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Topic: A New Thread
In: Boards ► Kaiser's Change of Heart ► In: Boards ► United States ► New England ► New Hampshire ► Brockton Bay ► General
Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Posted On Feb 18th 2011:
Hey there guys. Going to try to keep this short and simple since I've been awake since last night. No one has gotten any sleep.
[Here] is the previous thread talking about
So, quick summary: Kaiser did get a change of heart, and he's currently with the PRT.
Approximately 17:00, the PRT began surrounding Empire territory to make sure nothing happened outside it. By 18:00, they began staking out the area. It's around this time that the Empire began doing parades and all that jazz. Kaiser said that it would be a show of force.
Around 19:47, Kaiser meets Armsmaster and surrenders himself. From Kaiser's confession, it sounded like he changed around 19:36.
Purity appears and tries to stop Kaiser from surrendering. Here, Armsmaster and Kaiser fight her off. From what Kaiser said, they might have known each other for a long time. They fend Purity long enough to get away, and the PRT capes along with them.
Currently, Kaiser is being held at the PHQ. He's very cooperative, but he didn't divulge any information about the secret identities of the other Empire capes.
Apart from Kaiser, Joker is also being talked about. They're trying to figure out how to classify him. Right now, though, based on current information, the PRT is classifying him as Master/Stranger.
(Showing page 1 of 2)
►White Fairy (Veteran Member)
Replied On Feb 18th 2011:
Well, not like they can do anything about Joker anyway. No one's seen him at all, and he's been active since, what, December earliest?
►XxVoid_CowboyxX
Replied On Feb 18th 2011:
Brockton finally gets a Master/Stranger
Telling you all now, Kaiser's been mind controlled. He's playing nice until Joker decides to take over Brockton.
►Poit
Replied On Feb 18th 2011:
I honestly wasn't with Void before. Joker was just targeting chumps, you know?
But now that he got a cape, Kaiser of all people?
PRT's going to take him seriously, now that he's targeting parahumans.
Shit, maybe he's making an army of capes?
►Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)
Replied On Feb 18th 2011:
THANK FUCK
Maybe this means change is going to happen now.
►NordicChampion
Replied On Feb 18th 2011:
You guys know that Kaiser's just going to escape, right? The PRT leaks like a sieve
►Glitzglam
Replied On Feb 18th 2011:
Not when the cape himself fought Purity back. I'm pretty sure he's going to stay fighting the 88 now.
►BallsDeep69
Replied On Feb 18th 2011:
I do not fucking care. Kaiser's gone and it's gnna be gone for good
None of Joker's targets ever relapsed. Even now, the gangbangers he targeted are still with the BBPD or something. The gangs are forever crippled. It's fucking great.
►XxVoid_CowboyxX
Replied On Feb 18th 2011:
Watch it turn out Joker is some Heartbreaker's kid. His Master powers really look permanent.
►NordicChampion
Replied On Feb 18th 2011:
Like I said, the Empire is going to get him back.
End of Page. 1
(Showing page 2 of 2)
►TheGnat
Replied On Feb 18th 2011:
Guys, is anyone hearing shit around the city?
End of Page. 1, 2
-.-
2/19/11 - Afternoon
"Good morning, Ms. Amy, Ms. Victoria," Ren greeted as he put down a now-dry mug. "What can I get you two for today?"
"Just the usual, Ren," Amy muttered, taking her usual seat in Ren's cafe. "Actually, can you add five espresso shots to mine?"
The day after Armsmaster apprehended Kaiser, the Empire launched an assault on the Brockton's hero capes. They attacked New Wave, and when the PRT and Wards came to help, Purity attacked PHQ. Luckily, Armsmaster saw her coming and fought her with Miss Militia.
"I really don't think…" Amy's head snapped at Ren who only chuckled as he began preparing their drinks. "Maybe I should have you sign a waiver? You can order as many espressos as you want, but I won't be held liable for killing the world's strongest healer?"
"I'll grow a zit on your nose if you won't add ten shots."
"Ah, the queen has begun demanding."
"How come you're not worried at all, Ren?" Victoria asked. "Purity was practically in your front door, wasn't she?"
Ren nodded. "Indeed, she was. I had front-row seats to her fighting Kaiser, Armsmaster, and Miss Militia."
"You weren't scared?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," he said with a shrug. "That's why my shop was closed yesterday. If anything, I was worried for you two. I heard New Wave had to fight off the Empire while the PRT hurried over to help you. I wasn't sure if I should bring it up."
"We're totally fine, actually," Victoria waved at him. "The help didn't take too long since Vista used her powers."
Ren hummed. "If I remember right, she could bend space. Did she bend space between PHQ and you?"
"Well, the space above us, yeah. She can't exactly bend space around people, so she had to do it above us."
"Does that mean you girls were okay?"
Hmm, she could smell the new brew. God, fresh smells so good.
"Sure are! Once the PRT came by, we practically ganged up on them!"
"Then why does Ms. Amy look dead today?" Amy narrowed her eyes at him. "Well, more dead than usual, that is."
Victoria laughed. "Well, we still got hurt, you know? Not to mention, civvies got hurt, too."
"Are espresso shots really good for you right now?" Ren asked Amy. "I'm getting worried, you know."
"I have work to do later today," Amy replied. "We're only stopping by to get some coffee."
"Here are your orders," Ren said, placing two mugs of delicious coffee in front of Victoria and Amy.
Not like it mattered. Her favorite cup of coffee sat in front of her. She needed caffeine. She took the mug and drank it like water.
-.-
Ren and Victoria stared at Amy as she snored on the cafe table.
"Out like a light..." Victoria muttered.
"I promise you; I only gave her decaf."
"I know, don't worry about it," Victoria shrugged. "I asked you, after all."
"Does that mean I can throw you under the bus if she runs here, threatening to grow pimples on my face?"
Victoria rolled her eyes. "It'll be fine! She won't actually do it."
"I know, I know," Ren said with a giggle. "Despite all the threats she makes, she won't actually do them. Still, isn't this pretty excessive?"
"It is, but she's been putting in more hours since she started drinking your coffee." Victoria huffed. "Maybe I should let her grow zits on you..."
"Please don't... I need this handsome face to serve my customers."
-.-
2/19/11 - Evening
Ren knocked on her door. "Hey Sabah, it's me! Are you awake?"
He heard shuffling on the side of the door, and he stepped back. The door opened, and Sabah waved him in.
"Hey, Ren, good morning. What's up?"
"Can't a friend just say hello?" he asked, presenting a thermos. "Well, that, and I was worried about if you were doing okay after the other day."
"The Empire weren't anywhere near the university, thankfully," Sabah said as she took the thermos and sipped some coffee. "Considering that there's barely any gang presence here now, after what a certain hero did, the university's been safe since."
"That's good to hear. And your father? How is he?" Ren asked, taking a seat on the couch.
Sabah lit up. "He's doing well, actually! Considering a unknown cape healed him, the hospital's been wary about letting him out. But, with Panacea finding nothing, he'll be out as soon as the hospital finishes the final tests."
"And any other trouble?" he asked, sipping from his own thermos.
"No," Sabah said as she sighed in relief, "thanks to you, I finally feel...free. Like, I could finally breathe properly. He confessed everything, you know? The...assault," -her hands gripped her jeans- "how he used his position to bully me... He's with the police now, and last I heard, he refused to leave custody, even when his parents tried to get him bail. So, thank you. Thank you so much."
Ren smiled as he lifted his thermos. "No problem. Your situation... It's just way too similar to someone I know. I can't sit still, knowing there's something wrong out there, and I have the power to fix it."
"You never really told me what your power is," Sabah said with a sip. "PHO says Master/Stranger, but you wouldn't need a costume if you were a Stranger."
"Master and Mover, actually," Ren answered honestly. "I won't say more than that, but you can guess if you want?"
Sabah narrowed her eyes on him. "Outside of being Master/Stranger, do you know what the PHO says about you? The next Heartbreak. Hell, some even say you're one of his kids."
"And do you believe that?"
She scoffed at his question. "Not at all. You're way too nice to be like him. I'm not even sure how you heal people. The PHO hasn't even managed to connect the healer is the same Joker going around changing hearts. I can see Master, but Mover? I'm even more confused."
"What can I say? I'm a man of many talents," Ren said with a smirk. "How's the coffee, by the way?"
"Not bad. I still prefer the second brew you made for me."
"That was...kahwa, wasn't it?"
Sabah nodded. "Yep. My dad liked it too, but he said the blend wasn't right. He mentioned something about better saffron."
"Yeah, I used the saffron you gave me, but I guess it wasn't strong enough for him," Ren said with a sigh, something Sabah also did.
"Fresh saffron is hard to find these days. I lent you the dried ones, but I guess they're underwhelming when combined with coffee."
Ren shrugged. "It is what it is, unfortunately."
Sabah glanced at Ren before staring at her thermos. "Mind if I ask a question?"
"You already did." A teddy bear punched him, causing him to laugh. "But go on, shoot."
"Does the resident phantom thief have some artistic sense?"
Ren blinked at her question. "I'm no artist, but I was friends with an artist. What do you need help with?" Ren raised an eyebrow. "Oh, but I don't steal art, if that's what you want."
"No, no. Nothing like that. Just a second opinion on things," Sabah said as she stood up. She walked over to her desk and Ren followed. "I was working on some designs before you came by. I wanted to ask for your opinion."
Ren glanced at her drafts, and his eyes widened. "Sabah, this is..."
"Yeah, my new costume," Sabah said with a gulp.
Atop her table were paper drafts of her old and new costume. Her old costume was a Victorian porcelain doll with golden curls and all-white clothes. However, next to it, marked as a new costume, was a similar outfit, but it had Middle Eastern accents to it. It even lost its mask in exchange for a familiar domino mask.
"Sabah, everyone knows Parian is a fashion student," Ren said. "You put anything related to your birthplace on your costume, you'll get outed."
She patted his shoulder. "I already planned on unmasking sometime in the future. You remember what I told you? I wanted to make a statement about assumptions about capes and the people underneath. Once I unmask, I think it'll be better to just make it more open, if you catch my drift."
"If that's what you want, I'm all for it," Ren said after staying quiet for a moment. "But what about the mask?"
"Inspired by yours," Sabah said, taking a draft underneath her new costume. This one was even more familiar. After all, this was his costume, created as a basis for Sabah to work on. It was the same one he used for the Metaverse, now made real through Parian's powers. "With it, my skin comes out in the forefront to contrast my majorly white costume. Anyway, this is just a draft. I still have other ideas I want to try and use, and I have a ton more time before I unmask."
"Hey, I'm on your side, alright?" Ren reassured her. "Just let me know, and Joker and I'll support you with what we can."
Sabah smiled. "Thank you, Ren."
-.-
Amy's eyes snapped wide open, and her room greeted her. Last she remembered, she was enjoying coffee at Ren's cafe with Victoria, but now she's in her room.
Oh god, was she Mastered? Did something happen when they were there?
"I have to check on Vicky."
She practically leapt off her bed, full of energy. That's new, but not important. She raced towards Vicky's room and slammed it open, but her sister wasn't there.
"Amy?" Vicky asked behind her. She whipped around, and she could see confusion on Vicky's face. "Is everything okay?"
"You're okay?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"I fell asleep in Leblanc, and I woke up here! Was everything okay? Was I Mastered? Were you Mastered?"
Vicky blinked as Amy kept talking before shaking her head. "No, we weren't Mastered. I had Ren give you decaf coffee. You snoozed as soon as you finished the mug."
Ren gave her decaf when she asked for ten espresso shots?
Amy was definitely going to give him zits.
Wait.
"You asked him?"
"Yes?" Vicky said with a chuckle. "You've been working even more than ever. You needed a break."
"So, you used my addiction to coffee to get me to take a break."
"Well... Yeah..."
Amy's eyes narrowed. Just one zit on Ren then.
"And no zits on Ren. I asked him to do this."
Amy chewed the inside of her cheeks. Maybe uneven facial hair then.
She eventually sighed. "Well, whatever. I have work to do...later..." She noticed Vicky's eyes immediately shifted to the side, and it was very suspicious. "What is it?"
"Um... Don't get angry, okay? But, have you seen the date today?"
Why would Vicky worry about the...date...?
Amy's eyes widened. She ran to her room and checked her phone.
"What?!"
-.-
2/20/11 - Morning
Taylor jumped as the cafe doors slammed open. Or, well, less slammed and more just opened quickly.
"Good morning, and welcome to Leblanc, Panacea! How can I help you today?" She greeted the new customer with her best smile and practiced lines. It took her some time, but she finally managed to memorize them.
Amy stomped her way to the counter, ignoring the customers already in the cafe.
"Where is your boss?" she asked, pronouncing each word slowly.
"He's in the back," she said, pointing to the door leading to the back of the cafe. "You want me to get him?"
Amy nodded, and Taylor raised an eyebrow.
She knocked on the door and called out, "Hey Ren, P- I mean, a customer wants to talk to you!"
She heard some ruffling sounds, and the door opened. "A customer? Sure, what seems... to be... the matter..." he trailed off when his eyes landed on Panacea.
Panacea smiled, one that didn't reach her eyes, as she stalked towards Ren.
Ren began backing away from her. "Hold on now..."
"I missed my work because you gave me decaf coffee..."
"At Ms. Victoria's behest!"
Panacea's smile widened a tiny bit. "And that's why I'm only doing this to you." Her hand touched Ren's.
Ren's eyes closed shut. "Taylor, how bad's the zit on my face?"
"There's no zit on your face, though?"
He opened his eyes slowly before looking down on his nose then at Panacea. "What did you do?"
Taylor chewed on the insides of her cheeks to stop herself from smiling.
Panacea backed off and smiled in relief. "I think that's it for me. That's for making me miss work. But since it's from Vicky, I'll only do just this much."
"H-hold on, what did you do?"
"Just check a mirror!" Panacea yelled behind her before leaving the cafe.
"Boss, she got you good!" one of the customers said as he guffawed.
Ren began feeling his face all over, eventually settling on his-
"A beard?"
"Yeah, it kinda sucks..." Taylor said. "It's uneven."
He continued to feel his new beard before chuckling. "I didn't think I'd ever get a beard before, but I guess I have to thank Ms. Amy for this opportunity. I'll go to my barber later today."
The doorbell chimed again, and Taylor immediately straightened her back.
"Good morning, and welcome to Leblanc! How can I help you today?"
The new customer was about to say something before her eyes landed on Ren.
Lisa burst into laughter as she fell to the floor, Ren's face reddening in embarrassment.
"Maybe I'll just shave this entire thing off..."