Here's chapter 3: Gotta Catch Em All!
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This is Worm, so warnings for death, destruction, depressing and disgusting shit and Nazi language.
Standard disclaimer - Worm belongs to Wildbow, it is not mine, I am simply playing in the kiddie pool.
It would be thematic to - now that Jordan had a target in mind - to have a thrilling arc of chasing down leads on said target, having stake outs on chilly rooftops, with fog clinging to the streets around him as Jordan pondered the difficulties of finding one single human being in a city of 350 000 weary souls. Finally, after a grueling chase, cornering his target in a dark alley after weeks of hard nosed detective work, dispensing witty one liners as he put an end to the entire chapter.
Except Jordan didn't need any of that. Because he had a
name. In fact he had something even better.
Two names. Brian Laborn, and Aisha Laborn.
If he couldn't find Brian, he just needed to find
Aisha, and she would lead him straight to Brian. And Aisha went to school, was in the system… Considering her
colorful personality and deadbeat druggie mom, he could rule out the best schools in the city, giving him an even smaller search radius. She was likely living with her dad now since Grue was around and his trigger event led to her moving, but Jordan doubted it changed much about her school situation - Aisha would remain just as much a hellion and wouldn't fit in at a private school.
First of course he'd tried to simply find Brian in the phonebook, but considering he was both underage and an independent cape, Jordan wasn't quite
that lucky, wherever Brian lived he wasn't listed. There were no Laborn's at all listed, including Celia Laborn, their mother.
But Aisha Laborn would surely be found in school records, so he had his in - school records would have an address.
When he'd had his week of brooding and introspection, he'd gone over every cape he knew about in Brockton Bay, lining up pros and cons for every power, and what they would mean for him if he had them. He had also researched how reality matched his memories, and had found
nothing on the Undersiders as a team. Knowing he still was far away from the nominal start of the actual story he'd read, he saw it as a lucky sign, a chance that Grue might still be free from Coil's hooks.
The thing was that Jordan could theoretically assassinate most anyone in the Bay as he was right now, Shadow Stalkers power was
made for it. She was an ambush predator, which was fitting considering Sophia Hess' personality and beliefs.
But he also knew that the larger the rock he'd throw into the pond of time right now, the larger the ripples would reverberate through the timeline. Could he phase right through Lungs skull and kill him way before he ramped up? Probably, with a bit of luck… But he'd invite conflict, he'd have Lungs power, but not his reputation.
The city would be on fire if he did such a thing, not a goal of his when his priorities lay elsewhere right now. They lay in getting stronger
wisely, with gathering a strong support structure for protecting his sister. In healing Jana while also making it so
no one would fuck with them - then they could work on finding a power to get the fuck out of this world.
In the back of his mind he was well aware of Cauldron, they hopefully wouldn't care about his actions too much if they were measured, might even want to recruit him or at least find out what he knew - as long as he didn't go too far, too quick, upset the balance too heavily. If he just slaughtered a bunch of top tier capes out of the blue - it would require
a response.
No… Slow and steady won the race. He had time, six months, until a locker incident that wouldn't happen now, or at least he hoped it wouldn't… Skitter was not someone he wanted to mess with, bugs did not sound like a pleasant way to go. It was as good a set point in time as any, however.
Panacea would die in six months' time, that's the longest he'd allow himself to wait…
No matter what, in January Amy Dallon would die. He felt a bit better at that, an imaginary weight on his shoulders releasing a little at setting that point to himself. If he didn't do this, he'd worry he'd never be powerful enough, and he would just keep setting the date back and forth, while gathering more power.
Six months, he could do that. It was plenty of time to start gathering what he needed. Although no plan survives contact with the enemy, he felt slow and steady would be for the best.
Anyway, he was getting away from the point, his goal wasn't to make the biggest splash possible… It was to build up as secretly as possible, gain a support base, money, muscle, powers - without anyone being any wiser to precisely
what was happening.
And it all started tonight, with Grue. With Brian Laborn.
Checking over Brockton Bay's school system had taken a few days, but he hadn't had to do it himself, he'd simply slipped a few dollars into the hands of street kids and described Aisha. He'd promised the kid that found her and found out her school or home address and brought news back first, would get 500 dollars.
A tween to teen with a purple streak in her hair, good looking but dressing trashy as all hell and with the mouth and rebellious attitude to go with it, Aisha Laborn did not take long to track down, being so conspicuous.
She was definitely not someone that went unnoticed well, which was ironic considering her power when she triggered. Doing everything to be seen and then gaining a power that made her completely invisible... If she triggers again… Jordan might have to pay her a visit as distasteful as it would be, if he could get to her while she was visible anyway.
It would be like completing a set, and would fit in well with his beginning build that was all set for stealth and ambush. He probably wouldn't be able to do it though, a teen like Grue he could stomach, but a thirteen year old? Might be too much for him no matter how useful a power.
He could freely admit he wasn't a good person, but there were layers of evil, and he wasn't quite
that kind of evil.
A street kid had found Aisha hanging around some friends one day, recognizing some of the other kids and what school they went to, but had lost Aisha when trying to tail her home - the girl obviously wasn't stupid and had some street sense behind her. The kid that found out the deets earned himself 500 bucks either way, because it was enough, Jordan could finish the rest himself.
He kept the street kids on retainer as well after, offering them cash for information on anything, small or large, cape or non cape news. It didn't cost him too much, and could be very useful, street kids tended to know a lot more than people realized.
To avoid himself being too visibly a part of the news they'd spread, he'd only approached them at night, keeping out of sight, tossing the money at them from the rooftop of the alley they'd congregated in as he offered the deal. If he wanted their information, he had to go to them, which was unfortunate and could lead to him missing some fertile news at times, but it was how it would have to work temporarily - until he could send a minion to be the contact.
Or he could just absorb all the street kids into his own gang, once he had the beginnings of an infrastructure set up. He kind of wanted Mai onboard, but was afraid to even broach it, with her experiences.
He easily slipped through Aisha's school, closed due to it being summer still, although they were creeping up to the end of it. He was using the doors to phase through, not wanting an electric shock again. Which he'd tried out the day before, as he needed to know how it worked - tried out by sticking his hand through a wired wall, the experience was, he found,
very painful - and stopped his power right in its tracks, so a repeat would be a definite no for the future.
Slipping into the school office, he rifled through the cabinets, quickly finding Aisha Laborn, and more importantly… Her address. She also had a very large amount of notations on her file, someone had problems with authority it seemed.
Well, he didn't disagree, it was a shame he'd have to hurt her, because she was one kid that had the right idea - everyone in authority were crooks.
Just as quickly as he'd found the file, he was gone from the school, none the wiser.
…
Aisha and her dad were home when he got there, which simplified things, he'd spied them sitting down for dinner - having phased into an empty apartment in the building across from theirs for some quick reconnaissance before he would strike.
Jordan assumed Brian and Aisha didn't spend a lot of time together right now due to his criminal career having kept him mostly outside Brockton Bay, but Brian being who he was, he'd surely keep a phone number in case of emergencies. Especially considering the last time he got a call from Aisha needing help.
With both Aisha and her dad here, one of them would have that number he hoped. And since the Undersiders were recruited either recently or soonish if he was to go by his best guess, based on what he remembered - Brian would be in town.
It felt odd, walking down the hallway towards their apartment, knowing he was a supervillain now, that this was real. He was actually on the path of becoming a new Kaiser or Lung. Just hopefully not as… outright wasteful and bad at their jobs as they are.
Funny how he felt like that now, and not when he
murdered almost a dozen people. But killing gang members didn't feel all that real, or like he was doing a bad thing. It was a funny perspective on things. He regretted somewhat killing the one non junky, he could have perhaps tried to recruit him - if he hadn't been so intent on killing everyone to prevent any word on his abilities.
A missed opportunity there.
He didn't know still how much his shard affected him, or if Shadow Stalkers shard also was in there, messing with him, but he'd decided it didn't matter. He couldn't do anything about it anyway, and he wasn't going to stop. Couldn't stop.
Blaming the shards… Felt cowardly, like his decisions were blameless. He hadn't felt bad about killing those people, not more than a twinge of unease anyway, he needed to own that.
Doing a home invasion on a thirteen year old girl and her father so he could murder her brother… Made him feel a lot more villainous than before.
Yet… He couldn't say he completely hated it. After a year of scrambling like a rat for everything, facing a future as a supervillain didn't sound too bad.
Striding down the hallway of the fourth floor of Aisha's building, people moving out of his way, running away, locking their doors on seeing him pass, it held a certain… Appeal to him, seeing the reaction simply over his passing. People looked at him and saw a threat, looked at him and folded, submitted. He didn't hate it. He didn't hate it at all.
And they didn't even know for sure he was a cape, all they saw was a large black man, face hidden by a hoodie, moving with violent purpose through their building. In Brockton Bay, that was
enough. When he'd been using his size to intimidate and mug people - he'd felt bad about it, about the situation he was in, about what he was forced to do to keep going. But now, with powers, it didn't feel the same, it felt more natural - it felt right.
Jordan arrived at the apartment, checking around him to ensure no one was watching. No one around here would talk anyway - it was that kind of neighborhood, but the less people knew, the better. Let the cops think this was a normal home invasion. No cape shenanigans involved.
He'd keep it fairly quiet and quick anyway, keep the neighbors guessing, he didn't want too much of a commotion, to keep Brian unaware for as long as possible in case he did keep tabs on this place.
He plucked a tear gas canister out from beneath his large bulky coat, having more money helped in so many ways… He set it off and immediately phased, sticking his arm through the door in a throwing motion, releasing the tear gas canister, going corporeal again right after he brought his arm back through the door.
Out of another pocket, he brought out some goggles, he'd remembered Shadow Stalker being pepper sprayed, so he'd come prepared in case the tear gas affected him, his goggles and scarf should be enough to protect him. Just as the shocked exclamations and the cries and coughing of the inhabitants started, he phased through the door, after making sure he had no watchers peeking out at him.
He made an immediate beeline for where he knew the dinner table was, the man who could only be Brian's and Aisha's father not even noticing him as Jordan momentarily turned corporeal to deliver a heavy blow to his head, he was not quite successful in knocking him out, the former boxer likely used to knocks over the head. The red eyed and coughing man looked dazed from the hit though, as he fell back into the kitchen counter, the apartment not large enough to have a separate kitchen and dining area.
Jordan quickly solved the issue of the man's consciousness with another vicious strike just below the ear, the man falling like a cut tree, kitchenware making a racket as he caught some with his arm on the way down.
Jordan turned and found Aisha trying to crawl away, eyes red and puffy as she spluttered from the effects of the tear gas. He calmly walked after her, his heavy boots crunching through fallen porcelain plates and broken glass as he approached.
He saw himself in a full length mirror briefly, chucking to himself, his large frame was wreathed in shadows, his eyes appearing as black holes in a smokey face, and it all brought to mind the visage of a Sith Lord if anything.
He'd have to be careful if he ever made a costume, or he would really come across as an edgy teenager.
"F-Fu-Fuck Y-you!" Aisha managed to cough out from the floor as Jordan came to a stop, squinting up at Jordan's form, no doubt unable to see anything but a large blob, useless for identification purposes. And how like Aisha to not ask how or why? Just a straight up fuck you.
He liked her spunk, too bad her brother's power would be so useful for his purposes.
Jordan turned corporeal once he got right behind her, lifting the young girl up, his arm coming around her throat as he gently
squeezed. She tried in vain to struggle, the vicious girl immediately going for his bits, which he put a stop to, her struggle was pointless in the end
. It didn't take long before she was so much dead weight, and Jordan dropped her slowly down onto the floor.
He looked around, the neighbors wouldn't dare to call the police, not for a long while, not in this area, and he hadn't made enough noise that anyone would think he was murdering everyone else - so that would hold them back even longer. It was Brockton Bay, no one wanted to be the next victim. They'd wait until they were absolutely sure he was gone.
Not that he was murdering anyone here…
He took his time, slowly walking through the apartment and messing up drawers, tossing shit on the ground, breaking things, taking the wallets and resultant cash, as well as the father's watch, making it seem like a normal non-parahuman crime.
The father's phone did not have any number labeled Brian, so he looked for Aisha's. A girl like her, no way she didn't have a cellphone, Taylor had been an aberration in that way in the Worm story, due to her mom - a
normal teen would have a cellphone.
Jordan had murdered people, committed robberies and muggings, he just now did a home invasion where he viciously beat a man and choked out a young girl, yet it was having to slip his fingers into the back pocket of the miniscule shorts that didn't belong on a thirteen year old girl, to finagle her phone out, that finally made him feel disgusted.
Maybe it's because I can't imagine Jana wearing something like this… Jordan thought, looking down at the unconscious young girl.
Or the fact anyone could see a girl this age and have… Thoughts… Maybe that's what disturbed him so much.
It was heavily hinted at in Canon that Aisha had been molested. Jordan was a villain now, and was becoming in every way a
supervillain. Grue had already taken care of the man that likely did that particular crime. If Jordan found anyone guilty of the same…
He had no problems with prostitution or the like, he was going to build a criminal gang after all and that was good money right there, as there were always women willing to perform the job. But underage girls… The practices the ABB held with gang rape to break girls, drugging them to make them compliant and dependant on them, making them into slaves. He would put an end to that.
Lethally.
No one would be forced into slavery if he had a say in it… He was a villain, but some things were beyond the pale. He would already have a hard enough time looking Jana in the eyes after all this, at least if he could clean up trafficking and sex slavery in his territory, he could have some pride.
Could hold her hand without feeling like he didn't deserve to.
He scowled as he thought about it, using Aisha's fingerprint to open her phone, crouched over her prone body,
until I am strong enough to remove Lung and not set the city on fire, it will have to stand, he thought reluctantly.
"Bingo!" Jordan muttered searching through Aisha's phone, finding Brian's contact number, simply labeled as bro, but it couldn't be anyone else.
He set a few texts scheduled to go off half an hour from now, pocketing the phone. He needed time to get into position. Taking both phones with him would serve to sell the robbery angle, also if Brian had surreptitiously installed some GPS in his sister's phone, it would show up at Jordan's location to sell the lie he was selling too.
Grue's power specifically fucked with breaker states like his own - it's why Shadow Stalker had hated him, so this only worked as an ambush. Grue could have no idea that a Parahuman was coming after him. If he covered the entire area in darkness Jordan wouldn't be able to utilize his power at all - which would likely lead to a bad end.
Jordan was counting pretty hard on most powers not working against oneself to ensure his own breaker state didn't get fucked inside Grue's power, once he made the power his own.
The advantages with Grue's powers and in his disappearance - were too numerous to not take the chance however. If he could manage it so no one knew Grue was dead…
Jordan went out the fire escape, making his way down into the alley next to the apartment complex, feeling anticipation building. So far… So good. He went into a light jog as he started moving down the street, evening falling over the city. He had some distance to cover, he had half an hour until Brian got the texts, probably around an hour to arrive after that, depending on if Brian had a vehicle or not to come riding to the rescue - if Brian had a car, he needed to be in place as soon as possible.
He needed to get a damn car himself, at least until he could just get a flying power and get around that way, once he was out in the open, once he had his own territory of the city where no others would tread without his permission.
He'd made the plea from Aisha a simple one, using the vernacular he saw in Aisha's regular text conversations.
Bro! Plz cm pick me up!! Friends were F jerks! Dumped my sweet ass by mf docks!
A quick text would follow with the general location, with Aisha not answering if Brian called or texted back, something that would hopefully ensure he rushed in. He'd be on guard, but for possible ABB goons prowling for young meat, not for an assassin.
If he never showed, well, Jordan knew where Aisha was now, he'd find a way to get to Brian still, if he was too busy to come pick his sister up from sex slave central.
If the Undersiders had already started… He hoped they were too new for Brian to trust them with his sister or his identity and that he'd come alone anyway. He'd withdraw if Brian didn't come alone, it would be too risky otherwise, and he certainly had no interest in Rachel's powers.
Jordan had already prepared the area, a rusty shipping container near the water would have a small light shining in it, courtesy of a simple flashlight, with a scrap of cloth fluttering in the scraggly entrance hole carved into the container, just big enough for a small human to crawl inside.
He had everything he needed to make Grue disappear, now he just needed the man himself to actually show.
Time would tell.
Brian sighed, dropping the bag of groceries on the couch as his cell phone went off in a specific trill, that specific tone meant only one thing, Aisha was contacting him. And at this time in the evening, after months of silence, it was bound to be over something that would give him a conniption fit.
He hoped she hadn't gone and visited Celia again, because that never ended well… His fists clenched momentarily,
if only he could fix things for her…
But getting custody required things he couldn't easily get.
It's a longshot, but I'll have to find a way. He thought, jaw clenched, he had the determination, he'd find a way.
He looked longingly down at the already prepped chicken meal he'd picked up at the grocers, before fishing his phone out of his pocket,
maybe this time it's for something good. He thought, trying to be positive.
Either way, it wouldn't do anything good for his ears if he left Aisha on ignore.
Months of silence or not, she'd call to bitch him out for that, he thought with gentle amusement.
Reading the text, he was immediately torn between two emotions, pure horror that his sister was where she was, with the dress sense
she had! And intense relief that she was
okay, and texting him for a pickup.
She was doing the smart thing, thank god, and not trying to solve it herself. Which only showed how spooked she must be, he thought, as he rushed out of his apartment, barely remembering to lock the door on his way out, his groceries forgotten as he rushed downstairs.
He flew down the stairs, not yet panicking, knowing Aisha could take care of herself pretty well, more like he was… Cautiously rushing. He winced as he shoulder-checked the entrance door to his apartment building, the glass cracking into spiderwebs.
I'll hear about that, he thought ruefully, knowing the old lady next door to him already had it out for him.
He slid into his other neighbor's car - the guy too senile to have ever noticed Brian's use of it, he'd grabbed the key easily enough, it having been 'hidden' in the gas cap as usual. Soon enough afterwards, the tires of the beat up old Chevy squealed as he tore out of there, hands gripping the steering wheel so hard the plastic was creaking.
Driving with one hand on the wheel he pulled out his phone again, calling his sister, wanting a more up to date location. And to hear her voice, just to see for himself that she was alright.
The tenseness in his features tightened even further as the call went unanswered, immediately his eyes flickered down to check for any new texts, finding none.
He angrily pushed the button to call again, a flicker of worry in his gut.
Answer the phone, Aisha!
He blew a stop sign as darkness began to waft off him, shrouding his shoulders and upper arms, his power leaking as his anger and fear rose.
The only reason Aisha would stop answering…
He growled low in his throat, eyes hard,
the ABB… If they touched her…
He pushed the gas pedal down as hard as it could go, no one really cared about traffic rules around the docks anyway, and he was coming up on them. He groaned in annoyance as several cars blocked his way at a red light, choosing to swerve onto the sidewalk briefly to continue on, thankfully with no pedestrians nearby to get in his way.
He continued down the roads in the dock, pushing the car as fast as it could take.
He saw red and green in flashes as he pushed the car forward, ABB soldiers patrolling their streets, he forcibly pulled in his power, he wasn't masked, he couldn't afford to be stupid.
What felt like hours after the text, he skidded to a stop, stepping out the door of the car before it had even stopped rolling, moving towards the various shipping containers rusting by the edge of the docks. Aisha had last texted him about hiding in the container yard, so she
should be here.
He knew better than to shout Aisha's name, in case there were ABB soldiers about, he narrowed his eyes, lips pulled into a grimace as he reached for his phone anyway, thinking about calling again. Because… Was there even anyone around? The place seemed completely deserted, and the ABB weren't known for their stealth.
There was nothing around, he couldn't hear anything but the sound of the waves crashing into the docks, darkness falling quickly, limiting visibility. Especially around this area of the docks, without any working street lights within blocks, or any buildings with power.
His finger hovered over the call button, he couldn't
hear any movement, so the place wasn't crawling with ABB, so why did he feel so on edge?
In the end there was only one possible choice, he needed to find Aisha. He pressed the button.
His ears perked up, as he just barely heard her ringtone not too far away, he moved slowly towards the sound, grimacing at the ringtone, an Aleph song, Aisha only kept playing it because it was from a hip-hop group called Slaughterhouse, the frustrating imp found it funny… It had been months and she still had that same stupid ringtone…
She just liked how upset people got when she told them the name, like the little brat she was, he'd have more than a handful to deal with if he ever got custody.
He was too young to feel old enough to caution someone about their music taste…
He let darkness coalesce lightly around him as he walked closer, no one would see him using his power here anyway, and if someone had hurt Aisha…
He needed to hold on to his power to keep some level of calm, so he wouldn't rage at the unfairness of it all and do something he'd regret.
Why else wouldn't she answer unless she was hurt? He refused to think of worse possibilities. He saw some light just barely ahead as he stepped closer to the sound of the ringing phone,
there! A rusty container at the very edge of the docks, he stepped forward in long strides, pausing as he saw a thin strip of cloth caught in the edges of the small crawl space.
Like someone had been in a rush to get into the crawl space, and had gotten caught on an edge. Worriedly he looked for blood, but it was impossible to tell with all the rust and discoloration.
It looked like a beast had tried to claw its way into the container, perhaps the work of a case 53 at some point, he was just glad it was obviously old damage, so he didn't have to worry about a monster sharing space with his sister.
"Aisha?" He called out carefully, stepping closer, turning the flashlight on his phone on and pointing it at the jagged and rusty entrance, not seeing anything just inside, but it was a large container, so she could be further inside.
Something feels wrong… He thought, looking around himself warily, finding nothing out of place, no one around… He didn't hear or see anything wrong, but something still felt off.
It's her phone…She must be in there… He thought, shrugging off his unease, no one even knew who he was, the odds of anyone kidnapping his sister, or stealing her phone to lure him here was ludicrous, besides it was against the unwritten rules anyway and the ABB soldiers wouldn't be this circumspect either. He shook his head, stepping forward, it would be a very tight fit, but if his sister was unconscious in there, he needed to get to her now.
The fact he was unmasked and it was his sister involved comforted his paranoia, capes wouldn't do this, and he could handle non-capes just fine, he could just drop his darkness down over the area and grab his sister and get out.
As he leaned down to look into the opening, he heard a scrape above him. Darkness sprung into being around him as his head rose in a jerky motion of surprise, his eyes widening in shock as he looked straight into the barrel of a gun.
His power surged forward as adrenaline spiked.
The crack of a gunshot echoed across the container yard, then there was only silence.
Jordan felt like his body was on fire as he moved slowly back towards home, he was once again thankful for his size, as he wasn't waylaid by any ABB soldiers or punks as he walked through dark streets, plenty of gang members out and about showing the colors.
His ambush had worked, he'd laid on top of the container, gun in hand, hardly daring to breathe in case Grue would catch on. Thankfully the ringtone that kept playing as Grue had kept calling Aisha's phone, had helped hide any noise he might have made while lying in wait.
Thankfully no one ever looked
up. Something he'd be keen to take advantage of in the future as well.
Grue's power had rushed up to meet him, but Jordan hadn't been in his breaker state anyway, so it wouldn't have mattered. He'd had a perfect bead on Grue, leaning over the edge of the container, his gun aiming right in the middle of his forehead. The shot hadn't missed at such close range, and Jordan almost thought
he'd taken a bullet to the skull as well, as the pain was
at least twice as bad this time around.
His body still ached, feeling sore and beat up, but he had succeeded and that elation overwrote any pain. No pain no gain after all. And he had it, Grue's power. He'd only briefly tested it before dumping Grue's body into the bay, belts tying his body to cement blocks to keep him from surfacing anytime soon - and his new power hadn't impeded his breaker state at all, the powers had synergized as he'd theorized.
Cooperating, or perhaps it was that his own power simply took over? Either way, as long as it worked, it was good for him.
He could now blanket an area in shadows that limited not only people's sight, but their hearing, their movements, and even radio signals and similar communications. Plus if he ever ran into Behemoth the darkness did protect from radiation too. It would also be a perfect power for disengaging from an enemy.
Right now that was the most useful aspect in case he got caught in over his head.
With his shadowy breaker state making him almost invulnerable and the darkness shaker power making him invisible in an area of effect where only he could see - He felt a lot more comfortable. Especially because one of the greatest benefits of this power would be that as long as he wasn't
seen, anything he did with it, would be construed to be done by
Grue.
And for what he had planned… If 'Grue' got a bad reputation or had people after him, he could just stop using that power for a bit.
It wouldn't be enough of a misdirection to take down Panacea yet, thinkers would still find him eventually if he went that loud. But… Othala….
Grue killing Othala wouldn't have Tattletale or Watchdog putting their thinking caps on to chase him down. The Empire didn't have anyone that could imitate their work, and Kaiser was unlikely to beg Gesellschaft for help after losing a cape, adding salt to the wound like that wasn't his style.
He'd intended to focus only on independents for a while still, but as he held Grue's power in his hands, he couldn't help but think that he had an opportunity here, to utilize Grue as a misdirection, gaining what he needed without risking recognition before he was ready.
Othala… Could he?
He was broken out of his thoughts as he heard a commotion ahead of him, it was Shoaling's grocers, It was being smashed apart by a large group of red and green colored thugs. Shelves of products had been dragged out of the building, the windows were smashed, he could already see a few broken people - employees most likely, either dead or unconscious stacked up outside the grocers.
This is that idiot Assault's fault. He thought angrily. The fool hero showing up in uniform at a hidden weapons shop in ABB territory, what did he think would happen? With how terrified of Lung the average Asian in his territory was, every person in the store probably reported it, afraid of the consequences if the rest did and they got caught out having kept it secret.
And of course most ABB goons sent out to teach someone a 'lesson' wouldn't differentiate between the hidden shop and the grocers that hid them. Why deal out a proportionate response like an actual sane criminal group when you could just piss on everything and smash it like a bunch of evil toddlers.
Ruin a business you could get protection money from for years just to wave your dicks, smart business sense that…
He turned to take another route, this wasn't his problem.
A pained cry stopped him, just for a moment, a young girl's cry of anguish.
It's not my problem. He thought, shaking his head, if he were to save every girl that was in trouble in the docks he'd never do anything else.
Considering how he'd used Aisha, he wasn't the savior of girls everywhere anyway…
He froze momentarily, almost able to picture his sister's disapproving stare if she could see him right now.
How are you going to build a following, a gang? If you never stand for anything? The thought intruded on him over all else, making him hesitate. Because he did keep making excuses not to help, and he had power now, where he could do something. Could he face Jana again if he couldn't at least do this? His sins would stretch across the sky, but he could do
something good.
I don't have to show myself… Grue could come to the rescue… He thought, warming up to the idea. Even if someone (Coil) managed to get the deets on Grue - it would show Brian Laborn and that he'd gone to ground. Perfect cover for him to continue to utilize the power while everyone wanting revenge went looking for Brian…
Just as with his loose plan to go after Othala now, Grue could take all the blame, not a new cape, he could probably leak his identity as well, and make sure people looked for Brian - someone they couldn't find.
It probably would mean bad things for Aisha though as Brian's sister.. He was going to have to do something there wasn't he? That was going to be awkward…
He straightened his shoulders, coming to the decision, he wasn't doing this out of altruism, he was taking the first step in building a base. Standing up against sex slavery and the other abuses of the ABB, it would help him gain actual followers. The fact Jana would no doubt approve if she was awake and aware…
And if Lung started looking for Grue for revenge? He'd just silently stop using his power for a while and go back to relying on Shadow Stalkers power instead.
There was a wet crack just as Jordan moved forward to begin his attack against the group, hastily pulling his scarf back over his lower face. A baseball bat had just smacked into someone's head, at the same time Sun Hee screamed in absolute fear, calling out, "Gramps!"
Jordan watched in slow motion as the old man fell, assuming it was him through context as he was unrecognizable, his face pretty much pulp now, Sun Hee held by two ABB goons nearby, screaming in absolute horrified denial as her whole world fell apart. The grocers behind her began to catch fire as the ABB soldiers threw Molotov cocktails through the broken windows. Smoke swirling as her entire life went under the flames.
Sun Hee screamed again, an absolutely broken sound, eyes staring unseeing down at her grandfather lying in a pool of blood.
Jordan only had time for his eyes to widen in an oh, shit, moment - before he momentarily blacked out.
…
He came to, shaking the cloying dizziness out of his head, blinking heavily for a moment as he straightened up, eyes immediately going for Sun Hee, who'd just triggered if that little black out was any indication.
He was thankful he didn't get to remember the vision this time around, it was freaky enough the first time. Especially as he was pretty sure he wasn't supposed to remember it at all. He sure as hell wasn't a Noctis Cape.
Although that was something to get at some point, it would be very useful.
He swore as he saw that the girl was unconscious, one of the ABB goons had a lick of common sense it seemed, whatever power she'd gotten, he'd knocked her out the second anything happened by the looks of things, the goons currently arguing with each other over her unconscious body.
However she manifested her power, he'd just missed it, but the goons obviously hadn't.
He could hear some arguing to take her to Lung, while the majority was arguing for killing her immediately, as by her cape status she'd immediately be drafted higher into the ABB than them, and would likely get revenge on them.
If this happened in Canon… I wonder how many Asian capes were just killed immediately after triggering so their ABB abusers wouldn't have to face them when they became Lungs new lieutenants…
It had been a bit odd there weren't more capes in the ABB considering Brockton Bay was a prime triggering environment. Considering Lungs reputation, it tracked.
Darkness rushed out from his hands, flowing forward to envelop the entire street in thick impenetrable darkness, Grue was about to get a very
lethal reputation, but Jordan couldn't let these bozos report back to Lung about an Asian cape, or kill her - his own measures to save her now more important than before as she was now
useful. As shitty it was to think that way, it was reality.
A gang could have as many goons as you wanted, what protected your people and territory was
capes. And Jordan needed his own capes to follow him if he wanted Jana safe, he couldn't be by her side 24/7.
The goons cursed and screamed as darkness enveloped them, some tried to run, some stood their ground, they all died the same, one gunshot wound to the back of the head. Every single one of them - their movement in his shaker effect was too sluggish to get very far before he could swoop down on them. It was a calculated move in the end. Sun Hee would be more amenable to him surely, if he not only saved her, but also killed her tormentors.
And most importantly it ensured Lung wouldn't know she was a cape. She'd be grateful for that much at least. She'd need her cape persona, her civilian one just became persona non grata in Brockton Bay.
He stopped by the old man, surprised to see he was still alive, he hesitated, looking towards Sun Hee, she surely believed he was dead already…
No… For his plans, his gang, his sister, he'd do horrible things. But he didn't need to be a douche just to be a douche.
In the end, he slung the old man over one shoulder, he would still likely die, but he could try his best. He bent down and grabbed Sun Hee, the girl much easier to carry as he hefted her over his other shoulder, beginning to jog away from the scene, keeping the darkness up as he moved.
This would attract the Protectorate, maybe even Oni Lee - hopefully
not Lung. So he needed to get into a building soon, somewhere he could drop the darkness before pursuers arrived, thankfully the shaker effect was big enough he could make it seem to be around one building while sneaking off to the edges of it into another.
He growled in annoyance at all this happening, he just wanted to go home and put an ice pack on his brain, he wouldn't make it all the way home now, not without leading everyone in Brockton Bay there by the time he got there.
He'd have to improvise.
He should have walked away…
What a bad fucking time to suddenly become a bleeding heart…
"Mai, I need a favor."
Jordan leaned back heavily against the wall of the apartment he'd broken into, eyes peering out the window periodically, he'd seen Oni Lee teleport around not too long ago, but it seemed he'd gotten away scot free, Oni Lee had been heading in the other direction.
It was a barebones bachelor apartment, a rickety table, an AC unit, a TV and a computer that sat precariously on the rickety dining table pretty much all that occupied the place, there weren't even any chairs, just one pathetic stool.
He'd laid his two unconscious rescues on the sole bed, thankfully clean looking, even if it was the only thing in the small bedroom, and placed the call as soon as he'd taken stock of the situation.
The way the old guy was looking, he wouldn't survive long without some treatment, probably wouldn't after either, but he should at least try.
"I'm already doing you a favor." Mai answered back dryly. "At this point I'd prefer you to be like any other guy and ask for a blow job instead of more favors…"
Jordan cringed slightly at the answer, he really didn't want to push Mai too much, but she'd just been so helpful he couldn't help but seek her out again and again, he'd never had enough to pay her properly… Not until now, but then she hadn't gotten her fair share of that yet, so he could understand her skepticism.
"I need a discreet doctor that does home visits, got a guy with his head smashed in." Jordan said tiredly, moving right past Mai's answer, because he couldn't do her justice over the phone "I'll pay you, a thousand dollars in it for you past whatever the doc costs, if you know someone that can come right now."
There was a pregnant pause for a moment before Mai spoke up, "What have you gotten involved with, Jordan?" She asked, a tinge of concern to her voice that surprised him, even if it was only because he knew her pretty well - that he could parse it out from under the annoyance predominant in her reply.
"I don't really have time to get into it." He said frankly, before sighing wearily into his phone, "We'll talk later, Mai." He promised, because he couldn't leave her completely out of the loop, "Right now I need that doctor for this old man or he's toast."
Another pregnant pause came before Mai answered slowly, "I know someone, yes…" She said, sounding reluctant, "Jordan… If you're messing with the ABB again, I can't… I won't…" Silence took over the call as Mai, always so caustic and confident, suddenly seemed lost for words.
Jordan closed his eyes, rubbing his face,
fuck! "It's not like that, Mai." He lied, "We'll talk later, please, I need that doctor right now."
She'd counseled him to kill the ABB trio, so that the rest of the ABB wouldn't have any idea of him, to stay somewhat anonymous, not drawn into the ABBs sick games.
However, fighting the ABB as a whole, as she seemed to suspect to be the reason behind this call… Considering her background, he couldn't fault her for refusing the risk. He was not surprised she picked up on it either, whenever Lung or Oni Lee were on the move, people called each other in one long chain, whole areas being warned about their approach. So she knew
something had happened, just not what.
And she knew Jordan needed to have someone looked at by a doctor, while the ABB was searching for someone…
Fuck, I'm going to have so much to explain…
"What's the address?" She answered after several minutes of eerie silence as she seemingly thought over whether to help him or cut all contact immediately. He was glad he had enough trust that she'd chosen to let him explain himself. As she was looking over Jana for him, he couldn't have her suddenly cut them loose.
This entire year he'd basically been alone, breaking down as a human being more and more, and Mai was the one that had kept him sane, giving him time away from killing himself slowly at his sister's bedside. He owed her, he owed her alot, and an explanation was the least he could do.
He gave the address, letting out a breath of relief, "Thank you, Mai, I swear I'll explain when I get home, you're in no danger, I promise."
I hope I'm not lying about that…
She let out a scoff, muttering something in Japanese that didn't sound complimentary, before hanging up with a last tossed, "You better, idiot!" Before she did.
Jordan looked out the window again, having seen no more Parahumans in the area during his phone call, thankfully. His earlier sighting of Oni Lee had been followed by seeing Miss Militia gunning it down the street towards Shoaling's as well. With the Protectorate around, things would probably not escalate, the ABB would want Grue, not a pointless tussle with the heroes.
A sniffle brought him out of his brooding, as he jerked away from the wall, turning towards the bed, where a teary eyed Sun Hee was holding onto her grandfather.
"You're getting a doctor for Gramps?" She asked, sounding so vulnerable and small that Jordan was reminded of Jana in a way that softened his immediate response. She'd obviously awoken in time to listen in on his conversation.
For all that she'd looked like a confident cocky vibrant girl when he'd met her, smart and good enough with her hands that her grandfather was letting her take charge of an underground weapons shop, she was still a teen who just had a traumatic experience…
So he needed to be careful here, but still make sure she knew the situation.
Jordan slowly - while telegraphing his movements - came over and sat down on the foot of the bed, "Your grandfather is badly injured, so I have a doctor coming to do what he can, but I can't promise anything more then that." He said carefully, watching Sun Hee intently, just in case she freaked out and let loose whatever power she now held.
The slim Korean teenager with her big expressive hazel eyes, gave him a tremulous wet smile, as she bowed her head, "Thank you, for trying, and for saving us?" The last came out more as a question, and Jordan nodded briefly to confirm it.
They waited in silence for the doctor, the girl crying silently as she held onto her grandfather as Jordan sat silently and watched, feeling uncomfortable, but not sure how to comfort her, he wasn't familiar enough to her to hug her, he was fairly sure. So in the end he ended up just patting her leg awkwardly until the doctor arrived.
Letting the man in, he was surprised at how young he was, he couldn't be more then twenty one, twenty two at the most. An Asian man of course - who else would Mai know? His expression was severe as he entered carrying a large duffel bag.
"The patient?" He asked promptly, not bothering to introduce himself, looking around the apartment warily. Beneath the jacket he was wearing, Jordan could just barely see a gun holster as well.
So he was someone used to moving in these circles then - most doctors or healers did not carry weapons, because even Parahumans tended to leave unarmed healers alone. Criminal savvy doctors however knew exactly how shit people were and that they'd break any such rule if it was convenient, and therefore protected themselves.
The guy might be young, but he was obviously not stupid, a good sign for his doctoring skills, Jordan hoped.
Jordan showed the doctor the bedroom, waving him ahead silently, the man taking one look at the patient, scowling darkly as he shot a look at Sun Hee, "Get rid of the girl, I don't need an emotional twit around me while I do my work." He barked insensitively.
He dumped the duffel bag at the foot of the bed, promptly beginning to bring out medical gear, fully ignoring the two of them like they weren't even there, or like he expected he'd be fully obeyed and therefore didn't need to worry about them anymore.
His bedside manner left something to be desired, no wonder he was a back alley doc and not a professional, Jordan thought, grimacing at his attitude.
Sun Hee glared at the doctor, opening her mouth to argue, but Jordan cut her off with a sharp hand motion, before waving her over. As she wavered stubbornly at the side of the bed, seemingly unwilling to leave her grandfather behind, he spoke up, "Is it more important that he gets seen by a doctor or that you are in the room with him?" Giving her a pointed look.
He understood how she felt, because if it was his sister in here, he wouldn't want to be out of sight either.
She glared weakly at him at that, but doubtlessly saw his meaning, because she trotted out of the room reluctantly, Jordan following behind her, closing the door to give the doctor the privacy he obviously wanted.
Last thing he saw before he closed the door was several containers normally used to transport organs.
If Mai had sent him an organ harvester they were going to have
words about the people she hung out with… He might not be her big brother but she needed to stay safer than that.
If he was some sort of off the books doc that working girls called in under the table, it was no wonder he was like he was though, working in ABB territory. He was probably
not licensed to practice either or he'd be working somewhere more official. Jordan would keep that tidbit for himself, no need to worry Sun Hee more than she already was.
"I'll kill them…" Sun Hee muttered, clenching her fists as she stood in the middle of the room, tears in her eyes as she glared at the door separating her from her grandfather.
"They're already dead, I executed them." Jordan told her seriously.
Sun Hee gave him a mullish look, "Then I'll kill the rest of them!"
Jordan raised an unimpressed eyebrow, leaning back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, "Your grandfather is going to have what to say exactly, about you challenging
Lung?" He said challengingly.
Sun Hee floundered at that, her soft roundish face blanching slightly, "I mean, not Lung, but the others." She deflected, looking uncertain, her hands moving around in the air as she spoke, the girl seemingly uncomfortable with stillness. She noticed him looking and ran a hand through her short dark hair, self consciously.
"Let me worry about Lung… Eventually the ABB will pay for everything they've done." Jordan said seriously, giving the girl a dark and promising grin, "Right now, your grandfather is your priority, right? Let me worry about the ABB."
Sun Hee nodded jerkidly, hands twisting together, "Right, who are you anyway? I remember you, from the store, when…" Her face twisted in sorrow and anger, "
Assault came by."
It seemed the girl had picked up on the reason why she was in the position she was in,
good, it made it less likely she'd become a ward. "My name's Jordan, I saved you and your grandfather because you didn't deserve what happened to you, and I refused to let the ABB continue to terrorize another young woman in my presence." Not entirely true, but with enough truth in there to sound plausible enough.
It's not like his lie will matter, since he is going to use his Grue persona to hassle the ABB now that he can hide his real power for a while by doing so. So as far as the girl would be able to tell he really was the crusader against the evils of the Azn Bad Boys.
He'd intended to wipe out the small-time Merchants first once he got going properly, draw in the homeless population for starters. But this actually worked better, there was untapped potential in all the people that
hated the ABB, including many who
worked for them, out of necessity - or fear for their life.
It would be quite some time before he could remove Lung, but his power was good for escaping or hiding, so he could continue to hassle him at the edges of his territory, stealing people from him from every successful caper.
Inwardly he was worried that he was changing his plans on the fly so much, but with his power able to evolve so quickly, and the situation changing with a cape triggering right in front of him, he needed to reevaluate his situation.
The doctor he'd hired through Mai, stepped back into the room half an hour later, wiping his hands with a towel, a look on his face that told Jordan the news already, Sun Hee was obviously a bright girl, noticing as well, as she slumped slightly, a slight whine coming out of her throat.
Props to the girl, she still held her back straight, and didn't break down completely.
"He's alive, but he won't last more than a few days at the most, a hospital might be able to save him, but in my professional opinion, with his age, and the amount of likely bleeding in his brain being behind the significant swelling there, it's not likely to make much of a difference, and with his jaw and nose practically crushed, he just doesn't have any prospects." He stated bluntly, and without as much as a by your leave, he picked up his duffel bag of medical supplies and left.
Sun Hee ran into the bedroom, bottom lip wobbling as she tried not to break apart, falling across the bed to hug her grandfather, the low whine in her throat coming out again.
Jordan followed, brow furrowed as he looked over the tableau in front of him. He had an opportunity here. And he could help his own sister at the same time. It wouldn't be as good as Panacea, who's power he could use to significantly improve his sister's survival ability, but Othala would do enough - for both situations.
He'd liked to have been more powerful like he'd planned, but having everyone looking for Grue, not him, would help conceal his sister from harm.
"Sun Hee, if I can save your grandfather, will you swear to me? To help me dismantle the ABB and build something better in its place?" Jordan asked seriously.
Better being relative when it came to crime gangs, but anything would be better then the ABB right now. Well… Maybe not the Teeth.
She gave him a disbelieving look, sniffling slightly, "The doctor said nothing could be done…"
"There are Parahuman healers…" Jordan pointed out, he could already see her look of derision at the odds of one of them helping her, so he continued on, "I have a power that could help me acquire healing abilities, but it would be very dangerous for me, and could start a gang war… I can't honestly do this without you being one of
mine." He stressed, well aware that if she actually turned him down, he'd have to kill her to ensure he remained under the radar as anything other than Grue.
If she brought her grandfather to the hospital she might be lucky enough for Panacea to come by that hospital in time, but it would be a lottery, she had too many patients to ever see everyone that came in with a life threatening injury and an old man wouldn't be a priority. Sun Hee would be taking chances with his life, on a hero. He was fairly certain she wouldn't.
Sun Hee bit her lip, watching her grandfather, before she wiped her eyes furiously with the back of her hand, meeting his eyes seriously afterwards, "You save my grandfather I'll do anything you want, forever!" She swore grimly, one hand clutching her grandfather's hand fervently.
"Then I'll do my best to earn that honor." Jordan said, still curious about what power she had, and if it had pinged off his own, and if it did, which one? The shadowy powers of Shadow Stalker and Grue? Or his own killing power? But now was not the best time to ask, he was on a time limit.
He left the bedroom heading towards the computer whoever owned this apartment had set up in their living room. He booted it up, immediately starting to search up Medhall, he knew some names of Emptor 88 capes, Max Anders of course, he also knew Krieg and Hookwolf's identities, and knew that Crusader was named Justin…
While he didn't know Victor or Othala's civilian names, they'd no doubt be part of Medhall in some capacity, and likely fairly high up, far enough up to likely be on the Medhall website and their public staff directory. And if he could find any company pictures where Kaiser, Krieg and company were standing around… He could extrapolate that most of those closest to him would be the other Empire capes.
Someone like Victor who could steal skills was likely high up in the company as he could actually do useful work for them, likely having stolen all business related skills ages ago.
It was kind of ridiculous how easy it all was in the end. There were several pictures of company retreats showing how nice and family friendly the upper echelons of the company was - and alongside Max Anders in many of them, was a fit arrogant looking man with a much younger wife, who's hair incidentally always covered one eye, the eye where
Othala wore an eye patch.
Got you! He thought with vicious delight.
It can't be this fucking easy! Followed the thought, as he not only got their names, but another quick search found their home address. Apparently Medhall had its own little sponsored gated community… How cute.
It was a big move… A daring move… It upended his carefully thought out plan completely, embroiled the gangs in a likely war - with Lung already irritated and now the Empire up in arms… Coil would take advantage for sure.
But… It would be
Grue who set it all off, while Jordan could avoid using that aspect of his power for a while after this, and adding Othala and Victor's powers to his powerset… He'd be able to move unseen in the background grabbing resources and people while the Protectorate, Coil, ABB and Empire squabbled with each other.
Planning was well and good, but this was Worm, and long term planning was pretty much impossible because you never knew when you'd get a Lung sized interrupt, a surprise Echidna, or pop up Endbringer. It was best to take the opportunities when they happened.
He looked towards the bedroom,
and I have an opportunity right here… To gain the loyalty of a cape, and the chance to heal his sister at the same time, way earlier than he'd had planned even hours ago.
Yes… He thought, watching the smug visage of Victor as he held his child bride while standing around all his neo-nazi friends…
This will work out after all…
He was thankful it was already nighttime as he headed for the more affluent area of Brockton Bay, it made it much easier to move around. Victor pulled in a good amount of cash at his position for Medhall and he had the home to match it.
Walking the streets in this area as a large black man in ratty clothes was just begging for a death by cop, or Empire beating situation. So he simply sped through properties in his breaker state, avoiding lights and people as he used rooftops when he could and alleys and side streets when he couldn't, until he came upon the little HOA of Crescent Hill. A nice gated community just a stone's throw away from Empire territory while still being part of the 'rich' area of town.
The community had actual security, even if by the looks of them they had other masters. You could dress a skinhead up, but they'd always look like a skinhead to anyone with a discerning vision. They weren't wearing Empire colors, but looking like cheap SS soldiers as 'security' uniforms wasn't being very discreet.
He'd have to see if that security company was wholly Empire owned as well, could be worth a look to see if he could fuck it up for them without the whole Medhall debacle.
Luckily the fencing covering the entire community were simple cement blocks at the bottom, with metal fencing on-top, all of it covered in large hedges to hide the utility of the fencing from the people living in the community. But the most important thing was that it wasn't
electric fencing, so Jordan could avoid the gated checkpoint and simple phase through the fencing.
There were cameras here and there, but it was not that hard to find the blindspots as he could move much faster and more surreptitiously in his breaker state then a normal human.
According to his research, Krieg, as well as Victor and Othala all lived in this community, which had him suspect there were other Empire cape members who could possibly be hidden in this quiet community as well.
Not Hookwolf and Cricket however, it wasn't really their kind of neighborhood.
He was forced to wait, hidden in his breaker state in the hedges, the patrols on the street and the lights from porches and street lights making it too risky to move further.
He might have been able to pull it off, but if there was even one chance of a warning getting sent off, he would be facing at minimum three capes, instead of ambushing them in bed.
After today he'd probably have to drop Grues power for a few months, because he might actually get a kill order if Kaiser releases that he'd killed people unmasked and in their homes. Funny how he just got the power and would already do so much he might have to shelve it for awhile.
Kaiser probably wouldn't be all too willing to let Victor and Othala's civilian identities be known due to their ties to Medhall, so perhaps he'd avoid a kill order for Grue, but either way he'd be hunted.
Although it served them right considering they'd welcomed the criminal who'd murdered Fleur of New Wave into their midst with open arms. And probably had a hand in doing it in the first place… Jordan didn't see a point in following the unwritten rules, when the PRT, Empire, Coil just to name a few, would all break those rules anytime - if it happened to be convenient at that moment.
He was stuck waiting, stuck in place until 3 am, the porch lights all off long before, but the patrols and street lights were still annoyingly going strong. But at 3 am, the lights dimmed, and the patrols became less frequent as the guards began coalescing around the gates.
He moved quickly, going behind houses and through well manicured backyards to make himself as hard to see from the street as possible, nothing more then a shadow flitting through the dark night.
He arrived at Victor's and Othalas two storey Victorian style house soon after, their home immediately standing out compared to the ones he'd passed by. He could spot five security cameras in the backyard alone, that could be an issue…
Going around and checking the rest of the exterior of the large home, he found several more cameras covering the entire exterior. He narrowed his eyes in thought, hiding in some bushes, remaining in his breaker state. He could cover the entire home in darkness to have fingers pointed towards Grue, but he couldn't count on Victor and Othala remaining asleep through that. He'd rather not have a fight on his hand, even if he could still probably kill them even if Othala gave Victor invulnerability.
With how used he was to travel by roof, he looked up, noticing immediately that the cameras were all facing downward, covering the exterior, but not the roof itself. Which made sense, because why would they?
Normal people don't expect flying people to land on their roof. It seemed Victor didn't want to stand out
too much, even if his neighbors were likely at the very least sympathizers.
Jordan made his way into the neighbors backyard,
they weren't nearly as paranoid and only had one security camera, and from the looks of it, it was fake. Turning corporeal for a second, he jumped, returning to his breaker state as he made his way onto the roof, his shadowy form moving slowly to the edge, facing the Nazi couple's home.
He double checked no cameras were facing up or could see his approach then he turned corporeal again and took a big leap, grinning triumphantly as he floated onto his target's roof. He looked over the edge, spotting the cameras, ensuring none covered the window he was nearby before he took any action. Then he turned corporeal again, taking a few deep breaths, grabbing the ledge and flipping over, holding onto the ledge long enough to swing himself back towards the house, aiming for the window, letting go and using his breaker state just before hitting the window, phasing through, ending up floating in a second storey bedroom, a guest room most likely.
It was entirely plain and unadorned, it seemed the Nazi's didn't have people over for board games often, or whatever Nazi's did when they hung out.
He moved over towards the door quickly, phasing through it, head on a swivel in case there were cameras on the inside of the second floor as well. Finding nothing in the hallway, he moved to the door opposite of the guest room. Sneering at the decorations on the wall, seeing way too many Nazi flags, and pictures of prominent Nazi's in a place of honor. They really were perfectly comfortable in their civilian life's weren't they?
Fucking stupid unwritten rules, the government could have rolled in on these fuckers anytime if they didn't hold themselves back so severely. Phasing through the door he smiled in grim satisfaction, in a king sized bed lay his targets, Victor and Othala, nice and asleep.
He didn't waste any time, he floated ahead, a knife being pulled free by one hand while he pulled the gun out in his other hand. One last check to make sure he'd hit both targets at the same time, then he lunged, turning corporeal at the last second, his knife finding Othala's throat at the same time as his gun was placed at Victor's forehead and fired.
…
His body spasmed in agony as he laid over his victims, two powers at the same time being so much worse -
oh, god why didn't I think that through! He thought in agony, fighting to keep conscious, he
could not pass out here.
With great effort he pulled himself back from the edge, breathing heavily as he rolled off the bed, already he could hear the community coming alive as security responded to the gunshot.
I should have used two knives… He thought with chagrin.
Slowly getting to his feet, his head absolutely pounding, he let loose the darkness, a thick rolling wave of it rolling out from the house, covering that part of the community in darkness, painting this as a hit by the independent villain Grue.
He didn't waste anymore time, even as he was in agony, he phased out the door, continuing through the house, the darkness obscuring his passage in case there was any security on the first floor - seconds later phasing through the backdoor and taking off through the yards, heading away from the house and towards the fencing.
He kept the darkness stable where it was in one large square, not wanting anyone to know he was moving until he was already out, staggering towards the fencing, the darkness just barely managing to last that far, letting the entire thing go as soon as he phased through.
Leaving no trace behind except two cooling bodies.
He kept his breaker state for another four blocks, going to the rooftops and moving away as fast as he was able, before he found himself a nice quiet rooftop outside Empire territory, and passed the fuck out, his head practically burning up.
6 am, 3 hours after the hit on Crescent Hill,
Jordan returned to the apartment he was keeping Sun Hee and her grandfather in, feeling like death, three powers in one 24 hour period was… A strain on him. He could feel it down to his bones.
Everything hurt. He'd woken up still in as much pain as he'd been in when he'd passed out, but at least now he could move, and he'd made his way back, slowly.
But he'd succeeded in removing two very important pieces from the board. Victor no doubt allowed Kaiser to run his company without giving too much information to people outside his inner circle, the skill thief was no doubt able to do much of the work for Kaiser. His hacking abilities were likely their main information source on the PRT as well.
Othala being removed would make the Empire more vulnerable, less eager to toss themselves into full on war. And would make them suffer more if it came down to war. Their loss would make Kaiser less likely to be the one to start it anyways.
If Lung would give them a choice now that he'd likely be pissed off at the disrespect in his territory, he might rampage - which would egg the Nazi's on - Coil would probably get up to no good seeing the climate as it was too, pitting both gangs against each other for his own benefit. Jordan was almost positive a gang war would erupt, way sooner than canonically.
Exactly what he'd planned to avoid at first. But Othala and Victor were too juicy of a target now that it earned him an extra cape, the ability to save his sister way earlier than he'd planned, and the skills to build his support infrastructure through Victor's power.
Having Grue as a cover was worth more than his power, which was also very useful.
Sun Hee opened the door after he knocked, looking extremely relieved to see him. Jordan walked in, looking nonplussed as he saw some random dude on the floor, his ankles and wrists duck taped together.
Oh yeah… This was someone's actual apartment… He'd forgotten. "Good job." He told Sun Hee, hiding his embarrassment. The girl had obviously been able to handle it when the guy got home to find a teenage cape squatting in his apartment.
"Did… Did you get it, a healing power?" She asked hopefully, wringing her hands together, he noted how dirty they were, and that she'd taken apart the AC unit and the TV, Tinker? Or just nervous energy from a girl who was already mechanically inclined?
"Yeah, I have it, let's give it a shot." He said out loud, eyeing the man, already writing him off in his mind, just hearing the part about a healing power was enough to sentence him to death, he'd have to warn Sun Hee to not be so loose with information going forward.
He walked into the bedroom, the old man looking even worse, his rattling breath sounding like he was at death's door. Under Sun Hee's concerned gaze, he laid a hand on the old man's wrist, focusing on giving him regeneration, tapping into Othala's power.
It really was something, seeing skin knit together, a jaw and nose rearranging slowly to its proper alignment. He grimaced at the acrimonious smell as Sun Hee suddenly turned and vomited onto the floor - it wasn't a pretty sight to see everything come back together slowly like this.
After a few minutes however it was over. The old man looked exactly as he had the day Jordan had first met him. Sun Hee wiped her mouth as she stepped over slowly, watching his chest rise steadily, normally, her eyes filled with disbelief and joy.
She grabbed his hand with both of hers, swearing fervently, "I will do whatever you want!" Her eyes glanced back at her grandfather every few seconds. "Thank you so so so much!" She gushed.
Jordan smiled albeit a bit painfully as his head throbbed hard again, "Keep the apartment for now until I figure something out, I'll convince the guy to move out, I'll contact you soon."
He staggered away, Sun Hee giving him a worried look, before she sat down at the side of her grandfather, grasping his hand in hers.
Jordan didn't have time for any finesse, he was in too much pain, he simply took the guy with him, brought him to the roof, and slit his throat, burying him amongst the rubbish up there, he'd hold for a few days, plenty of time to move Sun Hee elsewhere.
Then he staggered home, he just needed to heal his sister, then he could sit down, let the pain fade away, just like the other times.
Although next time, he swore to himself, he would
not do two powers at the same time if he could help it.
….
An hour later he screamed in frustration at his sister's bedside, no matter what he did he couldn't make the regeneration work, was the world conspiring against him!?
It was like it wasn't available, no matter what he tried he couldn't pull on that aspect of Othala's power,
what the fuck was going on?
Once he was over his momentary depression at things not working out quite how he wanted them too, he had walked over to one of his neighbors, knocking on the door, and while acting like he just had some mechanical questions, he stole the man's mechanic skills. With Othala's power being defective, he needed to test Victor's.
Jordan had watched in amazement as the man's eyes grew confused as he suddenly - between one moment and the next - started stumbling over the advice he was giving, drawing a blank. Jordan quickly made his excuses, excited but also somewhat confused, because he didn't
feel anymore mechanically inclined.
Maybe it would only show up if he tried to do something mechanic related?
He'd ended up knocking on Mai's door, waiting impatiently for her to let him in. Having to knock several times over several minutes, progressively louder each time. His headache was momentous, he still hurt all over, and he was pissed he'd failed at healing his sister, so he wasn't in the mood to wait.
"What do you want?" Mai asked peevishly, wearing only a towel, dripping water on the floor, her soaked hair plastered to her skin.
Jordan opened his mouth to ask her if she needed anything fixed so he could test out his hypothesis, when he felt a sudden jolt at the thought
fix.
At the same time, Mai, ahead of him, almost dropped her towel as she put a hand to her head, wonderingly. Before her eyes widened in shock, "How do I know how to fix a car? I don't even know what a torque wrench is, but… I know what it is!?" Her wondrous and shocked face turned wroth, as she glared at Jordan.
"What did you do!?" She hissed accusingly.
I guess… Instead of gaining the skill I steal… I now give it away… A mix of Victor and Othala's power….
I wonder if it's permanent like Victor, or temporary like Othala… I guess killing two capes almost simultaneously had some effect on their powers…
Is that why regeneration didn't work on Jana? Because I'd already used it on the old man? Some sort of new expression on her power as well? I can give out a power only once but maybe it's permanent? Fuck! Also amazing, but fuck!
I should have done Jana first…
"Jordan!" Mai growled, one hand clenching into a fist.
Ah, I have some explaining to do. He thought with a wince. Remembering he still had to explain everything else.
This won't be pleasant…
Author's note:
So he basically hijacked both Victor and Othala's shards at the same time and they kind of bled over, already being somewhat close together.
With how quickly his plans get disrupted right after he makes them, no way Panacea lives until January…
Either way it will be time to start actually building something now that he's stirred the pot, while everyone focuses on each other for a bit.
And yeah, canon, what canon? Jordan is gonna disrupt anything and everything, even as he keeps telling himself he's just being careful and totally planning everything.
Cheers
