A Darker Path [Worm Fanfic]

[LocalCatHybrid]

Atropos

Click to shrink...

For reference, in this you mean one of the three Fates of Greek mythology, and specifically them because of their roles; one unspools the thread that represents a mortal life; one measures it out to its proper length; and one cuts the thread, this representing death of the mortal. Atropos is the third, she is the one who decides when people die. An appropriate name, bravo.

 

[YuffieK]

Hannah and Ethan's car stopped alongside the ambulances at the edge of the police cordon. A quick look inside showed all three of the ABB gang members on stretchers, with neck braces and bandaged heads.

"Tch, doubt we're going to get anything from the mooks if some cape rattled their heads." Assault snarked. "So, why call us in after the fact?"

"That." Miss Milita replied, pointing to the sheet on the ground as the officer in charge of the scene came to them. "Sergeant Jenkins."

"Miss Militia, Assault. We've tried speaking with the shop owner, but we don't have any Vietnamese translators handy. Looks like a pretty typical protection racket shakedown though. Until it wasn't."

"Just one body?"

"Yeah. Oni Lee. Point blank shot right between the eyes. There's a pile what looks like some of the ash his clones leave behind, so he probably wasn't taken by surprise, but that's why you're here, right?"

Both heroes were glad they were wearing masks, because the shock on their faces would have been plain. Someone getting the drop on Oni Lee when he was able to teleport was unheard of.

Assault went over and looked under the sheet. The man's mask was still grinning back even in death, despite the neat hole in it's forehead and the telltale scorch of powder burns around it. "What'da think?"

Hannah expertly looked over the bullet wound. "The shooter was maybe six feet away, certainly within knife fighting range. They would have needed to have the gun in hand and aimed where he was going to be when he teleported."

"Combat Precog? That's not good. Sergeant? Did your men secure Lee's weapons?"

"Nope, he wasn't armed when we got here."

"I've never seen him without at least a combat knife, two guns and a couple of grenades. How's your Vietnamese, MM?"

"Rusty, but I think I can manage."

They went into the shop, Assault setting an audio recorder on the counter.

<Hello. You are not in trouble. We only wish to find out what happened. Can you tell us who did this?>

<Đạo Mẫu was angered and sent her maiden to punish them.>

<Can you describe her?>

<She appeared as Death. Pale skin with dark hair, but spoke as clearly to me as my mother would. Her only request of me was proper garments for her work.>

<What work?>

<She claimed the wicked would be driven from this city, so that we may live in peace. I have no reason to doubt her.>

The implications ran through Hannah's mind. Someone was about to go to war with the gangs, and this was quite literally the first shot. "Fuck."

"MM, Console says someone just posted this on PHO. The mods have tried locking it down but for some reason they can't."

Assault held out his phone and let her read, her eyes finally lingering on the last word.

Atropos.

Double fuck.

 

[Ack]

Hannah and Ethan's car stopped alongside the ambulances at the edge of the police cordon. A quick look inside showed all three of the ABB gang members on stretchers, with neck braces and bandaged heads.

"Tch, doubt we're going to get anything from the mooks if some cape rattled their heads." Assault snarked. "So, why call us in after the fact?"

"That." Miss Milita replied, pointing to the sheet on the ground as the officer in charge of the scene came to them. "Sergeant Jenkins."

"Miss Militia, Assault. We've tried speaking with the shop owner, but we don't have any Vietnamese translators handy. Looks like a pretty typical protection racket shakedown though. Until it wasn't."

"Just one body?"

"Yeah. Oni Lee. Point blank shot right between the eyes. There's a pile what looks like some of the ash his clones leave behind, so he probably wasn't taken by surprise, but that's why you're here, right?"

Both heroes were glad they were wearing masks, because the shock on their faces would have been plain. Someone getting the drop on Oni Lee when he was able to teleport was unheard of.

Assault went over and looked under the sheet. The man's mask was still grinning back even in death, despite the neat hole in it's forehead and the telltale scorch of powder burns around it. "What'da think?"

Hanna's expertly looked over the bullet wound. "The shooter was maybe six feet away, certainly within knife fighting range. They would have needed to have the gun in hand and aimed where he was going to be when he teleported."

"Combat Precog? That's not good. Sergeant? Did your men secure Lee's weapons?"

"Nope, he wasn't armed when we got here."

"I've never seen him without at least a combat knife, two guns and a couple of grenades. How's your Vietnamese, MM?"

"Rusty, but I think I can manage."

They went into the shop, Assault setting an audio recorder on the counter.

<Hello. You are not in trouble. We only wish to find out what happened. Can you tell us who did this?>

<Đạo Mẫu was angered and sent her maiden to punish them.>

<Can you describe her?>

<She appeared as Death. Pale skin with dark hair, but spoke as clearly to me as my mother would. Her only request of me was proper garments for her work.>

<What work?>

<She claimed the wicked would be driven from this city, so that we may live in peace. I have no reason to doubt her.>

The implications ran through Hannah's mind. Someone was about to go to war with the gangs, and this was quite literally the first shot. "Fuck."

"MM, Console says someone just posted this on PHO. The mods have tried locking it down but for some reason they can't."

Assault held out his phone and let her read, her eyes finally lingering on the last word.

Atropos.

Double fuck.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, I'm canonising this. It's absolutely perfect.

 

[Reese]

Another thought on Atropos vs. Coil: In some stories, Taylor gets a power that counter's Coil's by being an out of context problem that Coil's power can't predict, and, since it's not presenting itself as a precog-plus-self-mastering power, that causes things to go somewhat haywire for him. Here, though, Atropos's power is just another shard, and it seems pretty likely Coil's power will be able to predict it. It seems likely to me, therefore, that Coil won't experience his power going haywire... just dying, no matter what he does, because his shard being able to predict Atropos doesn't mean it can actually do anything about her with its current power expression.

That is, not enough to save his life -- but the shard might be able to choose/force some details of the death. Since, for instance, Thomas Calvert setting at home being a normal civilian watching TV probably just gets suddenly ended by a bullet through the wall, fired at the perfect time for Taylor to get away with no witnesses, I'd guess that, once the shard determines Taylor will be making her move during a given split, it's going to have the more interesting and conflict-laden branch be the real one even if Coil otherwise wouldn't pick it; any "safe" timeline can just pretend that Atropos would have killed him in it right before the real timeline would have been dropped, assuming that hasn't already happened. Then Coil is, for instance, trapped in his base with Atropos making her way in. She has to get in, kill him, and then get out, with lots of potential for conflict during and as a consequence -- and maybe if the shard is very, very lucky, Coil will second trigger during the incident with a power that the shard actually _can_ get him out with.

 

[Ack]

Another thought on Atropos vs. Coil: In some stories, Taylor gets a power that counter's Coil's by being an out of context problem that Coil's power can't predict, and, since it's not presenting itself as a precog-plus-self-mastering power, that causes things to go somewhat haywire for him. Here, though, Atropos's power is just another shard, and it seems pretty likely Coil's power will be able to predict it. It seems likely to me, therefore, that Coil won't experience his power going haywire... just dying, no matter what he does, because his shard being able to predict Atropos doesn't mean it can actually do anything about her with its current power expression.

That is, not enough to save his life -- but the shard might be able to choose/force some details of the death. Since, for instance, Thomas Calvert setting at home being a normal civilian watching TV probably just gets suddenly ended by a bullet through the wall, fired at the perfect time for Taylor to get away with no witnesses, I'd guess that, once the shard determines Taylor will be making her move during a given split, it's going to have the more interesting and conflict-laden branch be the real one even if Coil otherwise wouldn't pick it; any "safe" timeline can just pretend that Atropos would have killed him in it right before the real timeline would have been dropped, assuming that hasn't already happened. Then Coil is, for instance, trapped in his base with Atropos making her way in. She has to get in, kill him, and then get out, with lots of potential for conflict during and as a consequence -- and maybe if the shard is very, very lucky, Coil will second trigger during the incident with a power that the shard actually _can_ get him out with.

Click to shrink...

He'd have to be damn lucky at that. Given that he's a Cauldron cape and all. Pretty sure those can't second trigger.

 

[Icipall]

<She appeared as Death. Pale skin with dark hair, but spoke as clearly to me as my mother would. Her only request of me was proper garments for her work.>

Click to shrink...

*After MM translates.*

Assault: "Did she also ride in with a pale horse?"

Everyone else: *Flat stare.*

Assault: "What?"

 

[M. H. Fuzzball]

*After MM translates.*

Assault: "Did she also ride in with a pale horse?"

Everyone else: *Flat stare.*

Assault: "What?"

Click to shrink...

Well, Ack didn't say Taylor had 'borrowed' a white Mustang, but...

 

[tvo770]

Another thought on Atropos vs. Coil: In some stories, Taylor gets a power that counter's Coil's by being an out of context problem that Coil's power can't predict, and, since it's not presenting itself as a precog-plus-self-mastering power, that causes things to go somewhat haywire for him. Here, though, Atropos's power is just another shard, and it seems pretty likely Coil's power will be able to predict it. It seems likely to me, therefore, that Coil won't experience his power going haywire... just dying, no matter what he does, because his shard being able to predict Atropos doesn't mean it can actually do anything about her with its current power expression.

That is, not enough to save his life -- but the shard might be able to choose/force some details of the death. Since, for instance, Thomas Calvert setting at home being a normal civilian watching TV probably just gets suddenly ended by a bullet through the wall, fired at the perfect time for Taylor to get away with no witnesses, I'd guess that, once the shard determines Taylor will be making her move during a given split, it's going to have the more interesting and conflict-laden branch be the real one even if Coil otherwise wouldn't pick it; any "safe" timeline can just pretend that Atropos would have killed him in it right before the real timeline would have been dropped, assuming that hasn't already happened. Then Coil is, for instance, trapped in his base with Atropos making her way in. She has to get in, kill him, and then get out, with lots of potential for conflict during and as a consequence -- and maybe if the shard is very, very lucky, Coil will second trigger during the incident with a power that the shard actually _can_ get him out with.

Click to shrink...

Except neither Thinker or Warrior know of Wanderer's surprise present, so none of their shards know about it either, we also know it well tell broadcast to go jump off a bridge, so it's likely it will do the same for any other shard asking for information. So Taylor might as well be an out of context problem as far Coil's shard is concerned It might be able to figure Taylor out eventually but by then it will likely be too late.

 

[Ack]

Except neither Thinker or Warrior know of Wanderer's surprise present, so none of their shards know about it either, we also know it well tell broadcast to go jump off a bridge, so it's likely it will do the same for any other shard asking for information. So Taylor might as well be an out of context problem as far Coil's shard is concerned It might be able to figure Taylor out eventually but by then it will likely be too late.

Click to shrink...

Coil's power won't even bother Taylor.

Once he's on her radar, she knows where he is, no matter which timeline it is.

The only way to get off it is to consciously choose to never do anything that might annoy her ever again. And we all know how well Coil does with leaving things alone.

(Also, if she's already chosen a path to killing him, he's SOL.)

 

[Avernus]

Thing is, as useful as Coil's power is, it's about as rigid and deterministic as they come. It does only one thing - creates two high-fidelity simulated futures for Coil to choose from - in a completely predictable way. So Taylor's PtE ought to be able to pretty effortlessly waltz right through anything he tries, and in fact cause Taylor to act in ways that cause Coil to choose exactly the right "timeline" to make him vulnerable.

 

[Kit]

The only way I could get any edgier would be to include the words 'blood' or 'stryke' in my name, and add a few dozen pouches and a stupidly-oversized gun.

Click to shrink...

Todd McFarlane and Rob Liefeld just felt someone walk over their graves... (I bet Taylor's feet are normally-sized, though.)

Also, echoing whoever said Lung will watch Atropos in action, have Contessa flashbacks, and GTFO... doubly so because the costume sounds like a cross between Contessa's usual getup and Rorschach done entirely in black and grey.

And, ofc, recovering classicist approval for the name choice!

 

[Nitramy]

There's just one more thing Taylor needs for her guise to be perfect: a pocket short-range teleportation device, shaped oddly like a dagger.

And when she gets it, she can't help but express herself in the most metal of ways.

Spoiler

The Bane Elemental in Dota (2) is also named Atropos. And he has an absolutely epic line when he picks up the Blink Dagger.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meH9uKpQfzM

 

[Reese]

He'd have to be damn lucky at that. Given that he's a Cauldron cape and all. Pretty sure those can't second trigger.

Click to shrink...

Oh, they can't? I'd either not known or not remembered that; thanks!
So, yeah, very lucky indeed, he'd have to be. But if the alternative to taking the chance is definitely losing the host...

Except neither Thinker or Warrior know of Wanderer's surprise present, so none of their shards know about it either, we also know it well tell broadcast to go jump off a bridge, so it's likely it will do the same for any other shard asking for information. So Taylor might as well be an out of context problem as far Coil's shard is concerned It might be able to figure Taylor out eventually but by then it will likely be too late.

Click to shrink...

Ehhh. Uncertain, I think, based on the information currently available to me. They probably, indeed, can't successfully query Taylor's shard directly, but talking among themselves, they can presumably find out that it does indeed appear to be a shard, or at least interfacing in just the same way a shard would. That leads to the assumption it's acting like a shard would, and they could scan for energy emissions or whatever to rule out at least some powers. With all of that, including postcog shards looking at Taylor's past actions since triggering, and knowledge of the existence of Path to Victory and similar shards, it seems likely they could draw a correct conclusion about what Taylor's shard is doing, if not necessarily the specifics of its calculations or where it came from.

That is, though, a theoretical capability of the network, yes. Whether they actually can or will coordinate and share information that much to figure this out... I don't know.

So, aye, I may have been assuming too much; thanks for the corrective nudge.

Once he's on her radar, she knows where he is, no matter which timeline it is.

Click to shrink...

Hah, yep, that's what I thought.

And we all know how well Coil does with leaving things alone.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, and that.

 

[Ack]

A Darker Path

Part Four: Spreading the Word

[A/N 1: this chapter beta-read by Lady Columbine of Mystal.]
[A/N 2: I made use of the PHO Interlude Wizard to make the PHO segment. I hope you enjoy.]
[A/N 3: Many of the names and comments in the PHO segment have been adapted from users and comments in the SB thread, while others are from canon PHO users.]
[A/N 4: I know, I know, a PHO segment without Void Cowboy making an insensitive comment and being banned for it? Has the universe gone crazy?]


Undersiders Base
January 4, 2011
6:03 AM

Tattletale

Lisa had chosen her ringtone, once upon a time, to be able to get her attention at any time or in any place. It had saved her bacon, metaphorically speaking, on more than one occasion. But now, after she'd been up until three in the morning doing a deep-dive into everything she could locate about the Ruby Dreams casino, it felt like broken glass scraping on the inside of her soul.

I swear, once I wake up, I'm going to murder someone. With their own phone.

But plans of mayhem aside, she had to answer the damn thing. So she fumbled across her nightstand until she located the musically buzzing demonic device. By way of sheer muscle memory, she flicked her thumb across the screen, then held it to her ear. "H'lo?"

"Tattletale." It was Coil, of course. Very few other people she knew would be calling her at this insane hour, and in any case she worked with three of them (and lived with two). "Wake up."

Wedging one eye open, she peered blearily toward the window. Only the slightest glimmer of gray light crept around the curtains she had hanging there; she estimated that sunrise was still an hour away. "'S not even daylight yet," she mumbled. "C'n it wait 'til noon?"

"No. It cannot. This is a priority tasking, Tattletale." His voice was crisp and commanding. "Get up, now. Make coffee. I need your head clear for this."

"Why?" she hated the whining tone in her voice, but she'd been asleep, damn it! Sometimes, a whine was earned. "'S it En'bringers?" She hoped it wasn't, and anyway, she couldn't hear sirens.

"This is important." She could hear him gritting his teeth. "I need a threat assessment performed immediately. Once it's done, you can go back to bed."

She still didn't see why he couldn't wait until midday, but if she pushed back too hard, he was likely to send a couple of mercenaries to yank her out of bed, shove her under an icy shower, and pour coffee down her throat until she was lucid. Or at least, that was what her power was telling her. Which would be a first; revealing to Brian and the others who their secret boss was would be a huge step.

All of a sudden, she decided that she wanted to see what had his tights in a twist. "'Kay, 'm gettin' up."

Half-falling out of bed, she stumbled from her bedroom to the kitchenette where she set the coffee machine going. Leaving her phone on the counter—Coil could listen to the machine gurgling, for all of her—she went back to the bathroom and shocked herself partially awake with a quick medium-chilly shower. By the time she was done and dressed, the coffee machine was ready to go, and she poured herself a fresh cup.

The first jolt of caffeine served to clear her head almost completely, and she took the cup and her phone over to the sofa where she kept her laptop. It wasn't much of a guess that she was going to need it, so she hit the power button as she leaned back and took another mouthful of chemical wakefulness. "Okay, I guess I'm awake now. Hit me."

"Good." He still didn't sound happy. "Go to the PHO boards, the new capes section. Look for Atropos. I need you to do a threat assessment. Call me back with your results." He ended the call without further ado.

"Okay, okay," she muttered, dropping the phone beside her and sipping her coffee as the laptop booted up. It seemed as reluctant to wake up as she had been, and she briefly sympathised.

Soon enough, it was up and running, and she clicked on the PHO tab she kept at the top of the screen. Navigating according to Coil's instructions, she found the thread he was referring to and began to read.

<><>

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♦ Topic: Hi there!
In: Boards ► Brockton Bay ► New Capes

Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Posted On Jan 3rd 2011:

Good evening, Brockton Bay.

I'm a new cape on the scene, but that doesn't mean I'm new to the city. And as anyone who knows the place will admit, it's a shithole.
Who's to blame for this, you ask? Well, that's easy. The gangs. It's literally in their best interests to keep the cops looking the other way and the heroes chasing the small fish so the big fish can keep shitting in the water all day long.
Well, I'm done with accepting that. So, here's what I've got to say. The gangs are no longer welcome in Brockton Bay. It's time for you to leave. The door's thataway.
I am specifically calling out the Empire Eighty-Eight, the Azn Bad Boys, Coil's crew and fuck it, the Merchants, because they sell drugs to schoolkids and that isn't cool either. The other gangs in the city, I do know who you are but you're not on my list yet. You'll keep.
So, the leaders of those gangs I just named: Kaiser, Lung, Coil, Skidmark. You have twenty-four hours to either a) leave town for good or b) surrender to the PRT. In twenty-four hours from midnight tonight, if you haven't all done this, I'm going to kill one of you that hasn't. Just one.
Then I'll start the clock again.

TL: DR – Kaiser, Lung, Coil, Skidmark. GTFO or die.

Oh, and Lung? Yeah, that was me.
Your move.

Atropos

​

(Showing page 1 of 10)

►Mr Unhappy
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Well, that was unhinged.
​

►Gritty Morty
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Fir--dammit!
Well, this looks interesting.
​

►LightFromTheShadows
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Yeah. Interesting. Will watch from a distance.
​

►Ring Island
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
And after that, what? Teatime with Alexandria?​

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
If she asks politely.​

►BirdsEye
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
@Atropos ... if you can kill anything, how about killing all conflict on earth?​

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
I could try, but I'm pretty sure I'd die of old age first.​

►Hades82
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Seconding (thirding?) interest.
We've got a live one here, folks.​

►TheSkinnyBlueGuy
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Look upon the field where I grow my Fucks and behold for it is barren!
... what? That's the vibe I'm getting.
​

End of Page. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10


(Showing page 2 of 10)

►GleamingGlare
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Oh, boy.
Because you know, villain capes NEVER escalate.
​

►UnconcernedFox
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
*gets out the comfy chair and the popcorn*​

►BirdsEye
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Okay then, could you kill bigotry? Racism? The idea of theft?
Betrayal? Torture? Falsehood?
​

►SkyWalkerJA
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
I'm thinking the answer would be "would die of old age first".
because, you know, those things are pretty entrenched​

►JediMedic
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
@TheSkinnyBlueGuy - That's the exact thing I was thinking when I read OP post.​

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
@TheSkinnyBlueGuy - that's kinda my jam now, yeah.
@SkyWalkerJA - Essentially, yes. I could kill that sort of thing in one person, right in front of me, but everyone everywhere? Way too tedious.
@GleamingGlare - and then I'll just have to cut a bitch.
​

►BigRedSharpie (Moderator)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Okay, I'm done. This has gone on long enough. Thread is locked. Atropos, you just bought yourself a ticket to Ban-town.
Maybe next time don't be so Edgy McEdgelord, hmm?​

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Meh, Ban-town was boring. I'm back.​

►UnconcernedFox
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Hahahha
*munches popcorn*
​

►GleamingGlare
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
wut
​

End of Page. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10


(Showing page 3 of 10)

►BirdsEye
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Did you just ... did you just kill a threadban AND a threadlock?​

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Well, duh.
What part of 'can actually kill anything' did you not get the first time?​

►SkyWalkerJA
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Okay, I've got to ask. How did you add all the extra tags?​

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Killed the blocks preventing me from getting them. How else?​

►BigRedSharpie (Moderator)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
I said, this thread is locked.​

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
And I said it's not.
Sorry, Sharpie. No hard feelings? I just wanna chat with my fans.​

►Bagrat (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Okay, if this is how it's going down ...
@Atropos - is it true you killed Oni Lee earlier tonight? Because there's a strong rumor that it was a new Death-themed cape, and your note for Lung above ...​

►LotusBlade
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Lung's rage is mighty
Atropos will die to flame
So vows the dragon.​

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
@LotusBlade - Yeah, yeah, get him to come talk to me himself.
@Bagrat - Wow, the Guy in the Know asking ME about stuff? I am honored, and I mean that totally unironically. yeah, that was me. Had to establish my credentials, y'know?
​

►Reave (Verified PRT Agent)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Just to put all speculation to rest, yes, Oni Lee was approached by an unidentified person earlier tonight. That person disabled Lee's companion ABB members, then attacked Lee himself. In the ensuing melee, the suspect apparently took Lee's gun and shot him with it. The suspect was reportedly unharmed in the fight.
When last seen, the suspect was wearing a black long-coat, a broad-brimmed hat, a black morph mask, and otherwise dark clothing. They may have armed themselves with Oni Lee's personal weapons.
Personal description: tall, slender, long dark hair.
If you encounter anyone matching this description, do NOT approach. Treat as armed and dangerous, and notify the PRT immediately.​

@Atropos - If you hand yourself over to the PRT now, we can avoid any more bloodshed, and I do include you in that. You have no idea of the amount of danger you're in right now, from handing out a reckless challenge like that. If you want to fight crime, that's not the way to do it. We prefer live heroes to dead vigilantes.​

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(Showing page 4 of 10)

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Aww, you almost sound like you actually care.
Hard pass, sorry. I've got a job to do, and Oni Lee was just the start.
Appreciate the offer, though.​

►PureBlood01011000 (Temp-Banned)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
I don't care what you do with Lung or the other idiots, but if you come near Kaiser, I hope you like having metal spikes in your everywhere.​

►BigRedSharpie (Moderator)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Okay, I can't lock this thread and I can't ban Atropos, but I can definitely ban other people. Let's tone down the ITG stuff, okay? As soon as someone with more pull than me gets online, this thread WILL be locked down, and everyone's posts will be examined to see if further actions need to be taken.
Just calm your frontal lobes, people.​

►Wherewolf
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
So, uh ... I'm guessing the PRT is going to be going after Atropos now, and not the villains they're targeting? Because somehow Atropos is the bad guy now?​

►Reave (Verified PRT Agent)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
There are no capes in Brockton Bay with a kill order on their heads. Everyone deserves due process and their day in court.​

►RaRaRa
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Well, that escalated quickly.​

►SecretlyAJetFighter
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Dayumn. That mic drop just went *subterranean*.​

►BeginningToEnd
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Welp, naming yourself after the Greek personification of Fate and Death.
Nope, not pretentious at all.​

►dranasty
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Okay, heroes and PRT going after Atropos, I get that. Murder is a crime.
But seriously wow, how many people have the gangs killed, and they're not anywhere near the priority that Atropos is going to end up on, and for what reason? Because status quo is king?​

►AuthorBug
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
@BeginningToEnd - Oni Lee might argue that point. Taking him and his flunkies out with no injuries? That takes more than luck. Just saying.
​

End of Page. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10


(Showing page 5 of 10)

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)

Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
@BeginningToEnd - oh yeah, I know it's edgy. But hey, I gotta go with what works.​

►Reave (Verified PRT Agent)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
@dranasty - it's more to do with the fact that if some of the gangs decide that Atropos is a false-flag operation designed to bring the opposition down in secret, we'll have all-out war in this town. And there's nowhere near enough heroes in BB to contain something like that.
​

►dranasty
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
@Reave - so, status quo. Got it.​

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me)
Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:
Hahaha false flag? Is that what they're saying?
Nope. They're all going down or leaving town. One or the other. I don't care which.
Anyway, signing off. See you lovely people in the morning.
And remember: twenty-four hours.​

Mwahahaha.​

<><>​

Tattletale

By the time she finished, the coffee cup was empty, but that was okay. Lisa was awake. She was definitely awake. Almost gingerly, as though she expected the name on the screen to jump out and bite her, she scrolled upward and read through the thread again, up to the point where Atropos had left the chat.

"Jeeesus H. Christ on a Tinkertech pogo stick," she muttered, putting the cup down on the sofa arm without looking. Chills were chasing each other up and down her spine, each one sparked by one of Atropos' seemingly off-hand comments.

Some people could shout threats all day and not be intimidating. Others merely had to whisper. With Atropos, all she had to do was put words on a computer screen to scare the absolute shit out of Lisa.

'The other gangs in the city, I do know who you are but you're not on my list yet. You'll keep.'

That those words were aimed at her and the rest of the Undersiders, she had zero doubt whatsoever. Someone who had the sheer planetary-scale neutronium testicular fortitude to kill Oni Lee and call out Lung (as well as Kaiser, Coil and Skidmark) on the same night was absolutely not someone she wanted to cross. Especially since her personal assessment was that Atropos (signs pointed to her being a girl) was actually capable of carrying out the threat.

It wasn't much of a comfort that they weren't on Atropos' list. She knew for a fact that the word 'yet' had been included deliberately. Once Atropos had finished dealing with the current big names in the city, then the list would be updated. And if the terrifying intent embodied in the initial greeting stayed the same (she had no reason to think it would change) then the Undersiders would be facing a stark choice, made none the easier for Coil being dead or elsewhere. Leave the city, surrender, or die.

Drawing a deep breath, she picked up her phone. The call went through with just one ring sounding in her ear. "Yes?"

For a moment, she was tempted to tweak him by drawing it out, then she mentally shook her head. "My assessment is 'yes'. Atropos is totally capable of doing whatever she says she can do. She intends to kill Lung, Kaiser, you and Skidmark. Barring unusual interference, she'll succeed." By 'unusual interference', she meant 'power shenanigans', and they both knew it.

"Even inside my base, with my mercenaries on high alert?" He sounded more on edge than normal, which wasn't altogether surprising. "How is she even going to find me?"

"I don't know. Maybe she can't." Lisa rubbed her forehead. A tiny headache was starting to grow, expanding each time she attempted to analyse Atropos' actual capabilities and weaknesses. "But every time I ask myself, 'can she kill everyone on the list?', my best answer is 'Yes'."

"Can you tell me who she'll be going after first, at least?" She didn't have to even wonder why he was asking that. If her power's analysis was correct, Atropos' initial target had less than eighteen hours to live.

Leaning back against the sofa cushions, Lisa closed her eyes. "Nobody's going to be leaving town or surrendering to the PRT … unless you are?" Scornful silence greeted her sally. "Right, right. Silly of me. She won't be hitting Skidmark first. You aren't a hugely obvious target, so it's likely to be Kaiser or Lung. And she's already hit the ABB once."

"So you're saying she'll probably go after Kaiser first." He was clearly doing his best to sound calm and collected, but she could hear the tension behind his voice. "How much faith do you have in that assessment?"

"A lot less than I have in knowing that she's dangerous as fuck, and that I don't want to be in the same town as her if she's pissed at me," Lisa answered honestly. "Every time I try to venture a guess at her exact motivations or capabilities, I get back a vague answer plus a headache. As best I can tell, she's running a mild ongoing anti-Thinker effect. It's really irritating."

<><>​

Coil

Yes. Yes, it is.

"Understood. If anything changes, let me know." Thomas Calvert ended the call and dropped the phone on his desk. Resting his elbows on his desk, he laced his fingers together and pressed his thumbs to his temples. Then he inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.

What do I do? There existed the outside possibility that his Tattletale was trying to panic him and stampede him from the city. But therein lay a dilemma. If it was just her playing her irritating little mind games, he could devote his full power (and all his men) to tracking her down and bringing her to heel. However, that would leave zero resources free for staying under the radar from Atropos.

Atropos killed Oni Lee. Thomas could not afford to ignore that fact. As such, he considered it only prudent to keep himself safe and secure, leaving Tattletale until after Atropos had been dealt with. While there was a two-in-three chance that he was not the assassin's current target (he agreed with Tattletale's assessment that Skidmark was more of an afterthought than a serious contender) he still considered a thirty-three percent chance of death to be unacceptably high.

Opening his eyes again, he looked once more at the email displayed on his work laptop. Not only had they sent it out to all ranking PRT officers, but they'd also contacted each off-duty officer via phone to alert them to its presence and to inform them that they were now on duty. The phone calls had started going out at just before six in the morning, going by rank and alphabetical order; he supposed he should consider himself lucky that his surname began with C.

It could be worse. The post did say midnight. By midnight, I'll be tucked away in absolute security and absolute obscurity. His house in the suburbs had a state-of-the-art alarm system, and his bunker under the city held fifty well-armed mercenaries, each one as loyal as money could buy.

In the best case, Atropos would take out Lung or Kaiser before she was inevitably killed. Either way, he would benefit.

I always win.

<><>​

Kaiser

Max Anders rose a little after seven and enjoyed a moderate workout in his home gymnasium, followed by a stinging-hot shower and a healthy breakfast. He ate looking out toward the Bay from the patio of his three-storey house on the slopes of Captain's Hill; by half-past eight, he was finished and ready to go to work. With a nod to his butler—the less well-off could scoff, but having someone to anticipate one's needs could be invaluable at times—he dressed in the immaculate suit that had been laid out for him and descended in the elevator to the six-car garage.

As he settled into the genuine leather seat of his preferred town car, the driver pressed the button on the dash and the garage door motored open. He took up the morning copy of the Financial Times from the seat beside him and prepared to see how his stocks had performed overnight. But just as the car exited the garage, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

With a slight frown on his face—the caller ID indicated an Empire 88 call, rather than one for business—he pressed the button that raised the soundproof barrier between himself and his driver. While his personal employees were selected for their views, none of them knew of his connection to the Empire. What they didn't know, they couldn't talk about, even by accident.

"Yes?"

"There's a potential problem." Krieg was normally as unflappable as a man could get. Right now, however, he sounded a little stressed. "A cape showed up last night, killed Oni Lee in public, then announced on PHO that they're going after the gangs. Specifically; you, Lung, Coil and Skidmark."

"That can't be right. How did they kill Oni Lee?" God knew the Empire had tried enough times over the last few years.

"He was shot in the face with his own gun at a range of six feet. Our current theory is combat precog. The cape's name is Atropos."

"Well, damn." Whoever had pulled that little stunt off had done very well indeed. 'Atropos'—the member of the Fates who cut the thread and ended the life of mortals—was a good name for someone who could manage that. Then the rest of what Krieg had said caught up with him. "What do you mean, they're coming after me personally?" That was never good news; even the most inept of assassins could get lucky, eventually.

"I'm emailing you the link to the PHO thread. It's all the information we have, right there."

"Okay, thanks." Max ended the call. Pressing the intercom, he spoke to the driver. "I've just received word of a potential threat. Move our posture to high security."

Through the glass, he saw the driver nod. "Yes, sir."

With the high security protocols, the window glass darkened until it was impossible to see in, and three other town cars would be exiting garages within the next few minutes. Each one identical to the one he was currently riding in, they would all take different routes to the Medhall building, where the secure undercover parking lot would be waiting for them. It was so nice to have money to throw at problems like this.

The initial precautions taken care of, he opened the email that had just dropped into his phone. From there he went into the PHO thread and began reading.

A problem, he decided after he'd finished. But not an insurmountable one. Either Lung will get Atropos, or my security will. And if they don't, I will.

Everything was, as always, under control.

<><>​

Taylor

I was in the middle of eating breakfast when Kaiser popped into my awareness. He was aware of me and my challenge, just as Coil was. Lung had, of course, been aware since last night; his seething rage had barely abated since then. About the only one who hadn't heard about it was Skidmark. In fact, none of the Merchants had.

That didn't matter.

They had three days to learn about it.

In the meantime, Kaiser, Lung and Coil awaited my attention; not necessarily in that order.

Eeny, meeny, miney moe …



End of Part Four

 

[Icipall]

Soon enough, it was up and running, and she clicked on the PHO tab she kept at the top of the screen. Navigating according to Coil's instructions, she found the thread he was referring to and began to read.

Click to shrink...

Lisa:

►BigRedSharpie (Moderator)Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:Okay, I'm done. This has gone on long enough. Thread is locked. Atropos, you just bought yourself a ticket to Ban-town.Maybe next time don't be so Edgy McEdgelord, hmm?

Click to shrink...

Well, the Mod is right. Taylor is being an edgelord.

►PureBlood01011000 (Temp-Banned)Replied On Jan 3rd 2011:I don't care what you do with Lung or the other idiots, but if you come near Kaiser, I hope you like having metal spikes in your everywhere.

Click to shrink...

Not even trying to hide it.

That those words were aimed at her and the rest of the Undersiders, she had zero doubt whatsoever.

Click to shrink...

And Travellers. And maybe Faultline's crew, don't remember whether or not they were at the Bay at his point in time.

It could be worse. The post did say midnight. By midnight, I'll be tucked away in absolute security and absolute obscurity. His house in the suburbs had a state-of-the-art alarm system, and his bunker under the city held fifty well-armed mercenaries, each one as loyal as money could buy.

In the best case, Atropos would take out Lung or Kaiser before she was inevitably killed. Either way, he would benefit.

I always win.

Click to shrink...

Wanna bet on that?

A problem, he decided after he'd finished. But not an insurmountable one. Either Lung will get Atropos, or my security will. And if they don't, I will.

Everything was, as always, under control.

Click to shrink...

Wanna bet on that?

Eeny, meeny, miney moe …

Click to shrink...

 

[Radek]

Kaiser believes he is safe behind his troops, behind his walls.

He is in error.

 

[Ack]

Lisa:

Well, the Mod is right. Taylor is being an edgelord.

Not even trying to hide it.

And Travellers. And maybe Faultline's crew, don't remember whether or not they were at the Bay at his point in time.

Wanna bet on that?

Wanna bet on that?

Click to shrink...

Faultline's Crew was, Travellers were not.

 

[Rhostadt]

"Nobody's going to be leaving town or surrendering to the PRT … unless you are?" Scornful silence greeted her sally. "Right, right. Silly of me. She won't be hitting Skidmark first. You aren't a hugely obvious target, so it's likely to be Kaiser or Lung. And she's already hit the ABB once."

"So you're saying she'll probably go after Kaiser first." He was clearly doing his best to sound calm and collected, but she could hear the tension behind his voice. "How much faith do you have in that assessment?"

Click to shrink...

A completely logical conclusion, and one I even came to myself after the previous chapter.

Unless...

In the meantime, Kaiser, Lung and Coil awaited my attention; not necessarily in that order.

Eeny, meeny, miney moe …

Click to shrink...

...she skips logic and makes the choice by some other means.

 

[Avernus]

Taylor

I was in the middle of eating breakfast when Kaiser popped into my awareness. He was aware of me and my challenge, just as Coil was. Lung had, of course, been aware since last night; his seething rage had barely abated since then. About the only ones who hadn't heard about it was Skidmark. In fact, none of the Merchants had.

Click to shrink...

Heh, I hadn't thought about it before, but by making a public announcement like she did she manipulated them all into literally putting themselves on her radar.

Kaiser believes he is safe behind his troops, behind his walls.

He is in error.

Click to shrink...

Well yeah; he has no idea of just how dangerous a Thinker Atropos is. He'd probably worry about facing her face to face, combat precogs are really dangerous in a fight. But there's a difference between a Thinker like that, and somebody who can for example just offhandedly fire a bullet without looking from a mile away and have it hit you right in the eye. Much less more subtle options.

And unlike Coil Kaiser lacks a Thinker of his own to give him any indication of how dangerous Atropos is; so he's underestimating her even more than Coil.

 

[ptbptb]

What do I do?

Click to shrink...

OK, Coil? Coily-coily-Coil-Coil. Coil my boy.

Split timeline, in one leave Brockton Bay in the other stay. Make sure the real you is the one that leaves. What? You don't know how your power works yet? Sucks to be you then. Still, at least this gives you 50% chance of surviving.

 

[Avernus]

OK, Coil? Coily-coily-Coil-Coil. Coil my boy.

Split timeline, in one leave Brockton Bay in the other stay. Make sure the real you is the one that leaves. What? You don't know how your power works yet? Sucks to be you then. Still, at least this give you 50% chance of surviving.

Click to shrink...

On the other hand that would mean he can't really use his power indefinitely, since as soon as he does he has to commit to one or the other. And given how dependent he is on that power it would put his plans on hold just as indefinitely.

EDIT: Also, if she decides on "Path to Kill Coil" one step will likely be to do something that manipulates events so that he decides to run both timelines in the Bay, in range. For some reason that will seem perfectly sensible to him.

 

[ptbptb]

On the other hand that would mean he can't really use his power indefinitely, since as soon as he does he has to commit to one or the other. And given how dependent he is on that power it would put his plans on hold just as indefinitely.

Click to shrink...

Eh, that doesn't really matter because all he has to do is delay for four days. In fact that's all any of the named have to do - leave town and wait to see if the ones who don't leave town die. But they won't do that, because they are all arrogant as fuck and also because it would be 'bad optics' to leave when your rivals don't.

Of course, having an ice-pick jammed through your ocular socket into your brain is also 'bad optics'.

EDIT: Also, if she decides on "Path to Kill Coil" one step will likely be to do something that manipulates events so that he decides to run both timelines in the Bay, in range. For some reason that will seem perfectly sensible to him.

Click to shrink...

As she's picking which one to kill now I presume the first 24 hours are already up. So if any of them had more brains than pride they would have already left.

 

[Ack]

Eh, that doesn't really matter because all he has to do is delay for four days. In fact that's all any of the named have to do - leave town and wait to see if the ones who don't leave town die. But they won't do that, because they are all arrogant as fuck and also because it would be 'bad optics' to leave when your rivals don't.

Of course, having an ice-pick jammed through your ocular socket into your brain is also 'bad optics'.

As she's picking which one to kill now I presume the first 24 hours are already up. So if any of them had more brains than pride they would have already left.

Click to shrink...

It is just after midday on the 4th.

The 24 hours are up in about 11 hours.

She knows exactly where everyone is.

More to the point, she knows the result of running a Path for killing each of them exactly at midnight, including where they'll be at that time.

 

[YuffieK]

More to the point, she knows the result of running a Path for killing each of them exactly at midnight, including where they'll be at that time.

Click to shrink...

Spoiler

The real question is just how spectacular that death is going to be. Coil dying in his bunker from a freak 'accidental' computer short circuit or Skidmark OD'ing in his lair is perfectly possible, but doesn't have the right gravitas.

This is going to be a message. A very PUBLIC message.

 

[Avernus]

There's just so many possibilities with a power like this. A city is like a giant toolbox of potentially lethal improvised weapons to Atropos!Taylor.