Act 3: The Bakuda Problem
Wisdom of Solomon was a very strange ability… Frankly, the ability itself appeared 'odd' even from the perspective of the 'Wisdom of Solomon'. To grant knowledge and inherit it from someone was still acceptable, but Wisdom? Bestowing and inheriting 'wisdom' was the most baffling and miraculous thing that had ever existed.
That was why humans were so special.
Why was that the case? It was because 'Wisdom' was based on perception, growth, and would even touch on the subject of the soul. Knowledge wasn't soul and couldn't be manifested in the physical world, but wisdom? It was like 'fate', hard to see through, and just as much harder to grasp.
I was in my Shazam-state, flying high above the clouds, chilling—I was literally lying on the clouds in a relaxed manner, while I dialed Tattletale's number on the burner phone I bought with thug money. The phone rang twice before she picked up.
"This is Tattletale," Tattletale's voice was as calm as the first time I'd met her.
"It's Shazam," I said, keeping my tone calm and even. "We need to talk."
"Ah, the flying lightning guy," she responded, a hint of amusement in her voice. "It looks like you've decided to trust me— I'll ping you an address…"
"I need information on Bakuda," I said, getting straight to the point. "I watched the video. I know she lost, but she's still out there, preparing for more. I need to know where she is and what her next move might be."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. "You're direct. I like that," Tattletale finally said. "But information like that isn't free, and I prefer we talk face to face."
I deduced certain truths from hearing her words: (1) her powers were severely limited in range, (2) she was confident I wouldn't hurt her, and (3) she wanted something from me.
It took me a little less than a second to make my deductions. Her thinker-power could only be limited in range if she'd rather have a 'negotiation' face to face than do it on the phone. Considering the massive gap in firepower between the two of us, it was suspect why she'd prefer a face-to-face talk in the first place.
The possibility of a trap was present, but highly unlikely since she should know she was outmatched. The first time we met, she'd gauged my abilities with a glance, yet didn't try to play any tricks… like engaging in intimidation tactics. If she was as capable as I've surmised, then she should already have something as of this moment.
Lastly, there was her act of throwing a 'business card' to me, leaving me the initiative, and there was her tone of voice as if she was expecting me to call her anytime soon.
"I can help you," I offered. "You need someone to watch your back, right? I'm willing to be that someone. But I need to stop Bakuda first."
"Interesting proposal," she replied, considering my words. "But no."
"You will only talk if it is face-to-face," I remarked.
"Yes," she replied simply.
Today was April 17, and it had been two days since Bakuda's bombing spree began. Most frequently, I would help douse the fires, rescue civilians, and suppress violence. The Protectorate's response, the New Wave's efforts, and my presence helped quell the tumult, but we were closely teetering at the breaking point. And Bakuda kept on just making it worse.
Bakuda was starting to unleash her more esoteric bombs.
Yesterday, I had been caught in a crystallizing foam that melted organic materials. If I didn't have Brute-ratings, I would have died already. On top of that, ABB's numbers were rapidly swelling. Bakuda was mass-producing a specialized bomb she'd implanted in conscripts. We almost didn't discover it because I had disabled the implants with my lightning. It was Armsmaster who had discovered the implants, but it was too late by that time since a few ABB conscripts had already exploded due to the implants. The Asian community was suffering from the public outcry, despite being equal victims.
I soared over the clouds, searching for the address Tattletale had given me. The city below looked like a patchwork quilt of lights and shadows, the chaos from the recent attacks casting long, dark shadows over Brockton Bay. The air was cool, and the clouds were thick and heavy, making it easy to blend in with the night sky. As I flew, I thought about the conversation with Tattletale. Her calm demeanor and the confidence in her voice had left me an impression of her being in control, but I doubt that.
The address led me to an old, abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. The building looked like it hadn't been used in years, its windows boarded up and its walls covered in graffiti. I landed softly on the roof, my cape billowing around me as I surveyed the area. The Wisdom of Solomon helped me scan the perimeter, noting the lack of guards and the absence of any immediate threats. Still, I knew better than to let my guard down.
My cape fluttered in the wind, and I felt the familiar surge of power as I descended into the warehouse's shadowy interior. The echoes of my footsteps bounced off the concrete walls, creating an eerie, almost haunting sound.
This place would have been a good ambush spot…
As I reached the center of the warehouse, I saw her. Tattletale was sitting on an old wooden crate, her legs crossed, while a small smile was playing on her lips. She looked up at me with sharp and calculating eyes, as if she had expected me all along.
I knew immediately she was gauging me: my reactions, the way I arrived, and she may even have gotten a read of me. I didn't possess any power that countered information-prying abilities, despite possessing a robust mental power in the form of the Courage of Achilles and Wisdom of Solomon.
"Welcome, Shazam," she said, her voice steady and cool. "I see you made it. Let's talk."
I approached her, my stance relaxed but alert. "You wanted to meet face to face," I said, keeping my tone neutral. "What do you have for me?"
She chuckled softly, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Straight to the point, I like that. But first, let's get comfortable." She gestured to the crate beside her. "Sit."
I hesitated for a moment, then lowered myself onto the crate, the wood creaking under my weight. Tattletale studied me for a moment, her eyes flicking over my costume and the lightning crackling around me.
She was studying me.
For what reason, I didn't know.
"You're not like the others," she said, breaking the silence. "There's something different about you, something I can't quite place."
"Maybe because I'm not just any cape," I replied, leaning forward slightly. "I need to know where Bakuda is, and what her next move might be. Time is running out."
She nodded, her expression turning serious. "Bakuda is more dangerous than you think. Her bombs are just the beginning. She's been working on something big, something that could change the entire city. And she's not alone. The ABB is just her foot soldiers. People hoped she'd stop anytime soon, but she'd only escalate from here on out."
"You're not scared, not to mention worried in the slightest bit," I observed, watching her closely.
Tattletale smiled, tilting her head slightly. "You're reading me, almost like the way I'm reading you. Yes, you're correct. There's no reason for me to be scared because there are more frightening people out there, and I've met and talked to them face to face."
"This isn't related to Bakuda," I guessed, feeling a sense of clarity.
"My intel about Bakuda was the 'chip' or the payment I was willing to give in exchange for a favor," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she gauged my reaction. "I've intuited you are the best chance I have if I wanted to turn the tables against him."
"Who?" I asked, leaning forward.
"Coil," she answered, her voice dropping to a whisper.
Coil. He was a low-key villain, not much was known about him. At surface value, his power could be narrowed down to either Thinker or Stranger. "What makes you think I would help you?" I asked, curious about her reasoning. "You are a villain. I could just grab you and toss you at the PRT's doorsteps."
"Virtue. Honor. These are parts of your powers, your nature," she replied, her eyes searching mine. "I've had difficulty reading you because there's too much about you. In most instances, I'd end up going in circles, and unexpectedly, I'd come to flawed conclusions if I delved too long."
"You know I wouldn't turn my back on you if I knew you were sincerely asking for help," I said, understanding her game. "And by exposing your vulnerability and offering payment, you're able to motivate me into doing your bidding… Hmmm… flawed conclusions? I don't think so. You're trying to mislead me, make me think I have a hand over you when it comes to the effectiveness of thinker power, but that isn't the case."
We were equal at the very minimum, with slight differences depending on the situation.
Tattletale chuckled, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Brilliant."
I couldn't help but smile. She was good, I had to give her that. "So, what's the plan?" I asked, ready to get to work.
"We need to disrupt Bakuda's operations first," she said, standing up. "Then, we can move against Coil. But be careful. He's more dangerous than he appears, and he has resources you wouldn't believe. At the current rate, Bakuda would end up a puppet for one of his schemes…"
"Elaborate," I said, leaning back slightly but still keeping my eyes fixed on her.
"He's holding out against the other gangs. He wants Bakuda to further her campaign, cause more destruction," Tattletale explained, her voice calm and measured. "When the situation reaches a point of no return, he'd suggest a truce between the gangs to deal with Bakuda."
"While coordinating the gangs' actions, he'd be using his hidden resources to secretly stake territory or assets," I interjected, following her logic. "But Bakuda is a serious enough threat that he'd need to take her seriously too."
"Yes, that's the case. Coil is taking advantage of the crisis, but there's more to it than just stealing territory. I have reasons to believe he's engineering a situation where he's sponsoring rookie villain groups behind the scenes to erode and devour the other gangs," she said, her eyes narrowing as she watched my reaction. "It's only a theory, so I'd like to pick your brain on this."
Hmmm… she was implicitly admitting the Undersiders were being sponsored by Coil.
"You suspect he's sponsoring the Undersiders so that you guys grow big enough to someday replace either of the big gangs," I said, my mind racing through the implications. "While at it, he wants to stay behind the scenes, maintaining control over the gangs he once sponsored by securing their loyalty through past relationships... and perhaps the power of money."
"Exactly," Tattletale confirmed with a nod.
"There haven't been any new gangs recently except the Undersiders, or out-of-towners who are starting to settle here. If a new villain group came and wanted to take root, chances are it's either a coincidence or that Coil has them in his pockets. It's thin ice. But…" I paused, considering the broader picture.
Tattletale leaned forward, her expression intense. "But?"
"But we can use this to our advantage," I continued. "If I could take Bakuda down before he engaged in his theatrics and apprehend you and the other Undersiders, he'd be forced to act. If he didn't, then that was fine too, since you turning yourself in, all but exposed Coil. The best way to deal with bond villains was to fight them in the light."
Tattletale's expression darkened as she stood up and took a few steps away from me. "I won't turn myself in," she said, her voice tinged with anger.
I could tell that approaching the Wards Program wasn't even an option for her. She hated authority, and I suspected the same was true for the rest of the Undersiders.
"Why are you afraid of Coil?" I asked, trying to understand the depth of her fear. With the kind of power she had, I could imagine she could bypass her emotional hindrances just fine with pure mental power.
Tattletale frowned, her eyes narrowing as she recalled her experience. "I met him once. It was unpleasant," she said, gritting her teeth. "It was brief, but there was a strange power interaction. It was the strangest thing I've ever felt. When I tried to infer information from him, I saw myself being forced into a table, tortured, and inflicted with pain in most horrible ways."
"You can stop—" I began, but she cut me off.
"No, you might as well hear it," she said, her voice resolute. "The power interaction didn't stop at a single instance, but multiple. I didn't just 'intuit' myself being tortured, but also numerous people I swore I've never met before. That's why I labeled Coil as dangerous. He's a psychotic monster who has torture as a hobby."
Her words hung heavy in the air, painting a chilling picture of Coil's true nature. I could see the fear in her eyes, the haunted look of someone who had seen too much.
"We'll take him down," I said, my voice firm.
"You should, because you can," she answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
Tattletale's gaze bore into mine, the weight of her words hanging heavily between us. "I will help you find Bakuda, but you have to save me, do you understand? The moment I've said these things, chances are Coil will know it too. He has near-omniscience, and while I'd love to personally screw over that fucker, I'd rather take my chances with you."
She was overwhelmed by fear, and it clouded her perspective. Coil had a powerful emotional hold over Tattletale despite her calm and rational demeanor. I could see Coil had left quite a psychological wound on Tattletale, fortunately, it had already healed. Or context-wise it had scabbed and healed fast enough that Tattletale could continue functioning this efficiently and effectively.
"You plan to disappear after this meeting…" I said, voicing the conclusion I had reached.
"Yes," she confirmed, "If he gets his hands on me or contacts me, he'll know I've betrayed him, and then he'll kill me. I should be able to last four days, playing hide and seek with him. He has a lot of resources, both hidden and in the open. By four days, you should have dealt with Bakuda by then."
"So the favor isn't apprehending Coil?" I asked, seeking clarity.
"No," she replied, shaking her head. "You'll apprehend him whether I request it or not, especially now that you know he's an evil bastard who needs utter disintegration."
"So what is the favor then?" I pressed, wanting to understand her terms fully.
"After you deal with Bakuda, you have to protect me for the duration until Coil is dealt with," she said, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that conveyed the gravity of her request.
She wanted me desperately, and it wasn't in the same context a girl liked a boy.
