New York City

Legend flew through the air at what was for him a cautious pace. Being able to hit lightspeed that was still ludicrously fast.

He was using his enhanced vision to keep a lookout. He was pretty sure he had driven the Butcher away. He was not letting his guard down. Against a skilled archer with teleportation, caution was warranted.

Catching no further site of her he continued to the next priority on his list. New York City and its adjacent communities were unfortunately a battleground. A nasty brush war between the Teeth and the Fallen was shaping up.

It had seemed to come out of the blue and even the thinkers and precogs had so far been unable to say what set it in motion. Both sides in the conflict had spread out. Now each conflict would start as a small-scale battle between small groups. If not quickly quashed reinforcements would swell the size and danger.

Flechette and Lancer had been pinned down by a conflict between Spree and Valefor. Mind-controlled civilians against a horde of deranged clones. Things were getting messy without any reinforcement. The teens had been unable to pull back.

As legend maneuvered between buildings the battle came into view. Someone had already shown up. There was an APC-like vehicle topped with flashing yellow lights. It was making a circuit around the battleground. The loudspeakers blaring instructions for everyone to flee the area.

The bestial form of Animos was known to Legend. He was a changer who took on a car-sized monstrous semi-quadruped form. He had the power of a shout that nullified other powers within a few meters.

The others were unknown, but they had rallied around Lancer and Flechette. A robot or mini tank about the size of a VW beetle was machine-gunning down Spree clones at a frightening pace. A tall lanky male was helping her. He wore a form-fitting gray bodysuit with a bubble helm and life support backpack. He was armed with twin "ray guns" that might have been 50's movie props. Legend had seen them in a briefing about new tinker tech the toy box was selling. They looked to be electro-laser stun guns. He was taking down Valefor's mind-controlled minions.

Two women were fighting Animos. The first appeared to be Japanese. Her body was very cybernetically enhanced. The silvery chrome form of her lithe body stood out against a pair of black micro-shorts and a crop top. Only her neck and face seemed to be flesh. The right side of her head and the left temple had metal plates. A neon visor connected the two. It changed colors in time with the scattered LED-like lights that were scattered about her metal parts and entwined in strands of her hair. The other woman wore a form-fitting black bodysuit. Paired with gloves and chunky black combat boots. Over that was a zipped-up front pocket hoodie that was gray with red around its edges. Her face was concealed by a black gas mask with mirror shade eye panels. She was wielding an old anti-riot shotgun in her left hand. Her right had a gauntlet dispenser connected by tubes to a tank on her back.

As Animos screamed his depowering howl she ignored the effects and leapt over. Her body was inverted by the time she hit the apex of her jump. She pointed her gauntlet weapon and fired. It exuded not the confoam Legend expected but a stream of liquid fire that coated the bulk of Animos' body. She finished the arc and made a perfect landing back upright on the balls of her feet.

Alarmed, Legend fired his laser beams to counter molecular motion and rapidly chill the area. A light ice rim formed over the burns. It extinguished the unstable gel clinging to the changer.

The last thing they needed was the bestial cape running in a panic and spreading the flames.

The chrome woman was wielding twin tanto. Their blade was some type of solid energy with a thin wire in the core. She nearly took off Animos' head, cutting him deeply in the neck. As he turned to flee the masked woman behind him blasted his back right leg with her shotgun.

Glancing at the rest of the battle Legend kept building the thickness of the ice. He came down to hover ensuring the women could see him.

"I have this one, stop your assault," he ordered. Both gave a nod and dashed away, joining the Robot.

Spree had started to send his clones toward Animos when he saw them being unmercifully struck down by the very lethal combatants.

Lancer and Flechette had joined the male in pursuit of Valefor. Legend sent a few lasers in both directions while continuing to encase Animos. He tossed his last confoam grenade at the changer's shoulder to staunch the semi-cauterized neck wound.

Shortly it was all over the out-of-towners and Wards approached Legend. A friendly female voice with a southern accent issued from the Robot.

"So, this is Legend in the flesh? Your pictures don't do you justice! If you weren't both married and playing for the other team, you'd be holding my heart in your hands right now sugar. The Lord was unmerciful to put such a fine-looking fellow as you so far out of reach."

"Don't let Diesel make you uncomfortable sir she is bawdy in nature but means no offense." the chrome-bodied woman interjected.

"Just because I'm admiring the paintings doesn't mean I'm gonna rob the museum Cyber. Besides, I think Legend can defend his own honor." Diesel replied.

"As a forthright champion of justice, I will stand up and reprimand my companion for her overly naughty speech!" the spaceman added.

The 'Spaceman's exaggerated mannerism was not the only slightly off-putting thing Legend noticed. His flesh and hair that could be seen inside the clear bubble helm seemed off. Like he was an animatronic puppet rather than a human being.

A neutral electronic voice spoke in time to the woman in the gasmask using ASL. "Will you all behave; The boss is nearly here."

The large van pulled up and its doors swung up gullwing style. Out of the cabin stepped a man in an impeccable but old-fashioned three-piece suit. Over that, he wore a duster. He reached back into the cab and placed a wide-brimmed gambler hat upon his head. He turned to flash a million-dollar smile. His teeth shone from within a precision-cut van dyne goatee. His eyes were concealed by dark round wire frame glasses with side shields.

"Most excellent to make the acquaintance of the east coasts' most influential para human mister Legend. I am Steam. This fine fellowship is Diesel, Ray, Cyber, and Atom. Collectively known as the Punks."

"The Punks?" Lancer asked.

"Cyberpunk is a genre of fiction that spawned the similar subgenres Steampunk Dieselpunk and Raypunk. Not sure I've heard of Atompunk, but I take it that's some post-apocalyptic thing?" Legend inquired.

"Somewhat it evolved into generalized near future semi-collapsed social system fiction." The robotic voice translated Atom's hands.

"Are you guys a PRT-affiliated group?" Legend asked.

"Yes, indeed we are my good man. We registered in New Orleans before we started heading around the coast. We just got into the bay a few hours ago. When we heard of your troubles, we dropped everything to come help. If we can get the paperwork expedited for this battle, I'd appreciate it. It would be nice not to miss our concert." Steam,

"Concert? You're Musicians? What do you play." Flechette inquired.

"They're called the Punks I would think that would be obvious" Lancer responded.

"Well, we're sure not playing smooth jazz, Sugar."

"Indeed, my good friends and I play that most noble of musical style punk rock. If you desire tickets, we can perhaps see some are provided gratis. Assuming of course we get to play this evening. If not, you are always welcome to come to our ship. There you may listen to us play or even participate in a jam should you be musical in inclination. The deck of the Aetherial Traveler is open to you" Steam offered.

"Let's get this processed. Then it seems like the fighting is in a lull for now. It likely won't start back up till the Butcher takes stock of the situation." Legend explained.

"I injured Valefor I got him through the leg, but he still managed to get away," Flechette admitted.

"I lost Spree. When he reached the bystanders, I had to slow down to avoid hurting any of the poor dears. Too bad more people didn't listen to Steam's warning."

"Good to see you were prioritizing the innocent bystanders. I have questions for Cyber and Atom. I am concerned by the lethality and disregard for collateral damage. Also, how were you able to function inside the area of Animos' scream?" Legend asked turning all business.

"Is this about the flamethrower? It was never my intention to let him leave that spot so the fire wouldn't have spread. Your arrival halted my efforts to kneecap him." Atom's speech program explained.

"We were using lethal force when we arrived. Animos was trying to reach these two Wards. It is in the code that lethal force is acceptable when preventing lethal harm to minors. We judged his attacks to be homicidal in nature. I feel street camera footage will support our call." Cyber added.

"There is a decent stretch between allowed and optimal reactions. Fire is by its nature a bit unpredictable. Please use more digression in the future. I would recommend replacing the flamethrower with a foam sprayer."

"We haven't been authorized that technology, our team is too new," Steam replied.

"I see well I will look into expediting that process if you will make that change."

Atom shrugged and faced Steam.

"Yes, I will do so as for your other question Animos' scream didn't work because none of them are Parahumans. They are all Cyborgs their powers are strictly technological in origin. I am the one who maintains their bodies. I'm rated Tinker three with a specialization in cybernetic systems" Steam explained.

As the PRT van pulled up further questions and explanations passed back and forth. The Punks gave full reports and then departed to prepare for their concert.

Protectorate central office

Legend was studying his computer screen when the door opened up. Rebecca entered and gave him a nod.

"I had a meeting in Boston and decided to swing by. The mystery of why the Teeth are on a rampage is partly solved by the way."

"Oh? One less mystery is good. Fitting as now I have a new one. So, what happened in Boston to drag you out there."

"Blasto was in negotiation to turn over a new leaf and work for us. It was a bit north of Armstrong's authority, so I came out to make the deal."

Legend gestured to a chair and Rebecca sat down. They'd done this dance, talking in character about things while alluding to Cauldron's business enough for it to be a practiced skill.

"Blasto is selling out on Danger. The runt provided him with a plant sample, something called Eufiber. It's ludicrously useful. It's a soft armor, superconductor, data cable, and atmospheric cleanser. The breakthroughs it will allow are massive. Regardless of the origin, it requires little to no tinker tech to grow and maintain."

"That's a windfall. Suspiciously so. What did Blasto want to betray his business partners and give it to the government?"

"He and his girlfriend Apple's records were cleaned. He's cut in on the profit and we help him move out of Boston ASAP. Before Accord kills him."

"Let me guess Accord knows he's leaving so had more force to turn on the teeth?"

"Better Accord and Blasto had a pact negotiated by Danger to unseat the Teeth. Blasto tossed everything he had at them to buy time for his retreat. That forced Accord to keep his advance into Teeth territory even. Now he just has to get out before Accord has time to revise plans."

Legend nodded. There was no way this wasn't planned. Accord and Danger had played Blasto like a fiddle. Accord got two disruptive elements out of his city. Danger proliferated a piece of infrastructure he required for his advanced technology. He spun his screen so Rebecca could see.

"Do you know anything about these guys?"

"The Punks registered with the Protectorate in New Orleans. They have an old-fashioned metal hull over a wood frame, steam boiler, and sail backup powered cargo ship. They are affiliated independents registered with the PRT. Financially they pay the bills via reward money and a novelty musical act. They have been sailing along the coast east then around Florida and up north. I caught a concert in Baltimore. Not my normal musical taste but it was entertaining."

"They claim to be four non-parahuman cyborgs. The failure of Animo's power to work on them. Seems to support that."

"They did power testing when they filled out their paperwork in New Orleans. Let's see. This file should have the results."

"Diesel Punk female personality traits physically she appears to be a brain installed into a mini tank. Her powers vary by which chassis she is installed into. Tends to gravitate toward high armor and firepower. Extreme precision when she uses that firepower, she battled Spree with no civilian injuries." So, I updated the file Legend explained.

Roberta nodded. "Ray Punk seems to be the same but installed into a bioplastic body that can reconfigure itself. His brain is almost certainly inside the chest cavity.

Cyber Punk is a more typical cyborg. She has inhuman reflexes and situational awareness. She fights with energy blades. She shows the hallmarks of being trained in multiple sword styles mostly Japanese ones which fit her apparent ethnicity."

"I added a bit about Atom Punk. She claims to have been born a deaf-mute she can hear now but the software interface to speak creeped her out. She opted for a translation program. That didn't even try to sound like a natural voice."

"No changes power-wise?"

"No, she carries the group's exotic weapons, things that would draw criticism. Flamethrowers, poison gas, explosive ordinance, and dismembering Nano blades. Concerningly, she seems to care the least about using them. On a brighter note, she has a record nearly as spotless as Diesel when deploying them."

"Their MO has been to travel from gig to gig stopping or even diverting courses to help problem spots. You definitely are in a problem right now, Legend."

"They want to try to capture the Butcher."

"She's strong enough to be very hard to restrain and she's a teleporter. I don't see that working out."

"I saw the rig they have set up. It might work. Three units that produce a stability field that prevents teleportation. Once the field forms the units close in the inner side is a high-tech composite armor. They then latch together and seal a few seconds later. The now sarcophagus-like pod puts the prisoner in a stasis field."

"We then haul it somewhere remote and keep it powered up. Steam Punk gets residuals for doing maintenance. Clever plan but I've seen plenty of clever plans fail. The ball is in your court on this one if you think it can be done go for it."

Legend nodded and handed a device to Rebecca with one hand while setting up an extra anti-spying field with the other.

Rebecca looked it over quietly. It was a Quantum field scanner that the Dragonslayers had acquired from the Aberrant Earth. The scanner showed low-level quantum blips, the sort that might be seen in Danger's batteries and a few other tech pieces. Given his prolific sales that wasn't too incriminating.

She flipped the scanner over to look at the other screen. They had leaked a bit of this technology to Dragon. The need to get something locally sourced outweighed their desire to tiptoe around Saint's paranoia.

They had been surprised when her collaborator Armsmaster had been inspired by the work. He had combined its principles with those he used when trying to form a defense against a suspected mind reader. Now the device could detect psionic wavelengths.

Four high readings and one null. Technology-enhanced cyborg psychics? Steam didn't trip either meter he could be a parahuman, or he could also be a mundane but talented tech from the Aberrant Earth. The high-tech base could be covered by the non-Q-tech advances.

Rebecca nodded and handed the device back off. Legend flicked the shielding off.

"Well, I think we should keep a close eye on them. But other than that, as I said nothing too worrisome. They are likely buying Toybox staples to fill out their gear but if we prosecuted every independent who did that, we would make a lot of enemies."

Legend nodded "Yeah that's about what I was thinking, good to have some fresh eyes confirm it."

"Good luck with this mess I have to get back and find some farmland we can set Blasto up on."

"Safe trip" Legend called as saw her out the door.