Probably should have clarified - she was muttering, like you would when talking to yourself. But, yes. Noelle is quite smart, but she's not at her best at the moment.
Interesting. Noelle's coming across as surprisingly empathetic here; I'd have expected her to be more worn down, less able to imagine how Marquis might feel at the thought of Singularity's return. I wonder if that's just me misreading her character from canon, or if Singularity's nanites have already begun the process of restoring her mind.
She's not quite completely broken yet. Remember that just before moving to Coil's base she got a pretty good injection of hope; Coil is the first real chance and/or lead they've had for fixing Noelle and returning home since the beginning. That helped a lot.
Of course, in canon that hope spot just led to a bigger breakdown at the end, just as planned.
I might be an outlier, but I find that your characters are sufficiently strong enough that dialogue only chapters work pretty well.
I think the aspect that I find the most interesting is watching two fairly different characters interact. In one corner, you have semi-naive monster girl, and in the other you have wise, almost nurturing supervillain. The more similar the characters, the less interesting their interactions become.
Have you got a backlog of chapters pre-written? You're pumping them out very fast.
Onto the latest chapter. Here we have another cape that respects Singularity. This time the supervillain, Marquis. It almost sounds as if they were friends. I mean, they would have been the ones keeping Empire 88 and the Teeth in line, so it makes sense. Both are enigmatic and have codes they follow too.
I like your take on Noelle. You've given her a fleshed out personality, and the dialogue between her and Singularity is great, so no need to worry about that. Singularity sounds wise and knowledgeable. He'll be good for Noelle, both with helping her control her power and with her mental state as well. He actually talks to her, rather than tiptoeing around her like even her teammates do. It will be interesting to see if Singularity makes the Travellers the new Hereafter once he has a body again.
Interesting conversation between the two and some more helpful information on how things are currently going in to this story and more signs of how things have changed.
I'm not really a fan of the each person asking a question of each other, having tried to use that method myself in writing, that one person inevitably breaks the plan because at one point someone is going to have more questions than the other or the other person just can't answer the questions being asked. Comparing it to daily conversations it just feels less natural to me. That might be because I work with a bunch of old men that like to ramble all day.
Noelle's acceptance of things felt underwhelming because she was brought late into the conversation, promises were already made to her passenger without care for her input even after the fact by Singularity's own admission, and with what I know of Coil's capabilities even if Noelle had ratted him out I can't think of anyone he could and would use to remove him.
"I..." There were a lot of things she wanted to say. Her mind was buzzing with questions, so many that they all jumbled together in a mess and couldn't bridge the distance from her brain to her mouth. Finally, one of them won. "What do you mean, it doesn't understand me?" Really, Noelle? That's the one that you go with?
"Your power. It does not understand humans, so your actions are nonsensical to it."
Which does explain why this particular Eden shard became so mindlessly violent. Eden shards in normal Triggers are characterized by decreased safety restrictions due to a lack of direct Entity support, with increased potency in powers paid by mutations or harm to the host. The need for a stabilization formula by Cauldron vials varies by how much power is put into each one, with the stabilization giving some decrease in exchange for sanity and usability. I think there was a WOG on what Noelle's vial was roughly predicted to create, and what different category variants would be.
"I..." She stared at the computer screen for a few seconds, blinking. "How do I make it understand?"
"Hmm. I shall answer your questions, Noelle, but in return I wish for answers of my own. I will answer this if you agree to trade a question for a question, until one or both of us are satisfied."
"Deal," she said without even considering the answer.
Noelle is very much used to making a devil's bargain for a moment of reprieve from her living, ultimate nightmare. This is far easier a price to accept from a very diplomatic third party. Her immediate acceptance is as much blindly reaching for a lifeline as an understanding of the situation.
"You cannot make it understand. It is lacking something; some would call it 'Balance,' but a more accurate nomenclature would be 'Emulation.' It is what allows a power to comprehend a human being - every aspect of them, from biology to mentality." The voice had shifted into a tone she recognized; that of a teacher talking about a subject they were personally invested in. She'd always loved listening to her professors talk about what interested them. "The stronger the emulation, the energy is available to fuel the power; too much and the power is weak, but too little and you end up with human that blurs at the edges."
"Like me," she mumbled.
"Yes. You are an example of too little Emulation; your friend Oliver is an example of too much. The two of you sit at opposite ends of the scale."
As I elaborated above, that's not quite accurate. But it may be down to my personal preference, and is a perfectly understandable shorthand for a gamer at this point in time. The safety protocols, predictive calculation analysis of the host, and psychological rapport are only someone related. I'd personal use 'Emulation' for the middle. Whereas the latter, what we're more dealing with in Noelle, I'd call "Communication" because Jack Slash is a smart, but lucky, asshole.
Also, the details of Noelle being a very successful student who paid close attention to professors is noted.
He's realizing this is 'canon' territory, and that alot of parts that aren't butterflied are about to drop into place. We're only a week into the canon story, when the Undersiders fought Bakuda "the day before". If Singularity is going to do anything about Taylor, or already has put in place things that're supposed to, they've either worked or they haven't.
"I..." She'd had a moment to consider things, trying to regain her balance. "You said that I couldn't make my power understand. Is there any way to...make it easier? Add more Emulation, or something?"
The voice hummed thoughtfully. "An apt question. Yes, I believe it is possible. It will take time, but preparations are already underway. Assuming your agreement, which I believe is fair, I will be able to adjust things and bring it more in line."
While she doesn't think it out loud, I think Noelle is processing the idea this is the O-G Supervillain of Bet, now living in her head for reasons not yet explained. And he can 'magically' talk to her body and make it work.
Her eyes stung, and she wiped at them absentmindedly. It took her a few seconds before she could say anything. "I...how? No, wait, it's your question now. Um...what did you want to know?"
"Where are we located?"
"Brockton Bay, New England. Right now we're in a base owned by a man named 'Coil.'" The voice in her head growled in response, and she frowned. "Do you...not like him?"
"No," the voice said, and the vitriol in that single word was staggering. "He is a liar whose word is worth less than the time it takes to break it." A moment of silence passed, and when the voice returned it was calm once again. "...I am not so cruel that I would count that as your question. Your turn, Noelle."
Since Coil didn't get his vial until 2007, and Singularity got bampf'd before then, I think this is solid confirmation outside context information got brought with him. Both Calvert's character and what effect the revelation would have on Noelle.
Ooooooh, what happened in 1999? There's the unknown Endbringer attack of Ankara back in July, but the big canon event was Leviathan sinking Kyushu in November and Lung getting his licks in. Also, I wonder if Accord had an inkling about the backup systems in the bunker?
"You are familiar with my history, then? Yes. However, as I said the project was incomplete - it lacked the materials to rebuild my mind, or the faculty to procure those materials. I surmise that, during your visit, the rudimentary intelligence that governed the bunker identified you as possessing...extra biomass, and injected you with my backup nanites."
She was silent for a moment. Blessedly, Singularity said nothing while she gathered her thoughts. "You...you're in my body. And...your machines are building you a new body out of mine?" She was...less upset at the idea than she should have been, probably. It might be the most good this body has ever done, though.
So the 'extra biomass' I will come back to, but here's where things get a bit mixed and where some mental interference has been made beyond just the Shard. Remember how I called Noelle's power her living, ultimate nightmare?
For those of you who don't know, Noelle is anorexic. Not only did she have a very negative image of her own body resulting in low self-esteem, but her starvation was all about bring control and stability to her weight. That's why Echidna is so crippling to her sanity. She doesn't just have the mass of a small army and look like H.G. Geiger's impression of Noah's Ark. She has no control over anything. She can at best go weeks denying her Shard, at worse only a few hours, before it takes over and she's a helpless hostage to everything she hates about herself committed on a morbidly gross scale. Every little surrender to it gets a blunt, blatant hormonal reward of adrenaline and endorphins, even something as simple as moving is a drug Echidna gives in exchange for synchronization with its endless consumption.
Noelle Meinhart is a Simurg Bomb. But one that went through hell even before she was forcibly exposed to her worst memories to bias the Cauldron vial.
Singularity allowed the silence to stretch in a pause. "Not exactly." Her eyebrows raised, and she waited. "...My original body was quite deformed; my own power interacted with my body in an unfortunate manner. I escaped by transferring my mind into my own machines. We are speaking now because the nanites in your body reached a sufficient number to run the 'program' that is my own consciousness."
She took a moment to consider that. "Could you do that for me?"
"I already answered one of your questions...but that is connected to the previous one. I could, but I cannot predict how your power would interact with such a change -"
"- I don't care! Please, I -"
"- and that is unaceptable." She pursed her lips.
"I don't care about my power!"
"My word has already been given to assist your power in correcting its connection with you; once given, my word is never broken."
So start from the end and work back, Noelle again wants control of her own body back. And she'd probably see it as a body she can create to her own specifications. But Singularity is shutting that down with both an 'I gave my promise', but also in that language of control.
But we come to the big thing: Singularity's power had a massive downside. Its effect on his body was bad enough he had to escape to a nanite colony, so I don't think it was just eventual lethality. I'm wondering if making certain technology didn't come with the need to carve off part of his mind, or if his body became painfully debilitated by growing mutations that made it hard to fight or function. Given Singularity can only establish a speech function or even run at all by injecting itself into Noelle, I think the problem became Singularity's body was turning into a Shard and could not sustain itself. Singularity needed more and more "brainpower" dedicated to remaining aware as his Shard grew and their relationship deepened. Whether or not his body warped to adapt or the replacement of his brain with Shard tissue around a core remained the limit of the extent, Singularity currently cannot survive as an individual mind without more 'grey matter' nanites. As he converts more and more of Echidna into his own body, his ability to act and think will likley grow. Although with his own Shard and Echidna acting on their own agendas, Noelle's body may become a four way tug of war.
She reeled back, eyes wide. "I...what? You talked to my power?"
"It is my turn. What parahuman groups are active in Brockton Bay at this time?"
She frowned...but she'd agreed. "The Protectorate, of course. The Empire 88, the Asian Bad Boys, and the Marche. New Wave's been getting pretty popular, as well...there are some other minor ones, but I don't know much about them."
"Marquis and I understood each other well, once. I wonder if he remembers me fondly or with anger..."
She imagined reconnecting with someone over a decade after they'd thought she died...no, she was getting distracted. "My turn. You talked to my power? You can do that!?"
"...Not in general. I am exceedingly fortunate that I am able to speak to my own power, and it was the product of great effort to reach an understanding. Your power...our physical selves interposing provided an opportunity for a meeting; information was exchanged and an agreement reached."
"You just...agreed to that without even talking to me first?"
"My power agreed on my behalf, but I would have done the same. There was no way of knowing how long the meeting could last, and without the cooperation of your power I do not believe your body can be restored. I imagine you would pay nearly any cost for that."
So here's the key takeaway from Singularity's role in this dynamic. It's a bootstrapped Broadcast. Some Shards are as much 'people', as of Ward, as you and me. Especially with those who make close, direct connections by spreading through more of the Host's brain like Taylor or Victoria. What Singularity does is communicate with his Shard, likley through code and lots of metaphors, which the Shard then contacts others to make the deal happen. Singularity does not have control over his Shard, they are an independent and equal partner in this. Add in that Singularity running off of Noelle's biomass likley made getting a "Signal" through easier, and things are rather tenuous and open to breakdown.
"I would," she said without thinking. Shit. What is he going to ask for?
"Then all is well. It will take time; my colony remains small, and the adjustments must be made over time regardless. The modification of powers is an imprecise art even in the best circumstances, and while your power is cooperative that does not make it simple."
"...You know a lot about powers," she observed quietly. "Much more than any other source I've found."
"As I said, I am quite fortunate to be able to speak to my own. Now: There are other things we must speak of."
"I'm listening," she said, too buoyant with the idea of hope and a solution to be irritated at the abrupt subject change or obvious secrecy.
Singularity is mostly keeping a secret because he knows the Simurgh is watching, but also because Noelle is not mentally ready to handle talking to her Shard or the existence of outside context knowledge.
"I am fortunate to be free of many limitations, but this is not one of them. My consciousness is bound to a core, a central nanohive that serves as my 'anchor.' Building one is a difficult prospect, and becomes significantly more difficult once one is completed."
She pursed her lips. "...I have an idea where this is going."
"In its efforts to restore me, my colony built a nanohive within your body. For the foreseeable future, I will be bound to you, Noelle. I would not have imposed this upon you lightly, but it is already done." The voice was silent for the span of a breath. "I am sorry."
While Noelle does see Singularity as a lifeline, he is correct that this colony is eventually going to become a sticking point. It's something Noelle can't control, and she desperately craves that. A solution of separation, guarantees, or veto power will have to be found in the future.
She took a deep breath, held it for a second, then let it out in a sigh. "I understand. I...don't know how I feel about that, but...you'd have needed to do something similar to change my power regardless, wouldn't you?"
"Similar, yes, but not so long-term."
"Still. Can we...call that the price of fixing things?"
And Noelle is partially swallowing her own revulsion and horror to handle the very logical thing of working with a person who's delivered provable results by just sanely talking to her.
It's the "Talking heads" problem. Part of a good story is always going to be engaging the senses, and that's a bit harder to do when compared to a baked-in visual medium like animation or filmmaking. With two people exchanging words in their head and out loud, one of which doesn't have a body and the other's in a blank room, sight is a process you have to very deliberately and carefully weave in. Things like touch is even more so, but sound is a bit easier with things like tone of voice. Involving a visual interaction and physical activity into further telepathic conferences between Singularity and Noelle is one possible way to fix that. Another would be to bring in more of Noelle's unconscious movements, near-physical craving, and blunt emotional rewards as a way of spicing up the content.
Ooooooh, what happened in 1999? There's the unknown Endbringer attack of Ankara back in July, but the big canon event was Leviathan sinking Kyushu in November and Lung getting his licks in.
Either way, the Slaughterhouse Nine had come in 1999 and torn that balance of power to shreds: the Hereafter wiped out, the Teeth driven out of the city, and many of the remaining factions with dead or wounded parahumans.
... On the one hand, that's egg on my face for not noticing that before. On the other, my question is still somewhat applicable, because what the hell fucked them up for the Nine to drop by in the first place? Dashing head-on into the stronghold of an enemy is total fanon behavior for the S9.
... On the one hand, that's egg on my face for not noticing that before. On the other, my question is still somewhat applicable, because what the hell fucked them up for the Nine to drop by in the first place? Dashing head-on into the stronghold of an enemy is total fanon behavior for the S9.
It's a canon event. They interrupted a meeting between Empire 88, Marquis and the Teeth, and sold themselves to the highest bidder, which was the Teeth. The Slaughterhouse Nine fought the Protectorate and then drove the Teeth out of Brockton Bay.
This is another thing I mentioned earlier. In this timeline the Teeth probably hired them to take out Singularity.
For those of you who don't know, Noelle is anorexic. Not only did she have a very negative image of her own body resulting in low self-esteem, but her starvation was all about bring control and stability to her weight. That's why Echidna is so crippling to her sanity. She doesn't just have the mass of a small army and look like H.G. Geiger's impression of Noah's Ark. She has no control over anything. She can at best go weeks denying her Shard, at worse only a few hours, before it takes over and she's a helpless hostage to everything she hates about herself committed on a morbidly gross scale. Every little surrender to it gets a blunt, blatant hormonal reward of adrenaline and endorphins, even something as simple as moving is a drug Echidna gives in exchange for synchronization with its endless consumption.
She'd always loved listening to her professors talk about what interested them. "The stronger the emulation, the energy is available to fuel the power; too much and the power is weak, but too little and you
I'm gonna assume you meant to have "the stronger the emulation, the less energy is available to fuel the power" here, because I haven't been able to think of another reading that makes sense to me.
It's a canon event. They interrupted a meeting between Empire 88, Marquis and the Teeth, and sold themselves to the highest bidder, which was the Teeth. The Slaughterhouse Nine fought the Protectorate and then drove the Teeth out of Brockton Bay.
This is another thing I mentioned earlier. In this timeline the Teeth probably hired them to take out Singularity.
Huh. That's surprising. Guess that shows the divide between the whole Mouse Protector fiasco and this. The S9 volunteered to be hired. Ravager tossed a bag of money at them and gave orders.
Yeah, most people initially thought that as well. But looking deeper, that's more about the Shard's insatiable need for consumption and innovative shuffling. Capes that get used too much for cloning start producing 'bad batches' of lethally malfunctioning or ineffectual powers, and Noelle's form does have limited pocket space determined by her size. There isn't a pocket dimension at work, just raw size. So people get shot out eventually... sometimes.
I'm going to be really disappointed if the 'real' Singularity (AI forks make language tricky) isn't out there alive and well. His power's too bullshit for him to be reduced to just the state Noelle found him in.
I'm not really a fan of the each person asking a question of each other, having tried to use that method myself in writing, that one person inevitably breaks the plan because at one point someone is going to have more questions than the other or the other person just can't answer the questions being asked. Comparing it to daily conversations it just feels less natural to me.
That would be because back and forth questions is not a natural daily conversation. It's a mutual interrogation where both sides have information the other wants. If one side has more questions than the other then they're shit out of luck getting them answered after the other party has gotten all they want out of the deal first unless they forge enough of a rapport to be willing to answer anyways.
I'm going to be really disappointed if the 'real' Singularity (AI forks make language tricky) isn't out there alive and well. His power's too bullshit for him to be reduced to just the state Noelle found him in.
"You...you're in my body. And...your machines are building you a new body out of mine?" She was...less upset at the idea than she should have been, probably. It might be the most good this body has ever done, though.
That sounds suspiciously like a pregnancy!
Congratulations, Noelle, you're a mother! It's a boy!
Wonder if Amelia still triggered and still offers her healing services... for a price now.
Considering New Wave is not the Brockton Bay Brigade, Fleur still got ganked by Nazis...
At the moment, my main computer is out of commission - I'm working from an old and underpowered laptop, so writing is my main hobby. Updates will probably slow down once that's resolved; if I get smart and generate a backlog then I could at least be consistent. But that would require my being smart about it!
I'm glad to see Noelle appreciated. We only really get glimpses of her at her worst in canon (or, briefly, when she's "in the zone" at a tournament) so I had some blanks to fill in.
I'm not really a fan of the each person asking a question of each other, having tried to use that method myself in writing, that one person inevitably breaks the plan because at one point someone is going to have more questions than the other or the other person just can't answer the questions being asked. Comparing it to daily conversations it just feels less natural to me. That might be because I work with a bunch of old men that like to ramble all day.
This was partially intentional; Singularity took control of the conversation using information that Noelle desperately wanted, leveraging that into getting what he wanted as well.
Next response in spoiler due to length and multi-quote:
There was. Cauldron named her vial mix "Division" based on observed results. Tl;dr it tended towards cloning mainly, with the standouts being shapeshifting + self-duplication (probably Satyrical's power) and someone that could generate pods that they would respawn from if killed. The vial tended towards Brute/Changer powers, Noelle biased it towards Master.
Noelle is very much used to making a devil's bargain for a moment of reprieve from her living, ultimate nightmare. This is far easier a price to accept from a very diplomatic third party. Her immediate acceptance is as much blindly reaching for a lifeline as an understanding of the situation.
As I elaborated above, that's not quite accurate. But it may be down to my personal preference, and is a perfectly understandable shorthand for a gamer at this point in time.
He didn't go into more detail at the time, but Singularity is referring to Cauldron vials specifically here - I agree that for normal Triggers it's a different story, where the Shard is capable of preparing itself for its connection event ahead of time.
Vials, though, are most akin to a one-person cluster Trigger made up of a ratio of Shards based on the vial. Cauldron figured out that [Emulation] (which, IIRC, is the Shard Eden was using to make her human avatar) typically prevented extreme deviant cases.
Most likely, this is by providing the vial cluster with a power that retains human form (Oliver, but weaker).
This is, of course, conjectural - but it seems likely to me.
Also, the details of Noelle being a very successful student who paid close attention to professors is noted.
I will continue my habit of adding small things to characters to humanize them, much as I did in Devourer of Worlds.
He's realizing this is 'canon' territory, and that alot of parts that aren't butterflied are about to drop into place. We're only a week into the canon story, when the Undersiders fought Bakuda "the day before".
One thing I'll note here - the stations of canon have already largely been butterflied by Singularity's various actions, barring some things he has no influence over (the S9, Endbringers, non-American cultures, etc). Bakuda originally had her bombing spree because Lung got ganked - no Lung fight, and Bakuda's crazy is left to simmer for a while longer.
This fic is partially an experiment in pre-canon divergence - how well can I make it work, and will people be interested in seeing it?
While she doesn't think it out loud, I think Noelle is processing the idea this is the O-G Supervillain of Bet, now living in her head for reasons not yet explained. And he can 'magically' talk to her body and make it work.
I had a potential scene in mind where Noelle gets her hands on the PRT threat report for Singularity and reads it to learn more about her passenger while Singularity makes comments in the background. I haven't decided if it'll make it in or not.
Since Coil didn't get his vial until 2007, and Singularity got bampf'd before then, I think this is solid confirmation outside context information got brought with him. Both Calvert's character and what effect the revelation would have on Noelle.
Well spotted. That was intentional on my part - but probably not on Singularity's. He likely intended to keep that card closer to his chest. Oops. Luckily Noelle seems distracted for now.
So the 'extra biomass' I will come back to, but here's where things get a bit mixed and where some mental interference has been made beyond just the Shard. Remember how I called Noelle's power her living, ultimate nightmare?
For those of you who don't know, Noelle is anorexic. Not only did she have a very negative image of her own body resulting in low self-esteem, but her starvation was all about bring control and stability to her weight. That's why Echidna is so crippling to her sanity. She doesn't just have the mass of a small army and look like H.G. Geiger's impression of Noah's Ark. She has no control over anything. She can at best go weeks denying her Shard, at worse only a few hours, before it takes over and she's a helpless hostage to everything she hates about herself committed on a morbidly gross scale. Every little surrender to it gets a blunt, blatant hormonal reward of adrenaline and endorphins, even something as simple as moving is a drug Echidna gives in exchange for synchronization with its endless consumption.
Excellent analysis. Being Noelle truly is suffering.
So start from the end and work back, Noelle again wants control of her own body back. And she'd probably see it as a body she can create to her own specifications. But Singularity is shutting that down with both an 'I gave my promise', but also in that language of control.
But we come to the big thing: Singularity's power had a massive downside. Its effect on his body was bad enough he had to escape to a nanite colony, so I don't think it was just eventual lethality. I'm wondering if making certain technology didn't come with the need to carve off part of his mind, or if his body became painfully debilitated by growing mutations that made it hard to fight or function. Given Singularity can only establish a speech function or even run at all by injecting itself into Noelle, I think the problem became Singularity's body was turning into a Shard and could not sustain itself. Singularity needed more and more "brainpower" dedicated to remaining aware as his Shard grew and their relationship deepened. Whether or not his body warped to adapt or the replacement of his brain with Shard tissue around a core remained the limit of the extent, Singularity currently cannot survive as an individual mind without more 'grey matter' nanites. As he converts more and more of Echidna into his own body, his ability to act and think will likley grow. Although with his own Shard and Echidna acting on their own agendas, Noelle's body may become a four way tug of war.
You're close, but not quite on target. It's safe to say that Singularity was the first active Case 53 (since the others weren't released until post-Siberian), even if the public is not aware of that.
Oh wait. The Merchants still exist. That's a bummer.
While Noelle does see Singularity as a lifeline, he is correct that this colony is eventually going to become a sticking point. It's something Noelle can't control, and she desperately craves that. A solution of separation, guarantees, or veto power will have to be found in the future.
And Noelle is partially swallowing her own revulsion and horror to handle the very logical thing of working with a person who's delivered provable results by just sanely talking to her.
Part of Singularity's theme is "terrifying in concept, surprisingly gentle in execution." He has the ability to just consume Noelle entirely and rebuild his body from her constituent elements...but doesn't, and instead is genuinely remorseful for invading her body.
Similarly, the fact that his Shard did it on his behalf, even if it's something he might have hesitated to choose - his Shard is on his side, yes, but doesn't totally understand human thought processes. QA 'HALPING' Taylor might be a meme, but there's a kernel of truth there nonetheless. Shards can't really into human.[/quote]
I'm gonna assume you meant to have "the stronger the emulation, the less energy is available to fuel the power" here, because I haven't been able to think of another reading that makes sense to me.
Huh. That's surprising. Guess that shows the divide between the whole Mouse Protector fiasco and this. The S9 volunteered to be hired. Ravager tossed a bag of money at them and gave orders.
Yeah, most people initially thought that as well. But looking deeper, that's more about the Shard's insatiable need for consumption and innovative shuffling. Capes that get used too much for cloning start producing 'bad batches' of lethally malfunctioning or ineffectual powers, and Noelle's form does have limited pocket space determined by her size. There isn't a pocket dimension at work, just raw size. So people get shot out eventually... sometimes.
It's worth noting that, in canon, after doing what the Teeth hired them for...they drove them out of Brockton Bay as part of their payment. Probably would have killed them if not for the Butcher making that untenable.
Which really makes you think about how far gone Ravager must have been, to try to hire them anyway.
You're close, but not quite on target. It's safe to say that Singularity was the first active Case 53 (since the others weren't released until post-Siberian), even if the public is not aware of that.
That's not quite true though, is it? He's not a Case 53, his look is part of his CYOA build.
I doubt he's marked with a "C", and just because of when he was introduced, he's probably one of the very first cases the PRT investigated. What we call Case 53's might not even have that number designation anymore, but they would be a separate case from him nonetheless as they arrived on the scene much later than he did and were marked and had amnesia.
Yeah, the thing that makes you a Case-53 is the amnesia and the brand, not being a monster cape.
You can be a monster cape without being a Case-53, or a Case-53 without being a monster cape.
It it common for them to overlap though.
I at least assume he doesn't have amnesia, since he knew who Coil was.
I had a potential scene in mind where Noelle gets her hands on the PRT threat report for Singularity and reads it to learn more about her passenger while Singularity makes comments in the background. I haven't decided if it'll make it in or not.
That's not quite true though, is it? He's not a Case 53, his look is part of his CYOA build.
I doubt he's marked with a "C", and just because of when he was introduced, he's probably one of the very first cases the PRT investigated. What we call Case 53's might not even have that number designation anymore, but they would be a separate case from him nonetheless as they arrived on the scene much later than he did and were marked and had amnesia.
Yeah, the thing that makes you a Case-53 is the amnesia and the brand, not being a monster cape.
You can be a monster cape without being a Case-53, or a Case-53 without being a monster cape.
It it common for them to overlap though.
I at least assume he doesn't have amnesia, since he knew who Coil was.
Singularity has no memories outside of Earth Bet. He does, however, have the gift of Metaknowledge - an eidetic database of canon Worm and various Wildbow WoG snips. So, essentially, he's an amnesiac monstrous cape that got a one-shot precognitive vision of the canon timeline and some extra knowledge thrown in before waking up in an unfamiliar location.
He doesn't have the Cauldron brand, but is otherwise extremely similar.
Technically, he is not a case 53 - but most people would consider him one, regardless.
Wonder if Amelia still triggered and still offers her healing services... for a price now.
Considering New Wave is not the Brockton Bay Brigade, Fleur still got ganked by Nazis...
"Never-a-Dallon!Amelia is still a healer and the white sheep of the Marche" never made sense to me. Before W**d ruined Evil!Amy for everyone, I preferred Marche!Amelia to be a blend of OG book!Carmilla and Regina from Mean Girls, with an entitlement streak a mile wide and a number of hobbies that her father would not approve of if he found out.
He took a slow drag of the cigarette in his hand, tilting his head upwards as he exhaled the smoke, listening to his lieutenant's report with most of his attention.
"Overall, operations are running smoothly. The Empire and the ABB skirmished several times on the south side over the last few weeks; that's kept their focus away from us."
"And the results?"
"The ABB claimed some territory; their new Tinker has been testing her limits. There was some collateral damage."
Marquis frowned as he crushed the cigarette into a small ashtray on the tabletop. It was shaped like a swan; Amelia had gotten it for him a few years back. Nobody had ever commented on it. "Bakuda...she may become a problem in the future. Post a small bounty for information on her; what devices she's used, their effects, her attitude, and so on."
The lieutenant made a quick note on a pad. Marquis did not allow smart devices or computers when his subordinates were meeting with him unless absolutely necessary; it sent the wrong message. "Outside of that, there was a skirmish near downtown - Hookwolf and Cricket injured Assault and Battery. Our source wasn't clear how badly."
Marquis hummed, tapping the table. "That may invite reprisals. In the meantime, Kaiser will likely press his advantage where he can..." He trailed off at the sound of something buzzing rhythmically. Buzz-buzz. Buzz-buzz. The lieutenant made a face. "A phone call?"
"My 'business' phone, sir." When he inclined his head, the man pulled it forth and frowned. "It's one of the men assigned to the Docks."
Marquis frowned, as well, and made a small motion with his hand. His lieutenant answered, and he didn't bother listening to half of the conversation - he would get a report afterward. Instead, he considered what he'd learned so far.
What was Kaiser planning? He was different from Allfather, and Marquis would admit that he lacked the same grasp of the boy's character, but he didn't strike him as overly aggressive. Lashing out against the Protectorate while already being pressured by Lung didn't seem like him, but downtown was firmly hero territory. What's more, Hookwolf was not someone that you deployed where you did not expect a fight...so what had happened?
The lieutenant hung up and carefully set the phone down on the table, and Marquis raised an eyebrow. "...It seems that Krieg and Victor were spotted in the Docks, accompanied by a handful of Empire leg-breakers." Marquis frowned, tapping the table with his fingers in irritation, and the lieutenant visibly swallowed. "The...southern docks, heading northwest."
His fingers grew still. "You are absolutely certain."
The lieutenant nodded. "I...this is a man who has never given me a false report, sir."
Marquis stood, his chair scraping harshly against the floor, and pulled his own phone out of a concealed pocket in his costume. Two button presses and it was ringing.
Three rings later and a familiar voice cut into the line. "What's going on?"
"There's a situation, Duchess." He still felt that mix of pride and fear, every time he used her cape name instead of her birth name. "The Empire is moving into the Docks."
"That's unusual. Are you going to chase them out?"
"The southern docks."
For a moment, the line was silent. "Oh." That single word conveyed her understanding of the situation. "I'm on my way. How long do I need to hold them?"
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes. How far away are you?"
There was a rustling sound on the phone, then wind briefly cut the line before she blocked it. "- only a couple minutes away. Who am I looking for?"
"Victor and Krieg." He dismissed the lieutenant with a wave of his hand as he headed out the side exit, where he could more easily conceal his departure from the building. If he was going for speed, he wouldn't be able to keep a low profile, after all.
"Hah! That's it? They really didn't take you seriously at the last meeting, then. I could handle them myself, if -"
"No!" He said, a bit too quickly. Then, he was forced to pause as his wings formed behind him - it wasn't the most comfortable sensation, and talking during it would be...damaging to his image. Even for Duchess, that was too much. A moment later and he took a running start up the side of one building. "...No. It isn't the danger they represent, it's the disrespect. It's -"
"- about sending a message. I understand, d-Marquis." She still almost slipped, occasionally...but usually only when he took that tone with her. He regretted it, but it was important. "I'm nearly there. I'll see you soon."
"Be careful." She didn't answer, as usual, and the line went dead. He focused on moving as quickly as possible.
He was, after all, a man of his word.
Marquis, September 1999
Somer's Rock was one of the few truly neutral locations in Brockton Bay. Not once had there been conflict here, no matter how close it had come...like now.
"I have a complaint to raise," Allfather's voice carried through the smoky barroom air, tense and tightly controlled. "The Teeth have caused great damage to several of my legitimate business fronts. It's impacting the lives of those under my care."
The Butcher slammed his fist into the counter. "You are a liar! We have struck you where your miserable fools gather and congregate prior to combat. It is wise to strike your enemy where he prepares his attacks, yes? Not once have we violated your so-precious Code, no matter how loudly you wail and moan."
Allfather's hands tensed, and for a moment it looked like he might surge to his feet. Exhaling smoke, Marquis spoke quietly...but it was telling the way that all heads turned to him. "Allfather. What businesses, specifically, were struck?"
"...Bars. Clubs. Places of entertainment and relief for the people of this city."
Marquis inclined his head. "And do your men gather there? Your militants, not your civilians." Allfather did not respond. "Then I believe we can table this matter."
"Agreed," Singularity's bass cut in. "You wield words well, Allfather, but the Code is not a shield for you. That being said...Butcher. Your Teeth have been causing more collateral damage in recent days. Explain."
The Butcher stared at the intricate dark mask. Marquis found himself wondering, somewhat, what the Butcher saw in Singularity's eyes - whatever it was, he eventually leaned back, breaking eye contact. "...One of mine Triggered only recently. He still learns to wield his fangs and roar."
"Then teach him faster or leash him."
"And what will you do if I do not?" There it is. The Butcher could only go for so long without straining underneath the restrictions those in this room had placed on him.
"When you ask questions to which you know the answer, you reveal the depths of your madness."
The Butcher bared his teeth, but growled and said no more.
Marquis cleared his throat pointedly. "What other businesses needs to be addressed? I am quite certain we all have other duties to attend to."
The door opened, and all four leaders turned to look at it. A single man entered, with combed black hair and a trimmed beard. Dressed casually, in an untucked dress shirt and dark pants. It took a moment, for his appearance to register.
Allfather stood immediately. "Jack Slash," he spat. His hands rose.
Jack Slash smiled, raising his hands in a defenseless gesture. As though he were ever defenseless. "Now, now. I was under the impression this was a place of neutrality?"
"That neutrality is traditionally reserved for those deserving of it," Singularity said, but did not rise.
"I and my Nine have done nothing to this city," Jack said, still smiling. "In fact, we were simply passing through the area, and thought - well, these fine people have kept things running for this long. Perhaps we should take a moment and see what we can learn from them?"
"We have nothing to teach you," Allfather bit out. The Butcher chuckled in response.
"I wish to hear what he has to say," he said once his laughter abated. "Did we not agree that those at the table could bring a guest? I will invite him to sit."
Marquis sighed at the look on Allfather's face. "That is technically within our agreement."
"Wonderful!" Jack pulled a chair and sat in a single movement. Marquis noted the way his eyes flicked between the four of them, lingering on the Butcher and Allfather. "Now, as I was saying; we thought we might do something different, to learn how you've all managed to keep things so stable all these years. So!" He clapped his hands, like a child. "For the duration of our stay, my Nine shall act as mercenaries. Our services are now for hire, as a single unit of nine parahumans."
"I have no interest in hiring you, Jack Slash," Singularity said. He had barely moved, but Marquis was familiar with the man - the lack of motion was a sign of how angry he was.
Jack nodded. "I'm certain someone will be."
"How much do you intend to charge, then?" Allfather had sunk back into his chair, the twitch of his fingers the only thing that showed his nerves.
"Well, money is not much of a hurdle for my group, but it is a bit traditional, I suppose. Make a bid! Ah, but we'll include...shall we say, three favors owed? Claimable by any member of the Nine."
Marquis considered that, and barely suppressed a shudder at the thought of what the Nine might request as favors. He opened his mouth to speak -
"I will pay six hundred thousand dollars to each surviving member of the nine if you kill that man and rend his dreams to ruin," the Butcher said, staring straight across the table at Singularity.
The silence hung in the air for a moment.
"And our favors?" Jack asked cheerfully.
"Consider them done, by me or my successor."
"Marvelous! Any others intend to make a bid?" Jack Slash drummed his fingers against the table, propping his head up with his other hand and smirking at them. When Allfather opened his mouth, he sprung to his feet. "Time's up! Very well." He bowed mockingly at the table. "It's been lovely doing business with the council of Brockton Bay. I am certain that my Nine will learn much from our stay here." He winked at them, and turned to leave.
Marquis very slowly relaxed his hands from where they gripped his chair. In the same moment, Singularity stood. "Very well. It seems I must see to the protection of what is mine." For a moment, the dark figure stared down at the Butcher, who smirked up at him. Then, Singularity turned and stalked away.
Marquis, too, rose. "Butcher," he said calmly. When the leader of the Teeth turned to him, he straightened his collar. "Any and every agreement that protected you is null, as of this moment. And I give you my word: you will find the price for this action is more than you are willing to pay. Good night, Allfather." He turned and stepped out into the cold air, disregarding whatever response the madman had for him.
Singularity had just begun to rise into the air. "Singularity. A moment." The cape turned to him.
"Marquis. Good. I have a request for you." His eyebrow rose. "...I have made arrangements already, but this will speed them along. If I fail to defend my own...one of my lieutenants has been instructed to come to you. The men and women under my bulwark...ensure that the Teeth do not take them. Of all the leaders of this city, I would prefer they turn to you."
Marquis considered the size of Singularity's territory in the northwestern docks, and considered whether he would be able to hold it.
Then, for a moment, he imagined it under the umbrella of the Teeth - imagined men and women that had served under Singularity, and what the Butcher would visit on them.
He nodded. "I will do all I can to see them safe." Singularity nodded. "...I have a request of you, as well. I do not believe for a moment that the Slaughterhouse Nine will refrain from laying waste to this city. If the worst should come to pass...I will arrange for one of my people to contact you." For a moment, he hesitated to speak the next words...but if he did not now, he never would. "I have a daughter. If I cannot be there for her..."
The next words wouldn't come, but the other cape understood.
Singularity nodded. "All that is in my power, I will use to see her safe. You have my word, Marquis."
And then, he rose into the air and was gone.
Marquis, too, turned to return to his own men and prepare. It would be a long night.
If you like my content and want to support it, consider pledging to my Patreon. While my stories will always remain free to access, I do dream of supporting myself by writing, and this is my first step on that road. For now, the patron benefits are primarily access to behind-the-scenes content regarding my writing process, the way I think about and write chapters, and so on. However, I'm always developing the reward tiers and open to suggestions for things people would like to see!
