Chapter 22 – Interlude

Vicky twists the tracking bracelet on her left leg as she pokes at her ankle with the end of a pencil trying to get to the itchy part without dislodging the charging cable.

"Victoria! Stop playing with the bracelet."

Vicky lets out a scream of frustration and throws the pencil across the room, "I'm not mum! I'm trying to scratch an itch."

"Well do it more gently then! I just got an alert on my phone!"

Vicky flops back on her bed, the last few days have been awful and she'd almost rather be back in the cell than trapped at home. It's even worse now, as Arcadia is closed for spring break.

She looks up briefly as the door to her room is pushed open and Amy pokes her head round, "Are you alright?"

"No, I'm not alright. I'm bored, and mum won't let me go anywhere without an escort."

"I was about to head to the hospital if you want to come?"

Vicky sighs dramatically, "I wish I could, but I'm on the mandated charging time. So I'm stuck here for an hour. I wish they could just hurry up and decide what to do with me."

"What's going on? Mum's been keeping quiet, and this is the first conversation we've had where you're not just sulking at me."

Vicky crosses her arms and sticks her lower lip out for a moment. Then she sighs, "The PRT has video footage of what happened in the bank. They're using the fact I broke the desk as probable cause for re-interviewing all the gangsters I put away. It's stupid and not fair, as I can't go out with Dean unless I want Eric or Crystal tagging along. I mean, what's wrong with you escorting me? Nothing! But no! They think that you wouldn't be a restraining influence on me. And if I don't go along with it, they threatened to charge you too as an accessory after the fact. How is that fair?"

Amy snarks, "I don't know, maybe because it's the law." She looks down at her phone, "Anyway, I need to go if you can't fly me, as the PRT want me to look at one of the survivors of the lightning strikes the other day."

"Lucky you."

"Yeah, right."

Vicky sighs and picks up her phone as Amy closes the door.

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Director Piggot looks around the conference room at the assembled staff. Wonder of wonders, there aren't any capes present for once.

"For the record, this is the Tribulation task group meeting for the fourth time on April 21st at 1434. Sgt Roberts is attending as a guest to update us on his progress with cultivating. We also have Miss Isabelle Stewart from New York Legal and Charles Gordon from the state department observing."

Piggot looks around the room with a steely gaze, "We all know why we're here people. Lt Bradley, how's things with the BBPD?"

Bradley looks around uncomfortably, "We've started to see an uptick in crime since the weekend. Mainly petty crimes so far, but I'm sure the gangs will be starting to move again soon. It's not helped by the fact we've also got IA breathing down our necks after the third idiot decided that he was an exception to the shaker effect covering the city."

Isabelle shakes her head and checks her notes, "We're not calling it a shaker effect anymore, as it appears to be independent of the Stellar Empress. The Eastern PRT is going to refer to it as the Mandate of Heaven, or Mandate for short. This is to differentiate it from any other abilities that cultivators decide to show off, like the field around the building, or the space expansion in Contemplative Brew."

Bradley grimaces, "Thank you ma'am. Anyway, um, the chief has started a drive to have all of the officers using the coin to at least learn the language, and preferably the relevant rules so that we don't lose any other officers. I've also heard that the 88 have a hit out on Dakala for killing some of their men."

Piggot nods and quickly checks her notes, "What about the other members of that gang?"

"We shipped them out to the State lockup on Monday while everyone was keeping their heads down. Given the fact that we have blood on a knife, and a used gun, we're hopeful that we can pin attempted murder as accessories on them even without eyewitnesses."

Piggot nods, "Anything else?"

Bradley shakes his head.

Piggot looks over at Roberts, "Roberts, how are you getting on?"

Roberts looks up with a start, "I've been working remotely with a yoga instructor from Florida on the natural meditation for an hour a day. It's harder than it looks, though I'm sure that Dr Flores will be willing to tell you about the progress the instructor has made."

Dr Flores looks up from his notes, "Oh, right. Yes, Amina came highly recommended, and she's been teaching for the last 30 years. Once we explained what we were expecting she got it in the first hour of instruction. Um, that is when she was teaching Roberts, not us instructing her. For the record Director, this is bul – a load of crock. We've been investigating phenomena like this for decades and nothing's ever come of it. Now someone says, 'Find the place that it sticks.' And all of a sudden normal people are able to do parahuman feats?"

Piggot sighs, "Doctor, we're all aware of your feelings on the matter. Might I remind you that we have repeatable and verifiable evidence that this is real."

"Have you seen the reams of papers debunking normal humans that think they've got powers? There's only one verified method of having powers, and that is through the gemma and polenta."

Piggot puts her head in her hands, "Dr, with all due respect to your position. This is a meeting, not a forum. Please keep to the subject at hand."

Dr Flores takes a deep breath, "Sorry Director. It appears that it is indeed possible to teach someone to 'cultivate' without reference to an existing cultivator. It appears that just the knowledge that it's possible and the right technique is enough to learn how to do it."

"And the tribulation lightning?"

"We have examined several corpses, and apart from magnitude of the effect, the cause of death seems to be a series of massive lightning strikes. We can't yet explain how the lightning bored through buildings and earth without grounding out." He grinds his teeth as he continues, "Though, it does seem to ground out correctly for the surrounding people and property. Though one victim of a abduction rape had to be treated for forth degree burns where molten metal from the roof of the car melted. A date rape victim died when the lightning passed through her attacker and grounded itself out through her."

Grimly Piggot nods, "Thank you for that, Lt O'Donnall?"

O'Donnell folds her hands on her notepad, "Parahuman crime has been at an all time low over the last week. Even Uber and Leet cancelled their latest 'show'. We've also had no reports of potential crisis events since the mandate started to be enforced. Though a week long gap isn't too unusual. Our analysists think that we're going to start seeing an uptick in direct assaults from the 88 rather than the missing persons cases we currently deal with. Either that, or they're going to start taking things outside the city limits. We've also got an order for some Aleph imports that are purported to be stories about qi usage. That could take up to three months to work its way through the access provisions."

Piggot nods, "Thank you. Now before we start discussing the regulars of the tea club, Mr Gordon, have the state department looked over my draft request?"

Gordon nods, "We have, we have had our Chinese diplomats going over traditional Chinese religious practices. We believe that you are taking the right approach to soliciting the Empress' help. Though, as she claims that heaven is still being built, we do wonder how you plan on delivering the missive."

Piggot barks a laugh, "With a parachute. For the record, the meeting is now transitioning to our regular update on the known cultivators in the city."

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Min looks startled as Qigang pulls her into an uncharacteristic hug as tears freely stream down her face.

"Min, I am so happy to see that you're alive."

Awkwardly, Min pats her on the back, "It's alright big sister, it's not the first time we've been forced to flee as spirts."

Qigang leans back to look at her before burying her face in Mins shoulder and sobbing uncontrollably.

Off to one side Hanying maintains her composure despite the unseemly display of emotion. "Auntie, this one would explain if you have ears."

Min looks over at the young woman who had barely been introduced before Qigang fell apart, "Honored senior, may I ask how you are related to me?"

Hanying bows from her waist, "Auntie, I am your brother's daughter. Though you were long dead when I was born. Grandmother told me many stories about you whenever she remembered."

Min shudders at the thought of someone so powerful calling her Auntie. "Honored Elder. What can this lowly slave do for you?"

Hanying huffs in annoyance, "Allow me to remove that disgusting slave brand."

Min looks down as best she can with Qigang still sobbing on her shoulder, "Honored Elder, I would. But it is quite impossible, as only the Emperor of the heavens has the authority…"

"We know, that's why grandmother climbed the 888 heavens and took the seat of power. I think we've all been Emperor once before we got fed up with all the idiots."

Qigang pulls herself together and turns to face Hanying, "Hanying, your father taught you better than that."

Hanying smiles at Qigang and adds, "And grandmother taught me otherwise."

Qigang sighs and pulls out her heavenly seal, the one that's holding one of the heavenly laws in place. "By my authority as the 217th Emperor of the highest heaven, I release thee from thy bonds of slavery."

As Min doubles over in pain, Qigang turns to Hanying, "Mother was a terrible influence on your behavior."

Hanying nods with a smile, "She was, but I think it's still better than the stuffy behavior of the courts and their constant preoccupation with saving face and their status."

Over the next while, the slave brand on Min's back glows bright orange before it dissipates into motes of qi.

As she's gasping on the floor while recovering from the agony of having the brand removed, Min gasps, "Where's Gang?"

Hanyang squats down beside Min and starts to stroke her hair, "Auntie Juan and uncle Wuying are restoring his body. You're free now, and we'll help you rise through the heavens once we get you back to the future."

Qigang shakes her head with a poorly concealed smile, "You mean the others will help while you're examining the portal with my help."

Hanyang rubs the back of her head, "Yes Honored Elder."

Qigang nods perfunctorily and takes a ring from inside her robes. "Min, this is the ring that mother made you. It is only right that now you are free I return it to you along with all the possessions of those who enslaved you."

This time it's Min who loses her composure and breaks down crying.

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Max watches Brad storm around his office waving his Hookwolf mask around as emphasis to his rant.

"…and that fucking nigger is still alive." Brad abruptly turns to face Max abruptly, "What are we going to do about it Max? She killed three of our best normies. On top of that, we lost three groups of recruits to that stupid fucking lightning."

Max nods gravely, "I am aware of this, and the fact that we've lost our leverage on Purity."

"What's next, are they going after my dogs? Wait, really? What about Night and Fog?"

"They're still in Boston doing whatever Gesellschaft want them to do. I've sent out feelers about them returning now that Purity is a Hero. But I don't really hold much hope that their answer will be any different to last time. I've also declared Dakala off limits to our normies. If you must pick a fight with her, make sure you're not trying to kill her. We still don't know the full extent of Stellar's powers, and we can't afford to lose you too."

"Ha, as if she could kill me as easily as that bitch."

Max sighs behind his mask. "Did you see the video of the bank job?"

"Who hasn't?"

"Do whatever you want. Just, don't do anything that will bring the E88 down with you. Don't forget you are one of our heavy hitters, and if we lose you, it opens us up to Lung."

Almost speaking to himself, Brad says, "I could send some of the boys round to the tea shop and have a word with the lady in charge."

Max lets out an audible groan, "Brad, do remember that the shop is on Main Street, and the central police station is at one end, while the PRT building is at the other."

Brad waves his hand in the air as he heads to the door and puts his mask back on, "Yeah, yeah. I'll send some potentials to do it, and have Stormtiger or Victor watch from across the street in plain clothes."

"Before you go, how's Rob doing?"

Hookwolf turns back for a moment, "Who?"

"The yoga guy."

"Do you mean Mike? He's settling in well. Getting kicked out of the shop was just the push he needed to officially join up. Of course, he doesn't do any cage fights himself. But a few of the better grunts have been learning from him, and displaying their skills in the cage. Might even be able to make a couple of them soldiers if they manage to do the foundation crap."

"Good, good. Encourage them to do that, as you know the ABB will be doing the same."

Hookwolf nods and turns to leave again.

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Emily rubs her back and wrist as she finishes painting the last character on her personal request for the Stellar Empress' assistance.

"I hereby submit that the entity known as Nilbog is a threat beyond the ability of mortals to contend with. Thus I submit to the heavens a request for a representative to be dispatched to remove this blight upon the world.

"In addition to providing my own mortal authority to expediate the claim of the bounty on the entities head. Upon successful completion of this request, I will also personally hire a trustworthy tutor in English, and provide a meeting room, within which you will be able to be taught to read by the tutor.

"Emily Piggot, Director of the PRT ENE."

Emily nods as she finishes reading the request part of the missive. With a grim smile she takes a scroll dowel from a cardboard box and rolls the missive onto it. Then she removes two seals from the box along with fresh red and gold candles.

Then she lights a gold candle from the decorative crystal cigarette lighter on her desk (just large and heavy enough to be a good projectile or weapon, but not so large it's unwieldy), and dribbles the wax over the edge of the scroll until there's enough that she can press the first seal into it.

As she lifts the seal away the emblem of the PRT is left in the wax. With the red candle she does the same with the other seal, leaving the Piggot family crest embossed in the wax, along with her own personal addition of a shield behind the crest.

With a grim smile, she gathers her cane and the scroll before heading to the door to her office.