A/N: Big thanks to TwoPence for beta reading this chapter.
ooOoo
"It's not like we joined because we were afraid of Everywhere. Truth is with Leet at my side, we could take her. Everywhere is ruthless, but she's just a teleporter. Nothing special," Uber said. Privately Flechette agreed. She'd seen the footage, and sure Everywhere was resourceful with her power, but… There were villains like that everywhere, and at least this one wasn't obsessed with her. "We joined because we realized that what we were doing wasn't really changing the needle. To make our vision a reality we were gonna have to change some things up."
"So what is your vision?" Asked Weld, sitting comfortably in one of the plastic chairs surrounding the conference table. "You guys are into arcades right?"
"Um, actually, we're into video games," said Leet, from the seat next to Uber. "Arcades are the best we've got in Bet, but the stuff they've got in Aleph blows what Bet's got out of the water. Platformers like Mario, shooters like Halo, RPG's like Final Fantasy and Skyrim, and of course the GOAT Grand Theft Auto. Beating up hookers- now that's a damn game! That's not even getting into the MMO's like World of Warcraft and Starcraft 2 which require advanced telecommunication infrastructure that we'll never get because of that bitchass Simurgh. The best we've got is fucking Quake, but that's only because our videogames suck ass."
"Don't we have Mario?" Asked Weld.
The disdain was clear in Uber and Leet's laughter.
"'Don't we have Mario?' he says," said Uber, shaking his head.
"You can't call what we've got true Mario," said Leet. "No Mario 64, no Sunshine, no Galaxy one or two. Clearly our work went unheard if a normie like you doesn't even know that much."
"That's why we've changed tactics," said Uber. "I guess you could say we were inspired by Everywhere, but we aren't scared of her. If our universe's video games are trash, just make one ourselves! We're going to use our powers, and the PRT's resources, to build the perfect video game. Then you'll see!"
"Didn't you join before Panacea partnered with Medhall?" Asked Rune.
Medhall? Weren't they the largest corporation in the city? Flechette had heard about Everywhere acting as a glorified garbage man, but she hadn't heard anything about the Undersiders partnering with Medhall. Was that even allowed?
"Shut up, you dumb bitch," said Leet.
"Well we joined because of Everywhere," said Othala. She was filing her nails, and didn't bother to look up. "At least Rune did. I only joined because they wouldn't accept her without me, and I didn't want my cousin involved in a war. Not thrilled to having a lying pussy as a teammate, but at least you're better than the Chink or the freak."
"Japanese," said Flechette.
"Jap then," said Othala. She blew some nail filings onto the table. "Even worse. Fucking mayor only let you in so he could win an election. Shortsighted, corrupt asshole- pretty soon we're gonna be overrun by you yellow bastards."
"I'm from Buffalo," said Flechette.
"Doesn't matter," said Othala, getting to work on another nail. "Not that I've got anything against your kind in particular. Servile, obedient, and you can copy alright. We need workers too, someone to build our shit. But the world needs whites to create new stuff. Everywhere's right that society is in decline, but she's wrong about why. It's not politics, it's demographics. Simple statistics. If America were still a white christian nation, we'd have wiped out the Endbringers years ago. Would be better for you Japs as well- you'd still have a country, we'd have been able to save your yellow asses if we hadn't let ourselves be contaminated with inferior blood and inferior cultures."
"I'm from Buffalo," said Flechette again. "I understand why racism appeals to idiot rednecks. Who doesn't want to think they're special? What I've always wondered is how you nazis can worship a bunch of losers. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Germany get their asses kicked?"
"That's a misconception," said Othala. "We only lost because our western cousins stabbed us in the back. Couldn't see the truth. The jews were able to manip-"
"We've all got our histories," said Weld. "Different reasons for coming here. But Othala, you can't talk like that. You've got to know that people are going to hate you for it. They're also going to hate Rune by association. Are you okay with that?"
"I understand that the truth can be unpleasant," said Othala. "But if white people keep letting inferior races run things we've got no chance in hell. Our fucking director is a goddamn nigg-"
"I'm not white," said Alexandria. "Is that going to be a problem?" She'd refrained from speaking while the new Wards had introduced themselves, leaned against the door with her arms crossed, as much a part of the background as a woman of her looks and power could ever be. Flechette hadn't known a woman could be so beautiful, it was actually almost too much, she inspired more admiration than attraction, and intimidation more than admiration.
Othala took a step back. "Um.. No- um, of course this doesn't apply to you. I'm mean, um, Latin Americans are descended from um… I mean, you're Alexandria, so of course it doesn't… I'm sorry."
"You are here because we needed a healer," said Alexandria. "Your power makes you useful. Your views are your own, but when you act as a member of the protectorate you will keep them to yourself."
"Yes," said Othala quickly. "Of course."
"Weld," said Alexandria. "I'm disappointed. You've been identified as a potential leader, and you allowed things to devolve into unproductive squabbling. Be better. Unite the room. Capes are vicious by nature, and Othala is far from the worst you'll have to work with. Watch how Aegis does it."
Flechette was beyond impressed by Alexandria. She'd never been around someone who could so effortlessly command a room. She was like a goddess descended from the heavens, but Flechette couldn't shake off a niggling bit of suspicion.
Why was Alexandria even here? Officially it was to make sure that the new Wards were integrated smoothly, but that didn't pass the smell test. Flechette and Weld weren't important enough to require her presence. Maybe to deal with the Undersiders? Maybe… But it just seemed like there had to be something more.
The door to the conference room opened, and the old members of the Brockton Bay Wards came in to greet the new ones. For a few moments, they just stared at one another.
"Some of you have been enemies in the past," said Alexandria. "You may have even fought each other. Any issues you have with each other must be resolved now."
One of the old members of the team glowered at her, dressed in a dark cloak and urban camouflage, she was just Flechette's type. Lean, lithe, athletic long legs. She even had a crossbow. Probably Shadow Stalker then. It was a little strange that she'd brought a weapon to an introduction, but it was good to know they were both crossbow aficionados. Easy conversation, maybe Flechette could give her some tips. Lily blushed, fidgeted, tried to feign nonchalance. She didn't touch her hair, too soon for things like that. As many times as she'd moved around as a child, introductions always made Flechette nervous. Even earlier, introducing herself to thieves and nazis, she'd wanted them to like her. She didn't do well alone.
"Good, another girl. Even better, an experienced one," said a cape with a bunch of clocks in his armor. Clockblocker. She remembered the name from the briefing. He offered her his hand, and held onto the handshake long enough to make her uncomfortable. She wanted to push him away, but she wanted to make a good impression even more. "Felchettio correct? The pleasure is all mine, the team can always make room for another hardened member."
"Happy to finally be on a team with you," said Flechette, smiling. "A girl's always gotta have a couple Clockblockers in her life."
The tension eased a bit. Heroes, villains, it was all in the past. They were on the same side now.
"Fine," said Shadow Stalker. She had a fierce voice, and an obviously black one. "If none of you pussies are going to say it, I will. I wouldn't be caught dead with these douchebag queefs. Any rep we've built is out the window if we're seen with them. Throw me in jail if you want, I won't work with them."
Flechette smirked. Hey, somebody had to say it. Shadow Stalker was just her type.
"I can't be seen with these virgin fucking nerds," said Shadow Stalker, pointing at Uber and Leet.
"What?" Asked Flechette dumbly.
"Been there," Clockblocker whispered. "Shadow Stalker's hot as hell, but once she opens her mouth it kinda ruins the fantasy."
"Don't misinterpret," said a muscular boy, floating next to must have been Aegis. "Shadow Stalker despises the nazis just as much as you or I. But Othala can loan out powers, and Shadow Stalker will swallow the racism for some super strength. Personally I find that admirable. Setting aside our differences for the good of the team. Thanks for healing me, by the way."
Othala opened her mouth, but glanced at Alexandria. She swallowed, and said, "You're welcome."
"We've all had differences," said Aegis. "But we've also all had experience with Everywhere. We all know the truth. We can lose alone, or we can win together."
"Now, that I can agree with," said Othala. She put out a hand into the middle of the table. Aegis put his hand over hers.
"That's why I joined," said Rune, adding her hand to the middle. "Happy to finally be one of the good guys."
"I'm in," said Uber.
"Me too," said Leet.
Weld, Clockblocker, Vista, and Kid Win added their hands to the pile. Flechette joined too, but she didn't really see why they were all so scared of Everywhere. Teleporters were tricky, but she'd dealt with them before.
Vista glared at Shadow Stalker. "You're not going to join?"
Shadow Stalker nodded at Alexandria. "If she joins, I'm in. If not, I'm out. We need another apex predator if we're gonna take on Everywhere, otherwise we're just prey lining up for the slaughter."
"You're always calling us pussies. You're the pussy," said Vista. "You're all set to take out your insecurities on people weaker than you, but the second someone comes along that can punch back, you run like a little bitch."
"Big words," said Shadow Stalker, her grip tightening on her crossbow. "Care to back 'em up?"
Alexandria stepped in front of the crossbow, and gazed down at Shadow Stalker.
"She- she'll kill us," said Shadow Stalker, her back hitting the wall. "Vi-Vista's just a little kid. They're all just kids. They don't understand how the world really works. Thinks she's living in a damn story, with a fucking script and a happy ending. There's no morals, no right and wrong, there's just strong and weak. If you're prey- run."
"If you're prey," said Alexandria. "Obey."
Shadow Stalker joined the rest of them.
"On three," said Aegis. "Fuck Everywhere. One, two, three."
"Fuck Everywhere," said the Brockton Bay Wards together.
"Now that that's done, let's introduce ourselves," Aegis said, unlatching his mask. "I'm Carlos."
Clockblocker was next, revealing a flop of messy red hair. "Dennis."
"Missy," said Vista, grinning adorably.
"Sophia," said Shadow Stalker, unmasking.
Kid Win took off his visor, "Chris."
Othala took off her mask. "I'm-"
"Fucking easy targ- gah!" A boy drenched in blood crashed onto the table.
Two girls and a boy popped into existence beside him. Flechette blinked. A second later another girl appeared, and then another. There was a metallic tinging sound, like a bell being rung.
Carlos, Missy, Chris, Sophia, and Othala fell, little pins stabbing into their neck. The one aimed for Clockblocker bounced off his armor.
One of the girls who'd just popped into existence, the lanky one, gazed down at Sophia.
The girl giggled. Laughed. A bitter, painful thing. Much like Alexandria, her appearance caught the eye, forced you to pay attention but for the opposite reason. Everything a person normally hid, all the ugly bits exposed. Rather than leather or cotton, the girl wore a wreathing mass of muscles, bleeding and exposed, twisting around her. Instead of any number of typical masks, she just covered her face with a dark garbage bag.
She'd teleported into the heart of the Protectorate and just taken down half the Wards, before any of them- even Alexandria- could react. Uber and Leet fled. Flechette almost followed them.
"Please don't kill me," said Rune, falling to her knees. "I did what you said, reformed. I ne-never believed in the Empire anyways."
"Good," said the girl, eyes still on Shadow Stalker. Flesh coiled around her. "Because they're all dead."
This was Everywhere. The epitome of evil. The fascist who represented the greatest threat to American democracy. And Flechette was suddenly very very sure that she could not in fact 'take her'.
Alexandria yanked Weld behind her.
That's right. She'd forgotten. They had Alexandria. There was nothing to fear.
Everywhere turned to Alexandria. "Get them out of here," said Everywhere, motioning towards the Wards she'd just defeated. "I don't know why you've let a bunch of civilians dressed up as heroes get so deep into your operations, but now isn't the time for it."
"Do you know the punishment for unmasking a cape?" Asked Alexandria.
"Yes. Death," whispered Everywhere, a horrible smile on her lips. "Not by 'heroes'. By villains."
Alexandria glanced at a mousy brown-haired girl.
"You're right," said Alexandria. "We need to evacuate the civilians. Clockblocker, Rune, get them out of here… And Clockblocker… We'll be talking later. About why you wanted to stay in Brockton Bay. The truth this time."
Everywhere scoffed at the mention of Rune. As her two teammates followed Alexandria's orders, Everywhere kicked Shadow Stalker in the face. Crumpled her nose.
"Retaliation for a teammate," said Everywhere. "I believe in eye-for-an-eye. Do you? If you'd like, I can teleport you and your friends to Bonesaw and the Siberian."
What? But those were-
"I see," said Alexandria. "You're a child. You want me to clean up your mess."
Flechette faltered. Why wasn't Alexandria denying it? They couldn't be here. It was a bluff. Had to be.
"Coil," said a blonde girl with a predatory smile, semi-coagulated blooding dripping off her hair like strings of natto. "I see. So you knew about him… But how?"
"Tattletale," said Everywhere. "Focus."
"Hey," said Tattletale, opening up her arms, a bloody nub where her thumb should have been. "We're all friends here. Alexandria's our boss, or did I forget to tell ya? So boss, I've got one question… Noelle!"
"Cute," said Alexandria, walking towards Everywhere. Tattletale skipped in front of her. "The Slaughterhouse takes precedence over your childish need to prove your intelligence."
"My intelligence is self-evident," said Tattletale. "I know things. Like why you're here. You knew the Slaugh-"
Alexandria covered her mouth, and effortlessly lifted her a foot off the ground. "Noelle. Who is she?"
"Why are you here, Alexandria?" Asked Weld. Flechette wondered too. It hadn't made any sense for Alexandria to come here just to help acclimate them to a new team, but if she'd known about the Slaughterhouse? It explained some things, but it still seemed like a half-measure. She'd feel a lot better if they had Eidolon and Legend, and maybe Chevalier, Myrdin, and Dragon too. Let them be on their way. Or better, let it all be a mistake, a bluff.
"Tattletale knows the specifics about Noelle," said Everywhere. "I can only speculate."
"Speculate then," said Alexandria. Tattletale squirmed ineffectually in her grasp.
"Jack said he was going to use her to end the world," said Everywhere. "Based on context she's a Case 53 under Coil's control with the ability to multiply and master capes. Give her a cape like Panacea and Jack in her ear, and that is one scenario for ending the world"
"Agreed," said Alexandria. "Which is why I'll be leaving with Panacea."
"What?" Asked Flechette quietly, her voice unheard over Everywhere's mocking laughter.
Weld trembled, wood from the conference table splintering in his grip. "You're…"
"Trying to save the world," said Alexandria. "Panacea is irreplaceable. Even if I call in Eidolon and Legend, a victory over the Slaughterhouse is not assured. If a loss means armageddon, securing our most valuable assets must be given priority."
She tossed Weld a cell phone. "Dial 9 for an airstrike. Should the battle turn for the worse, I expect you to do your duty. I recommend that you start by doing what you can to eliminate Noelle. She and Bonesaw are the only obvious avenues they've got in terms of ending the world, and as long as we have Panacea we can counter Bonesaw."
Flechette didn't understand. Couldn't. Wouldn't. They were the good guys right? And good guys didn't just let cities burn, didn't abandon Wards to the Slaughterhouse because it was fucking expedient.
"So you're just going to leave?" Asked Everywhere. "Give up without a fight? You're worse than any villain. You're sucking up all the good people, and making sure that they accomplish nothing."
Alexandria smiled and pointed at her eye. "What would you have me do instead? Fight the Siberian? Fight Glaistig Uaine and Crawler? What if I lose and make them stronger? War isn't a morality play, it doesn't reveal character, and if I make a mistake it's everyone else who dies. Don't presume that I care what you, or any of the other children in this room think of me. All that matters is winning."
Alexandria let Tattletale go. "I know that it sounds hollow, but good luck."
Alexandria was right. It did sound hollow. It kinda sounded like Flechette had thrown her life away for a lie.
"Your powers?" Asked Everywhere, already moving on from the betrayal as if she'd been expecting it.
"I'm full metal," said Weld. "Like a tank. Most powers bounce off me, and I can absorb metals into my body. If I lose a limb, I can reform it by absorbing metal."
"Try to stamp him," said Tattletale, smiling wildly as if she hadn't almost been killed by Alexandria.
Everywhere took Weld's hand. "I can't."
"He registers as non organic to powers that work on organics," said Tattletale. "And registers as organic to non organics. We might be able to use him to retrieve people after Noelle eats them."
"I can charge things," said Flechette numbly. She picked up a paper, gave it some energy, and sunk it halfway into the table. They were fighting the Slaughterhouse. Jack Slash. The Siberian. Bonesaw. Harbinger. Crawler. Mannequin. Glaistig Uaine. And the Protectorate was taking all their best people, and leaving the rest of them to work with a demented fucking villain. She'd been prepared to die when she'd signed up, she just hadn't expected it to be meaningless. "I can make a bolt that goes through stainless steel like warm butter. And I'm a good shot, I never miss."
"More precisely," said Tattletale. "She can temporarily imbue nonliving objects with the ability to ignore select laws of physics. Open a portal. I want to see how her power interacts with it."
A portal opened up next to her. She crumpled another paper, charged it, and threw it into the portal. The paper ignored the portal and buried itself in the concrete underneath it.
"Here Siby Siby Siby," said Tattletale. "Don't you wanna eat me? Hey Flechette, charge up one of Alexandria's gloves, will ya? I wanna test something."
Everywhere closed the portal. "You think she can hurt the Siberian?"
"I do," said Tattletale. "Although a blaster isn't an ideal matchup against that finger-eating cunt. A thinker with sensory abilities is what's needed. Remember what I said about the Siberian being a projection? What's needed to defeat her is finding her master. Kill them, and ole Siby pops like a balloon."
"Can she kill Noelle?" Asked Everywhere.
"Probably," said Tattletale. "I don't know. An incinerator would be better. Maybe one of Bakuda's leftover bombs?"
"How heavy is Noelle?" Asked Everywhere.
"At least a few thousand pounds," said Tattletale. "Probably more. She's big, fast, and strong. What's gonna make this tough is that she's got friends. Powerful capes. We're going to need them if we want to fight the Slaughterhouse, but they'll turn on us if we kill her. Also you have to keep in mind that Glaistig Uaine can resurrect anyone we kill, so if we take down Noelle first, expect to be fighting her as a ghost."
"So Uaine needs to be taken down first," said Everywhere. "Do you know the powers of the capes she's got in her arsenal?"
"Gray Boy," said Alexandria. "He can create time loops in a ten foot radius around him. If damaged, he will simply revert back to an earlier unharmed state."
"Which will do him little good if I teleport him to the bottom of the ocean," said Everywhere.
"I can't guarantee that that would work," said Alexandria. "I'm not sure whether or not his power would allow him to reverse the teleportation. I would advise against relying on that strategy too heavily."
"Probably safe to assume she's got all of the Empire's powers," said Tattletale. "So expect to be facing Kaiser, Hookwolf, and Krieg."
"If I can get a portal in the Atlantic I can blast Kaiser to the moon," said Everywhere. "Hookwolf I'm not so sure about. We could use Vista and Clockblocker to make a string cage to restrict him, and then use one of Flechette's bolts to finish him."
"This won't work," said a large man in blood-soaked leather. "She's been traveling with the Slaughterhouse for decades. We're not going to be able to create a countermeasure for every cape she's collected."
It was true. Watching them plan, Flechette could understand how the Undersiders had been so successful. They were smart, maybe even genius, definitely on another level compared to her team in Buffalo. But they weren't taking on the Wards, not even a Protectorate branch or a local villain gang, this was the Slaughterhouse. If clever plans were capable of defeating them, they'd have been put down years ago.
Everywhere nodded. "You're right. Uaine is the one pulling the strings. If we can get the drop on her, I can kill her."
"We just need one of the stamps within ten feet," said Tattletale. "A Stranger would be best, but we don't have any. Grue is actually better suited to the job than you. He should be the one to place the stamp."
"Or we could just leave the stamp near Noelle," said Everywhere. "If we're sure she's who they're after, I could just kill anyone who gets close."
"What if they use Crawler to break her free?" Asked Tattletale.
"Noelle is here voluntarily right?" Asked Everywhere.
Tattletale nodded.
"We explain that the Slaughterhouse is coming for her," said Everywhere. "She swallows a stamp. Once Jack and Uaine get close enough, I teleport them."
"Maybe," said Tattletale. "But they might just have Crawler or Siberian kill her, and use Uaine to resurrect her."
"It's possible," said Everywhere. "So we do both plans. I give you a stamp and you convince Noelle to eat it. Meanwhile, me and Grue try to get drop on Uaine. If we get within ten feet I kill her, but if we can't do so we fall back on Plan B."
"Stealth should be a fallback plan," said Tattletale. "If we've got access to the Protectorate, how feasible would it be to just give Battery or Assault a stamp and just blitz her?"
"They'd be fucked before they could get close enough," said Everywhere. "Grayboy would loop them if she saw them coming."
"Right, right," said Tattletale. She smirked. "But what if we didn't need to get close to her? If we partner with the Travelers we get access to their powers. Trickster can swap places with anyone in his line of sight."
"So Trickster teleports her next to me, and I teleport her to the bottom of the Atlantic," said Everywhere. "That would probably work. It might get him Gray Boy'd though."
"We don't have to tell him about Gray Boy," said Tattletale. "Or we can downplay the risks. I can tell them I can get them out of it if they get looped."
"Can you?"
Tattletale shrugged. "They'd believe I could. That's what matters."
"Alright," said Everywhere. "What do the rest of them do?"
"Ballistic can launch things he touches at supersonic speeds. Sundancer can create and control a miniature sun. Genesis can create and control a body of her choosing, but she must be asleep to do so. One thing though, they all refuse to kill."
"We use Clockblocker, Vista, Aegis, and Glory Girl to seed the battlefield with frozen obstacles, get Crawler slowed down, and then use Sundancer to burn him up."
"No," said Tattletale. "She'd never agree to it."
Everywhere clenched her jaw. "Fuck. Mess with her head. Do your thing. Master her."
"I won't be able to," said Tattletale. "My power is guess-and-check. I can piss someone off, maybe break them if their insecurities are big enough. I can't master them."
"Then we separate her from the rest of the group. Kidnap her. Let Regent or Panacea master her. We'll restrain Crawler, then cook him alive."
"You can't," said a blonde girl who must've had a run in with Bonesaw. She looked almost spiderlike, with six arms, and her teeth fully exposed liked an insect's. "I know you, Taylor. This isn't who you are. If you do this, give in to darkness, you're letting them win. You'll become everything you hate. A villain. A bully."
Everywhere grew still. Let the silence linger. Suffocate. When she responded, her voice was cold and calm. "I forced Amy to fix you. I threatened her at gunpoint. She still didn't believe me, until I shot her. And after it was over, she thanked me for it."
"The world needs heroes like you, Victoria," said Everywhere. "But right now it needs a monster."
"You've convinced me to stay," said Alexandria, her nostrils flaring, holding out her hand. "I'll even call in the rest of the Triumvirate. Conditional on you and your Undersiders joining the Protectorate."