Ring-Maker [Worm/Lord of the Rings Alt-Power] [Complete]
- Thread starter Lithos Maitreya
- Start date
- Crossover Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Firebird Zoom
Pretty Bird
- Location
- Who knows?
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Was that intentional? Brian is Fume now.
Lithos Maitreya
Character Witness
- Location
- United States
No, sorry. I'll edit.
- Location
- Somewhere, Maybe
"Nine for mortal men, doomed to die."
Methinks there's going to be a marked lack of villains soon.
Not that, if she falls, Taylor won't more than make up for the lack.
Methinks that "S-Class Threat" might have an addendum soon, down at the bottom, marked "so classified, you don't have clearance to know the classification."
"Omega-Class Threats: Taylor Hebert: AKA Annatar, Sauron, Lord of Gifts, Lady of Twilight, The Soveriegn One."
Methinks there's going to be a marked lack of villains soon.
Not that, if she falls, Taylor won't more than make up for the lack.
Methinks that "S-Class Threat" might have an addendum soon, down at the bottom, marked "so classified, you don't have clearance to know the classification."
"Omega-Class Threats: Taylor Hebert: AKA Annatar, Sauron, Lord of Gifts, Lady of Twilight, The Soveriegn One."
Finagle007
[Verified Great Old One]
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
You don't get it. Sauron had already fallen. Taylor is Sauron reborn, his second chance. She's becoming Mairon, Sauron Redeemed.
- Location
- New Zealand
I suspect that Taylor will start to go off the deep end in her quest for MOAR POWER to stop Heartbreaker, and it will end up being Sophia who drags her back and redeems her, mirroring how Taylor redeemed Sophia at the start of the story.
- Location
- Russia
Also, Taylor can sing reality into submission, and can basically manipulate the source code of the universe that way. When everybody realizes that, even if it's limited due to her being a Maia and not a Valar... I expect many an oh shit.
The PR department catches wind of Annatar's new hellforged beatstick, her soot-blackened armor, her whatever-the-hell eyes, her plan to unite the city's villains under her banner, and her list of people she plans to kill today. Somebody requisitions a bigger coffee pot.
Timerider
That guy who really should get out more.
- Location
- The End of the World.
There is not enough coffee, beer, or mind-altering substance in the world to adequately deal with the mess she's about to make.
PR department: "Let's find out."
- Location
- Malaysia
I can't imagine the kind of report Piggot will send to the Director after all this. I can't imagine how Rebecca's going to replace Piggot too, because it's clear she's losing a lot of control in Brockton Bay, what with the S-Class Master villains in town and Annatar's unprecedented rise to power. Also Annatar's actions in BB will raise a lot of prospective challengers because the Dark Lady managed to end two Master supervillains and literally turning BB into her personal domain, right under the PRT's supervision.
Why challengers? Because parahumans are unsurprisingly suicidal, and the Shards are all interested in the newcomer.
Heh, I guess the initial plan of sending Annatar to summer camp for Wards will turned out differently, especially after all of ... this.
Why challengers? Because parahumans are unsurprisingly suicidal, and the Shards are all interested in the newcomer.
Heh, I guess the initial plan of sending Annatar to summer camp for Wards will turned out differently, especially after all of ... this.
Serpentine
Dark Arts Enthusiast
- Location
- The Tower of Ghenjei
After she gives out the 9 rings she needs to farm up some decent, hard-to-come-by orc captains for her eventual army. RNGsus knows that took me ages. (Mutters bitterly.)
We don't really need orc captains when we could just collect a pile of random capes instead, though. They're nearly as farmable considering how many random names get thrown around in endbringer chapters, and less uniformly somewhat-durable, but they can do more things well than beat up other clods or hunt caragors.
- Location
- not here
I'm still kinda scared. Also sad. I liked Annatar-Taylor, she was cool. And now it's like she is whole other person, all dominant, unforgiving and frankly ruthless. I mean just look at how she thinks about Vista. Taylor changed, or is still changing a lot, and I just hope enough of the old Taylor is left when all is said and done.
Anyway, great work, you managed to keep the tension high even thorough what was basically an exposition chapter. It's quite remarkable. Also I get an urge to hug something when I saw an update appeared. There is something to be said about THAT.
Anyway, great work, you managed to keep the tension high even thorough what was basically an exposition chapter. It's quite remarkable. Also I get an urge to hug something when I saw an update appeared. There is something to be said about THAT.
BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Not sure this is comforting, but what Bright Lord Taylor reminds me of right now is herself during those moments where Skitter was both driven and angry. For example that time where Coil trapped her in that house and she was blinded until she got healed. I think the hunt for the Butcher was similar, but it has been a long time since I read that part of canon.
Based on this impression I have I figure what we are seeing is her experiencing canon!Taylor levels of anger and DETERMINATION. As a consequence of that her nature as a Maia is making her anger more intense, or if not more intense then giving it a strong vivid flavor.
Maybe something like that one scene in Baggins House where Gandalf confronts Bilbo and the room darkens, but Taylor's current "rest state".
Or it could be something else. I definitely want to see though.
- Location
- Russia
As I said, she is channeling Fingolfin. That's my headcanon.
BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Well one way to describe the current Taylor at her most mellow might be "Bearer of the Resting Bitch Face".
That's another actually that just occurred to me. Taylor may not be sleeping anytime soon.
Lithos Maitreya
Character Witness
- Location
- United States
As a result of considerable discussion between myself and @BeaconHill, I will have to make some content edits to Wildfire 9.1. Specifically, the section near the end of the chapter where Taylor explains her plan to the Wards will need to be changed, since those plans have been retroactively changed for pacing reasons. I'll be sure to release a changelog or something when I make the edits sometime in the next day or two.
- Location
- Somewhere, Maybe
I had a rather intriguing / horrifying thought while at work that I wanted to share:
One Ring to Rule Them All (all -what-?)
One Ring to Find Them (again, all -what-?)
One Ring to Bring Them All (for the third time, all -what-?)
And in the Darkness, Bind Them (fourth time, all -WHAT-?)
.....what if, that "what" was..... Entities? As in, this ring gives her power over -Scion-. And all his kind. End-state for story, Taylor OP, plz nerf, shut down game, things have gotten TOOSPOOKY.
Even if it doesn't go to that level, she could still theoretically define it as "Shards".... in which case, she might wind up her -own- entity, by dint of harvesting Shards from parahumans, collect enough of those and she -becomes- an Entity, which are gestalt consciousnesses anyway, but guided by a Maiar of Order and Control. And one with a burning hatred for Scion and his ilk.
YEEP.
One Ring to Rule Them All (all -what-?)
One Ring to Find Them (again, all -what-?)
One Ring to Bring Them All (for the third time, all -what-?)
And in the Darkness, Bind Them (fourth time, all -WHAT-?)
.....what if, that "what" was..... Entities? As in, this ring gives her power over -Scion-. And all his kind. End-state for story, Taylor OP, plz nerf, shut down game, things have gotten TOOSPOOKY.
Even if it doesn't go to that level, she could still theoretically define it as "Shards".... in which case, she might wind up her -own- entity, by dint of harvesting Shards from parahumans, collect enough of those and she -becomes- an Entity, which are gestalt consciousnesses anyway, but guided by a Maiar of Order and Control. And one with a burning hatred for Scion and his ilk.
YEEP.
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BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It's plausible, but the Purpose of the One Ring is intimately connected to the other Rings. The One is meant to rule over the wills of other beings through the channel of the lesser Rings and enormously magnify the personal power of Sauron, and act as a form of phylactery. At least in the original canon.
It may be different here. Either way, if she does make it, and use it to usurp the will of the Ring Bearers then she will gain control of their shards incidentally. Definitely scary.
9.1 Changelog
Lithos Maitreya
Character Witness
- Location
- United States
Wildfire 9.1 has completed its rewrite. Here is the changelog.
EDIT: Further changes have now been made to remove the reverting of 'Fume' to 'Grue'. Sometimes I forget what I do in my own story.
Has been changed to:
-x-x-x-
Has been changed to:
-x-x-x-
Has, in full, been changed to:
Primarily for pacing reasons. @BeaconHill had entirely reasonable concerns that following this with a sub-arc dealing with, of all things, negotiating with villains would not be great timing. Annatar is currently furious, and would not lightly put aside her attack on Heartbreaker. As such, my plans for Arc 9 had mutated so that Heartbreaker's fate comes much earlier than I had intended originally. The arc should be stronger for the change.
EDIT: Further changes have now been made to remove the reverting of 'Fume' to 'Grue'. Sometimes I forget what I do in my own story.
Last edited:
BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
*goes to reread Wildfire 9.1*Wildfire 9.1 has completed its rewrite. Here is the changelog.
Has been changed to:
-x-x-x-
Has been changed to:
-x-x-x-
Has, in full, been changed to:Primarily for pacing reasons. @BeaconHill had entirely reasonable concerns that following this with a sub-arc dealing with, of all things, negotiating with villains would not be great timing. Annatar is currently furious, and would not lightly put aside her attack on Heartbreaker. As such, my plans for Arc 9 had mutated so that Heartbreaker's fate comes much earlier than I had intended originally. The arc should be stronger for the change.
EDIT: Further changes have now been made to remove the reverting of 'Fume' to 'Grue'. Sometimes I forget what I do in my own story.
BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Yes.Wildfire 9.1 has completed its rewrite. Here is the changelog.
Has been changed to:
-x-x-x-
Has been changed to:
-x-x-x-
Has, in full, been changed to:Primarily for pacing reasons. @BeaconHill had entirely reasonable concerns that following this with a sub-arc dealing with, of all things, negotiating with villains would not be great timing. Annatar is currently furious, and would not lightly put aside her attack on Heartbreaker. As such, my plans for Arc 9 had mutated so that Heartbreaker's fate comes much earlier than I had intended originally. The arc should be stronger for the change.
EDIT: Further changes have now been made to remove the reverting of 'Fume' to 'Grue'. Sometimes I forget what I do in my own story.
I very much approve of these changes.
C'mere Heartbreaker, I wanna see Taylor Smite you!
Wildfire 9.2
Lithos Maitreya
Character Witness
- Location
- United States
Many thanks to @BeaconHill for betareading.
Many thanks to @Assembler and ShadowStepper1300 for fact checking.
When I reached the door to Piggot's office, I allowed myself a moment before knocking. This part wouldn't be too hard, if all went well—Piggot and I tended to understand one another, and she was a practiced compromiser. It should be eminently possible to get her support.
That wasn't what I was worried about. The true test would follow, when I had to talk to the Protectorate. Miss Militia didn't trust me, which already made things difficult, but I was honestly more worried about Armsmaster.
The man was proud, yes—but he was proud of his heroism. It would be hard to get a man like that to willingly compromise.
But, then, I didn't have to convince everyone to go along with my plans. Just enough of them that the rest couldn't stop us. And that, at least, I could do.
I raised my fist and knocked on the door. It wouldn't do to start the conversation by putting the Director on edge.
"Come in!" she called.
I obeyed, carefully hiding away the chafing of subservience. I was immediately glad I had, when I saw who was in the office. Piggot wasn't alone.
She seemed shorter than she had when I'd last seen her, at the fight with Leviathan, but that was probably because I was taller. Her eyes, deep and blue as the sea, met mine at once. I immediately missed the flicker of life behind one of them—a prosthetic?
"Annatar," she said. "Just the person I wanted to see." Her voice was soft, quite unlike the shouting I had heard as we fought Leviathan. Its pitch was low, and there was a silken edge to it.
I had to suppress a smile. If I could hear the cloak and dagger in her voice after just eight words, what would I learn in a whole conversation?
"Alexandria," I said with a carefully deferential nod. "You're our support, I assume?"
"That's right," she said. "Director Piggot sent a request up to Chief Director Costa-Brown, and I was dispatched to assist in, if possible, capturing Heartbreaker and Valefor."
"Your help will be appreciated," I said, glancing at Piggot. There was a hard look on her face—not a surprise, given how she felt about powerful parahumans as a rule, and Alexandria was exactly the sort of vainglorious figure that she would despise, even as she was forced by need to be welcoming. "I was just coming to the Director to discuss that, actually."
"Fine," Piggot said. Her voice was oddly weak, in comparison to Alexandria's or mine. She was, after all, only human. "First, though—what happened to your armor, and what's with the ears?"
I sighed. "It's just soot," I said patiently. "And—I just second triggered. Among my new powers is shapeshifting."
Piggot stared at me for a moment, and then put her head in her hands, heedless of Alexandria's presence. "You realize I have to put you in M/S confinement now, yes?"
"You could," I said dryly, "or we could win."
Piggot didn't move. Alexandria cleared her throat. "Director, you're aware of my thinker power? I don't believe she's an impostor."
The Director glanced up at her. "I'll take it," she said. "Annatar, you said you wanted to discuss Heartbreaker?"
"Yes," I answered. "I want him stopped. Today."
Piggot's eyebrows rose. "Today," she said flatly.
"Yes."
"And how do you propose to do that? He doesn't have a kill order. We don't even know where he is."
"I have a plan," I said. "I want a meeting with you and the Protectorate--or at least Armsmaster and Miss Militia. Can you call one?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Not without some idea of your plan."
"Call the meeting, Director," said Alexandria, her eyes on me. "Even if Annatar's plans fall through, I still need to talk to Armsmaster and Miss Militia."
"All right," said Piggot with a slight grimace, reaching for her computer.
"Look at it this way, Director," I said with a twisted smile. "I've learned from my mistakes. I'm talking to you this time, aren't I?"
She chuckled mirthlessly. "That's true."
After all, I thought as I watched her call the heroes together, I can't use you if you don't know your role.
It only took a few minutes to get whatever Protectorate members were available into a conference room. I appreciated the haste—there was only something like half an hour left until sunrise.
Alexandria and Piggot both followed me into the meeting. I didn't even think they noticed, but I did, and had to hide a smile.
The entire active roster of the Protectorate ENE was in attendance. That fact seemed somehow to conflict with the three exhausted heroes who trickled in after us. Assault's face was slack with grief and confusion; Miss Militia's posture was slumped and defeated, and even the usual determined set to Armsmaster's chin was more downturned than usual.
"Alexandria," greeted the tinker with a nod as he walked in, the first to arrive. "I wasn't aware you'd be coming. Dragon's already on her way as well; I assume that's not a problem?"
"No," I replied for her. "The more, the merrier, I think."
"I agree," he said, giving me a nod. "It's good to see you've recovered, Annatar. Is that new equipment?"
"The mace is new," I said, fingering the haft of Búrzashdurb. "The armor's just sooty from the forge."
He nodded. "You're welcome to use the nanoforges. They're cleaner."
I smiled slightly at his ignorance. "Thank you. I'll keep it in mind."
The other two heroes filed in soon afterward. They each greeted Alexandria. I carefully observed Miss Militia's near-hero worship and Assault's near-terror, and made a note of both in that place where I kept information I could use.
"What's this about, Director?" Miss Militia asked Piggot once they were all seated. "Do you have a plan of action?"
"Annatar has something to propose," said Piggot, glancing at me.
"Yes," I said, giving her an approving nod. "Armsmaster, you said Dragon was already on her way?"
"She is," he confirmed. "Dragon should be here within the hour."
"Perfect," I said. "I'll want her to locate Heartbreaker as fast as possible. Once she's done that, all that remains is to lay siege and take him out."
A momentary silence fell.
"A direct assault?" Miss Militia asked in disbelief. "That's your strategy? That—"
"Is our best option," I cut her off. "Or would you rather let him continue to abuse his power?" The wording was deliberately chosen, and by the faint flicker of uncertainty in her face, it had the desired effect. "I'm not going to let him continue to have his way," I said, and noted the way Assault shuddered, "with the people of this city. We can't kill him or capture him safely, but it's time we stopped letting him hide behind that. His defenses only grow stronger by the day."
"We can't just ignore the damage his thralls could do," Armsmaster argued.
"And we won't," I countered. "You forget, Armsmaster. I said we couldn't kill or capture him safely. But we have a third option." I smiled and folded my hands above the table, deliberately flaring Vilya and willing it to emerge from the Unseen. Their eyes darted to the Sapphire Ring as moths drawn to flame. "No one has ever tried mastering the master before."
"There's no guarantee that'll work," said Miss Militia, but the uncertainty was rooted in her voice.
I took advantage. "What victory has ever been won without risk?" I asked, meeting her eyes. "What injustice has ever been righted without a chance of failure? The heroes winning is never an inevitability, Miss Militia—but I think you know what is."
She swallowed. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil..." she murmured.
"...Is for good men to do nothing," I completed the quotation. "Heartbreaker has been winning for years, but he overreached when he came here. In his hubris we will strike him down, and free his victims."
"You once said that your master power only worked on people with weak wills," said Armsmaster. There was something odd in his voice, and he wasn't looking at me, but around the table at the others. "Heartbreaker's a master."
"Heartbreaker is an addict," I corrected. "Bound to a power that is using him far more than he uses it. No, Armsmaster, I don't think his will is very strong at all. And even if it was…" I chuckled lowly. "I don't think that would protect him. Not anymore."
"Your second trigger," Alexandria said, watching me closely.
I nodded at her, noting how the the instinctive flinch that went through each of the other parahumans at the table didn't emerge as even a flicker in her eyes. Part of her power, or something else? I wondered, and remembered a pack of six canisters, each containing a manufactured power.
Aloud, however, I said, "Yes. He hurt me, you see." My eyes found Assault's. "And pain only makes me strike back harder."
Alexandria noticed Assault's faint shudder, and worked out the layered meaning, but she was the only one.
"I can't clear this mission without approval," said Piggot. "The consequences are potentially international."
"Then contact the Chief Director and get approval," Alexandria said, tearing her eyes from me to glance at Piggot. "I'm confident you'll get it. We won't get another chance like this anytime soon."
On a faint instinct, I looked up at Alexandria. She winked, and I understood. I couldn't hold back the smile. She likely assumed it was mirth at being let into the secret, but really, I'd have figured it out soon anyway.
What was important was that she had given it to me. I had managed to win the loyalty, not only of two-thirds of the local Protectorate, but of one of the Triumvirate—and, through her, the Chief Director of the PRT.
Piggot liked me, but since she didn't trust anyone up to and including herself, truly capturing her would be hard—but I was already well on my way, there. The only real variable left was Armsmaster—poor, heroic Armsmaster, with a taste for justice almost as ravenous as his taste for glory. I would need to feed that second appetite carefully, lest I put him on guard and drive him away.
Everything was falling into place. Once the city was under control, I could begin to put it into proper order at last.
No more villains, no more gangs, no more chaos, just a city running in good order.
"Annatar, can I talk to you?"
I blinked at Shadow Stalker. She was waiting outside the door as I left the conference room. There was something uncomfortable in her voice—an uncertainty and a fear. I could use that.
"Sure," I said. "I was just going to start a project in my forge before Dragon arrived. Walk with me?"
"When you're done," said Alexandria behind me, "I'd like a word too, if that's all right?"
"Of course," I said, giving her a nod. "I'll let you know as soon as I'm available. Come, Shadow Stalker."
She followed me down the hall and into the elevator. As soon as the doors shut behind us, she started talking. "So, do we have a plan?"
I nodded. "Dragon's on her way here now," I said. "She'll find Heartbreaker, and then we'll go and take him out. I'll master him with Vilya, and he'll be finished. Simple."
"Just a direct assault?" She asked, seeming to relax slightly. "I can get behind that. Think we can do it? He's dangerous."
"I know we can," I said caustically. "I'm dangerous, too."
"That's not what I meant." Now she sounded frustrated. "He could break a lot on the way down, if he's been putting mastered slaves in the right places over the years. How are we going to deal with that?"
"A few ways," I said. The elevator door opened, and I stepped out. She followed.
"Like what?"
"Mitigation," I said. "If I can master him, we can probably nip the worst of it in the bud. Failing that, the Protectorate and PRT infrastructure can handle some instability for a while, until we root out the disease. It shouldn't take long, with him gone."
Something about that seemed to bother her, if the slight stiffening of her shoulders was any indication. "What about Heartbreaker's thralls?" she asked, her voice low and slightly thick. "The ones protecting him?"
"What about them?"
"How are you planning to get through them?" Sophia asked, her voice rising. "He's bound to use them as hostages or meat-shields."
I shrugged. "Should be easy enough. You know how to fight, Sophia."
"What?" The word was almost a gasp. Her voice was blank, as if she couldn't believe what she'd heard.
"What's wrong, Sophia?" I kept my tone carefully friendly. Sophia had been devoted to me for weeks, but now she seemed uncertain. I would have to bring her back under control. Carefully.
"They're innocent women," she said. "People whose only crime was to catch his eye! You know some of them—Battery, Velocity, and Triumph! And you want us to go through them?"
"Of course not," I said, injecting a note of sorrow into the words as I opened the door to my workshop. "His slaves are helpless, and it's my duty to save them. But I also have to save the ones he hasn't captured yet. Every hour we wait, he takes more and more. If some must be lost now to save more later… that's how it has to be."
It wasn't a perfect replica of the mask I'd once worn for Sophia—but then, I wasn't quite the Annatar who had worn it. I was more.
Sophia shook her head minutely. I hadn't quite put her at ease, it seemed. She looked around at my workshop, at the blackened, soot-stained walls; they lingered on a chair, her usual, now turned black instead of silver. In the end, she just stood, watching me. "What are you forging?" she asked.
"Rings." I snapped my fingers, and the furnace roared to life.
She blinked. "Like—"
"Yes. The Nine."
"Really? For who?"
I shrugged noncommittally. "Not certain yet." It wasn't even a lie.
"Then why are you making them now? What's the occasion?"
I considered her. "I have a feeling I'll find people I can use soon—people who could use Rings of Power."
She inhaled sharply at that—not quite a gasp, but something in that direction. Her gaze broke from mine. "People you can use…?" she mumbled, seemingly to herself. Slowly, she reached up and took off her mask. Her eyes, shining slightly in the firelight, sought mine. "Taylor, I'm worried about you. You're not acting like yourself."
Finally, she spits it out. "Sorry, that came out wrong." I took my own helmet off, setting it on my workbench. I couldn't convince her that nothing was amiss, but maybe I could convince her that it wasn't anything to worry about. "It's just... seeing my dad Mastered like that..." I massaged my temples with one hand. "I know I'm going to sound like such a hypocrite. I know I've been the one telling you not to act like this. But I'm just... I'm so angry..."
I swallowed, shutting my eyes; I leaned against a wall, my armor scraping loudly against it as I sank downward. I heard her intake of breath, and her footfalls as she ran to my side. I half expected to feel her arms around me, but when I looked up, she was just standing there, watching me uncertainly. Not quite convinced, then.
"This is scary, right?" I asked, my voice trembling. "It scares me too. But I promise—once Heartbreaker's gone, everything will go back to normal. I just… I need this, Sophia. Just for now."
She bit her lip. "Then why aren't you talking to us, Taylor?" she asked hesitantly. "I had to push you to get this far. You haven't done more than give us orders since you woke up. We're your friends, Taylor."
"I didn't want to burden you," I said, shaking my head and looking down into my lap. "And talking won't help, anyway. I just need Heartbreaker…" I allowed my voice to audibly catch as I avoided saying something more vicious. "...stopped."
"He will be," she promised, but there was still hesitation in her voice. "But… when you were talking to us earlier. You were manipulating Missy and Dennis—I've seen you do it before, I know what it looks like. Why? We're on the same side."
"I… I didn't mean to manipulate them," I said, bringing my hand up to rub my eyes. "I tried to give everyone what they wanted. Missy wants revenge. Dennis wants to protect Laserdream. And I want everyone to work together. Is it really so bad if we all get what we want?"
"I know, it just…" Sophia swallowed. "It feels like everyone is getting what you want. And now you're forging more Rings, for people you can use. Was that how you felt about us, too?"
"No!" I exclaimed, and it was only partly a lie. "It's not like I'm rushing to hand the Nine out! I just want to be ready—forging the Seven all in one night wasn't fun. I can't do much until Dragon gets here, so I thought I'd get a head start, that's all." I looked up at her, meeting her eyes. "Don't ever believe you're only useful to me," I told her. "I know I haven't talked about this before, but… Thank you, Sophia. I know how much you've done for me. You've been a real friend."
She swallowed visibly and flushed slightly, looking down at the ground. She shook slightly, as though struggling with herself. "I want to believe you," she whispered. "I want to believe I really am your friend."
I smiled. This was what Sophia wanted. I just had to go a little further. "Of course you are," I said. My eyes flicked to Cenya, sitting on the ring finger of her left hand. I remembered a thousand looks, touches, acts of warmth and kindness. How long have I been wilfully blind? Sophia doesn't want my friendship—she wants my love.
This, I could use. I would even enjoy it.
"But you… you're so much more than that to me." I finally stood back up, taking her left hand and lacing my fingers among hers. We were close. Her face was mere inches from mine. Her eyes were dark, forest pools which, were things different, I might have gotten lost in. "I need you, Sophia," I said softly, a breathy edge coming to my voice. "I need you beside me—now, more than ever."
She stared up at me. Her lips trembled, and her hand shook in mine. For a moment, I was certain that she would break, and leap into my arms.
Then she squeezed my hand… and let go, stepping away from me. Her eyes were welling up with tears.
"I don't believe you," she whispered.
"But it's the truth!" I said, my voice rising in desperation that was only mostly feigned.
She shook her head, looking down. Tears fell, leaving sparkling motes on the blackened floor. "No," she mumbled, and it almost a sob. "It's just more manipulation. Like what you did to Missy. That's all I am to you now—a tool you can lead around by her emotions. Is that all I ever was, Taylor?"
"No, Sophia!" I exclaimed, reaching for her with one hand—not to capture her, but in offering. "I care for you! I do! Don't you—?"
"More than anything." She cut me off, looking up. Her face was contorted into a mask of mingled grief, self-loathing, and determination. "That's why I can't watch you do this. You're becoming something you hate."
My face to twisted in pain. "I haven't changed!" I shouted. "Can't you see that? Aren't I allowed to get angry sometimes?"
That broke her. A sob escaped from her, and brought her hand up to her mouth to cover it. Cenya glittered there, eclipsing the furnace as the sun eclipsed the moon. "Of course you are," she whispered, her voice muffled even further by her hand. "But you have changed, and I can't take it anymore." Her eyes screwed shut. "I don't want to go… I'll come back if I can, if it'll help. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
She turned away, and as she turned, the shadows took her in. She melted into them, like a nymph returning to the water, and was gone.
"Sophia!" I screamed, and didn't have to fake the way my voice broke on the name. She didn't come back.
When the Wards and I searched the building, we found no trace of her. Sophia had fled.
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Many thanks to @Assembler and ShadowStepper1300 for fact checking.
-x-x-x-
When I reached the door to Piggot's office, I allowed myself a moment before knocking. This part wouldn't be too hard, if all went well—Piggot and I tended to understand one another, and she was a practiced compromiser. It should be eminently possible to get her support.
That wasn't what I was worried about. The true test would follow, when I had to talk to the Protectorate. Miss Militia didn't trust me, which already made things difficult, but I was honestly more worried about Armsmaster.
The man was proud, yes—but he was proud of his heroism. It would be hard to get a man like that to willingly compromise.
But, then, I didn't have to convince everyone to go along with my plans. Just enough of them that the rest couldn't stop us. And that, at least, I could do.
I raised my fist and knocked on the door. It wouldn't do to start the conversation by putting the Director on edge.
"Come in!" she called.
I obeyed, carefully hiding away the chafing of subservience. I was immediately glad I had, when I saw who was in the office. Piggot wasn't alone.
She seemed shorter than she had when I'd last seen her, at the fight with Leviathan, but that was probably because I was taller. Her eyes, deep and blue as the sea, met mine at once. I immediately missed the flicker of life behind one of them—a prosthetic?
"Annatar," she said. "Just the person I wanted to see." Her voice was soft, quite unlike the shouting I had heard as we fought Leviathan. Its pitch was low, and there was a silken edge to it.
I had to suppress a smile. If I could hear the cloak and dagger in her voice after just eight words, what would I learn in a whole conversation?
"Alexandria," I said with a carefully deferential nod. "You're our support, I assume?"
"That's right," she said. "Director Piggot sent a request up to Chief Director Costa-Brown, and I was dispatched to assist in, if possible, capturing Heartbreaker and Valefor."
"Your help will be appreciated," I said, glancing at Piggot. There was a hard look on her face—not a surprise, given how she felt about powerful parahumans as a rule, and Alexandria was exactly the sort of vainglorious figure that she would despise, even as she was forced by need to be welcoming. "I was just coming to the Director to discuss that, actually."
"Fine," Piggot said. Her voice was oddly weak, in comparison to Alexandria's or mine. She was, after all, only human. "First, though—what happened to your armor, and what's with the ears?"
I sighed. "It's just soot," I said patiently. "And—I just second triggered. Among my new powers is shapeshifting."
Piggot stared at me for a moment, and then put her head in her hands, heedless of Alexandria's presence. "You realize I have to put you in M/S confinement now, yes?"
"You could," I said dryly, "or we could win."
Piggot didn't move. Alexandria cleared her throat. "Director, you're aware of my thinker power? I don't believe she's an impostor."
The Director glanced up at her. "I'll take it," she said. "Annatar, you said you wanted to discuss Heartbreaker?"
"Yes," I answered. "I want him stopped. Today."
Piggot's eyebrows rose. "Today," she said flatly.
"Yes."
"And how do you propose to do that? He doesn't have a kill order. We don't even know where he is."
"I have a plan," I said. "I want a meeting with you and the Protectorate--or at least Armsmaster and Miss Militia. Can you call one?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Not without some idea of your plan."
"Call the meeting, Director," said Alexandria, her eyes on me. "Even if Annatar's plans fall through, I still need to talk to Armsmaster and Miss Militia."
"All right," said Piggot with a slight grimace, reaching for her computer.
"Look at it this way, Director," I said with a twisted smile. "I've learned from my mistakes. I'm talking to you this time, aren't I?"
She chuckled mirthlessly. "That's true."
After all, I thought as I watched her call the heroes together, I can't use you if you don't know your role.
-x-x-x-
It only took a few minutes to get whatever Protectorate members were available into a conference room. I appreciated the haste—there was only something like half an hour left until sunrise.
Alexandria and Piggot both followed me into the meeting. I didn't even think they noticed, but I did, and had to hide a smile.
The entire active roster of the Protectorate ENE was in attendance. That fact seemed somehow to conflict with the three exhausted heroes who trickled in after us. Assault's face was slack with grief and confusion; Miss Militia's posture was slumped and defeated, and even the usual determined set to Armsmaster's chin was more downturned than usual.
"Alexandria," greeted the tinker with a nod as he walked in, the first to arrive. "I wasn't aware you'd be coming. Dragon's already on her way as well; I assume that's not a problem?"
"No," I replied for her. "The more, the merrier, I think."
"I agree," he said, giving me a nod. "It's good to see you've recovered, Annatar. Is that new equipment?"
"The mace is new," I said, fingering the haft of Búrzashdurb. "The armor's just sooty from the forge."
He nodded. "You're welcome to use the nanoforges. They're cleaner."
I smiled slightly at his ignorance. "Thank you. I'll keep it in mind."
The other two heroes filed in soon afterward. They each greeted Alexandria. I carefully observed Miss Militia's near-hero worship and Assault's near-terror, and made a note of both in that place where I kept information I could use.
"What's this about, Director?" Miss Militia asked Piggot once they were all seated. "Do you have a plan of action?"
"Annatar has something to propose," said Piggot, glancing at me.
"Yes," I said, giving her an approving nod. "Armsmaster, you said Dragon was already on her way?"
"She is," he confirmed. "Dragon should be here within the hour."
"Perfect," I said. "I'll want her to locate Heartbreaker as fast as possible. Once she's done that, all that remains is to lay siege and take him out."
A momentary silence fell.
"A direct assault?" Miss Militia asked in disbelief. "That's your strategy? That—"
"Is our best option," I cut her off. "Or would you rather let him continue to abuse his power?" The wording was deliberately chosen, and by the faint flicker of uncertainty in her face, it had the desired effect. "I'm not going to let him continue to have his way," I said, and noted the way Assault shuddered, "with the people of this city. We can't kill him or capture him safely, but it's time we stopped letting him hide behind that. His defenses only grow stronger by the day."
"We can't just ignore the damage his thralls could do," Armsmaster argued.
"And we won't," I countered. "You forget, Armsmaster. I said we couldn't kill or capture him safely. But we have a third option." I smiled and folded my hands above the table, deliberately flaring Vilya and willing it to emerge from the Unseen. Their eyes darted to the Sapphire Ring as moths drawn to flame. "No one has ever tried mastering the master before."
"There's no guarantee that'll work," said Miss Militia, but the uncertainty was rooted in her voice.
I took advantage. "What victory has ever been won without risk?" I asked, meeting her eyes. "What injustice has ever been righted without a chance of failure? The heroes winning is never an inevitability, Miss Militia—but I think you know what is."
She swallowed. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil..." she murmured.
"...Is for good men to do nothing," I completed the quotation. "Heartbreaker has been winning for years, but he overreached when he came here. In his hubris we will strike him down, and free his victims."
"You once said that your master power only worked on people with weak wills," said Armsmaster. There was something odd in his voice, and he wasn't looking at me, but around the table at the others. "Heartbreaker's a master."
"Heartbreaker is an addict," I corrected. "Bound to a power that is using him far more than he uses it. No, Armsmaster, I don't think his will is very strong at all. And even if it was…" I chuckled lowly. "I don't think that would protect him. Not anymore."
"Your second trigger," Alexandria said, watching me closely.
I nodded at her, noting how the the instinctive flinch that went through each of the other parahumans at the table didn't emerge as even a flicker in her eyes. Part of her power, or something else? I wondered, and remembered a pack of six canisters, each containing a manufactured power.
Aloud, however, I said, "Yes. He hurt me, you see." My eyes found Assault's. "And pain only makes me strike back harder."
Alexandria noticed Assault's faint shudder, and worked out the layered meaning, but she was the only one.
"I can't clear this mission without approval," said Piggot. "The consequences are potentially international."
"Then contact the Chief Director and get approval," Alexandria said, tearing her eyes from me to glance at Piggot. "I'm confident you'll get it. We won't get another chance like this anytime soon."
On a faint instinct, I looked up at Alexandria. She winked, and I understood. I couldn't hold back the smile. She likely assumed it was mirth at being let into the secret, but really, I'd have figured it out soon anyway.
What was important was that she had given it to me. I had managed to win the loyalty, not only of two-thirds of the local Protectorate, but of one of the Triumvirate—and, through her, the Chief Director of the PRT.
Piggot liked me, but since she didn't trust anyone up to and including herself, truly capturing her would be hard—but I was already well on my way, there. The only real variable left was Armsmaster—poor, heroic Armsmaster, with a taste for justice almost as ravenous as his taste for glory. I would need to feed that second appetite carefully, lest I put him on guard and drive him away.
Everything was falling into place. Once the city was under control, I could begin to put it into proper order at last.
No more villains, no more gangs, no more chaos, just a city running in good order.
-x-x-x-
"Annatar, can I talk to you?"
I blinked at Shadow Stalker. She was waiting outside the door as I left the conference room. There was something uncomfortable in her voice—an uncertainty and a fear. I could use that.
"Sure," I said. "I was just going to start a project in my forge before Dragon arrived. Walk with me?"
"When you're done," said Alexandria behind me, "I'd like a word too, if that's all right?"
"Of course," I said, giving her a nod. "I'll let you know as soon as I'm available. Come, Shadow Stalker."
She followed me down the hall and into the elevator. As soon as the doors shut behind us, she started talking. "So, do we have a plan?"
I nodded. "Dragon's on her way here now," I said. "She'll find Heartbreaker, and then we'll go and take him out. I'll master him with Vilya, and he'll be finished. Simple."
"Just a direct assault?" She asked, seeming to relax slightly. "I can get behind that. Think we can do it? He's dangerous."
"I know we can," I said caustically. "I'm dangerous, too."
"That's not what I meant." Now she sounded frustrated. "He could break a lot on the way down, if he's been putting mastered slaves in the right places over the years. How are we going to deal with that?"
"A few ways," I said. The elevator door opened, and I stepped out. She followed.
"Like what?"
"Mitigation," I said. "If I can master him, we can probably nip the worst of it in the bud. Failing that, the Protectorate and PRT infrastructure can handle some instability for a while, until we root out the disease. It shouldn't take long, with him gone."
Something about that seemed to bother her, if the slight stiffening of her shoulders was any indication. "What about Heartbreaker's thralls?" she asked, her voice low and slightly thick. "The ones protecting him?"
"What about them?"
"How are you planning to get through them?" Sophia asked, her voice rising. "He's bound to use them as hostages or meat-shields."
I shrugged. "Should be easy enough. You know how to fight, Sophia."
"What?" The word was almost a gasp. Her voice was blank, as if she couldn't believe what she'd heard.
"What's wrong, Sophia?" I kept my tone carefully friendly. Sophia had been devoted to me for weeks, but now she seemed uncertain. I would have to bring her back under control. Carefully.
"They're innocent women," she said. "People whose only crime was to catch his eye! You know some of them—Battery, Velocity, and Triumph! And you want us to go through them?"
"Of course not," I said, injecting a note of sorrow into the words as I opened the door to my workshop. "His slaves are helpless, and it's my duty to save them. But I also have to save the ones he hasn't captured yet. Every hour we wait, he takes more and more. If some must be lost now to save more later… that's how it has to be."
It wasn't a perfect replica of the mask I'd once worn for Sophia—but then, I wasn't quite the Annatar who had worn it. I was more.
Sophia shook her head minutely. I hadn't quite put her at ease, it seemed. She looked around at my workshop, at the blackened, soot-stained walls; they lingered on a chair, her usual, now turned black instead of silver. In the end, she just stood, watching me. "What are you forging?" she asked.
"Rings." I snapped my fingers, and the furnace roared to life.
She blinked. "Like—"
"Yes. The Nine."
"Really? For who?"
I shrugged noncommittally. "Not certain yet." It wasn't even a lie.
"Then why are you making them now? What's the occasion?"
I considered her. "I have a feeling I'll find people I can use soon—people who could use Rings of Power."
She inhaled sharply at that—not quite a gasp, but something in that direction. Her gaze broke from mine. "People you can use…?" she mumbled, seemingly to herself. Slowly, she reached up and took off her mask. Her eyes, shining slightly in the firelight, sought mine. "Taylor, I'm worried about you. You're not acting like yourself."
Finally, she spits it out. "Sorry, that came out wrong." I took my own helmet off, setting it on my workbench. I couldn't convince her that nothing was amiss, but maybe I could convince her that it wasn't anything to worry about. "It's just... seeing my dad Mastered like that..." I massaged my temples with one hand. "I know I'm going to sound like such a hypocrite. I know I've been the one telling you not to act like this. But I'm just... I'm so angry..."
I swallowed, shutting my eyes; I leaned against a wall, my armor scraping loudly against it as I sank downward. I heard her intake of breath, and her footfalls as she ran to my side. I half expected to feel her arms around me, but when I looked up, she was just standing there, watching me uncertainly. Not quite convinced, then.
"This is scary, right?" I asked, my voice trembling. "It scares me too. But I promise—once Heartbreaker's gone, everything will go back to normal. I just… I need this, Sophia. Just for now."
She bit her lip. "Then why aren't you talking to us, Taylor?" she asked hesitantly. "I had to push you to get this far. You haven't done more than give us orders since you woke up. We're your friends, Taylor."
"I didn't want to burden you," I said, shaking my head and looking down into my lap. "And talking won't help, anyway. I just need Heartbreaker…" I allowed my voice to audibly catch as I avoided saying something more vicious. "...stopped."
"He will be," she promised, but there was still hesitation in her voice. "But… when you were talking to us earlier. You were manipulating Missy and Dennis—I've seen you do it before, I know what it looks like. Why? We're on the same side."
"I… I didn't mean to manipulate them," I said, bringing my hand up to rub my eyes. "I tried to give everyone what they wanted. Missy wants revenge. Dennis wants to protect Laserdream. And I want everyone to work together. Is it really so bad if we all get what we want?"
"I know, it just…" Sophia swallowed. "It feels like everyone is getting what you want. And now you're forging more Rings, for people you can use. Was that how you felt about us, too?"
"No!" I exclaimed, and it was only partly a lie. "It's not like I'm rushing to hand the Nine out! I just want to be ready—forging the Seven all in one night wasn't fun. I can't do much until Dragon gets here, so I thought I'd get a head start, that's all." I looked up at her, meeting her eyes. "Don't ever believe you're only useful to me," I told her. "I know I haven't talked about this before, but… Thank you, Sophia. I know how much you've done for me. You've been a real friend."
She swallowed visibly and flushed slightly, looking down at the ground. She shook slightly, as though struggling with herself. "I want to believe you," she whispered. "I want to believe I really am your friend."
I smiled. This was what Sophia wanted. I just had to go a little further. "Of course you are," I said. My eyes flicked to Cenya, sitting on the ring finger of her left hand. I remembered a thousand looks, touches, acts of warmth and kindness. How long have I been wilfully blind? Sophia doesn't want my friendship—she wants my love.
This, I could use. I would even enjoy it.
"But you… you're so much more than that to me." I finally stood back up, taking her left hand and lacing my fingers among hers. We were close. Her face was mere inches from mine. Her eyes were dark, forest pools which, were things different, I might have gotten lost in. "I need you, Sophia," I said softly, a breathy edge coming to my voice. "I need you beside me—now, more than ever."
She stared up at me. Her lips trembled, and her hand shook in mine. For a moment, I was certain that she would break, and leap into my arms.
Then she squeezed my hand… and let go, stepping away from me. Her eyes were welling up with tears.
"I don't believe you," she whispered.
"But it's the truth!" I said, my voice rising in desperation that was only mostly feigned.
She shook her head, looking down. Tears fell, leaving sparkling motes on the blackened floor. "No," she mumbled, and it almost a sob. "It's just more manipulation. Like what you did to Missy. That's all I am to you now—a tool you can lead around by her emotions. Is that all I ever was, Taylor?"
"No, Sophia!" I exclaimed, reaching for her with one hand—not to capture her, but in offering. "I care for you! I do! Don't you—?"
"More than anything." She cut me off, looking up. Her face was contorted into a mask of mingled grief, self-loathing, and determination. "That's why I can't watch you do this. You're becoming something you hate."
My face to twisted in pain. "I haven't changed!" I shouted. "Can't you see that? Aren't I allowed to get angry sometimes?"
That broke her. A sob escaped from her, and brought her hand up to her mouth to cover it. Cenya glittered there, eclipsing the furnace as the sun eclipsed the moon. "Of course you are," she whispered, her voice muffled even further by her hand. "But you have changed, and I can't take it anymore." Her eyes screwed shut. "I don't want to go… I'll come back if I can, if it'll help. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
She turned away, and as she turned, the shadows took her in. She melted into them, like a nymph returning to the water, and was gone.
"Sophia!" I screamed, and didn't have to fake the way my voice broke on the name. She didn't come back.
When the Wards and I searched the building, we found no trace of her. Sophia had fled.
-x-x-x-
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