So, some people mentioned that they would like to see this. Therefore, a little something from the Wards perspective for you all.
Note- this takes place just after the Bank incident, and so is placed as part of Chapter 3 on the timeline.
Interlude: Vista
Apparently, the PRT Director did not consider the bank job a win for the good guys.
"You are very fortunate that I am not labelling this an utter fiasco." Director Piggot stated, her cold, stern eyes fixing upon the cowed Wards. None of them spoke up- they all knew better- and she continued.
"It is exceedingly fortunate that you were able to capture one of the Undersiders. Otherwise all we would have is considerable property damage and the humiliation of being defeated by a group specialising in escape, not to mention the damage caused by New Wave's golden girl, which is our fault as you invited her along without my say so."
Piggot did not look particularly intimidating. She was quite short and stout, but her voice held a furious ice to it. She did not shout: she did not need to. Vista fought the urge to flinch.
"And, worst of all, we cannot even claim a real success in capturing the Undersider, as it was done by someone who Glory Girl invited. A vigilante was more successful than the entire Wards team!"
Piggot's voice had risen just a little by the end of that statement, and Vista couldn't help but feel a slight resentment on behalf of Circaetus. Vigilante or not, Circaetus hardly deserved the scorn that Piggot had put into her statement. Vista wondered what Circaetus would have said if she was here to hear what Piggot said. Probably something snide. Gallant cleared his throat and stepped forward, a little unsteadily. Vista watched him with concern- he had taken a severe beating from Grue and Hellhound's dogs, he should be undergoing a medical examination not a dressing down.
"I invited Glory Girl. It's only fair that I pay for the damages."
In Vista's opinion, that summed up Gallant impossibly noble and self sacrificing, offering to take the burden that belonged to the whole team upon himself. Clearly, however, Piggot did not feel the same.
"Yes. Living up to your name, I see. But we all know who you are under that mask, and we all know that you are the one most able to afford such a fine. Punishment is hardly a punishment if your pocket doesn't feel it, Gallant. No, the cost will be coming out of all your wages."
A series of protests ensued, but Vista took a cue from Circaetus and watched Piggot. For a moment, she could see the satisfaction that curled across the Director's expression. It vanished quickly, but Vista knew what she saw. Piggot simply waited until the protests died down into sullen silence, and turned her gaze upon Aegis and Clockblocker.
"So, now that we have settled that matter, I must ask about your plan to switch costumes. Whichever budding tactician among you decided upon that little trick?" she asked. A less cynical person might have thought she would complement the planner. Vista was not such a person. She knew it was Clockblocker's suggestion, but the momentary silence that followed the question suggested that he was a little wary of answering. Eventually, a sigh came from the Ward- still dressed in Aegis' costume- and he stepped forward. Piggot turned her gaze upon him, but Aegis spoke before she could, though his voice was laboured.
"Director, I wish to state that I was in command and as such-"
"Oh, be quiet Aegis. You trying to speak with a punctured lung physically pains me, and as much as I admire standing up for your team your one lungful of breath is wasted here." Piggot snapped. Aegis and Clockblocker both looked at her, but a new voice spoke before she could say any more.
"You know, there's friendly mean comments and then there's being unnecessarily rude. Two guesses for which one that was." The newcomer drawled, a female voice filled with easy confidence. The Wards and Piggot all turned, to be met with the sight of four figures: Panacea in white and red, Glory Girl in white and Circaetus in her black and gold, and all wearing the blue Guest ID badges. The vigilante was looking directly at Piggot, and a slightly abashed looking PRT trooper stood behind.
"I'm sorry Director, they insisted on bringing Panacea to help heal the Wards." The man said, Circaetus giving him a dismissive gesture.
"Yes, thank you for that. I don't believe we've met, however, Director."
There was a subtle mockery in the way Circaetus pronounced Piggot's title, some challenge in the words. Piggot sent the vigilante a glower that would have cowed any of the Wards. Circaetus merely tilted her head.
"Come come, Director, no need to be hostile. After all, we are both on the side of good, are we not?"
Circaetus still sounded slightly mocking, almost as though she was inviting Piggot to engage her in a battle of words. Vista watched, transfixed, and wondered if the Director would take the vigilante up on it.
"I suppose we are. Although, of course, there is the consideration that I am a fully qualified officer, and you are a vigilante." Piggot responded coldly. Circaetus responded with a soft, cold laugh, one that Vista had not heard before from the girl that she considered a friend.
"Ah. There it is, that scorn. Is it because I'm working outside your organisation, or simply because I have powers? Ah well, it hardly matters. I'm not as foolish as Shadow Stalker, and not here to trade witticisms. No, I'm just here to make sure that Panacea is unmolested, and maybe to lend my aid to the Wards in their debriefing. Am I allowed to do that, or would you like to exchange some more witty banter?"
Vista stared. Circaetus was…she had never heard anyone talk to Director Piggot before, with a mixture of unassailable confidence and casual disdain. It was unprecedented. It was unbelievable and yet, the Director simply glared at the vigilante, eyes narrowed and mouth pressed tightly shut. A minute passed, fraught with tension, and then Piggot grunted.
"Fine. Fine, vigilante. Have it your way, for now. Wards- there is a tour group coming in in an hour, make sure you are presentable. Panacea, thank you for volunteering your services, it is appreciated. Vigilante…you might be feeling smug now, but I will be watching you."
Piggot strode from the room, leaving the Wards and New Wave members staring. Circaetus broke the fresh silence with a soft huff.
"Hmm. Well, that was the least convincing thanks I've ever heard. Your Director is quite the charmer, isn't she?"
Aegis tried to say something, and it came out as a gurgle, tinged with a slight bubble. Circaetus sighed.
"You Brutes and your machismo pain tolerance. You're bleeding too much to make sense, Aegis."
Circaetus looked at Vista, and her head tilted in a manner that Vista always associated with the older girl smiling.
"And I know you're going to say that I'm doing the same thing as the Director, but it's different. I'm the one doing it."
Vista fought the urge to laugh at the blatantly ridiculous statement, and the cheerful way that Circaetus made it. It was strange, really, with the way she dressed Vista would have expected Circaetus to be more closed off, unfriendly. More like Shadow Stalker, but they were actually entirely different, even if Circaetus was entirely capable of being highly intimidating.
"Well, I was telling the truth to Director Piggot." Circaetus said, abruptly changing the subject.
"I'm just here to give my thoughts for the debriefing. Are we going to get to that?"
Aegis looked at Gallant, and then carefully cleared his throat. It sounded painful.
"Yes, we should do that. Gallant, you lead. Panacea, if you could…"
Panacea nodded to him, and Gallant quickly lead the way to the Wards Headquarters. Once there, Panacea lead Aegis away to be healed, while Kid Win fetched a whiteboard and they got down to the business of dissecting their performance, mainly focusing on the powers and tactics the Undersiders had employed. Circaetus remained in the background, making no comment for the first few minutes, as the Wards went through the initial skirmish. Eventually, the conversation reached the point after Circaetus had arrived, the Wards attempting to work out who had been leading the Undersiders, and Circaetus spoke.
"Grue was their leader." She said, complete confidence in her voice. Vista turned to her: she didn't doubt the older girl, but she felt that she had to ask her reasoning.
"What makes you think that? If anything, I would expect Tattletale to be the leader- she seemed like the planning type, and she stayed in the bank."
Circaetus tapped a finger against her chin before answering.
"Bitch. Bitch- Hellhound, whatever you want to call her. She makes me think that Grue is the leader, because she's violent and not overly bright and Tattletale doesn't have the muscle to keep her in line. Grue does. And besides that, Tattletale was waiting for Grue in the bank. Just because Grue is their best fighter doesn't mean he can't lead them as well."
Vista nodded, agreeing. She had just wanted to see how Circaetus had rationalised it.
"How good is he?" Glory Girl asked curiously. Gallant grimaced.
"Good enough to break my arm." He replied dryly. Circaetus nodded.
"He's baseline human, but he's good at what he does. Knows more than one martial arts I'd say, and he leverages his power to use it very well. If you take him on again you'll have to be careful, his skills make him perfect for isolating more vulnerable members of the group."
Vista felt that Circaetus was looking at her at that. She might have protested, but she knew it was true. If Grue attacked her in hand to hand she might not do very well: training only went so far, considering that she was a fairly short thirteen-year old.
The conversation continued in a similar vein until the bank had been entirely gone over. By that time Aegis had been healed, and Panacea was working through the others. Gallant would be last, as he was leading the debriefing- last, apart from Vista, who was merely bruised a little. Just after they had finished, and Panacea had taken Gallant into the side room to heal, a yellow light flashed, indicating that someone was entering. Usually this would be a signal to put masks on, as someone was entering. In this case they hadn't unmasked, as Circaetus was present, and so none of them moved as the door opened and Armsmaster entered, followed by Miss Militia. Circaetus uncoiled from the wall, moving towards the exit.
"Well, that's my cue. I think I've helped all I can here, and I need to get back home." She said. There was an odd flatness to her voice, Vista noted, a certain wariness that the Ward couldn't place. The vigilante gave a sparing nod to Armsmaster and Miss Militia, pausing only for a moment before them.
"Miss Militia. Could I possibly ask for an escort out? I'm afraid I don't know the way."
For a moment Vista thought that Miss Militia might refuse, but then the heroine nodded, her eyes crinkling in a smile above her American flag patterned scarf.
"Of course." She said easily. Circaetus paused, half turning.
"So, I'll see you guys some other time." She said. A faint tinge of humour entered her voice at that.
"Try not to get into any more trouble without me. I'm not sure how many times I can pull of the late arriving hero cliché."
And with that, Circaetus followed Miss Militia out. Clockblocker snorted.
"I'd say that she's cheeky, but she's right." He grumbled. Armsmaster ignored him, moving over to the board and examining it.
"This isn't bad." He said, before getting into a conversation with Gallant and Aegis. Vista missed most of it, as Panacea had moved over to her and healed her bruises and scrapes.
"Thank you." Vista said quietly. Panacea nodded stiffly, and turned to Glory Girl.
"I'm done." She said. Armsmaster, infamously socially maladjusted, barely spared a moment.
"Thank you, Panacea. The PRT troopers outside will escort you and your sister away."
Vista wondered what Circaetus would have said about that, but Glory Girl and Panacea were used to Armsmaster and merely made their goodbyes. Armsmaster waited until they had gone, almost a minute, and then called the Wards around.
"This is good." He said, indicating the whiteboard, "But it is incomplete. Not the Undersiders…but Circaetus."
Vista stiffened, a frown crossing her face.
"Sir, why would we need to record information on Circaetus? She's a friendly."
It was a testament to Armsmasters experience- or his social issues- that he didn't bat an eyelid at that protest.
"Be that as it may, we do need to build a basic profile on her in case she turns against us. In that case, her powers are especially relevant."
Vista still frowned at that, but reluctantly concluded that he had a point. Circaetus was like a combination of Rune and Krieg on steroids. If she turned against them she could be deadly. Still, the Wards were reluctant to offer too much information, and she suspected that Armsmaster already knew most of what was offered. Eventually, however, Kid Win made a comment that Vista had not considered.
"She can affect people with her powers, and doesn't seem to have a limit on that effect given that she could throw people around." He said quietly. Armsmaster straightened his posture even more.
"Yes. Yes, I had considered that. It brings to light an interesting and concerning possibility: Circaetus might not be Manton limited. Her powers may have full reign to affect the human body."
Vista considered what could be done with a Circaetus' powers, considered what she had done to brick and mortar and metal, and imagined it being applied to flesh and blood and bone. And, despite what she liked to think of as a friendship for the older girl, she shivered.
I'm not entirely thrilled with this, but I wrote it as best I was able. To clear up a few potential questions: Taylor does not have a grudge against Piggot or Armsmaster. She just has some issues with authority, combined with the full arrogance of the Emperor turning her away from acknowledging them as her superior. Piggot being a bigot also doesn't help, no matter how justified said bigotry is. After all, Piggot experienced Nilbog, and then works in a city with Lung, Kaiser and Skidmark, and to top it all off her vigilante experience is Shadow Stalker, who is nigh homicidal, and Glory Girl who means well but is a hothead with a tendency towards property damage. Even then, Taylor isn't going to take anything from her lying down.
All that notwithstanding, I hope you enjoyed, and feel free to review with any thoughts you have on this little interlude: the next chapter will likely be out tomorrow, as it is almost finished.