sign on the top said with a list of items worked upon on the bottom.
Vicky was checking out the work on a laptop. A thin old man with a strange hick accent greeted Taylor.
"JD's tied up with another customer, young lady, what can I do for ya? "
"Sorry, I'm with them," Taylor replied.
The young blonde spun to look "Oh hey you must be Taylor then I'm Missy."
"That would be me. Nice to meet you Missy" Taylor replied.
"Dang it, I was right we're not getting no work out here. JD tricked me into hauling him out here so he could ogle the cute girls." The old man groused.
"Pop-pop we're getting word-of-mouth advertising. These folks use the sort of stuff I repair and if we make an impression soon the whole school will know we are the go-to for laptop, phone, and tablet repair." The young tech fired back.
"Oh, I'm sure so far all your customers being girls has nothing to do with it. You ain't fooling me, boy! I might be old but I remember being young and having the hormones rushing about!"
Vicky stifled a giggle. Amy hardly seemed to notice the outburst engrossed in something on her phone. Mary raised her eyes and started scanning, likely looking for evidence of the old man's assertion.
Missy frowned "You and Vicky are the eye candy he's talking about Mary."
"As if. Pop-pop might think so but this is a business transaction." The teen asserted.
"So there isn't anyone here you find attractive? Vicky teased.
The youth's eyes cut away and he started to blush.
"Oh my god, there is who? Which one of us? Come on tell! God, he's blushing!" She dug at him.
The situation was making Taylor uncomfortable, something Mary noticed and responded to.
"Hey, leave him be Vicky. He doesn't want to talk about it."
"Oh, you're no fun. Come on you've already been through the embarrassment might as well profit. Admit your crush and I'll help hook you up with a date. As long as it's not me I'm taken."
The young man's face darkened. "How am I supposed to do that, pray tell? I have no money for going out and inviting people to your home slash workspace slash transport for a meal of cold sandwiches and water with Pop-pop chaperoning isn't exactly a rollicking good time.
Vicky was taken aback but quickly recovered "Well maybe not a traditional date but have your pop pull into the park and you can turn that into a picnic lunch. There have to be things that you can do!"
"Yeah well, I'll give it some thought. For now, if no one else needs anything we better be off."
The old man looked over with comical overreaction "Who us? Where do we have to be prime picking here near the school or so I was told."
The teen narrowed his eyes and with a cackling laugh Pop-pop cranked the van "Latter girls!" He called out with a wave as he pulled out
"So where were we going?" Taylor asked
"The Imperial Garden it's a hibachi steakhouse and sushi place. The owners are having a special. It's in celebration of not having to pay off the ABB and give Lung free meals." Vicky explained.
"Oh, that sounds neat," Taylor admitted.
"So what was Winslow like? Is it as bad as they say?" Missy asked.
"It's pretty bad. Likely worse than you've heard." Taylor admitted.
On the way to the restaurant, Taylor gave them general information about what was to them the alien world of uncaring administration and juvenile delinquency that made up the worst-run school in the state.
The four girls lightened the mood with their tales of comic misadventures or infamous episodes that lived in the school mythos of Arcadia.
After the meal, they said their goodbyes. Missy was picked up by her dad and Vicky picked up Amy and flew away.
"You don't have to ride with me back home," Taylor told Mary
"I know I don't have to but I want to. Besides it's not that big a deal Uncle Ethan will be just a stop away at the gym. I can ride back home with him."
"Alright, I just don't want you to feel like I'm helpless. I have mace and I practice running." Taylor explained.
"Noted. Still going with you. Besides, it's nice to spend time with someone in my age group. I don't have many friends yet."
"That won't last, you're too pretty. You have already made friends in a popular clique. You seem to always know the right thing to say or way to present something to another. You also actually have a figure." Indicating her own lack of curves.
"Too much curve for some people. I've had a few comments leveled at me from it. As for the rest, it's just being attentive. There is so much I don't remember and have to relearn. Also lacking most of the common prejudices likely helps it's hard to judge someone's social status or style when you're a fish out of water yourself." Mary explained
"If you say so. If you're so observant did you notice Amy?"
"Yeah, I'm not sure it's what it looks like. Pretty sure she's into girls but I suspect her interest in me is medical fascination. She doesn't run into many people who can walk and talk that have a problem she can't heal."
"Oh? I guess that could be it. They say the brain is a complex mystery. What if that isn't it?" Taylor asked.
"I don't know. I have been so focused inwardly. I don't recall my development so I don't know what grabbed my romantic attention before. Now I seem to be focusing on other things when I meet people."
"What sort of things?" Taylor inquired her curiosity peaked
Mary sat silent unsure what to say. Just when Taylor started to doubt she would speak Mary answered.
"Who is in charge who is given respect or disrespect? Their build, the way they move. Are they ex-military, or martial artists? Is what they are telling me something they believe or are they holding things back? Can they hurt me? Will they try? What should I do if they try?"
"That's an awfully lot of questions."
"Yeah," Mary said sadly. "Then when I am alone I sit and wonder about the two final questions I can't answer: who am I and why do I think like this? It's not normal. What was I doing that imprinted these patterns so indelibly on my psyche? It keeps me up some nights."
The conversation lapsed and silence built. Taylor was pretty sure that Mary didn't yet realize she'd said too much. Internally her mind raced between two scenarios. She could out herself to Mary if anyone would be sympathetic it was her. She had her own demons. She'd then have a solid hero ally. Unlike Armsmaster it would be someone she could count on to help if she needed a quick extraction from the Undersiders.
On the other hand, did she truly believe she was going to turn on them? After talking to Danger, who was so passionate about being able to do more to offer real help the people needed without government red tape appealed to Taylor. Was it worth the cost, however? It could hurt her father and could shatter the friendships she might make at Arcadia.
"I often have to wonder who I am. I have had a lot of upsets in my life. It wasn't that long ago we lost Mom. Then Emma turned on me. She put me in the bullies' sites. One of their attacks was so bad I had to spend time in the hospital. I thought I'd lost my mind for a while."
Mary turned from whatever internal place she was gazing into to look at Taylor again.
"But I hadn't. I discovered that I had powers, nothing impressive but, I had plans to be a hero. I wanted to be independent after seeing the authorities fail to deal with the bullies and gangs at school. I wasn't too keen on joining anyone. Now I'm not sure I'll ever be able to do that?" Taylor continued.
"What sort of powers? Why couldn't you become a hero?" Mary asked confused
"This sort," Taylor said, holding out her hand as a group of moths slipped into her palm. They then started fluttering their wings and moving in a pattern.
"Your Weaver the newest Undersider," Mary said with surprise but not shock.
"Yes. They thought I was a villain on my first night out. I ran into Lung and he almost killed me. They saved me, and together we beat him. Not long after that, they asked me to join them. I decided to go undercover. They work for someone higher, someone who finances their operation. I wanted to find out who."
"Going undercover is dangerous. You can start to become the mask. Even trained police have trouble keeping their priorities straight. What you're doing is risky." Mary opined
"That's what Armsmaster said," Taylor admitted
"He knows? Wait, you know about me when at the mall?"
"I just figured it out today I decided I'd better even the scales give you my secret for inadvertently figuring out your own. As for Armsmaster, yeah him bringing in Lung he just picked him up after me and the Undersiders finished with him. He convinced me taking credit for Lung would bring down too much heat. So I let him take all the credit."
"That explains a great deal. If you're feeling that level of conflict Taylor you need to break now. If you don't, you might never do so." Mary pleaded
"I think maybe I can flip them. I know their stories if I can get them to help me take down their boss in exchange for immunity-" Taylor started
"How would you get the DA to offer immunity? Do you even know this boss's plans are bad enough to rate that kind of deal? You seem to be ignoring some critical holes in this plan" Mary cut in
"Yeah, I guess I am. Maybe there is no way to end this on a good note but what kind of person would I be if I repaid the first people who showed me kindness in a long time with betrayal? Betrayal without even exploring other options?"
Mary let out a long sigh "Now that I have trouble arguing with."
"Look I'm not asking you to stick your neck out for me. You know plenty about me to wreak all sorts of unholy hell with my life. Now you have something that serves as insurance against any abuse of the unwritten rules on my side." Taylor explained.
"You're in the deep end of the pool and only treading water Taylor. It's not in my nature to let someone drown. I can't say I'll risk everything I have for you but I will give my best effort to help you out."
"I feel like I should argue with you, however, I've had the same feeling about my situation," Taylor said with a bitter smile
"Well now you at least know you are not alone, someone else knows. Hopefully, that will help you out some."
"Like you told Dad and me at the mall. Hey, this is my stop."
"Are things better with you and your dad? Did what I said help any?" Mary inquired.
"More than I thought it would. Less than you likely hoped."
"Any forward momentum is progress."
"Yeah. I have to go see ya at school."
"See ya, Taylor. Good luck." Mary waved
She rode two stops further lost in thought before getting off at a gym that was a Protectorate cover. Civilian identities could come and go under the cover of using the gym so they wouldn't be seen coming and going from the Rig.
Ethan was waiting in his car in the parking lot. Mary waved and got into the car.
"So how did your plans go? The other new girl fitting in?"
"More than I expected. - Hey Ethan do you mind if I ask you something personal?" Mary inquired with worry.
"Something wrong kid? Yeah, ask away."
"I sort of picked up from how you and Jane talk that you used to be on the other side of the fence. Now you work on this side. That didn't seem to work for Purity. If a villain or a team wants to go straight, how hard is it?"
"Well if you're trying to be independent very hard the Protectorate has no reason to help independents. No Protectorate help and the law isn't likely to let you off so you'd have to have another way out of criminal charges. Equally hard if you want to keep your ID rebranding can work miracles. No one knows who's behind the mask so they can write you a new story even if it's paper-thin. It helps people think of you like someone else even if they know deep down you're the same person."
"And if you're doing neither like Purity was?"
"Nearly impossible add-in still being fairly racist and only taking down black and Asian crime and you upgrade to completely impossible. Don't feel for her; she brought it on herself. You have a warm heart kid. It's charming but don't let anyone use it against you."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"I have to admit you're quickly growing on Jane and me too. It feels good to have a family again."
"Even if it is pretend?"
"Kid, it's only as imaginary as we want it to be. It's not blood and genes that matter, it's what we feel here." Ponting his thumb at his chest
"Thanks, Uncle Ethan," Mary said with a joyful smile.
The Rig
Armsmaster made it back into his lab and exited his armor. His mind began to sort through projects he had not finished.
He weighed his latent adrenaline against the time it would take to make meaningful progress on any of those. If he couldn't squeeze anything in it would be a better use of time to just sleep and get up early.
A blinking icon on his computer screen redirected his attention. Dragon had tried to contact him. Knowing the Noctis nature of Dragon she'd still be available. Sometimes he envied her ability to go without sleep.
"Are you there?" Colin asked. Opening the message program.
"Of course Colin I have something I want a second opinion of. It should be in your received mail." Dragon explained as her avatar took over the display.
Inside the package was a rectangular object about the size of a pistol magazine or pair of D cells. Colin started running scans over it.
"The outside is a shock-absorbing plastic around a thin layer of some very strong ceramic. The two terminals on top are made of a gold alloy. Inconclusive scans from the core. My first thought is some form of battery or power cell."
"One that holds between two hundred and fifty and three hundred times the power of the best non-Tinker made power storage medium. It seemingly has practically no electron loss. Don't try to strip it to the core which is a crystal around which is wrapped the key to this mystery. The material is some sort of wire made of an unknown form of matter. It is strong but released its stored power easily if touched it will discharge in an uncontrolled manner and then break down into subatomic particles."
Colin lifted both eyebrows. "A new invention?"
"Perhaps but not mine. I acquired this from the Toy Box which is selling them under license. Or so they claim."
"Danger. How much is he selling them for?"
"Half a million each but he offers generous terms to Tinkers who trade for them, up to double the going rate for any traded tech and quadruple salvage prices for broken tech. I was able to trade some broken items I had already analyzed. The Government signed off as a type of sting operation but we were not able to trace it directly back to Brockton."
"That is very odd behavior. Other than yourself, modification and maintenance of another Tinker's gear are normally problematic. This device would lead me to suspect he's a resource Tinker able to work out how to store and channel power with abnormal efficiency."
"That would explain his powers, the Trump component in particular. But, not the other things he is selling directed energy weapons lethal and non-lethal. From lasers, charged particle beams, and sonic emitters to low-power microwave pain guns and reusable flash-bangs."
"All of that sounds plausible to make items if the power draw issues were solved by his power cells. Did you obtain any weapons?"
Several and they are not technically Tinker tech. As you suggested they could be made with modern technology but not this compact and precise. The circuits and processor are manufactured with a precision that is molecular in scale if not atomic."
"He might not be a Tinker at all then. Some energy flow control power could be used to manipulate matter in such a fashion. Generally, such powers come with a Thinker power to perceive the forces they govern."
"Knowing how his powers work may be the key to stopping him. Powerful people want to make sure he's brought in alive. We can't duplicate what he's built not because we don't understand it but because we don't have the tools to even build the tools to make it."
"I understand it would be like dropping a modern cellular phone in the Fifties. The individual components are understood but the scale is impossible to replicate. A feat of engineering beyond our current ability. It would give ideas but alone it would not be a revolution."
"But if we sent a factory back that crafted every component it could build the tools to work on that scale the benefits to mainstream science and technology would be astounding. Colin, we can not let this kid get killed playing a villain."
"I hesitantly agree with you. We will capture him and then lock him in a laboratory. Set him to work helping fix the world's problems instead of making them worse."