Disclaimer: Who's that cunning mind behind-
When there's trouble you call DW!
Alan sighed in annoyance when he realized just how neatly they'd been trapped.
"Get outta the car!" the gangbanger screamed, pointing a pistol at him through the driver's window.
His daughter looked at him, eyes wide with fear. "What are we gonna do, daddy?"
Alan reached down and flipped the top off of the shift knob to reveal a red button. "You are going to close your eyes and you aren't going to open them until I tell you that you can." He sighed. "Danny is never going to let me live this one down."
Dockworker's Compound, Several Years Earlier:
The blue shift foreman looked like he was about to cry as he delivered the news; the chapter president had been skimming for years, the treasury was empty, the channel was blocked, the president had absconded with the missing funds, and they were absolutely fucked.
"What do we do?" one of the welders asked. "I've got kids to feed."
"I think there's enough to cover the paychecks that have already been sent out, but if yours hasn't been sent yet then it's not going to be because we can't afford to pay you. I'm . . ." the foreman looked broken. "I'm sorry."
The hall went silent, the air thick with fear and rage.
"That's not exactly true," a voice interrupted. "If I may?" Every eye landed on the speaker, big Bob Hebert's son.
The foreman nodded. "If you got ideas or any news that isn't bad, come up here and share 'em." He hadn't been sure about the boy at first, he'd figured the boy had only gotten hired because of who his old man had been and had been more than a bit surprised when he hadn't broken after the first week working as a stevedore. It'd still seemed right to see the boy in the office after a year, kid didn't have the temperament for real work but he'd earned a bit of respect by showing that he'd been able to stick it out for as long as he had.
Hebert's kid took his place at the podium. "Lot of you know me, I'm Danny Hebert. Dad warned me about the cocksucker before he died, said not to trust him a bit so I didn't." He paused for the laughter to subside. "It's one of the reasons I started working in the office, not the only one mind you and not even the main one, but one of them. Didn't take too long to find out what the fucker was up to, I didn't finish my degree in accounting but I was about ninety percent through it before I had to quit."
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" a voice demanded.
"I tried to," Danny said. "But he was one of the boys and I'm a college kid and none of you wanted to pay me any mind." No one would meet his eye. "I didn't take any offense, it's just the way the world works. So, let's take stock of things. We're fucked. The dock's are dead and we're fucked." He sighed. "Corps of Engineers is supposed to clear the wrecks but god knows how many years that'll take given the state of the world so we need to find something else to tide us over. In the short term, well, we've got a couple hundred men skilled in every trade you'd care to mention and we've also got a couple hundred men driving shit cars and living in houses that need work. First things first, we see to our own. That'll keep us busy and it'll give us some time to think up what to do next."
"With what money?" someone demanded. "We've probably got everything we need here to fabricate any parts we might need but how are we going to live in the mean time? It doesn't matter how many tons of flat stock we've got laying around if you can't eat it or use it to pay your bills."
Danny looked shocked at the question. "You didn't figure it out? I told you, I'm about ninety percent of an accountant and I had access to the traitorous fucker's books." He laughed. "Needed a bit of help from Shelia's boy and his friend for the computer bits, but I figure that was more than worth the ten percent they got for it."
The foreman regarded Danny with honest admiration. "You didn't."
"I didn't cancel the fucker's plane tickets so much as change them. He's going to find that a layover in an unpleasant place is going to last a lot longer than he thought it would and he's going to have the uncomfortable choice of trying to live on the streets of a dangerous shithole or trying his luck back in the states where there are any number of union workers willing to give him a bit of free dental care. Oh, and yes, I did drain his accounts while I was at it. We're flush for six months or so, maybe a bit longer now that the fuck isn't bleeding us. I haven't run the numbers yet."
The foreman's look changed from admiration to adulation. "I motion for an immediate vote to make Danny Hebert our new Chapter President. Anyone stupid enough to oppose it can meet me outside after we crown our new king!" The cheers that met that pronouncement were deafening.
Scummy Alleyway, The Present:
Emma complied with her father's order, squeezing her eyes shut and telling herself that her daddy would protect her and that everything would be okay. She heard a scream which cut off abruptly, she felt a faint sensation of heat from the window, and she smelled burning hair and overcooked pork. "What's going on?"
"Your uncle Danny insisted on doing a couple upgrades to the car when I bought it," her father explained. "I told him I didn't want them, he insisted, I said no again, he pointed out the fact that they saved your aunt Annette's life when she had her accident, and now he's never going to let me live it down."
Which answered precisely none of her questions, Emma thought sourly. "Can I open my eyes now?"
"Better not. Mine are open and I really wish they weren't right now," her dad said lightly. The buttons on his phone chirped as he dialed emergency services. "I've been involved in a carjacking. I had to use deadly force to defend myself and my daughter. I feel safe to remain on scene for now but I may need to leave the scene to ensure my safety or the safety of my daughter if the situation changes before first responders arrive. Neither of us are currently in any danger but I feel a bit of tightness in my chest. That is all I feel comfortable saying without an attorney being present, I will cooperate fully but I would like to first have a chance to consult with my attorney." She heard her father hang up the phone. "Don't answer any questions and ask for a lawyer when the police get here, honey."
"Why would I need a lawyer, daddy?" Emma asked. "What did you mean about deadly force?"
"All in good time, darling. Keep your eyes closed, okay? No matter what keep them closed until I tell you that you can open them, okay?" The buttons on his phone chirped again. "One moment." He cleared his throat. "Carol, I was hoping that you would be willing to represent me in a criminal matter. Potentially murder but I doubt it. I think it's much more likely that the PRT will try to make trouble. Good guess, I did have to use Danny's zippo. I know he hates it when people call it that which is why I make sure to do at every opportunity. I've already informed the dispatcher that I won't speak without you being present, I'll do the same when the responding officers arrive. Thank you, Carol, you're a lifesaver."
Emma felt her father take her hand. "What's going on, daddy? You said something about murder?"
"Best you know as little as possible for legal reasons for now, kiddo," her father said, giving her hand a comforting squeeze. "Just know that whatever happens that I love you and any consequences are more than worth it if it means keeping you safe."
The Hebert House, Several Years Earlier:
Danny watched as the locksmith carefully disassembled his door locks and then just as carefully chucked each pin in a cordless drill, brought up a file, and . . . it almost looked as if he was using it as a mini-lathe.
"What are you doing, Steve?"
"Cutting grooves in the pins to make your lock harder to pick or bump," the locksmith replied. "I do it to all of mine so I figured that I might as well do the same for you."
"Thanks. Anything else you can do to make my house more secure?"
"Loads of things," Steve agreed. "We could reinforce your door frame, we could use longer screws in the hinges, we could laminate your windows, loads of things."
"Get me a list and what you think it would cost. Also put down how it would make things more secure and how people could get in if wasn't secure."
"No problem, Danny. You think this is something we could sell?"
"I think it's a possibility," Danny stated. He walked into the house and dialed a number from memory. "Alan? Do you think you could get me a meeting with Brandish?"
Scummy Alleyway, The Present:
Carol was pleased to see that her colleague/client was standing firm and refusing to make any sort of statement without her being present and was insisting that his daughter do the same. It was so nice to have a client that didn't try the impossible task of attempting to talk themselves out of trouble.
"Gentlemen, if you will give me a few moments with my client then I think I will be able to get you a statement shortly," she announced her presence. "In my car, both of you," she ordered.
She waited until the doors were shut and the white noise generator was on before she gestured for Alan's daughter to begin.
"Dad turned-"
"Softer, please," Carol interrupted. "We don't want anyone overhearing us."
"Daddy turned down the alleyway and it was blocked. Then they blocked it so he couldn't back out. Then a guy told us to get out and he pointed a gun at us through the window and daddy told me to close my eyes and keep them closed."
Carol did her best to look warm and friendly. "What happened next?"
"I don't know," Emma confessed. "The window got warm and I heard a scream, then I smelled burning hair. Daddy told me to keep my eyes closed and he called the police and he called you and he told me not to talk to anyone until I talked with you."
"What happened when the police got here?"
"Daddy asked if he could carry me out of the alley and they said he could and he told me to keep my eyes closed and I did," Emma replied. "Daddy told me that I didn't want to see what happened and I believed him."
"I see." Carol took it in. "Alan?"
"Pretty much. I activated Danny's zippo after she closed her eyes." The man swallowed. "It works very well."
"You didn't look away?"
"I did not," Alan admitted. "I would prefer not to go into details. I will at a future date if needed but I will not in front of my daughter."
"Understandable," Carol agreed. "I have enough." She opened the car door and stepped out. "Detective, I am ready to give you my client's statement."
"Let's have it," the lead detective agreed.
"My clients were trapped by a gang ambush and threatened with deadly force. Having no other choice, my client activated a lethal defensive security device in his vehicle. My clients will be going to the hospital after this to get a thorough check to ensure that they did not come to any harm and will make themselves available for future questioning should you require it. All requests for questioning will be made through me. My clients will not answer any questions without me being present for any reason."
"That one of the Dockworker's Specials on your car?" the lead detective asked in admiration. "I heard you had to know someone to get one of those."
Alan glanced at Carol who gave him a nod. "I know someone."
"Yeah? Who?"
"Danny Hebert."
The detective whistled. "Damn. You know him well enough to get him to put one of those things in my car? One in my wife's too?"
Alan considered the question. "I know him well enough to ask."
"Please."
Alan pulled out his phone. "Danny, I had to use your zippo . . . yeah, yeah, you were right . . . yeah, thing is, the cops really like it. They were wondering if you'd be willing to put them in their personal vehicles?" Alan could tell that everyone was holding their breaths waiting for the answer. "At cost for cops sounds good, I don't see any legal issues but I'm not that sort of lawyer. I'll double check with Carol before giving them the official word."
"Providing work at cost for all members of Law Enforcement and other emergency services should be fine," Carol stated. "It's similar to the deal he worked out with New Wave."
"Carol said no problem." Alan nodded as he closed his phone. "Danny says that you can go to the front gate of the Dockworker's compound. All work will be provided at cost so long as the name on your credentials and the name on the title match. He said he's willing to talk if you want work done for kids, wives, and parents, but he isn't making any promises." Alan smirked. "He's still under the impression that some of the union don't think he walks on water. He did promise a deep discount even if he can't give the same deal to your family."
The lead detective grinned widely. "Thanks, buddy. You're alright."
"Happy to be of service." Alan felt a weight lift off his shoulders, that wasn't as good as an agreement not to prosecute from the DA but it was better than nothing.
Carol Dallon's Office, Several Years Earlier
Carol considered the man's offer. A security upgrade for their residences at cost in exchange for adding the docks and a couple of residential neighborhoods to their patrol routes and an endorsement if they agreed that the upgrades were worth while.
"What's the catch, Mr. Hebert?" Carol asked.
"Danny, please. The catch is that we're doing things on the cheap. My locksmith is rebuilding the locks you already have rather than replacing them with high security models. You'll get something that's harder to pick and impossible to bump but it won't be as good as something that was made from the ground up to be secure. If you want us to replace your door then we'll give you something that'll stop gunfire but I can't promise that it will be pretty or look like a normal door. We're working on it, my guys are skilled at what they do but what we did and what we're doing now isn't the same thing."
"You're scrambling for work and this is what you hit on?"
"We're scrambling for work and we're also hoping to make things a bit safer for normal people that can't afford the expensive stuff," Danny agreed. "I'm also talking with a couple mechanics to subcontract for their garages. We've got the skilled people and we've got the equipment but what we don't have is the shopfronts."
"Are you willing to give us auto care at cost as well?"
"For you? Yes, considering what you do for this city."
Carol wasn't sure what to think about the new security upgrades to their residences, their contacts in the local police department all agreed that they were worth doing, but she didn't think that longer screws in the door hinges or an armored plate around the door knob would do much. She learned otherwise in less than a week.
The Roof Overlooking the Scummy Alleyway, The Present:
Sophia was shocked and just a little bit aroused by what she'd just seen. Dude in the car had just calmly executed three of the criminal fucks. She'd nearly hit the last fuck in the back with one of her broadheads before she'd realized why the apex predator had let her go, bitch was never gonna forget seeing her buddies get roasted alive in front of her.
The vigilante ghosted across the roofs, making sure that she was far enough to easily escape if need be but close enough to be able to watch the proceedings. Dude wasn't leaving so it looked like he was gonna wait for the cops. She looked forward to seeing what the BBPD and the PRT would do and how the dude would handle himself.
Residence of Michael Dallon and Jessica Lefebvre, Several Years Earlier
Jess was in the living room when she heard a terrible crash at the door. With a frown she got up and approached the entryway to investigate. Glancing out the side window, she saw a screaming man attempting to kick the door down.
The hero flinched involuntary when the window she was looking through suddenly went opaque. It took a second to realize that someone was shooting at her.
"Nope!" She stepped out of view and began creating flowers of light which she used to close every approach to the core of the house. "Now then." She pulled out her cellphone and dialed her soon to be sister in law. "Sarah? Yes, I have at least two people attempting to break into my house and I am worried that I might not be the only target. No, stay with the kids and call Carol to make sure that no one tries to go after my other cute little nieces. They are my next call. I'll talk to you later."
The hero chanced a peek around the corner and was gratified to see that the door was still holding. Though several more windows had turned opaque. She dialed the next number. "One five six Watercraft Lane, home invasion in progress. They haven't breached the house yet but someone is trying to kick the door down and at least one more person is trying to shoot through my windows. First man is white, bald, wearing a black pair of slacks and a white t-shirt. Combat boots. Yes, I saw a tattoo on his neck, I think it was a swastika but I can't be sure, I only caught a glimpse of it, his T-shirt covers it. I think it was around the collar on his right side." She chanced another peek. "The door's still holding but they've switched to trying to break down the windows." She moved a couple of her flowers to the window sill. Oh, I would appreciate it if you would notify the PRT. Because I'm Fleur."
The Roof Overlooking the Entrance to the Scummy Alleyway, The Present:
Sophia was impressed. Not by the dude's little princess, weak little bitch had to have her daddy carry her to the cops. Dude though? He was something. From his body language, he was completely in charge of the situation, didn't seem the least bit nervous by the presence of the police and had them all standing around till Carol 'Fucking' Dallon, Brandish herself, arrived.
What really impressed her though was how the cops looked like they were on the edge of their seats when he made a phone call and their body language after he completed it. The uniforms all looked like they were about to throw a party after he was done.
Who the fuck was this guy? She was sure he wasn't any sort of villain, not if he had Bransish on call. PRT? Maybe Armsmaster in civvies? It'd explain the flamethrowers.
Danny Hebert's office, Several Years Earlier
The new chapter president looked up from his desk when his secretary, one of the new hires they'd been able to bring in now that they were making money again, stuck her head in and waved for his attention.
"What's up?"
"I've got five people on hold waiting to talk to you. They all want to hire us to do up their houses like we did for New Wave."
Danny's eyebrows raised. "Huh. I wonder what happened?"
"Apparently a couple of thugs tried to kill Fleur."
"Tell Steve that I want people to go check on her and the rest of New Wave. Make sure everyone's okay and tell him that I want any damage to Fleur's house fixed the second the police tell us we can start work. Use your best judgement on which call I should take first."
"You got it, chief."
"And don't call me chief," he added.
AN: Regarding the Barnes' car, look up the South African Blaster (flamethrower) anti-carjacking device. That's the inspiration behind the majority of this. Thanks go to Cal for looking up said device.
Several typos and other mistakes corrected by joey zoot and several more by Dark King