- Location
- Neptune
Or the disaster Uber and Leet's Mario Kart has become.
My Life as a Teenage Juggernaut... (Worm AU x Marvel)
- Thread starter Kryslin
- Start date
- Crossover Superhero
- Location
- California
You basically answered my question but with a different flavor but I was less speaking of "Im the Juggernaut the Earth will stop" and more "I'm the Juggernaut I will stop as the Earth moves around me" and thus the world death would be less stop the Earth from moving instantly killing everyone and more one point of space on earth is Immovable and it carves a world killing trench at the speed of Earth (Still probabaly almost instantly killing everyone if a bit slower than Earth stops thus nothing works and everyone dies)
Old Cytto should just namedrop some old pals like Dormammu, Chthon, Ego, Thanos and Kang from time to time and hint that like him, they might chose local avatars as well, just for the lulz and oh yes, to make sure that QA and by consequence the Endies and Goldieboy start shitting bricks!!!
If the shards were designed, I could see them having distributed processing. But, since they appear to have evolved over time, it's more likely that the brain is centralized.
Besides, all Taylor has to do is focus on disabling his thinking abilities and she'll keep hitting important bits until she accomplishes her goal. She literally can't "lose" because of Cyttorak.
- Location
- Canada
Cytorrak can be accessed from anywhere in the multiverse, so far as is known. At any moment he empowers at least hundreds of millions of mages' spells, plus the Juggernaut. He's clearly operating on a level of power that at least equals an Entity.
Ace Dreamer
Verified Reality User
- Location
- Between The Unknown & The Known
I'd say... we're a bit too ignorant about what Cytorrak is about to make much in the way of firm statements. We don't know how many worlds have compatible magic - that gemstone is a firm connection. And, mages need the knowledge, and to dare to use it.
We can be pretty sure he likes Taylor 'explaining' how little chance others have against her, though.
Tug-a-war, contests, anyone?
Last edited:
- Location
- California
Tug-a-war, contests, anyone?
Bug meets windshield…
Bug played by Alexandria
Windshield Taylornaught.
'Naut unfashionable
OWN: Had a conversation with Melissa this evening, and she was amused by the two omakes I based on her, and reminded me about some of the other issues facing extremely muscled women... One of which amused me to no end. Fortunately for Taylor, this is Wormverse, and she's not going to have quite as big a problem as Melissa did with this issue.
Taylor had been Juggernaut for a year now, and for the most part, was happy with her current life. Oh, the fact that her 'secret' identity was limited to people not calling her Juggernaut when she was in civilian dress was annoying, but after that thing with Hookwolf and all the exercise she did, a truly secret identity just wasn't in the cards.
Not many teenage girls were 7'4" after all, and the other two were a case 53 out in San Diego and a Russian parahuman, who was skinny in a way that would have people talking about eating disorders if her power wasn't responsible for her size.
No, in Brockton Bay there was only one girl that tall, and so a secret identity was impossible. She smiled to herself as she remembered why the gangs were very careful to only call her Juggernaut in costume.
That damn Nazi had moved to California when she was done, and joined the only still active monastery that didn't allow women in their building. The awe inspiring number of lectures, remedial PR classes and console time she gotten for that sixty three minutes of fun had been worth it though; no gang member since had called her Juggernaut in her civilian clothes.
Taylor sighed and pushed the errant thoughts from her head.
She had to find a dress. Not just any dress, but a nice dress, suitable for a prom date.
The problem was simple: fashion designers didn't make dresses in her size, for the most part, and the ones she could find in a size that would fit her were either A. made for cross dressing men and completely unsuitable for a prom date, or B. had all the appeal of a maternity dress.
Even those few dresses she found that were visually acceptable simply weren't made for a woman with more muscles and broader shoulders than most men. The less said about Vicky's plan of a 'little black dress, every woman's friend', the better.
Nineteen shops so far, over fifty dresses examined, and nothing met her standards yet. Taylor was beginning to wonder if just going in costume wouldn't be easier. The thought of her costume triggered another thought.
Power testing had shown her something about her power. She'd followed Shadow Stalker all over Winslow, even when she couldn't physically see her. Testing had shown that she could follow a target, as long as she kept moving after the target.
Taylor stopped, pictured a perfect prom dress and took a step, and then another as she felt her power pulling her in that direction. She smiled as she walked down the sidewalk, wondering where her power was taking her.
Four blocks later, she found out, as she stopped in front of a store having a customer appreciation day.
Taylor sighed, watching the events in and out of the store.
"Why didn't I think of Parian?"
The feelings of amusement from the back of her head didn't help any, as she waited for the puppet show to end.
OWN: Melissa told me that most dresses in shops made for someone her height (5'3") were either made for young girls, and far too small for a grown woman with breasts, or for woman that were... overweight, and far too big around the hips. She ended up having to have most of her clubbing dresses made for her. While Taylor doesn't have the preteen dress issue, a good many of the dresses I found online that would fit someone that tall and broad through the shoulders were cut for crossdressing men.
Taylor had been Juggernaut for a year now, and for the most part, was happy with her current life. Oh, the fact that her 'secret' identity was limited to people not calling her Juggernaut when she was in civilian dress was annoying, but after that thing with Hookwolf and all the exercise she did, a truly secret identity just wasn't in the cards.
Not many teenage girls were 7'4" after all, and the other two were a case 53 out in San Diego and a Russian parahuman, who was skinny in a way that would have people talking about eating disorders if her power wasn't responsible for her size.
No, in Brockton Bay there was only one girl that tall, and so a secret identity was impossible. She smiled to herself as she remembered why the gangs were very careful to only call her Juggernaut in costume.
That damn Nazi had moved to California when she was done, and joined the only still active monastery that didn't allow women in their building. The awe inspiring number of lectures, remedial PR classes and console time she gotten for that sixty three minutes of fun had been worth it though; no gang member since had called her Juggernaut in her civilian clothes.
Taylor sighed and pushed the errant thoughts from her head.
She had to find a dress. Not just any dress, but a nice dress, suitable for a prom date.
The problem was simple: fashion designers didn't make dresses in her size, for the most part, and the ones she could find in a size that would fit her were either A. made for cross dressing men and completely unsuitable for a prom date, or B. had all the appeal of a maternity dress.
Even those few dresses she found that were visually acceptable simply weren't made for a woman with more muscles and broader shoulders than most men. The less said about Vicky's plan of a 'little black dress, every woman's friend', the better.
Nineteen shops so far, over fifty dresses examined, and nothing met her standards yet. Taylor was beginning to wonder if just going in costume wouldn't be easier. The thought of her costume triggered another thought.
Power testing had shown her something about her power. She'd followed Shadow Stalker all over Winslow, even when she couldn't physically see her. Testing had shown that she could follow a target, as long as she kept moving after the target.
Taylor stopped, pictured a perfect prom dress and took a step, and then another as she felt her power pulling her in that direction. She smiled as she walked down the sidewalk, wondering where her power was taking her.
Four blocks later, she found out, as she stopped in front of a store having a customer appreciation day.
Taylor sighed, watching the events in and out of the store.
"Why didn't I think of Parian?"
The feelings of amusement from the back of her head didn't help any, as she waited for the puppet show to end.
OWN: Melissa told me that most dresses in shops made for someone her height (5'3") were either made for young girls, and far too small for a grown woman with breasts, or for woman that were... overweight, and far too big around the hips. She ended up having to have most of her clubbing dresses made for her. While Taylor doesn't have the preteen dress issue, a good many of the dresses I found online that would fit someone that tall and broad through the shoulders were cut for crossdressing men.
Last edited:
isn't 5'3" a fairly common height though?
Rajvik_wolfboy
Wolf amongst the stars.
- Location
- Florida
5ft 5-7inches is the average height of an American woman in the early 2010s
grommile
nasty-minded old cynic
- Location
- NERV-Mercia
- Pronouns
- Traditional/Animate
I refer you to one of Ravenwood240's previous posts:
My Life as a Teenage Juggernaut... (Worm AU x Marvel) Crossover - Superhero
Typos fixed. I chat with Melissa about once a month or so and sent her a link to the first one, but she hasn't replied yet. *Grin*. I am picturing her facepalming when she gets that link and sighing; this is the third time I've based a blurb of some kind on her. I can't help it; Mel's a 5'...
forums.sufficientvelocity.com
should be their
On the short side for a full grown woman, most dresses in that size are for preteens or young teens, apparently.
But Melissa's problem was that she had a 48d bra size, with shoulders that measured 31" across. Most dresses that fit the shoulders were for heavyset women with waists as big or bigger then the shoulders. Since Melissa's waist was a 23", you might be able to see her issue. Most designers don't make dresses for women that look like the classic D&D dwarf girls.
Ace Dreamer
Verified Reality User
- Location
- Between The Unknown & The Known
What would Taylor have done if her power made her stop in front of The Amy? A (self-repairing?) dress should be entirely within her abilities, Taylor would just need to ensure proper care and feeding...
The Little Black Dress Of Doom...
"Well, either my dress is jealous of my other clothes, or's getting hungry..."
"Why do you say that?"
"I'm pretty sure there's nibbling of my underwear..."
Next >
Last edited:
You're saying that Taylor made Stabbypuppy find religion?
I refer you to one of Ravenwood240's previous posts:
My Life as a Teenage Juggernaut... (Worm AU x Marvel) Crossover - Superhero
Typos fixed. I chat with Melissa about once a month or so and sent her a link to the first one, but she hasn't replied yet. *Grin*. I am picturing her facepalming when she gets that link and sighing; this is the third time I've based a blurb of some kind on her. I can't help it; Mel's a 5'...
5'5" was my bad memory: with field insoles and combat boots, she's 5'5", in bare feet, she's 5'3". My bad, but to be fair, it's been ten years since we did a fitness test together.
That 63 minutes of Nazi abuse is a right proper noodle incident.
The only time anyone has mentioned it in her presence since, her costume made an abrupt unscheduled appearance and poor Gallant fainted. No one has tried to mention it again.
On the bright side, she saved the city from the cost of demolishing three blocks of condemned buildings.
GreydonCreed
Man of Culture
- Location
- United States
Re the dress issue, there are pictures of Gina Carano, a MMA fighter (5'8" and 143 lbs) and actress who played Cara Dune in The Mandolorian, wearing a gold shoulder less floor length dress for a premere. It... was not a good look. (link) Or a pink monstrosity on another occasion. (link) She looked much better another time in a shorter white sleeveless dress or a dress with a business suit jacket on top.
- Location
- Scotland
Reminds me of the scene in "Hard Enough" where Brock was attending the Mayor's party and the woman he hires to physically train the gym's personnel showed up in a dress that on her (presumable highly muscular) frame looked disastrous. One of the other guests happened to suggest that she wear a women's cut suit instead (I think it was the lady who owns the dress shop but I can't remember offhand).
- Location
- I'll never tell...
Several generations ago, yes.
Ace Dreamer
Verified Reality User
- Location
- Between The Unknown & The Known
From memory, it's an epigenetic issue. If your mother's mother was short of food when pregnant with your mother, you'll be shorter. But, the generation after that, as long as all generations after grandma were well-fed, no shortness tendency. Allegedly. Eat well if you think you might get pregnant. Exercise, too.
I'll bet there's young girls asking their mothers what they need to eat, and do, to grow up as big and strong as Taylor...
08 - Gordian 'Naut
Kryslin
[Has Delusions of Authorship]
- Location
- Mythic Iowa
Max Anders had just sat down at his desk to do actual business related paperwork after a brief, impromptu drinking luncheon when his afternoon was rudely interrupted by a human-sized mass of bent and twisted metal impacting the large tempered glass windows with enough force to leave a hole in said window roughly the shape of a wolf. The mangled Empire cape bounced twice, ruining the carpet or ceiling each time, before getting stuck in the far wall.
Max himself had ducked under his desk, protecting him from the spray of little chunks of glass and the flying mass of hooks and blades. "What the hell?" he said into the silence as he looked around. Yes, that was Hookwolf currently embedded in the wall opposite the now broken window. The twenty-five millimeter thick, tempered glass window that could resist twenty millimeter cannon fire. A window that was also twenty-five stories off the ground.
It didn't take long for the twins to show up, along with Victor, who immediately checked on Hookwolf.
"He isn't unconscious because his blades are still out," noted Victor, "but right now he's about as cognizant as a wino druggie."
Max nodded. "Good, I won't get distracted chewing him out for whatever idiocy led to this."
"So why is Brad currently hanging on the wall, upside down?" Nessa asked.
"I'd like to know how he got shot through the window," Victor added.
"I think we don't even have to guess who punched him hard enough to do it," Jessica said, looking at her phone. "Seems that new brute you told us to leave alone?"
"Yes?" Max answered, awaiting the rest of the information.
"Brad decided to fuck around. And he found out." Jessica sent a link to the video of the entire encounter to Max, who brought it up on the flatscreen TV in the office. After watching the short video, which was both instructive and hilarious, Max could only shake his head. At least he now knew why Skidmark had made his unexpected appearance earlier.
Then his desk phone rang.
"Mr. Anders, Sir?" the receptionist down in the lobby said in a shaky voice. "The PRT and Protectorate are here, looking to collect Hookwolf?"
Of course they are.
"Thank you, Miss Jenkins. Have security escort them up to my office," Max said, his voice weary. "Somehow, Hookwolf got punched through one of the windows here. Fortunately, he doesn't seem to be moving." He hung up the phone quietly.
"PRT's on their way up, you should get out of sight for about half an hour," Max instructed as he cleared the video from the screen.
As the three of them vanished via various secret and hidden access routes into the volume of the Medhall building, Hookwolf began to stir. His blades started to to move and swirl, and then there was the familiar sound of electricity, the smell of ozone, and the sight of Hookwolf briefly dancing an inverted jig in place before the breakers popped and the lights in the office suite went dark.
He could hear Victor, inside a now lightless passage, swearing.
It appeared it was going to be one of those days.
"So, has she stopped laughing yet?"
Brian looked over at Lisa, who was still rolling around on the floor laughing her ass off. "No, Alec, she hasn't," he answered.
"Have to admit it was funny, though," Alec replied. "Especially where he wound up."
"Max Anders will be pissed," Brian added. "Probably try to sue the cape who did it to pay for replacing the window."
"Just glad she," Rachel grumbled, hooking her thumb in Lisa's direction, "had an idea that worked." Then she smiled. "Funny what happened to Skidmark, though."
"That was fucking hilarious," Alec stated, actually showing more emotion in that statement than he had in the last couple of months. "Landing in the PRT's lap was just la cerise sur le gâteau."
Lisa had finally stopped laughing, and picked herself up off the floor. "Oh, man, that was awesome!" Her phone on the table played its incoming text jingle. Walking over and picking it up, she read the message. "OK, that was from the Boss. He says, 'Good Job. Pay plus bonus deposited in your accounts.'"
"Cool! I've got some more games I want to buy," Alec practically enthused (for him). "Gonna find me a pinball game that lets you build a custom machine."
"Like you need any more games," Lisa stated. "Unless Brian wants us to do something, the Boss also said the rest of today's a day off. I say we take care of the few personal matters we've got while we can. And if you happen to see our local Juggernaut, be polite and get out of her way."
"No kidding," muttered Rachel.
"We all know why we're here, so let's just get this over with," Director Piggot groused. "Mike, while I usually approve of adherence to procedure and policy, I do laugh every so often. You don't have to throw me in the M/S tank when I find something absolutely hilarious."
"Sorry, Ma'am."
She waved dismissively. "Gave me a chance to pull myself together. Anyway, it appears Juggernaut is a trouble magnet," Emily continued. "Her trigger demolished Winslow. A couple of weeks after that, Squealer hits her with her latest engineering abomination. And today..."
"Juggernaut was out shopping in civilian attire when she met up with the Dallon sisters," Miss Militia explained. "Nearby, Hookwolf and some normal E88 members were trying to give the Undersiders a hard time, due to Hellhound's persistence in shutting down his faction's dog fighting rings.
"Skidmark was out with a bunch of his normals, touchy from Squealer's arrest and thinking that the Empire was making a push into an area the Merchants were claiming as their territory. Somewhere in the confusion, Skidmark wound up coming down towards the Boardwalk, and promptly encountered Juggernaut and the Dallons." Miss Militia stopped to take a breath. "Glory Girl would normally be an effective if messy counter, but this time she evacuated her sister, Panacea, to higher ground while Juggernaut prepared for trouble. She tried to de-escalate the situation, and then the normals opened fire. She proceeded to overrun them and gave Skidmark another chance to withdraw. Skidmark decided to escalate instead."
"What happened next was a new comedy classic," Assault continued. "Clapping your hands to make a shockwave to deafen or scatter your opponents is a traditional brute tactic. Instead of being omnidirectional, Juggernaut can aim it, probably by using her forcefield. Skidmark went flying from the shockwave. In order to not become an actual skidmark, he covered himself with his kinetic redirection fields head to toe. And they behaved in a way that defies classical physics."
Armsmaster nodded. "He deflected off the road, heading out over the bay. Instead of splashing down there, another application of his power had him redirected by a wave into a low arc aimed at The Rig. There was a power interaction between the forcefield and Skidmark's fields, which shot him back inland. He then proceeded to ricochet off of the Medhall Building, Wilson Financial, the old Sears and Roebuck's building, Brockton Credit Union, the Mayor's limo, and finally, the PRT building, where he was apprehended." He scrolled down on his tablet. "Surprisingly, very little collateral damage was done, either by Juggernaut or Skidmark. The limousine should only need washing."
Triumph continued. "Skidmark is currently in lock up, having been cleaned up quite a bit in the process. Per current procedure for his power, he's cuffed, blindfolded and gagged, though we'll be removing that gag shortly so he can eat and drink."
Assault picked up the narrative. "During the fight with Skidmark, the Undersiders shook off Hookwolf's pursuit. Unfortunately, they were headed straight for Juggernaut at the time. Hookwolf changed targets and attempted a recruitment pitch. She refused. Hookwolf insisted, then had his men shoot her. We know how well that works. Then Hookwolf personally insisted. His first attempt to maul her did nothing. He got punched for his second attempt. That uppercut..." He chuckled.
"Somehow put him through the window of Max Ander's office three quarters of a mile away and twenty six stories up," Emily groused. "Man's lawyers have been complaining about it to Legal since you collected Hookwolf from his office."
"So, in the end," Dauntless said, "we have Hookwolf, Skidmark, and Squealer in different lockups. If Juggernaut's a trouble magnet, at least she's a productive one."
"Technically, Squealer is in Detox over at Brockton General's secure ward right now," Armsmaster clarified. "She's currently going through withdrawal, and was a danger to herself and other prisoners. I've been told her prognosis is good."
"Is Skidmark going into withdrawal, too?"
"No."
"I wouldn't be surprised if his veins have more drugs than blood in them." Assault added an unconvincing "ow" when Battery slapped the back of his head.
"Contacts over at the BBPD have stated they've rounded up about forty normal members of the Merchants, seized a couple million in narcotics, and a similar amount of cash from what may be the Merchants' main lair," Battery reported. "The old tourist center will have to be razed. A workshop thought to be Squealer's has been quarantined until it can be inspected. There's been no sign of Mush."
"So when does Ms. Unstoppable join the Wards?" Assault asked.
"Image, Legal, her father and his lawyer are still going over some of the clauses in the Wards paperwork," Emily stated. "Image wants to change her name to be more approachable and friendly. HQ wants us to get her onboard. Her father wants to make sure our paperwork is compliant with state and federal labor laws. They've almost come to an agreement, and Glenn Chambers from the national office has been barred from further attempts at pushing his ideas for her image on Juggernaut. If we're really lucky, she'll officially be on board in a week."
"Great Lung!"
Lung looked up from where he was discussing something with a couple of his lieutenants to address the just arrived messenger. "Speak," he ordered.
"There is a new cape in the city. The Empire tried to recruit her." the man reported nervously.
"And?"
"She punched Hookwolf straight into the top floor of the Medhall building for his impertinence."
Lung raised an eyebrow. "I think, gentlemen," he said to those he'd been talking to, "we can take a break." He walked over to the messenger who'd brought the news. "Do you have pictures?"
"Yes, Great Lung!" The man brought up the first of several pictures from the encounter between Skidmark, Hookwolf, and Juggernaut. And then the video.
"I am impressed," Lung finally said, recognizing the costume from pictures taken the week before after Squealer's capture. "At some point I shall wish to test her myself, but today is not that day. Tell the men she is to be left alone, no recruitment attempts."
"Yes, Great Lung."
"Do you bring any other news?" Lung asked.
"The information you requested to be turned over to the FBI about human trafficking in the area has been delivered. The pending case with those who engaged in it despite your prohibitions should mean they'll never see light again outside a prison yard."
"Excellent," rumbled Lung. "Go and deliver my orders to my lieutenants."
"At once." The runner bowed politely and left in almost indecent haste.
Lung considered the pictures and video he'd been shown. The girl had power, more so than New Wave's rather infamous and photogenic flying brick, Glory Girl. She couldn't punch Hookwolf hard enough to throw him more than a dozen yards. This Juggernaut punched the Nazi nearly a mile, and still sent him through the inch thick panes of glass that covered the Medhall building.
He could not readily duplicate that feat. That impressed him.
He would treat the newcomer with some respect for her obvious and demonstrated power. If he wished to test her, he would do so in an area away from anything of value. Even on the occasions he'd fought the PRT and Protectorate, if they didn't lead the fight away from crowded areas of the city, he would. There were large sections of the abandoned part of the Docks that were barren because of such fights.
Or one of Leet's projects detonating. It was a wonder how those two hadn't killed themselves yet. Still, one of his more profitable ventures was the small marina where one of Leet's malfunctioning devices had removed the debris and a portion of the existing shoreline, leaving a nice sized cove that was relatively safe and sheltered. The marina and restaurant (and illegal casino) had been built shortly thereafter.
Ah well. Back to business. He was planning on getting a couple of the old convenience stores in his territory back up and running. Legitimate sources of income were always welcome, and they could be used as fronts to buy and sell goods of various types if one had the right kind of credentials.
"Dude, my ears are burning! I think someone's bad mouthing us again."
Uber looked over at his partner. "Nah, you've just managed to start your hair on fire with a soldering iron. Again."
"Augh!" With that, Leet placed the offending tool back in its stand and immediately ran over to a sink and turned the cold water on full blast.
"Hi, honey," Danny said as he picked up Taylor at a parking lot near the Boardwalk. "Have a good day?"
"Kinda. Had to slap a couple of idiots."
"Anything serious?"
"Nope."
Danny grinned, having seen the videos.
Max himself had ducked under his desk, protecting him from the spray of little chunks of glass and the flying mass of hooks and blades. "What the hell?" he said into the silence as he looked around. Yes, that was Hookwolf currently embedded in the wall opposite the now broken window. The twenty-five millimeter thick, tempered glass window that could resist twenty millimeter cannon fire. A window that was also twenty-five stories off the ground.
It didn't take long for the twins to show up, along with Victor, who immediately checked on Hookwolf.
"He isn't unconscious because his blades are still out," noted Victor, "but right now he's about as cognizant as a wino druggie."
Max nodded. "Good, I won't get distracted chewing him out for whatever idiocy led to this."
"So why is Brad currently hanging on the wall, upside down?" Nessa asked.
"I'd like to know how he got shot through the window," Victor added.
"I think we don't even have to guess who punched him hard enough to do it," Jessica said, looking at her phone. "Seems that new brute you told us to leave alone?"
"Yes?" Max answered, awaiting the rest of the information.
"Brad decided to fuck around. And he found out." Jessica sent a link to the video of the entire encounter to Max, who brought it up on the flatscreen TV in the office. After watching the short video, which was both instructive and hilarious, Max could only shake his head. At least he now knew why Skidmark had made his unexpected appearance earlier.
Then his desk phone rang.
"Mr. Anders, Sir?" the receptionist down in the lobby said in a shaky voice. "The PRT and Protectorate are here, looking to collect Hookwolf?"
Of course they are.
"Thank you, Miss Jenkins. Have security escort them up to my office," Max said, his voice weary. "Somehow, Hookwolf got punched through one of the windows here. Fortunately, he doesn't seem to be moving." He hung up the phone quietly.
"PRT's on their way up, you should get out of sight for about half an hour," Max instructed as he cleared the video from the screen.
As the three of them vanished via various secret and hidden access routes into the volume of the Medhall building, Hookwolf began to stir. His blades started to to move and swirl, and then there was the familiar sound of electricity, the smell of ozone, and the sight of Hookwolf briefly dancing an inverted jig in place before the breakers popped and the lights in the office suite went dark.
He could hear Victor, inside a now lightless passage, swearing.
It appeared it was going to be one of those days.
= = = = - - - - = = = =
"So, has she stopped laughing yet?"
Brian looked over at Lisa, who was still rolling around on the floor laughing her ass off. "No, Alec, she hasn't," he answered.
"Have to admit it was funny, though," Alec replied. "Especially where he wound up."
"Max Anders will be pissed," Brian added. "Probably try to sue the cape who did it to pay for replacing the window."
"Just glad she," Rachel grumbled, hooking her thumb in Lisa's direction, "had an idea that worked." Then she smiled. "Funny what happened to Skidmark, though."
"That was fucking hilarious," Alec stated, actually showing more emotion in that statement than he had in the last couple of months. "Landing in the PRT's lap was just la cerise sur le gâteau."
Lisa had finally stopped laughing, and picked herself up off the floor. "Oh, man, that was awesome!" Her phone on the table played its incoming text jingle. Walking over and picking it up, she read the message. "OK, that was from the Boss. He says, 'Good Job. Pay plus bonus deposited in your accounts.'"
"Cool! I've got some more games I want to buy," Alec practically enthused (for him). "Gonna find me a pinball game that lets you build a custom machine."
"Like you need any more games," Lisa stated. "Unless Brian wants us to do something, the Boss also said the rest of today's a day off. I say we take care of the few personal matters we've got while we can. And if you happen to see our local Juggernaut, be polite and get out of her way."
"No kidding," muttered Rachel.
- - - - = = = = - - - -
"We all know why we're here, so let's just get this over with," Director Piggot groused. "Mike, while I usually approve of adherence to procedure and policy, I do laugh every so often. You don't have to throw me in the M/S tank when I find something absolutely hilarious."
"Sorry, Ma'am."
She waved dismissively. "Gave me a chance to pull myself together. Anyway, it appears Juggernaut is a trouble magnet," Emily continued. "Her trigger demolished Winslow. A couple of weeks after that, Squealer hits her with her latest engineering abomination. And today..."
"Juggernaut was out shopping in civilian attire when she met up with the Dallon sisters," Miss Militia explained. "Nearby, Hookwolf and some normal E88 members were trying to give the Undersiders a hard time, due to Hellhound's persistence in shutting down his faction's dog fighting rings.
"Skidmark was out with a bunch of his normals, touchy from Squealer's arrest and thinking that the Empire was making a push into an area the Merchants were claiming as their territory. Somewhere in the confusion, Skidmark wound up coming down towards the Boardwalk, and promptly encountered Juggernaut and the Dallons." Miss Militia stopped to take a breath. "Glory Girl would normally be an effective if messy counter, but this time she evacuated her sister, Panacea, to higher ground while Juggernaut prepared for trouble. She tried to de-escalate the situation, and then the normals opened fire. She proceeded to overrun them and gave Skidmark another chance to withdraw. Skidmark decided to escalate instead."
"What happened next was a new comedy classic," Assault continued. "Clapping your hands to make a shockwave to deafen or scatter your opponents is a traditional brute tactic. Instead of being omnidirectional, Juggernaut can aim it, probably by using her forcefield. Skidmark went flying from the shockwave. In order to not become an actual skidmark, he covered himself with his kinetic redirection fields head to toe. And they behaved in a way that defies classical physics."
Armsmaster nodded. "He deflected off the road, heading out over the bay. Instead of splashing down there, another application of his power had him redirected by a wave into a low arc aimed at The Rig. There was a power interaction between the forcefield and Skidmark's fields, which shot him back inland. He then proceeded to ricochet off of the Medhall Building, Wilson Financial, the old Sears and Roebuck's building, Brockton Credit Union, the Mayor's limo, and finally, the PRT building, where he was apprehended." He scrolled down on his tablet. "Surprisingly, very little collateral damage was done, either by Juggernaut or Skidmark. The limousine should only need washing."
Triumph continued. "Skidmark is currently in lock up, having been cleaned up quite a bit in the process. Per current procedure for his power, he's cuffed, blindfolded and gagged, though we'll be removing that gag shortly so he can eat and drink."
Assault picked up the narrative. "During the fight with Skidmark, the Undersiders shook off Hookwolf's pursuit. Unfortunately, they were headed straight for Juggernaut at the time. Hookwolf changed targets and attempted a recruitment pitch. She refused. Hookwolf insisted, then had his men shoot her. We know how well that works. Then Hookwolf personally insisted. His first attempt to maul her did nothing. He got punched for his second attempt. That uppercut..." He chuckled.
"Somehow put him through the window of Max Ander's office three quarters of a mile away and twenty six stories up," Emily groused. "Man's lawyers have been complaining about it to Legal since you collected Hookwolf from his office."
"So, in the end," Dauntless said, "we have Hookwolf, Skidmark, and Squealer in different lockups. If Juggernaut's a trouble magnet, at least she's a productive one."
"Technically, Squealer is in Detox over at Brockton General's secure ward right now," Armsmaster clarified. "She's currently going through withdrawal, and was a danger to herself and other prisoners. I've been told her prognosis is good."
"Is Skidmark going into withdrawal, too?"
"No."
"I wouldn't be surprised if his veins have more drugs than blood in them." Assault added an unconvincing "ow" when Battery slapped the back of his head.
"Contacts over at the BBPD have stated they've rounded up about forty normal members of the Merchants, seized a couple million in narcotics, and a similar amount of cash from what may be the Merchants' main lair," Battery reported. "The old tourist center will have to be razed. A workshop thought to be Squealer's has been quarantined until it can be inspected. There's been no sign of Mush."
"So when does Ms. Unstoppable join the Wards?" Assault asked.
"Image, Legal, her father and his lawyer are still going over some of the clauses in the Wards paperwork," Emily stated. "Image wants to change her name to be more approachable and friendly. HQ wants us to get her onboard. Her father wants to make sure our paperwork is compliant with state and federal labor laws. They've almost come to an agreement, and Glenn Chambers from the national office has been barred from further attempts at pushing his ideas for her image on Juggernaut. If we're really lucky, she'll officially be on board in a week."
= = = = - - - - = = = =
"Great Lung!"
Lung looked up from where he was discussing something with a couple of his lieutenants to address the just arrived messenger. "Speak," he ordered.
"There is a new cape in the city. The Empire tried to recruit her." the man reported nervously.
"And?"
"She punched Hookwolf straight into the top floor of the Medhall building for his impertinence."
Lung raised an eyebrow. "I think, gentlemen," he said to those he'd been talking to, "we can take a break." He walked over to the messenger who'd brought the news. "Do you have pictures?"
"Yes, Great Lung!" The man brought up the first of several pictures from the encounter between Skidmark, Hookwolf, and Juggernaut. And then the video.
"I am impressed," Lung finally said, recognizing the costume from pictures taken the week before after Squealer's capture. "At some point I shall wish to test her myself, but today is not that day. Tell the men she is to be left alone, no recruitment attempts."
"Yes, Great Lung."
"Do you bring any other news?" Lung asked.
"The information you requested to be turned over to the FBI about human trafficking in the area has been delivered. The pending case with those who engaged in it despite your prohibitions should mean they'll never see light again outside a prison yard."
"Excellent," rumbled Lung. "Go and deliver my orders to my lieutenants."
"At once." The runner bowed politely and left in almost indecent haste.
Lung considered the pictures and video he'd been shown. The girl had power, more so than New Wave's rather infamous and photogenic flying brick, Glory Girl. She couldn't punch Hookwolf hard enough to throw him more than a dozen yards. This Juggernaut punched the Nazi nearly a mile, and still sent him through the inch thick panes of glass that covered the Medhall building.
He could not readily duplicate that feat. That impressed him.
He would treat the newcomer with some respect for her obvious and demonstrated power. If he wished to test her, he would do so in an area away from anything of value. Even on the occasions he'd fought the PRT and Protectorate, if they didn't lead the fight away from crowded areas of the city, he would. There were large sections of the abandoned part of the Docks that were barren because of such fights.
Or one of Leet's projects detonating. It was a wonder how those two hadn't killed themselves yet. Still, one of his more profitable ventures was the small marina where one of Leet's malfunctioning devices had removed the debris and a portion of the existing shoreline, leaving a nice sized cove that was relatively safe and sheltered. The marina and restaurant (and illegal casino) had been built shortly thereafter.
Ah well. Back to business. He was planning on getting a couple of the old convenience stores in his territory back up and running. Legitimate sources of income were always welcome, and they could be used as fronts to buy and sell goods of various types if one had the right kind of credentials.
- - - - = = = = - - - -
"Dude, my ears are burning! I think someone's bad mouthing us again."
Uber looked over at his partner. "Nah, you've just managed to start your hair on fire with a soldering iron. Again."
"Augh!" With that, Leet placed the offending tool back in its stand and immediately ran over to a sink and turned the cold water on full blast.
- - - - = = = = - - - -
"Hi, honey," Danny said as he picked up Taylor at a parking lot near the Boardwalk. "Have a good day?"
"Kinda. Had to slap a couple of idiots."
"Anything serious?"
"Nope."
Danny grinned, having seen the videos.
Last edited:
