Shepherd Of Fire (Lung/OC, Worm)

[Esbatty]

Lung grabbed a couple bottles of water from the bar near his bedroom door, "Night, Lee. Watch out for the Orange Woman on the roof."

"She's trouble?"

"Seems so, she's with the representatives from The Elite."

"I'll go make sure she's - no trouble", the assassin pulled his bandolier over his head and shucked the demon mask off his face. Beneath his regalia was a not unattractive man. Lung thought he'd be attacked in a prison setting by the prisoners craving such attention but out in the free here Oni Lee's civilian identity was the right contrast for spying on their own party guests.

"Do not go falling in love with it - The Elite are not known to fuck around."

Lee nodded in acknowledgement and exploded into dust.

Lung pushed his back against the door and entered his bedroom. His Shima was mostly undressed and sprawled across the King-sized bed "Shima, are you awake? I brought you water."

She stuck an arm out and the bottles of water tumbled out of her husband's hand and struck the floor. The girl laughed as they spun in place as she gestured trying to tug them towards herself with her power.

"For a woman filled with poison you are weak - no, a lightweight when it comes to liquor", he chided her as he climbed onto the large bed. He laid down next to her and helped her out of the leggings of her costume and finally freed her tail from its black and white prison.

"I never expected to be married - let alone to a woman with a tail", he slapped her bottom as she continued to squirm trying to call the bottles of water to herself.

"No hitting, I'm no plaything. I told you this", she attempted to crawl off the bed.

He reached over and pulled her on top of himself, "Yes, you are my plaything. You can tell me how this is a political marriage securing yourself against Sinopetrol and your Father but I claim you tonight. Protest all you want but you will fi-"

Petit grabbed his face and kissed him fiercely, surprising the man yet he relaxed beneath her.

Hours later she found her backside being prodded and she stirred from what little sleep she had been able to eke out. Lung was full of energy and even Bakuda slinking into the bedroom earlier bought even this bit of rest.

"Nngh, yes?"

Lung slid an arm over Petit and groped about, "Good, you're awake."

"Barely", she laughed quietly.

He pulled her close and commanded, "Roll over, my Shima".

She followed his instruction but placed a hand on his chest, "A moment, please."

"What?"

She opened her eyes in the dark and his eyes glowed faintly as dying embers, "I'm not denying you your claim, I just wish we secure attorneys and paperwork tomorrow."

"Why?"

"I heard what those people said, they want to work in our territory, legitimately as well as enjoy your protection. We need to secure your holdings not just by force but by law, which will only grow and quickly at that once we begin. And-"

Hard hands pulled her body against his, his strength dwarfing her own. Her breath released in a shudder, "an- and paperwork drawn up for our marriage to be -ahh- official."

She was unsure of his response only that he did not protest or attempt to silence her.

^•v•^

The look on Carol Dallon's face as she walked past the window to the near empty conference room Petit sat in was one initially of confusion. The blonde attorney walked back down the hall and let herself into the large room.

"Yes?", Petit addressed the work dressed heroine from behind large, dark designer sunglasses.

"Hello, I'm Carol. How long have you been waiting for your meeting, Miss...?", Mrs. Dallon's eyes looked over Petit in her black blazer with a single large button fastened closed providing modesty as beneath it Petit wore a sheer black tulle shirt embroidered with the initials of the designer that left no doubt Petit was not wearing a bra.

Petit did not get up nor shake Carol's offered hand, "Miss Si- apologies, I am still adjusting to being married. I am Mrs. Long."

"Nearly twenty years and a teenaged daughter later and I still don't quite feel married", Carol joked but her face dropped as Petit didn't react to the mirth.

"I see. One of my husband's assistants scheduled a meeting with the firm for this afternoon but I'm afraid he was unavailable and I have been charged to attend in his place, so I have been alone here for quite some time now."

Carol's eyes widened at this and offered Mrs. Long a thin lipped smile, "While our firm can handle a wide variety of cases it also means we can and do get quite busy. Let me get someone here for you", Carol punched in numbers on a speaker device embedded in the table.

"Sonja here, how can I help you?" the speaker said.

"Yes, Sonja, Carol here. I am with Mrs. Long and she has been waiting for her appointment set by her husband and no one -"

Carol's mobile phone trilled from her blouse pocket, "Sorry I'm getting a call, Sonja."

The speaker phone call dropped as soon as Carol answered. Petit watched as the attorney turned away as harsh whispers were spoken into the mobile phone. The exchange was brief as Carol snapped her phone shut and turned red faced to Petit, "I told your people to stay away from my family... Missus Lung. Really? That's the best name you could come up with?"

Petit stood up and her tail twitched at her calf as it ran down the back of her leg beneath the white skirt she wore, "I am still grateful for your daughter's bravery and assistance. Since she has not claimed her favor from Lung I assumed providing legitimate legal dealings with your firm would go towards honoring your family."

The redness of her face spread to her neck and bloomed on her chest, "No, I - absolutely not. This is not a place for crime or corruption or accessory to crime. I am a public figure. No. Your business is not welcome here."

"I am not looking to corrupt anything, Mrs. Dallon. I joined with my husband to get him away from alleged extralegal activities and into legitimate businesses. My experience in my time abroad is in corporate and international business development. Oil refineries, biomedical research, industrial and consumer electronics, but now I am looking into medical clinics for underserved communities starting here in Brockton Bay."

Petit took a manila envelope out from under her arm and presented it. Carol tore the flap open and paged through the proposal.

"This is real? The Azn Bad Boys are promoting community health initiatives with West Coast medical franchises? All while the city is basically an active urban warzone with the Empire Eighty-Eight?"

"Yes and no."

Dallon took a deep breath and tossed the envelope on the table, "Explain".

"Yes, these initiatives are real. No to the War. Peace has been brokered and while the ABB has already halted any further aggression as of last night-"

"There was a jailbreak of ABB members yesterday evening."

"Okay then late last night, Lung recalled patrols to their original borders and ordered a ceasefire in everything but name. A meeting was held and terms for an official ceasefire begins later this week."

"And why should I not call the PRT to come pick you up for helping in freeing Lung to begin with? Also, for endangering my damn kids, huh?"

"Would you rather have a big knockout brawl of violence and carnage that sweeps the city in an attempt to take out the whole of the ABB or participate in it's - rehabilitation?" Petit offered her wrists up to the attorney who stood at the head of the table looking from Petit to the envelope she flopped on the table.

"And why are you even attempting to reform Lung and his gang?"

Mrs. Long relaxed as she sat back down, smoothing out her skirt, "Because this is my home now, which is the other reason I am here seeking legal counsel. My life and my husband's life are in jeopardy if we are deported back to our respective nations. He was a prisoner of the Yanbang for years before coming to this country and I was trafficked just recently. We are seeking asylum and as to the benefits to your country you have seen my proposal and Lung has participated in Endbringer battle in the past. In fact his battling Leviathan is why he was even captured by the Yanbang to begin with."

Carol Dallon pursed her lips and tilted her head from side to side for a moment, "And the violence in the streets... what caused that?"

"Empire Eighty-Eight subordinates were luring away sex workers from one of the clubs in ABB territory, local women and men. They never returned, and the coroner's report from the remains at one of the sites of an Empire sanctioned event showed marks from canine teeth on the bones. The remains were buried so the marks came before the burial."

Carol shut her eyes for a moment, "And the ceasefire begins this week?"

"Yes, and again, Lung has been deescalating our side of it already. When he took over so many of the gangs of Brockton Bay he inherited their operations. He had already turned the strip clubs and dance bars into paid work for the workers and phased out the use of trafficked workers. It does not undo the years of damage before his time but it showed me he does not support for the old ways of sating vice."

Carol sat on the tabletop and started dialing, "I can't believe I'm listening to this... Sonja?"

"Carol?"

"Get me Barnes and Milne, the - special guest here is going to be our client."

"They have a case?"

"More than one, uhh, Asylum seeking and - were you two married abroad or here?"

Petit answered, "Here, it was a cultural ceremony, in private."

"Sonja, yeah, get Barnes on the marriage details."

"On it, Carol."

She ended the call and rubbed the back of her neck.

"Thank you for this, Mrs. Dallon."

"Oh, no no no no, this - this is all getting vetted. Remember I am a heroine, I have to report cape dealings with the PRT when I deem necessary. Right now you and Mr. Long are clients, civilian clients, we are solely dealing with your asylum status. You have rights and protections under the law. Anything beyond that hinges on whether the federal government wants to allow you two to remain here under that status. Do you understand?"

Petit nodded.

"Please don't let this blow up in my face", she said as she waved at the large window from her seat on the table and flagged down a passerby.

"Well, Bakuda is a citizen already so she should not be involved", she said as she removed her sunglasses and hung them from the neck of her thin shirt.

Carol's face dropped, "That's not funny."

The door opened and a young man in tan slacks, blue tie, and button up white shirt popped his head in, "Mrs. Dallon?"

"Mug, pot of hot water, tea bags, bowl of sugars, and my usual."

"Right away, ma'am", the guy ducked out quickly.

Petit smiled up at her new attorney, "I can see where your daughters get their calm."

"Please, don't. Let's keep this to business, Mrs. Long. Speaking of", a machine in the back of the room started printing out a series of paperwork. Carol slid off the table and made her way to a small kiosk where she put together a manila folder and loaded it with the print outs. "This is a packet with information for you as we help you fill out an I-589 form for applying for asylum. Since we all know Mr. Long has been here beyond a year we'll be processing your Asylum paperwork for you as the main applicant and he as your spouse."

Carol pulled a pen from behind her ear, "So let's begin."

 

[syrtis]

I love how Petit is playing her own game, and keeps surprising everyone. Piggot and Rennick (I think I spelled his name wrong 🙃) are certainly going to be confused.

 

[Esbatty]

I love how Petit is playing her own game, and keeps surprising everyone. Piggot and Rennick (I think I spelled his name wrong 🙃) are certainly going to be confused.

Click to shrink...

It's what she was trained for. Went from invoking her Father's name to Lung's name, just need to get to that point she won't even have to announce herself.

 

[Esbatty]

The site of the exchange was one of many drug packaging and distribution centers for the ABB. Piles of clothing and belongings sat in a pile in a corner of the first floor, long tables with bundles of unopened product, electronic scales, small metal scoops with funnels, and boxes of thousands of clear, tiny storage baggies littered each one. The air tasted of dirt, dust, and mildew while the whispers and whimpering of the mostly nude workers filtered down to the first floor as they huddled upstairs under watch of Oni Lee and the junior Empire member Rune.

Kaiser wore an improvised metal half-helm and stood behind the vibrant Purity who had a hand on the boy's shoulder. The contact was light and the heavy set teen looked particularly nervous as he stood before Lung, Bakuda and Shima. Kaiser was still on the phone with Coil and once he put his device away the meeting began.

"This is-" Purity began.

"No", Petit interrupted. "This is a tempestuous time, and it may seem as superstitious but I wish to give him an alternative name to protect him from Ill omens and evil intent".

Kaiser's exposed lower face screwed up in disgust.

While the rest of Lung's court arrived dressed for war, Petit wore her new large, dark lense sunglasses that obscured the upper half of her face, her lower face masked by her painkiller mask, and she wore a white mini leather dress with long black gloves and matching black flats.

"Aaaand?" Bakuda asked.

"Kub", Petit announced.

"Cub, as in a bear's young?" Purity inquired

"As in Gold", Kaiser answered.

"Correct, a first born son is often the Golden Child." Petit looked over at the boy and addressed him, "Does this name suit you while you are in our care?"

Theo's eyes were locked on Lung for a moment before he answered, "It's fine, ma'am."

Petit looked at Lung and nodded. Bakuda held up a small suitcase-shaped device and deployed it on a table, "Now not to insult you Empire people but just incase you try to give us some kinda Boy from Brazil and drive off while slamming back Natty Ice laughing how you tricked those slant-eyed gooks, this thing here will take a blood sample from each of you and give us an insta paternity test."

Theo walked out from under Purity's reach and stepped over to the machine. Next to a readout screen was a thumbprint sized depression in some gel-like material. Without hesitation he pressed his thumb to it and the gel his thumb was pressed into lit up green.

"Alright, Boo Boo, now for Yogi Bear", Bakuda gestured for the boy to step away.

"I'm not touching that. You could have it set to poison me or blow up if I touch it", Kaiser protested.

"Aww, the kid literally did it without sweating", the tinker goaded, "Don't tell me balls skip a generation in the All-Father Clan?"

Petit walked up to the device, removed a glove and pressed her thumb to the gel. The light in the gel pulsed green for a moment then turned and stayed red with the screen reading 'No Match'.

"He is not my child. This we know", Petit slipped her glove back on and backed away from the table.

Purity cast a look at Kaiser and the man finally walked over to the table. From his inside breast pocket he drew out a bottle of hand sanitizer, squirted some on his hands and rubbed them together. He pressed his thumb in the gel, the light pulsed green for a few moments before staying green and the readout saying 'Match'.

Kaiser scowled and backed off from the table while resanitizing his hands, "Satisfied?"

Bakuda robotically laughed, "Of course, now I can clone you, stick a bomb in it, and turn you into an organ filled piñata."

Theo's eyes widened.

Petit held a hand up, "She is joking, and we are quite satisfied."

Purity pointed a glowing finger at Lung, "You better treat him better than you treat yourself!"

Lung was unmoved.

"Kub will be well taken care of, I assure you. He has been entrusted to my care, and if he has any concerns he can come to me while in our custody. If you need proof of life while in our care", Petit held an open hand out to Bakuda and the Tinker handed her a thin burner phone. She offered the phone to Kaiser instead the dimming woman took the offering.

"Hold down the '1' key and it will call my personal phone and I will get you in touch with Kub here."

Kaiser clapped his hands twice in succession in a sharp, loud manner. Theo's back straightened and the sound of quick steps came from the second floor as Rune descended the stairs rapidly.

"Sir?" the junior white supremacist cape asked as she approached.

"We're about to leave", Kaiser told the girl. "Both of you, say your goodbyes."

Theo seemed perplexed but as Rune approached he awkwardly took the girl's hand and she gave him a half hug, half handshake. Bakuda snickered.

"Is this the boy's woman?" Lung finally spoke.

Kaiser looked at Rune and the girl pulled Theo into an actual hug at the sudden attention.

"Yes", Kaiser answered.

"And as for her family?"

"The Empire is and will always be her family."

"Good, then she stays with the boy."

Kaiser, Purity, Theo, Rune and even Bakuda all looked to Lung.

Petit backed Lung's move, "You did not give us Hookwolf, a soldier deemed too valuable to part with so we seek another in his stead. She has power and can act as a guardian to him and, of course, she will abide by the terms of the ceasefire. Besides, the other ABB members his age will not look kindly upon his association with The Empire and it will be some time before the ceasefire will deescalate the government and hero presence in Brockton Bay. Best that he has friendly company."

Theo and Rune slowly backed away from each other but remained between the two factions.

Kaiser and Purity conferred with one another for a long moment, then Kaiser held an arm out to the girl, "Of course, this - reassures me my son will be taken care of. Rune, you will keep to the ceasefire but you are also charged with keeping him safe until you are both returned. Naturally, Lung, if she comes to harm I will see it as an attack on The Empire itself and all that entails."

"Of course, now our business is done. I have a phone call to make", Lung held out a hand to Bakuda and drew a phone from her costume's utility pocket.

Kaiser turned and strode away to the nearest exit and Purity hesitated a moment, looking to the teens, before following the man out. Her body's glow dimmed with every passing moment she could be seen.

Theo and Rune stepped closer together once the leaders of the rival gang cleared out. Moments later Oni Lee led the procession of workers down the stairs back to their tables on the first floor.

Petit approached the pair with a thin lipped smile on her face, "Hello, I am called Shima, I will be looking after you both during your time with us. Any questions or concerns please feel free to approach me."

Theo raised his hand and Rune looked at him as if he shit himself. Right away he put his hand down.

"Yes, Kub?"

"Where will we be staying?"

"You will be given a room at a hotel in our territory. You will have access to television, gaming systems, and videos from the television services. I will provide you with meals and changes of clothing. In addition there is a pool for your use, a basketball half court, and exercise equipment. We will also provide you with tablets for internet use which is monitored so please keep your use to entertainment only and not outside communication."

Rune looked confused, "I thought we were hostages?"

"You are guests, not hostages. Your presence in our custody is to secure peace. We do not wish to harm you but rather preserve you until you are returned to your family. And that will be once the rest of the gangs determine the threat against all our organizations is over then you will be returned. Do you wish me to use your cape name, Rune?"

The girl nodded and followed Petit as she beckoned the couple to follow her as Lung and Bakuda started out of the building. A silver limousine pulled up and the group piled in.

^•v•^

"You may remove your blindfolds", Petit announced.

Rune and Theo were standing in the middle of a large suite and Petit watched the kids take it in. No windows were present but rather large detailed paintings of the backs of naked tattooed women took up the wall space that Theo tried to avoid staring at. Rune picked up a remote and pressed a button. One of the paintings slid up into the ceiling and revealed an entertainment center with a large flat screen and a host of speakers and other electronics.

"Does this thing have cable?" she asked.

"Yes, Rune. Are either of you hungry or wish for a change of clothing?"

The two looked at each other then to Petit.

"Pizza?" "Burger?" They spoke at once.

Petit passed them a notepad and pen, "Write down what you want and from where and I will have it brought up soon. There is a catalog on the coffee table with clothes from some of the boutiques in our territory. You can pick out clothing from there, write down the sizing and details and we can get you what you need."

She placed a handful of PRT style domino masks on the table, "These are for when you wish to travel outside your room or when I take you around in our territory. I do not intend to keep you forever sequestered from the outside world but there will be times I will be away and it will be best if you stay together in the room. As much as I trust my husband and his Lieutenants, it is his foot soldiers that I remain wary of their prejudices."

"And your husband is, who, Miss Shima?" Theo asked as he wandered over to the coffee table and quickly scrawled his food order down.

"He would be Lung."

"Ooo-kay, wow", Rune plopped down on the couch and started filling out her food order on the notepad.

"Rune, please don't be rude."

"I'm just saying, he doesn't look like the marrying type is all", she explained as she handed the note page to Petit.

"It is no worry. My Family arranged it and I honored their wishes. He has been accommodating. Now I will get you your meals, you two settle in and look at the catalog. Maybe consider bathing suits for use in the pool later? Things to wear to some of the shops and restaurants?"

"We will, Miss Shima. Thank you", Theo smiled at Petit genuinely.

"You are both welcome. I will see you later."

Petit departed the room and placed a 'Do Not Disturb' placard on the door handle, for whatever good that would do.

Bakuda sans helmet met Petit out in the hall, the tinker shaking her head as she crushed her cigarette butt with her heel on the very nice carpeting, "I can't believe - wait, no, reverse that. I can very much believe you turned your 'no babies for me ever' self into Mary Poppins for the two Village of the Damned rejects."

"This is what Lung wanted, so I will support him by doing this for him."

"Yeah, no. Pretty sure this was your suggestion, Shima."

Petit drew out two cartridges from the top of her dress and tossed them to Bakuda.

"These are empty."

Bakuda caught the cartridges and her eyes flared, "HEY, why is everyone acting like I'm their personal valet or some shit?"

"You are the maker of all things, the sage of our technology. Whom else would we trust our electronics to?"

"I make bombs and bomb related accessories you bitch, but fine, whatever. Just don't throw things at me - ask, hand over, ya know be polite and shit. Jeez."

Petit removed her lower mask and ejected a third cartridge and passed it to Bakuda, "Also your costume has so many pockets and yet you gave me this ensemble to wear."

"You asked for going out clothes. I give you going out clothes."

"Going out into public, not lap dances for Lung."

"Hey, you said it yourself I make things that leave a big impression. You may be a chink but even Kaiser stared at your leather wrapped ass when you tested the machine earlier."

Petit pulled her sunglasses down and stared unimpressed at the bomb-maker.

"What? I don't have the ass to wear leather minis. Let a woman live vicariously, dammit", she huffed as she marched off towards the elevators. "Especially when she's making your pain meds supply!"

Petit didn't understand what was going on between them but Bakuda's initial hostility was becoming an uneasy camaraderie. It was going to be hard should she have to kill the tinker. But not impossible.

For now she'd focus on the present, protecting the young couple and securing her asylum status through Brandish's law firm.

 

[syrtis]

Another wonderful chapter! Petit treating Theo better than Kaiser treats Theo... Interesting....

 

[Esbatty]

Some random drawing from a while back trying to figure out how the "Shima" mask would work. Took some inspiration from the Casey Jones costume from the 1990 Ninja Turtles film, and idea of how to handle the pain killer necessary to manage her body breaking down from The Dark Knight Rises version of Bane.

I've already updated my story details timeline up to the end of Arc 3, so I have the last half of Arc 2 to pay off more setup from Arc 1 and the first half of Arc 2. I have a habit of some author burn out so it feels good having a timeline to go over to refresh myself.

I'll probably take a short break after Arc 2 to finish up my Elegance (Imp/OC) story, it's a couple chapters away from being finished and it's been on hiatus for a couple months, then Arc 3 can begin.

 

[Esbatty]

"I know the four of you were not planning to develop powers but that is now your lot in life. No matter how you try to live - conflict is now an intrinsic part of your existence. As you may have noticed the others in your lives will forever look on you with jealousy, hate, fear, and awe", Shima was dressed in her full costume addressing ABB members and workers caught up in what the news dubbed The Axis War.

A hirsute, black-haired hunchback spat on the ground by his gnarled bare feet. The creature's muscles across its back and arms rippled and stretched its brown skin tight before ripping open. Peels of shredded skin littered the gravel of the empty car lot around it, "Who the hell are you?"

Petit decided to borrow from Bakuda's playbook and laughed at the grotesque figure, "Little man, I am Shima, one of Lung's Court. Today you will be weighed, tested, and your inclusion in Lung's court will be decided."

He brushed his long hair out of his jaundiced eyes, "I got my own power now. I don't gotta answer to Lung no-"

A small mass of water rose from a pile of discarded tires, the stagnant liquid hit the hunchback in the face and surrounded his head. The figure jammed his clawed hands into the liquid bubble, threw himself to the ground and thrashed as he couldn't get air past the liquid.

"Any other objections before we continue?"

The rest of the assembled group stood by, with one sobbing, as the half circle they stood in widened as they moved away from the drowning cape.

"Excellent", Petit gestured and the water lost its life, spilling to the ground. The hunchback's teeth were too numerous and overlarge to enable him to shut his wreck of a mouth violently coughed and vomited up the brackish fluid.

"Now, if you served Lung or the ABB before you had powers you will continue to do so. Your loyalty is assumed and expected, deviation due to delusions of grandeur, cowardice, or madness driven by your power will have you put down much as a mad dog. The wild man here is allowed to live as an example. Any further protests will be met with swift ejection from this organization without any warning or mercy."

A young woman missing half an arm just below the elbow, rushed forward and dropped to her knees in tears, "I don't work for Lung. I've never served the Bad Boys!"

"Asian Bad Boys", a familiar face corrected her. "We've met Shima, I'm Leng. The girl is right, she's unaffiliated but her family borrowed cash to treat her brother's illness."

The girl's shoulders shuddered as she wept openly.

"Her name is Leonore and her old man had a shop they lived above, he woulda been good for paying it back. Then some Empire fucks decided to make an example since their place sat on the border of our territory. They sealed up the building tight and set it on fire. When she tried lowering her brother out through a bathroom window they cut her arm off and, well, the kid didn't make it."

Petit felt for the girl but she was here representing Lung, "Leng the Recruiter, correct?"

He grinned and it stretched the morbid skeletal grin of his tattoo on the side of his face, "That's me. Anywho, Fire crews found her in the rubble and we picked her up at the ER before PRT could get her. Best as we can tell is she can form a weird giant scab-bark armor on her whole body and she can slowly heal inside that shell."

"Hmm, sounds possibly useful, and how much does her family owe Lung?"

The woman looked up from the ground, "I- I can pay it. I just - I have just the one arm, but I can find work. I can pay! I was in school but there are other shops around so I - don't make me work the street!"

Petit looked at Leng, and the man shrugged, "I told her if she came with we'd work the debt out but, ehhh, I am known to recruit for all aspects of the gang. Pussy included, so..."

"Get up, Leonore. I am as likely to put you on the street for pleasure as I am this dog I nearly drowned. Listen here, all of you are being evaluated for positions of power under Lung. We recently brokered peace, and peace is maintained by preparing for war. Wet dogs and armored cripples will be the threats that keep The Empire, The Protectorate and Military at bay", Petit motioned for Leng to help the one armed woman to her feet.

"Leng, tell me of the wet dog. Is he worth keeping or putting down?"

Leng laughed as he pulled the woman up. He offered her a cigarette and match from his jacket pocket, she refused, and flicked the tip with his thumb's fingernail, "Jing here is an asshole but for the most part a loyal asshole. Leg breaker and debt collector, sometimes I worked with him as he was the muscle to enforce work orders. Seems he constantly sheds his skin, is stronger than before, can crawl on walls now, and, surprising no one, smells like a wet dog."

A low growl came from the hunchback, Petit felt a bit of that herself.

While Leng was useful for his position in the organization it was his demeanor around Petit that bothered her. He was becoming too familiar in the rather short span of their meetings. It just wouldn't do, "I would advise you to watch your words carefully with this group. Should they be selected by Lung for service they would outrank you and you would be subject to their memories and ire. Capes... we are a volatile sort, Leng."

Leng paused mid drag then let loose a large plume, "Right. Sorry, Jing."

The wet creature grunted in acknowledgement.


^•v•^


"And the other two?" Bakuda asked as she sat at her workbench in the sub-basement of the hotel.

"Killed each other when they realized they both had tattoos done by the same man they were unknowingly sharing."

Bakuda put the small silver ring down next to its sibling, and busted out laughing, "That fucker got a type."

Petit shrugged, "We are ones to talk."

Bakuda narrowed her pale blue eyes and pointed accusingly at Petit, "Have I called you something awful today?"

She pulled her phone free from the lone pocket her costume held, right above the base of the faux fur of her tail. Petit quickly pulled up her texts log, "This is a direct quote 'dont let fatty eat all the breakfast sausage biscuits again, u syphilitic ho' end quote."

"You are a Ho! There were supposed to be two biscuits in that bag and when I got there, nada, nothing. Just sausage burritos and it's not the same! Don't you shake your head at me. I know it's Fatty. He looks guilty all damn the time. So I know it's him."

Petit sighed and got up from the rickety stool, "Ahh, I should check on Kub and Rune".

"Take 'em to use the gym or swim laps, he sits there and busts out in a sweat if he breathes too hard. Jesus, he's one hard fart away from a stroke, I swear."

"Good suggestion, and you should remember to attend dinner tonight, we are going to run the recruits past Lung."

Bakuda's face turned red and her lips screwed up with rage. She grabbed a grenade off her table, flipped the safety cover open, and her thumb hovered over the trigger button. Tense seconds passed as Petit watched in silent horror before the bomber simply reset the grenade's cover over the trigger, "Three sausage biscuits tomorrow or this is going up his pudgy, virgin backdoor."

Petit pulled the mask back off her face and stared unblinking at Bakuda, "If I did not trust you to preserve your own life above even your worst self destructive impulses I would have had to kill you."

"Hey, I was just jo-"

Petit was on Bakuda faster than the woman could react.

"- it's just a biscuit, Shima."

The skunk woman pressed her lips up to her ear, "Shut the fuck up for once."

Unsure what to do, the tinker found herself trapped in an awkward hug.


^•v•^


A long, low table had been brought into the entertaining area of the hotel suite. The living room style furniture was removed save for Lung's out of place red leather couch. Across the table were several large aluminum pans filled with Tex-Mex food brought in from a local restaurant.

"Wild Man and Palisade?" Lung asked his food untouched and mask still in place as he lounged on his couch lording over his people.

The two prospects joined Lung and his court at the table, Wild Man was dried off and in a duel with Bakuda for whatever food she reached for. The one armed woman, Palisade, sat at the table dressed in a soft, peach bathrobe Petit lent her for the demonstration Lung would inevitably ask for.

"Yes, Wild Man earned his name by his behavior at the meeting and I named Palisade myself", Petit answered.

"Palisade is a French word, I assume?"

She nodded before she started filling a plate for Palisade before making one up for herself. Lee intervened with Wild Man and Bakuda before the Tinker decided to test her new toe ring detonator system.

"It is essentially a large wooden stake, made out of a tree as part of a fence or fortification. I thought it fitting for what the woman can do."

"Shreds her clothes when she does it and that means she gets naked", the creature added in with a bit too much enthusiasm and drool.

Palisade frowned and put her focus on picking at a stuffed green pepper.

"Has Shima explained to you both what I expect of you?"

Jing used a napkin to dab at the drool running down his chin, "Yeah, she mentioned we're like a deterrent to keep capes and the government off our asses."

Palisade looked around the table and her eyes widened when she realized everyone was waiting for her response, "Ahh, I - I don't know what you think I can do for you but she seems to think I'm scary enough to help."

"Palisade, I know you have lost your family and your Father was a good man who understood his place and my place in the city. Shima mentioned you are a student, we can get you the money you need to stay in school and the only work you would have to do is be available when you are asked. Otherwise your education comes first, understood?"

Palisade's eyes lowered, "I appreciate the offer. I don't know what kind of work a one armed woman can do that you'd be interested in?"

"Stand up then and show me what you can do and I will tell you what you can do for me."

Petit got to her feet and approached Leonore. The woman loosened the belt to the robe and gave her back to the table. Petit grabbed the shoulders of the robe and pulled it away as Leonore's body began shuddering.

Her entire back blistered and as the blisters formed they filled with black ichor. The blisters began to dry up and the ichor hardened. The layers of cracked, hard organic armor covered her head to toe. When she turned to face the table her head had a more helmet-like design resembling something between knots in a tree and a skull.

"Palisade, you survived a burning building falling on top of you like this?"

Despite the rough nature of her appearance and the many points of contact the layers had, she nodded noiselessly.

Petit took a long draw of her painkiller gas before removing her lower mask, "Show him what we found your arm does, Palisade."

She held up her arm stump and it shuddered to life as her layers cracked apart and split open. Black ichor burst out of the open wound and hardened into the shape of a massive pincer resembling volcanic glass.

She punched her pincer down at the table and speared through a grilled chicken with ease and when she raised her arm the entire table came up with it.

"Yes, I do believe my Shima was correct. I definitely have a use for you."

A knock at the door had Oni Lee blink over to it and answer.

"Hey, Lee - Iggy finished hooking up your upgraded stereo system so the lights under the chassis blink and oscillate to the beat of your tunes", Taiko's voice filtered through from the other side of the door as Lee leaned out.

Oni Lee gave the mechanic a thumbs up and before he could close the door, "Oh and one last thing, can you tell Lung something for me?"

And Lee's face exploded out the back of his head.

 

[Esbatty]

I'd been hired to keep the local fuzz busy while three simultaneous jobs were being pulled and, instead of the boys in blue showing up like gangbusters, an entire hero team lined up in front of the armored car I sat on the hood of.

About fifteen meters from the truck a leggy brunette decked out in mostly gold and blue jewelry that strategically covered her body took a step forward, "I'm Chicazul and my team has been called in to help quash crime in this town. We need you to explain your presence here."

I rolled my eyes and slid down off the front of my perch and let my right thumb snap one of my black suspender straps in response. I fix my matching bow tie and with a flick of my wrist I produce a business card.

"You're kidding me, we're staring down a clown girl?" A short figure in a suit of purple and red power armor asked aloud.

I pouted and then with another flick of my wrist I threw the card to the ground by Chicazul's feet and it landed on its edge sticking up out of the grass.

The heroine did a quick bend and snap maneuver to pick my card up and read it to the team, "I am disabled and have been rendered mute. If you must insist on dealing with me, call me 'Master Mime'. If I am there while you read this, make no sudden moves. This is purely business and I take little pleasure in what happens next if you don't walk away."

"This is crap, you're not disabled!" One of the idiot heroes challenged.

I pull my large bow tie down and away from my neck with one hand. I lift my chin and present the large scar that marred the flesh of my throat.

"Shit, how was I...? I mean there is surgery for that nowadays."

I shrug.

Chicazul places a hand on her hip and points in my direction, "Look, we can get you a notepad or something but you need to tell us what you are doing here while there are multiple crimes in prog-"

I mimic her pose and move my head as I open my mouth silently babbling like the ridiculous woman. This draws some chuckles from a couple of her teammates.

With my arm still stretched out and finger pointing I screw my face up in fear as my other hand uses two fingers to make scissors snapping open and shut. In one deft move I take my finger scissors and snap them shut on my pointer finger.

As I mime a scream of pain, Chicazul's index finger shears off and her voice hitches right before her screams fill the night air. Panic and confusion seized the heroes as two rushed to the woman's aid.

A half naked man in a salmon colored feathered costume locked eyes with me, "Master-Stranger protocols! Master-Stranger protoco-"

I start mouthing the same words he's yelling and point a finger gun to my right temple. I pull my thumb down and pantomime my left temple exploding out with my other hand.

His yelling turns to a cry of utter shock as his eyes, frontal lobe and part of his skull peppered his team.

Behind me I hear a long whistle and I glance back at the armored driver. His square, bulky black and red costume gave him a burly athletic look and I gave him a big wink.

"Hey, that's pretty fucked up, Mime", Ballistic said from the window of the truck.

I touched my lips tenderly and made a show of blowing a kiss at him. His dark gloved hand touched near the mouth of his mask and the man simply rolled his window back up.

"You bitch!" A hero yelled.

I returned my attention to the failing heroes and watched the power armor user hovering towards my position. As it closed the distance I looked at my hands in horror as I pushed a thumb against my closed eyelid.

The hovering hero halted their progress suddenly, "Oh fuck."

I mimed flicking my thumb away from the socket and the armored man clawed at his helmet where his eye should have been. I changed my view to another hero and grabbed the sides of my head, jerked my arms against my body and slumped to the grass. A hero trying to staunch the bleeding of Chicazul's hand with her cape had head cave in.

The armored truck's engine roared to life and the backdoor slammed shut. I found myself sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle and Trickster was standing in my place looking at my work. He motioned for Ballistic to go and the armored driver floored it.

"I've seen things, awful things. That there was messed up on a different level, Mime", he spoke as he drove through the night, the vehicle's headlights remained off as they rolled through mostly empty streets.

It was a shame I was just on loan to Coil and his Travelers, but Gorehound was adamant this was just a test run for the snake man to use our group in the future. We were still on retainer with The Elite for the demo job. So no matter how yummy Ballistic and Sundancer looked or how fun Trickster and the dreamer in the chair were, this was temporary.

I leaned over and rested my head on his shoulder lightly, and fluttered my eyes up at him but he refused to look at me for the rest of the trip.

 

[Esbatty]

Oni Lee's body slumped to the floor and turned to dust. The assassin turned the mechanic into a reverse PEZ dispenser, his chin touching his chest for the last time as he spilled into the room blood pooling on the carpet.

"There are more traitors", was all Oni Lee said as he peeked back into the room before screams and gunfire filled the hallway.

Lung remained seated, eyes glowing, and snapped his fingers drawing all eyes on him, "Bakuda go to your lab and get prepared. Wild Man go with her as she gets equipped."

The food duelists rushed away in Oni Lee's wake, the hunchback surprisingly nimble for his shape.

"Palisade, remain armored and stay with me. Do not attack, instead remain behind me and only fight if you must defend yourself."

The woman nodded and stepped over to Lung's couch where he remained seated.

"Shima go to our guests, secure them or get them somewhere safe. I will contact you later once this is dealt with", Petit wasted no time and refit her mask on her face as she sprinted out of the room.

Safe.

Safe was not something she was familiar with, but secure was. She would secure Kub and Rune.

But where?

Where was secure in this city where capes were on any corner at any time and some of the ABB had gone traitor. ABB territory was no place for the Empire's next generation, and they were innocent of whatever was happening with the rank and file.

Petit stepped over exsanguinated and decapitated bodies of ABB members. Most of them appeared older, heavily tattooed. Bullet Holes peppered the hallway walls but the suite's reinforced double doors had scratched paint and scuffed metal in lieu of bullet holes.

Petit carefully tapped on the door: Tap tap tap, tap tap-tap, tap.

The door opened slowly with Theo peeking through the gap behind him. Rune had a chunk of decorative marble hovering just behind the boy as a shield for him to dive behind, "The hell is going on, Shima?"

Theo shot the girl a pleading look of concern but she kept her eyes on Petit waiting for an answer.

"We're under attack and I don't know why but they made their move at dinner. Did you both eat?"

Rune's far too close together eyes narrowed, "What!? Why the fuck does that matter?"

Theo nodded rapidly, "Yes, Miss Shima, we both ate already."

"Good, that changes where I can take you. I've been ordered to secure you from harm at my own discretion since this site is hostile."

"Is it the Empire?" The short blonde asked

"No, Kaiser may be a vain, cruel man but he would not needlessly sacrifice his own blood and a powered member for a feint or a direct attack. Rune put that down and both of you put on your hoodies you picked out and those masks. I'm going to take you to the safest place I know."

Petit gestured for the two to follow her.


^•v•^


Their car pulled up to the traffic stop and from their view they saw The Dallons as they stood in front of the law office. Their costumes bathed in the white-blue shine of the parking lot security lights.

Petit looked back at her passengers, and Rune looked worried, "Shima, I don't know about this but that's fucking half of New Wave, and Glory Girl, she really hate-hates Empire Eighty-Eight."

"Do not bring up that detail about yourself, and maybe we should not call you by your cape name in the interim?"

Theo looked at his friend and shrugged, "How about Ast... rid? Astrid."

Rune fiddled with her mask, "Astrid, sure, that works. And you? What're we calling you? Kub ain't going to fly as an alias, Little Bear either."

"Barry?" Theo offered.

'Astrid' scoffed, "Hilarious. Alright then, Barry. Nice to meet you. I'm Astrid."

Petit looked away as the traffic light changed to green and pulled into the parking lot finally. The family of heroes in their regalia looked out of place standing next to a brown nondescript windowless van.

Petit tugged her black leather overcoat around herself as she stepped out of the car. It mostly hid her costume beneath, save for a split 'V' of material that hung from the back of the coat that allowed her black and white tail to move unhindered.

Brandish stepped forward as the kids exited the vehicle, creases formed at the corner of her mouth as a worry crossed her face, "Why are they dressed like they're going to bomb a federal building?"

The teens looked at each other eyeing their clothes warily.

"They are under my husband's protection but enemies have made moves against us. I promised their families I would guard them with my very life and I thought of the safest place they could be was with my attorney".

"My attorney and her super powered family, right?" Glory Girl chimed in.

Rune stepped forward, "I'm Astrid and I like your hair."

Victoria looked disarmed briefly but a smirk spread on her face, "Thanks. Grew it myself."

Rune chuckled and the two girls began bantering like two long lost friends, all the while Panacea and 'Barry' somehow both looked left out of the crowd yet with only four teens present.

"Why would anyone want criminals to protect their kids?" Carol asked Petit.

"As we expand into the world of public medicine and healthcare, certain private citizens do enjoy seeking Parahuman protection over the standard bodyguard."

"Your current legal status in this country doesn't permit you to do work for hire, Mrs. Long."

"Merely a favor to secure future cooperation. I imagine the tale of undocumented immigrants watching a wealthy couple's children is not uncommon?"

"She's got you there", Flashbang added as he exited the back of the van after rearranging the seats. "Have you all eaten? We were going to pick up some quick dinner before patrolling but if this is our evening we could eat out instead?"

The four teens looked at Carol and Petit. Carol sighed and looked at her client, "Well, have they eaten?"

"I was told they have eaten but they are still growing and apparently endlessly hungry".

Mark laughed and slapped the side of the Van, "Pizza or Burgers?"

"Something with vegetables, I'm sure it's been stressful but not everything can be a treat."

A collective cry of 'Pizza' came from the kids and they piled into the back of the van.

"When did Pizza become a vegetable?" Petit asked.

"I think it was some pending court challenge about the amount of tomato sauce used in its preparation. It's a hill Amy is willing to die on and Victoria backs her up on it", Mark opened the side panel and Petit took a seat on the bench in front of the teens while Mark and Carol rode in the front.

"I'm telling you pizza is not a vegetable!" Brandish yelled past Petit.

"That's for the courts to decide, Mom!" Glory Girl countered.

The van left the parking lot and Carol turned in her seat again to face her client, "So when or have you notified their folks?"

"I told them I would call their family once they were secure. At present my phone is in a tinker made faraday bag so as to avoid tracking attempts since I contacted you. Once they are eating I will call from a landline."

The heroine nodded and returned to her proper sitting position.


^•v•^


The heating lamps that shined down on the steel countertop the phone cord passed across made Petit uncomfortably warm as she was berated, "If a single hair on either of their heads is even out of place I will have no problem punching a hole through yours and Lung's head next time I see you, you understand?"

"Yes, I understand and they are entirely safe. I thought it best to inform you of any major events requiring their movement. They are secure with additional cape protection and their identities are safe as well. Currently they are eating - their vegetables and talking to good kids their own age."

Purity was silent for a moment, "We haven't heard anything about what's happening in your territory so some of what you've said checks out. Just reassure me, the kids weren't specifically targeted?"

"No, they were in a reinforced room watching television down the hall when the attack began. Only I had direct access to the room and he and the girl could come and go freely as they each have their own door codes. I commend your family. They were both very brave and followed my commands without hesitation."

"Right, he's a good boy."

"I must go, they are almost done eating. I will call again from a hard-line if they are to be moved and from my cellular number when things have calmed."

Another long pause before Purity spoke again, "Kaiser says for Lung to get his house in order ASAP or ... Jesus Christ, the ceasefire is off and The Empire will come for their own and The Docks."

The dial tone filled Petit's ear as her heart sank into her stomach. Kaiser left no time table so he could take advantage of the chaos at any time. She reached over the counter and reset the phone on the cradle and thanked the proprietor of the 1950s diner-style pizzeria.

From the large windows of the restaurant the night outside seemed so dark without street lamps to light it up. The darkness turned the windows into a tinted mirror and Petit watched herself walk back to the Dallons and her charges. Her black leather long coat only highlighted the presence of her tail and the otherness she brought to the quaint slice of American dining. She discarded the alien feeling her image called up and focused on Mark, Flashbang, who was in full dad mode making awful puns and jokes, just generally keeping the kid's minds off the attack. Little did he know he was entertaining a crime lord's heir and one of the man's powered soldiers.

Part of her wanted to laugh at the scene, the hero sharing a part of himself cultivated for his own family with the enemy's progeny. Happy and healthy future crime lords and villains sitting opposite the young heroines of Brockton Bay's future.

All the while Carol kept checking her phone but never let it touch the table, each glance seemed to needle her daughters. When Amy wasn't feigning laughter at her dad's antics, little frown lines touched the girl's face as she watched her mother.

Petit took her seat in front of the crumb and grease coated, round metal pan, "Your stepmother answered, she was upset but she understood. Your father is proud of you both for being brave in the face of danger."

"Wasn't that scary. I mean there was a reason we had metal detectors in middle school", Rune said.

Theo nodded in agreement.

"Which middle school?" Victoria asked.

"Andrew Jackson", Rune answered a little too quickly.

"Oh, that means you guys go to Arca- oh - sorry, you're in masks." Amy pushed Vicky's shoulder, "I said I was sorry".

"It's okay, uhh, he's home schooled since then and I go half days to high school since I intern at Medhall. I'm looking to just get my GED and hopefully roll the internship into a job there."

"Ohhh, so - okay, that's why we don't recognize you two."

"Internship, that's cool", Amy nodded.

The three started talking a mile a minute as Petit stole the check from Mark and paid in cash. By the time they were back in the van Rune had successfully roped Theo into the conversation when the topic of babysitting came up. The boy's face lit up as he shared child care tips and laughed heartily as the girls' faces scrunched up in disgust at stories of being spit up on. Another jealous pang replaced the feeling of the pit in Petit's stomach.

As the van rolled up to the edge of ABB territory Petit climbed out of the side of the vehicle, "I appreciate you giving us a couple hours of peace while things quiet down."

Brandish leaned out of the window as Mark stepped out of the van and opened the rear doors, "You sure you don't want - us to take you all in tonight?"

"We are a few blocks away from my old base", she answered and gestured for Kub and Rune to join her.

"We know where that is - what makes it safer?"

"It is not any more safer than your home, it is merely far less dangerous for your own family. You've done enough and I do not wish to taint our business ties."

"Legal ties, legal."

"Yes, forgive me. Come, Barry, Astrid. Follow me", Petit marched off down the empty street and the two waved a short goodbye to the Dallons just to chase after the woman.

 

[Esbatty]

Rune and Theo, wearing large, dark sunglasses that hid their domino masks, flanked the long asphalt dais the girl's power carried behind Petit. The Azn Bad Boy lieutenant strode towards the busy warehouse where The Grease Monkeys once plied their trade, obfuscated from the prying eyes of the general public. Now it was lit up with music pounding and pulsing as cars littered the street.

Every few cars a gang member was stationed making a line on the side of the street. Their weapons aimed either up or down but clearly on display as a threat. Many of them were wearing similar sunglasses as the duo but from the movement of their heads they eyed the stretch of floating pavement piled with broken, blood soaked bodies that trailed the cape.

Petit walked with confidence, her leather coat she let slip down her shoulders to reveal the fur of her costume, her masks fixed into place. Her Father had instructed her to bear yourself as royalty; it would make most not question your presence and any who would dare would have to feel empowered enough themselves to be able to broach an encounter. So the trio met no resistance, merely stares, occasionally someone would ask who Theo or Rune was but they were ordered to ignore any enticements and just follow Shima.

The funeral procession Petit led made it to the shut doors of the garage. Several armed gangsters blocked it with their tattooed bodies and brandished weapons. Petit drew a keyfob from her costume's pocket above the base of her tail. The wall panel slid open wide enough for a large truck to enter and the three and their asphalt dais passed through easily. Again no one attempted to stop them and in fact a few curious partiers trailed behind the teens.

The usually dark and empty warehouse turned garage was set up with fog machines, light systems with lasers that danced against the opaque clouds drawing out words and phrases and the occasional animation. Alcohol and drugs flowed freely and a number of women were wearing a selection of clothes from the boxes Lung had provided for Petit and Bakuda.

The place had been turned into something of a rave, an unsanctioned event that would attract unwanted attention when shows of force and congregations of this number were not allowed under the terms of the ceasefire.

The music reverberated through her body as she passed one of the stacks of speaker equipment. The black boxes with fiber optic lights matching the changes in the music poured the lyrics into her very core

'Blood, blood in the water.'
'Blood, blood in the water.'
'Blood, blood in the water.'

Words repeated again and again, and it clicked in Petit's head. Lung's fight against the Undersiders and his capture by Armsmaster broke the years building his reputation. The gangs he once conquered were finding themselves free of the fear of the dragon. The fear was the sole barrier to them realizing their autonomy while he lounged back and enjoyed the fruits of their labor.

And like any army made to wait that was used to enjoying the spoils of war, they watched their ruler sit and spread. He grew fat on their hard work and enjoyed ruling a small corner of what, in their eyes, could be more.

Taiko's last words to Petit, 'He wouldn't have to know'. What else were the Azn Bad Boys up to without Lung's knowledge?

Petit's crossing of the warehouse had parted the dance floor. With chin held high, she let her tail snap about behind her, batting away people too close for comfort. Her red and green hoodie entourage stayed as close to the pile of bodies as possible without touching the dripping mess left in its wake.

On Iggy's couch watching various music videos on the brother's TVs, sat a gaggle of women surrounding Leng. A black light blanketed the area revealing hidden details that expanded on his torn open mouth tattoo. The tattoo was just a part of a larger demon's face that covered his entire countenance. It was skillfully done in UV ink and caused his face to glow in a subtle red hue. Cosmetic contacts he wore gave his eyes an orange glow. Even Leng's frosted hair tips glowed orange and yellow. The glowing once pretty boy gangster beckoned Petit closer and she gestured for Rune and Theo to remain before she closed the distance.

"That's my favorite pet! Shima, I thought you'd be at the Shiro holding court with Lung over the new recruits?"

Thanks to her tinted lenses and gas mask he couldn't see the scowl on her face at being called his pet, "Leng, the terms of the ceasefire prohibits large gatherings especially with heavily armed soldiers present."

He feigned being frightened bringing his women to laughter, "Take a load off... uhh, you've been busy, clearly. That's a floating piece of street covered in my boys?"

Petit sighed, "So I assume you are a Parahuman and that makes you quite effective swaying people?"

His glowing demonic face grinned, "Winner winner, Chicken dinner, ladies. Lung's woman here guessed it, like my bába used to say: wiseman knows everything but a shrewd man knows everyone".

"I don't understand you, Leng. We freed you and-"

"It's money you stupid woman. Everyone knows the ABB is over. Lung could have made us great but instead he hid for too long. I'd bring him all of the best people, with and without my power, and he'd shuffle them off if they so much as rolled their eyes behind his back. Everyone comes to America saying they will do better, be different than the old ways but it's the same shit. They just want the old ways but themselves in charge", Leng ran his hand down his face wiping sweat from it.

"So fuck alla that. Someone offered us a lot of money to stir the pot. We took it, paid off and armed the real psychos to suicide themselves in the hotel, while the rest of us are fucking off with the rest of the cash."

"Where's Ignacio, Leng?"

"Taiko told him their mom wasn't too well before he took himself and his sawed off to the hotel."

Petit looked around at the last hurrah of the ABB, "So that's - that's it. Just picking up and leaving."

"Yup, everyone with a family already packed their cars and left. It's why the Docks are quiet, and everyone who wanted one last good-bye to ruling this piece of shit string of shops and warehouses. What you thought you'd march in here and try to intimidate us to not kill you? Your pile of bodies there were just more mad dogs needing to be put down."

Rune started to laugh and Theo shot her a look.

"What's so funny little girl?" Leng looked genuinely bothered.

"This whole time you could have just been paid off to quit and move away and then what? You're not going to be there to protect your people from the Empire or Merchants?"

"Hey, anyone stupid enough to stick around and deal with skels and skinheads are stupid or fucked in the head and those are traits that need to hit the genepool's filter, little girl."

Petit's phone buzzed in the small of her back. She drew the phone out of her pocket and answered, "Shima here".

Petit turned to look back at her charges and gestured for Rune to drop the asphalt platform, "Yes, the Warehouse garage... okay, I'll do so."

She snapped the phone shut and gestured for the kids to go back from where they came.

"Where you going?" The demon face asked.

"Goodbye, Leng", she said as she followed the teens out.

Petit caught up to the kids, "Try to keep up."

The warehouse side wall panel remained open as they rushed through the exit. Once clear of the fencing of the warehouse, seen overhead, a massive metal winged beast dived down like a bird of prey. Its massive feet crashed into the roof of the warehouse building as waves of fire pulsed from its body. Screams and gunfire filled the night as the street soldiers charged past the cars they guarded to join the battle.

A white car pulled up to Shima and the kids, Oni Lee in the driver's seat, and the trio climbed into the car.

"Lee, can you - not wear that right now", she asked as she pulled off her lensed cowl. The assassin nodded and lifted the mask up and let it rest on the top of his head, "Lung said to take you to a Sinopetrol property. He said you'd know where one was from this."

He pulled free a manila envelope tucked in his bandolier and passed it to Petit. She opened it and pulled a stack of paperwork, certificates, and a secure thumb drive.

"He acted on my information?" She asked incredulously.

Lee nodded, "There was much money in all of the safes but this envelope was worth more than all of it combined, he said."

"I could kiss you. This - all of this is my Father's holdings for just SP Chem Limited. Just one of many-" she tipped the envelope into her lap and a set of keys fell into it. "Ahh, that's - can you get us to... Brockton Heights?"

Rune piped up from the back, "that's in PRT territory."

"I am aware, Rune, but we own it now."

"The condo?" Theo asked.

"The entire property, Kub".

"Fuck, that's - legal?" The girl asked as she pulled her sunglasses off and dropped her hood.

"Very much, I have all the paperwork and documents giving me control over the company. Technically, I would serve as Vice Chair of the board of directors once my attorney secures my status here."

Lee turned to look at Petit as they pulled up to a stop light, "Who is the Chairman?"

"Mr. Long - Lung. We will not need the gangs to hold sway in Brockton Bay. We will be legitimate and still be able to secure the Docks and the people who decide to remain... The light is green, Lee."


^•v•^


Once they arrived she got the teens settled in one of the guest rooms. Rune took the bed and Theo the lounge chair with some spare blankets and pillow. Neither seemed particularly excited. She had just marched them into the heart of ABB territory with the promise of safety and security and ended up trying to pull off a gambit to scare the errant goons into submission with their help.

In the end it was all for naught. Instead they witnessed Lung in a dangerous form only heard of in passing. The pair decided against watching television or any offers of snacks or drinks save for bottles of water before just going straight to sleep. Her admiration for the duo grew by leaps and bounds this very night.

Petit made for the shower once Oni Lee left, the teleporter was eager to retrieve Lung and the others from the battle. Petit went about collecting food and drinks the group may want to partake in. Once she felt she had enough for the crew she sat in the dark on the tan couch in the living room of the condo. She tucked her legs under herself and relaxed in the warm bathrobe. The pulse of the music she could still feel in the core of herself, the beat and the lyrics haunted the quiet of twilight.

'Blood, blood in the water.'

She was unsure how her husband would see this - victory for punishing the traitors or a loss for the mutiny occuring at all? And his flying form, it was terrifying to see it overhead in the night sky. The glow between the charred metal scales reminded her of the flaming embers of charcoal biscuits in a table's grill. Yet hearing the carnage as they drove away in Lee's car, knowing the men rushing to fight Lung would be doomed to fail, was also thrilling. Either way she would do her best to provide him what he needed when he returned.

A knock on the door stirred her from the couch, she nodded off. Quick to her feet she made for the foyer and used the wall's security panel to bring up the camera view of Lung and the court on the doorstep filling the walkway. Once the door opened Wild Man loped inside and headed straight for the food spread quickly followed by Bakuda. The two grabbed from a selection of a loaf of sliced bread, various cheeses, and cured meats pulled from the pantry and fridge alongside prepackaged sandwich cookies and small individual bags of chips.

Oni Lee held up Palisade mostly free of her disturbing yet impressive armor, the olive-skinned woman had a slight limp and the injured leg was still encased in the blackened, crusty layers. Petit came up to the woman's armless side and wrapped an arm around her waist, the two set the woman down on the couch. Lung lingered behind, refusing to enter, and Petit joined him shutting the door behind her.

The night air was sticky and warm, the cool winds that cut the humidity threatened rain as it brought the smell of the bay with it. Lung was shirtless as usual and maskless. The Moonlight played across the sheen of sweat that coated him and his features. He did not appear upset but he was not happy either, as he stood out in the property's walkway staring out across the parking lot deeper into PRT territory.

"Word will spread of tonight's actions. The attack, the slaughter, and my counter attack."

"Your victory against those who plotted against you", she rested a hand on his forearm and his skin was almost clammy.

"Victory in the short term, a failure writ large of my management of my own men. In my effort to unite us beyond simple location or ethnicity, the tribal mindset so many gangs reduce themselves, it was - what? Jealousy, idleness, frustration? What turned them against me?"

She patted his arm, "Freedom. Our enemies turned our forces against us with enough money to let their families escape poverty. Freedom from the threat of The Empire, of the war in the streets that nearly consumed this city."

Instead of a growl or angry grunt, Lung released a long sigh, "Then they died with a form of honor, lives expended without waste"

She shut her eyes for a moment and when she opened them to look upon her leader his eyes were glowing, half lidded. Petit loosened the robe's belt letting it fall open and pushed herself against her husband. The glow of his eyes dimmed at the contact of their skin. He grabbed her about the waist just to turn and pin her up against the outer wall of the condo. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she pulled herself up to his face for a kiss. The sound of his undone belt carried down the walkway.

 

[syrtis]

Petit is really trying to keep this house of cards together and man has Lung not made it easy for her. Queen shit.

Also I absolutely love the art for this chapter, very fun.

 

[Esbatty]

Petit is really trying to keep this house of cards together and man has Lung not made it easy for her. Queen shit.

Also I absolutely love the art for this chapter, very fun.

Click to shrink...

It doesn't help that Lung was so reactive to everything. If his power requires him to be seen by many and needs time to ramp up then he should have had a larger entourage to see him battle and give him time to build up. Instead he isolated himself and gave his men reason to hide and look away to avoid his wrath.

So yeah Petit is backing a horse that kicks off all it's jockeys.

Oh and to be in Rune and Theo's heads when Petit is pied Pipering the white supremacist kids through an ABB rave after having dinner with New Wave.

The art is a cg background with my drawing of Shima run through an art style filter. It was cool to make. I appreciate the kind words.

 

[Esbatty]

When she woke it was strange to find Bakuda and Lung still in bed, both were early birds quick to seize the day and exercise the plans and impulses of their minds. She'd been raised to look her best and be sharp as possible in any given situation, so rest and proper meals were just as important as business itself. But in remembering the events of the evening before, what was there to do in The Docks that had not been undone by the dead?

Last night's twilight coupling had woken local HOA board members which had Lung finishing nearly in front of an audience that were still ascending the last flight of stairs when he returned his dragon to its belted lair. Explaining to tenants that you are the new owners of the property and the HOA had zero say in said ownership change or that the owner's condo was not subject to HOA authority seemed to be two out of three strikes in the hastily assembled minds.

Petit was casual as she asked her husband to go inside and prepare for bed. This was little different from dealing with rival corporations, she aimed to maintain an air of superiority, and that everything she does is permissible and normal. The words audit, contracts, review, and change were thrown about until the assembly broke up and returned to their condos.

She quietly laughed to herself about the incident as she slipped out of bed and showered once again. The bathroom clock showed only a handful of hours had passed and dawn had barely broken. The bedroom closet held generic items for tending to clothing but no actual clothing save for bed linens, towels and robes. Her costume still held a money clip and the landline functioned so she, dressed in her bathrobe, slipped out onto the bedroom balcony. Here she did her best to make an order for a large breakfast delivery as something between construction equipment and an animal was making a racket nearby.

The smell of coffee beckoned her to the kitchen and along the way she found Wild Man sleeping out on the living room balcony. It took Petit a moment to realize it was his snoring outside that rattled the insulated sliding glass door.

Palisade was sitting up on the fold out couch and flipping through various TV news channels with closed captions on. Oni Lee was already drinking coffee at the breakfast nook while a new pot was percolating away. The man pointed at the coffee machine, tapped his wrist and held up three fingers, three minutes until coffee would be ready.

"Thank you, Lee."

Her flip phone sat on the breakfast nook near a notepad with a short green pencil tethered to it with a bit of white string. She held the '3' on the phone and she was connected right away.

"Hello, Mrs. Dallon."

"Hello, Mrs. Long, I trust things went relatively well last night?"

"In a manner of speaking some things went well while other matters resolved themselves... Much to the city's benefit in the short term."

Carol paused taking the statement in, "Ah, I am not going to pretend to fully understand but things should be quieter in The Docks, hmm?"

"For a time, I imagine. Those that seek power do abhor a vacuum."

"Oh, I - see. Well, I take it you are checking on your case? If so, it seems your case has been expedited on account of evidence left behind by Orchard at a crime scene. Investigators were able to track down a certain yacht owner who had two altered prisoners on his property. The testimony they provided to the PRT links up to your own account. A- Panacea was able to find similar alterations done to their bodies as yours, and she has submitted an affidavit as such."

Petit took a deep breath. She needed this, especially with what happened yesterday, "Ah, when - when can I - who do I? I -"

"If you are somewhere safe, we can come to you to start finalizing your paperwork or you can come down at any time before the offices close and we can do it then."

"Thank you, I - I am loath to admit I needed good news. Things have been - it has been a trying month. Thank you, Mrs Dallon. We will be there after breakfast."

"I look forward to seeing you there, Mrs. Long," Carol's words seemed genuine.

The women said their goodbyes and with renewed gusto Petit quickly assembled plates, utensils, mugs and glasses and set them on the kitchen counter. She turned to announce to Lee and Palisade, "I ordered breakfast takeaway, should be here in about forty minutes if either of you want to wash up?"

Lee shook his head no, and the new girl stood up, stretched her arm and padded off down the hall.

"Are you hungry?" Petit asked the quiet man.

Again he shook his head in the negative.

"Would you very much mind picking up some clothing for us from somewhere? And do you have the necessary funds for this?" she pulled the notepad off the nook's countertop and jotted down sizes. He took the note and gave her a thumbs up and started to head out.

"And no mask, please?"

The assassin's shoulders sank and he removed his favorite accessory. Much like a gangster in the films he tucked it into the back of his pants like it was a hidden weapon and stepped out the door.


^•v•^


Lung without his mask, hair slicked and styled, in a white button up silk shirt and red power tie made Bakuda giggle away until he shrugged on the gray sport coat. Her cackling grated the man as the clothes transformed the gangster, as the tinker pointed out, from infamous cape to a generic looking salaryman, if not for being unusually tall.

Mr. Kenta Long stewed in the leather office chair in the conference room. The dark sunglasses he wore obscured his rather generic features and hid his normally bloodshot eyes. Shima sat beside him in a less than modest v-cut black lace embroidered blouse and white pencil skirt.

As Carol let herself into the conference room, Petit lifted her sunglasses up and rested them on the top of her head. It was late in the day, Lung preferred not being seen by the public dressed just so. Carol had already changed out of her business attire and was in a pair of jeans, white sneakers, and a graphic tee bearing the various designs from her family's costumes.

"Hello, Shima, and - Lung", Carol paused as she stared down the notorious mob boss.

"Brandish", he growled.

Petit took Lung's hand into hers and made a show of giving the back of his rough hand a kiss, "Please, she has been good to me, and advocated for me in my struggles in this country."

Both seemed to let their hackles relax.

"Mr. Long", Dallon changed her approach.

He nodded in acknowledgement and placed his other hand over Petit's as Carol sat down. She slid a manila folder of paperwork towards the couple, "You do understand you will be starting with essentially a blank slate here in this country as Mr and Mrs. Long."

Lung scowled at her words.

"This is a chance to start over and from what Shima tells me, you will be starting out far better than most seeking asylum here."

Lung resisted standing up and wringing Brandish's neck for talking down to him. He'd suffer enough indignities in Brockton Bay to last a lifetime just to let some vigilante think she was showing him kindness and lecture him about new beginnings. He'd moved several times in his life, and it cost him both his normal life and his mother in the process.

But his Shima had been working hard to find other footholds in the city to exploit for power, for future victory. If not for her he'd be scrambling to recover in the streets in a rage, seeking out his enemies, demanding satisfaction, "Shima has been a boon to me since we joined together. I - we are grateful for your help securing her future and her safety for all she has gone through."

Once they had each signed and initialed the marked pages and before Carol could shake any hands in celebration Lung pulled an envelope from his jacket with the documentation from the Sinopetrol Chemical safes.

"This is all the paperwork necessary for us to take controlling interest in S.P. Chemical Limited."

Carol seemed taken aback, "We just established your asylum status and now you're moving on to corpora- hmm, this - I'll have to let one of the senior partners see this. These shares are under your old identity, Shima, but with your current paperwork finalized it will be easily transferred. We can skip many steps since this is less a takeover but just a simple legal name change. But honestly-"

She paged through the files, "wouldn't you want to seek a larger firm?"

Shima and Kenta looked to one another, "We - have come to trust you. You understand our lives better than most attorneys. You already know what we seek to do for Brockton Bay. Things are already changing in The Docks and now that I can press for this change of ownership, I can make good on the Medical Center for the community."

Carol leaned back in her office chair and nodded, "I'm not saying yes, this is up to the Partners, but I have no objections to this continuing."

"Good", Lung said. "I will leave future matters regarding legal decisions for the businesses between you and Shima. I trust - I will trust in my wife's instincts and where she will take our future."


^•v•^


The drive back to the condo was quiet, Lung fit stooped in the backseat of Lee's car and Shima insisted on picking up dinner on the way. When they arrived they found the unit in a somber mood, Palisade and the teens playing a board game with Bakuda had a coffee table spread out with parts, tinkering, with the state cable news channel running on the TV.

'Reports of a series of warehouse fires across the southern coast of Brockton Bay seems to have claimed the lives of what authorities estimate to be at least one hundred attendees of what investigators say was an illegal rave.'

'What a tragedy, Gail.'

'Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those lost… and back to you Leonard!'

'The creme de la creme of Brockton Bay is getting ready for the Fundraiser at the Gallery thrown by Mayor Christener this we-'

Bakuda switched channels to a cooking show, her habit of watching food related shows while eating seemed like overkill to anyone but the tinker. Lung took no food and shut himself in the master bedroom.

Shima stopped Bakuda before she could dig into her dinner, and motioned for her to come with.

"Nobody better touch my damn pasta bowl", she threatened the room, eyes narrowed at Oni Lee. "I counted my bread sticks, too."

Together they headed to the bedroom, the door unlocked, they entered and Lung stood on the balcony sliding door open and the warm breeze of dusk filled the room.

"Lung, how are you?" Shima asked.

With his back to them it was a minute before he addressed them, "Call Kaiser, arrange for the return of the children. With no army at my back there is no reason for a ceasefire."

"Generous of you but as you showed last night you are beyond the means of an army. You are the threat, the true power of the ABB. Armies are cowed by Dragons, Kings - Kaisers make offerings to stay their wrath."

"King of the Crackers did give you two virgins to keep the peace", Bakuda added.

Lung turned back and looked at her incredulously, "True."

"If you want me to return them I will, I will arrange it. But an army does not make a King. A King only asks for what he can take, everything you have received was on your own strength not by the numbers of others. Your men did not face The Protectorate and walk away unscathed, that was you, my dear husband."

"Me and Shima aren't here cuz we wanted your gang. Those fuckers were too scared to fight and live, instead they laid back and were slaughtered like sheep. They enjoyed years of your reputation making life easy for 'em. It went on long enough they all started thinking they were King Shit of Fuck Mountain."

Lung's eyes started to glow but Bakuda grabbed him by the front of his shirt, "Don't go getting upset at shit that already happened. It's over. It's done. They're dead, you're not. Now you're going to relax, safe in the knowledge you got your court outside, and your queens right the fuck here to remind you it's good to be king."

Bakuda began unbuttoning his shirt and Lung put a hand on top of both of hers, "Today we signed paperwork concerning our legal status".

"Aaaand?"

"Shima is my wife. You said you are both my queens and-"

The bomber made a face, "Oh shut up. You recruited me because I don't take shit from people. I held thousands hostage because assholes stole from me and the system said tough titty. Fuck that, she may be your wife and yet I'm still going to fuck your brains out in front of her. Now both of you get into fucking bed right now."

 

[Esbatty]

Sinopetrol-United.

The title flashed across the monitor embedded in the wall of the board room. The assembled men and women were predominantly locals, it's the way Sinopetrol likes their boards either diverse or stocked with the hoi polloi of the local executive types. Any failure can easily be chalked up to diversity or incompatibility of corporate cultures, but either way easy outs to save face for Chairpersons who need one when the Syndicate requires a convenient reshuffling on the business side of their interests.

The title was followed by various logos, new work uniforms and general restructuring of the hierarchy and title reassignments. This was a massive shake up for a relatively new business in Brockton Bay but with Lung and Carol Dallon's backing so far no real resistance was met as Shima presented the wonderful news to a quiet board meeting.

A few short videos played of the former Chairman and Vice Chair both apologizing for their absence and reasons for releasing their shares, or right to represent the shares Shima now held, and how they appreciated their time at Sinopetrol Chemical Limited. The last video was a video of Petit's father greeting the new Chairperson, Kenta Long and Vice Chair, Shima Long, with a message of hope that success comes with these changes. The man's youthful appearance and faux jovial manner grated on Shima and she cut the video short.

"As much as platitudes are appreciated by Mr. Long and myself, I find our time is better spent getting up to speed regarding Sinopetrol-United's dealings so if any of you have questions or concerns-" quiet murmurs rose, "it is best you direct them to Mr. Long's personal secretary, Miss Byeog."

Palisade stood and bowed curtly from her mobile laptop desk and returned to taking notes. With the current disturbance in the chop shops, prostitution ring, and utter devastation of the drug distribution network, funding Palisade's education turned into a semi-legitimate job position she can place on her CV and the money for her education comes straight from the corporate coffers. She jumped at the opportunity since she is better utilized as a cape that can be deployed at business events that may require power use, which should be far rarer than Lung initially intended.

Lung stood up from his chair and bowed his head ever so slightly and exited the room quickly. The various directors didn't know how to deal with his sudden departure and the lone director who attempted to catch up to Lung was intercepted by Palisade. A business card exchange later and the meeting was adjourned.

"Please tell me I'm going to get to see him in an actual tuxedo dancing with you?" Carol asked as she slipped extra sets of paperwork she handed out to the directors back into her valise.

"Who, where?" Shima asked with a smirk.

"For a former, hopefully former, pimp and drug dealer he seems incredibly uncomfortable in public speaking situations. So I want to know if-" Miss Byoeg brought up a large white envelope to Shima. "Yes, those are tickets to the fundraiser! Are you and Mr. Long attending?"

His personal secretary shook her head no at Shima then retreated back to her desk.

"I am afraid he has a personal event to attend that night, a VIP you might say, that requires his attention."

The attorney shook her head, "I'm calling bull on that, unless he's chasing after some young... thing. I'm - I spoke out of turn."

Shima offered the red-faced woman a light smile, "It is best not to fret over our marriage, it is one of a meeting of minds. I am sure more than fondness will come in time. For now I am content as his partner."

"Oh", Carol seemed to be less embarrassed and more melancholy.

"Do not worry. Lung's desires are split between myself and my friend. She has become dear to me since I have come to know her and I approve of his choice."

"Well, it takes all kinds, I suppose?"

"Thank you for your time, Carol. And I will be sure to attend the event. Maybe you can introduce me to some potential clients?"

"For sure. I'll see you there, Shima."

It'd been a strange road building trust with the vigilante attorney and leader of a Parahuman team, but legitimacy requires diplomacy and sacrifice for future victory. Shima respected the family and it would be a shame to have to take it apart before the girls could reach their potential. Brockton Bay would be less without them but no matter the disasters that cleansed the planet of lives both noble and ignoble the globe would continue to spin in the cold of space as it's done for so long.

^•v•^

"It is not cowardly to admit you are uneasy in this new position in life", Lee sat in the back seat and nodded in agreement with Shima's words while Lung drove. The unmasked gangster kept to the speed limits of the city, obeying stop signs and yielding as instructed. Miss Byeog was in the back seat letting her hair out of its bun and wiping off the excessive makeup from her face. Oni Lee held her prosthetic arm as the woman was still getting used to wearing it.

"I mean it, you did nothing wrong back there. Many strong men are men of few words."

Oni Lee looked directly into the rearview mirror and nodded sagely. Lung adjusted the mirror at an unsafe angle.

A few blocks down from the PRT headquarters, Lung pulled off into a tall parking structure two floors from the top; he brought the car to a halt in front of Oni Lee's white Honda. Bakuda and Wildman were already dressed for the exchange and Kub and Rune had their few accumulated possessions in hiking bags.

In minutes Lung and his court were ready and they piled back into their vehicles and ascended the last two floors where a helicopter sat with Kaiser, Purity, and Hookwolf waited.

"A helicopter, really? You couldn't spring for an Osprey with swastika propellers?" Bakuda spat out as soon as she exited the car.

Hookwolf sniggered. Kaiser silenced him with a scathing look.

The Empire's leader raised his chin once Rune and Theo were out of the white car and Theo's back straightened and Rune's face dropped back to an impassive stare.

"The boy looks thinner", Kaiser snarled at Lung.

"We were instructed to bring them back in as good or better condition than we received them. Not a hair out of place but they were allowed out for shopping, walks and meals", Shima countered matter of factly.

Purity glowed a bit brighter, "Shopping for what? Drugs? You brought them to your slave auctions?"

"Clothing, personal hygiene goods, movies or games they had not played or seen. The usual things the young do when not expected to goose-step to the claps of inflated egos."

Kaiser looked at Shima, "Hardly. I heard your rabble imploded and you're lacking the numbers to keep your territory."

"We legitimately own the properties that reside in our territory, Kaiser. The Asian gangs formed as a protection against your kinds hostility in this nation of immigrants. Now many of the families have prospered under my reign and benefited from my protection. They were free to leave with their families", Lung addressed his lesser.

"I heard you killed your own men."

"I killed spies and sycophants attempting to weaken me. There is no weakening me, Kaiser. I don't need an army to wipe one out. I don't need the ABB, it is the ABB who is in need of me."

Shima stood closer to Lung and stretched herself up against his side as she spoke, "Speaking of weakness, Kaiser. Your heir was brave in the face of danger, as was his guardian. Despite their affiliation with you they were treated as one of the court and witnessed things during their stay with us. They are free to share, they have not been threatened or cajoled to remain silent. We do not hide behind words, we act on them. So we return your children to your custody, alive and well."

Theo and Rune started forward to Purity but Kaiser held up a hand, the teens paused midstep, "And the ceasefire?"

"What of it?" Lung asked.

"What are your intentions if you are returning my people? Is this you calling things off or is this you ceding your rights to the disputed territory?"

"Right now I have secured the entirety of The Docks. All the land and businesses that are not city or county owned are under corporate control from warehouses to restaurants to empty properties some of your people's fighting pits are held in. If your people attempt to extort my holdings, Corporate Security Teams will deal with them - legally. Your skinheads no longer will be dealing with whores, street toughs and drug pushers. I now own an entire portion of Brockton Bay. Shima makes a call and the Police, PRT and Protectorate come for you and yours. I have no need to hold your soldier and heir, the Azn Bad Boys are now a pillar of this fucking city."

Shima grinned as the sneer spread across Kaiser's face, "In your man Hookwolf's arrogance, our plans were accelerated. Your reich just lost another potential foothold, roi déchu. Now take your people and go in peace or you will lose more than your pride can possibly accept."

Bakuda struck a coy pose and waggled her fingers goodbye to the teens as they jogged over to Purity.

Kaiser pointed dramatically at Lung, "This is not over by a mile, you mongrel filth."

"I believe he just gestured to attack us, husband", Shima said loud enough for them to hear.

Oni Lee turned to dust from the court's lineup and the helicopter started up. Hookwolf's body started spilling out blades from his skin as he turned to close in on the helicopter's cockpit.

A thick torrent of corrosive fluids shot towards Hookwolf, the wild spray from the arc of bilious liquid caused Purity to fly up and back into the helicopter blades. The blades made a sickening squelch as it connected with her torso, shearing part way through her midsection before flinging her dimming body violently from the roof.

Rune and Theo dropped to the concrete and huddled together as Kaiser's blades began lancing out from Hookwolf's body absorbing most of Shima's attack. A short lob sent a grenade between Kaiser and the kids.

Hookwolf, weighed down by the melting blades that kept the immediate threat of the sludge from touching him, ran towards Rune and Theo. He shed the curling crusts of blackened metal and a glassy black spear tip drove itself into the eyehole of his metal mask as Palisade attacked the man-shaped chainsaw.

A raw cry of rage issued from Kaiser's helmet, a column of iron shot up from the roof and launched the grenade up high. Two more landed at the armored man's feet yet the original grenade came back down and landed back on the roof by the kids. It detonated and Rune screamed while the platform she formed lifted her and Theo into the air.

Kaiser formed two more columns knocking the two grenades at his feet up into the air above him, both activated and released a shower of bomblets that didn't detonate but rather stuck to the helicopter and all the metal Kaiser and Hookwolf had summoned.

"Fwoosh", Bakuda whispered as a wave of intense heat spread across the roof as thermite and napalm bomblets ignited.

 

[syrtis]

YES!!! YES YES YES!!!!

Purity glowed a bit brighter, "Shopping for what? Drugs? You brought them to your slave auctions?"

"Clothing, personal hygiene goods, movies or games they had not played or seen. The usual things the young do when not expected to goose-step to the claps of inflated egos."

Click to shrink...

I absolutely love this exchange. It says so much about Shima and Purity.

Thanks for the chapter!

 

[Esbatty]

YES!!! YES YES YES!!!!



I absolutely love this exchange. It says so much about Shima and Purity.

Thanks for the chapter!

Click to shrink...

Thanks!

Purity working from the idea that since ABB are drug dealing, human traffickers, and pimps that that is all they have to entertain the kids with. And Shima literally witnessing Kaiser clap for Theo's attention like a trained cat. Plus Shima enticing the enemy for a reaction is always a good time.

Next installment either tonight or tomorrow night. I haven't found the right song yet to set the mood.

 

[Esbatty]

Kaiser formed a steel column under himself to push his body out of the raging molten inferno. Instead the steel column began swallowing him up as the thermite weakened the metal's bonds, enveloping their master and turning his own armor into molten tomb.

Between Oni Lee getting people out of the way, Bakuda's bomblets and Shima's sprays making the surfaces of the roof around them untenable for blades to spring up and hold their edge or stability Kaiser attempted to use Hookwolf's flailing fiery form as an attack platform to no avail. The slagged coated, metal shifter hurled himself from the roof, nearly the smartest thing the dog fight enthusiast had done in weeks.

Bakuda granny tossed a grenade at the mess, the heat of the fires detonated the canister early and released a smothering compound that somehow halted the thermite's chemical reaction. Palisade slowly raised herself off the floor, a crust of metal coated her already disturbing outer shell and the woman made a slow zombie shuffle towards the group. The tinker pulled a handheld sprayer from her belt and liberally applied a sea-green foam over Palisade's organic armor.

The concrete platform slowly lowered to the roof but did not touch, instead Rune and Theo peeked over the edge of it. Their faces coated in the clear gel-like substance, "What the hell?! What happened?! He just- you just- what?!"

"You are free. Free from being lorded over by Kaiser", Shima gestured at Kaiser's cooling metal pile.

"We spent enough time with you to realize you aren't bad kids. Just surrounded by shit people trying to push you. If you want to go full white supremacist that's your choice but you're young and, like we said, braver than most", Bakuda added while she fiddled with her utility pockets until she found some hand towels. She tossed a pair up to the kids.

"That was my dad, and my baby sister's mom", Theo said.

"Baby? Purity was pregnant?" Shima was taken aback at the idea that she got a helicopter blade to cut into a pregnant woman.

"No, the baby - she's a toddler. I take care of her while Kayden works. She's probably with a sitter now. Oh God, what am I going to do?"

Bakuda gestured for the group to huddle but no one bothered, "Fine, don't do this in private. I think we fucked this kid over different from the way Edward Scissorglands there was going to. I don't even know why I care, I just cooked people alive."

"It is not a problem, his family failed him and then their hubris caused his family's fall. While Shima has opened my eyes beyond their old scope, I do not offer charity", Lung explained.

Shima looked over at the two, "Do either of you have anyone left? Did you even want what Kaiser had in store for you?"

Rune stood up on the concrete platform she had formed but didn't get off it, "Night, Fog, and Kreig are still around. All three are associated with Gesellshaft. They'd probably send me away, reprogram me since I survived this attack, they'd find out I did not fight. That I panicked. I wouldn't be me anymore and I already didn't like half the shit the Empire was doing. I'm not sorry, Kaiser died. Purity was weird but okay sometimes. Sorry, Theo."

"Whatever you decide, so long as you are not intent on retaliation, and if you can find me, I will provide you help", Shima said to them both.

The boy just stared at the hardened metal tomb that contained Kaiser's remains, "I need to see my sister. Before Fenja and Menja get- get her and give her to the Empire. They know people who can force triggers and she's innocent, it's not her fault who her parents are - were. I need to get her safe."

He looked to Rune and the cape nodded. The concrete platform rose up and Theo pointed out their heading and the kids flew off together.

"What kinda name is Theo? Kaiser was a fucking dick", Bakuda broke the quiet moment as the helicopter's structural integrity finished breaking apart in the background.

^•v•^

Lung had no idea what to do with Jing. The former leg breaker and bagman was a literal mess of shed hair and dead skin sitting out on the balcony loudly alternating between mma fight clips and porn on his tablet all the while nursing room temperature wine coolers.

With board meetings being a rare occurrence, Palisade taking classes online when not helping Shima as Miss Byeog, Bakuda constantly making new weapons, Oni Lee breaking into businesses Shima pointed him to, and Shima busy with their attorney, Lung was bored. Typically he'd be making appearances at their operations, fucking two or three women at a time, taking stock of new recruits, or simply hearing out people in his territory in need of help. Instead he watched Wildman fall asleep watching porn as he himself sat on the couch in front of a dark TV screen.

They'd killed Kaiser, somehow cut Purity in half and melted Hookwolf down a bit before he leapt to his death, maybe. Yet he had no throng of sycophants or entourage to cheer their victory. No glorious party with women, booze, and food to celebrate and get properly debauched. Then again he and the Wildman participated about as much in said victory as what they were doing now.

Listless, Lung headed to the master bedroom's walk-in closet, Bakuda had turned the clothing cubbies and drawers into bomb part storage bins and stockpiles of exotic munitions hung from bandoliers stretched across the shoe rack that also held Lung's mask. The fold out Ironing board served as her workbench and she sat on top of the hamper, while a small fan circulated air in the space. Her large sweater left much of her neck and shoulder exposed and, from the way she tucked her legs under herself, she wore little else as her head bobbed to the music from the earbuds. Small white plumes of smoke from her careful solder work blew into the old dragon's face as he towered behind the woman.

He put a rough hand on her bare shoulder and as soon as he made contact she rested her cheek against his hand, continuing her work. The impulse to chuck her onto the bed diminished somewhat, and he remained standing behind her watching the tinker do her best work for just a little while longer.

^•v•^

Shima stormed into the apartment, threw her clutch on the couch, and turned on the TV. Oni Lee followed swiftly after carrying four dry cleaning bags he laid down on the breakfast nook countertop. He took a second to stare at the bags of clothing and shook his head.

'- Protectorate heroes Armsmaster and Miss Militia were apparently first on the scene where witnesses suggest a violent battle took place. Fire, explosions, blood and gore could be found in and around a parking structure, across from the recently constructed Medhall Plaza. We were not allowed up into the top floors but sources suggest Kaiser is dead. Again the Leader of the Empire Eighty-Eight, Kaiser, is possibly dead. Blood and metal debris littered the streets below. Parts of a helicopter, as you can see behind me, lay on the street."

Shima lowered the volume as Lung and Bakuda walked into the living room, both appeared to be still waking up, "What's up, Sheena Easton?"

"Hookwolf and Purity's bodies are missing, and they are giving credit for Kaiser's take down to The Protectorate. Ceasefire is very much over as there has been an Art theft at the museum and apparently during the assassination, someone robbed the Medhall Corporate offices."

Lung stretched his arms, "We won the war and it doesn't matter who gets the credit so long as it was done. That bloody chapter is closed, my Shima."

"And If the Gesellshaft decides to send a new leader or elevates one of the survivors?"

"We have no army to send out to combat any uprising of the Empire. If the Empire brings war to Brockton Bay that is their problem, unless you wish us to return to drugs and sex trafficking, Shima?"

"But the children...?"

"Are not our problem, you syphilitic ho. Let it go. We cut the head off the hydra and the new head or heads will be weaker than Kaiser. They don't have his cachet or background, and Lung didn't even have to Dragonize for us to take that inbred down. Don't sweat this. Put on your designer digs, shake that fluffy tail and just - just focus on the takeovers. Anyways this gang shit is crap", Bakuda advised her friend.

Oni Lee slammed his fists on the countertop, "It's not crap, Bakuda. I miss it. Lung won't say it but when I am not running errands like a houseboy, I've seen his behavior and he misses it too."

Wildman opened the sliding door a bit, "I miss it".

"Fuck off!" Bakuda barked at the creature, who shut the sliding door and turned up the volume on his tablet.

Bakuda looked up at Lung, "Is it true? Do you miss the drugs, parties and bitches 'n cream?"

"There are times like today. We would have thrown something to celebrate our victory, yes."

Shima walked up to Oni Lee, "You rarely speak your mind, let alone to us."

Lee shrugged and refused to face the group, his fists balled up and still on the clothing on the counter.

Shima walked back over to the couch and pulled out the envelope from her clutch, "I have six fundraiser tickets meant for the board of directors. A board representative was expected to attend, I was going to take Miss Byeog with me and represent SP-United but-"

Bakuda snatched the tickets, "We can go crash that bitch and then hit a strip club after, yes yes yes?"

Lung and Lee exchanged a look.

"We don't have formal wear", Lung said.

Oni Lee lifted the clothing bags, "Your wife had me grab clothes for all of us. There is more for us in the trunk."

Jing's head started thumping against the glass door as he pleasured himself on the balcony.

"Jesus, tell me we're not bringing that with us tonight, please?" Bakuda pleaded.

"Not to the party, but he is coming to the club after", Lung said.

The wild man held a thumbs up for a moment before returning to his activity

"Christ, he's fucking disgusting", Bakuda said as she snatched the clothing bags out of Lee's hands. "Shima go grab the single yellow female from her room. She's writing a paper or some shit."


^•v•^

 

[syrtis]

Lung's gotta find a hobby now.

 

[Esbatty]

Lung's gotta find a hobby now.

Click to shrink...

Slowly eased him into being a stay at home husband. He's a kept man.

 

[Esbatty]

As a corporate limo pulled up at the condos and picked up Lung and his court, the last pink and orange hues of dusk gave way to a grey-blue evening sky. The party was quiet despite the grins the ladies of the ABB sported.

Lung and Oni Lee had wanted to feel like gangsters again, so the ladies of the Azn Bad Boys decided to acquiesce. Miss Leonore Byeog was Lee's date, dressed in a black midi dress that carefully hugged her form and was held up by two black straps.

Lee wore a black contrast trim blazer with five small buttons, a short collar with white trim and matching tailored pants. The breast pocket of his blazer held a silk handkerchief that doubled as a lower face mask with a red oni's face embroidered on it.

Oni Lee was on point with the maroon tuxedo jacket with a frilled lace skirt replacing the tails and a set of matching shoes and trousers. Bakuda instantly loved the ensemble and quickly cobbled together a matching Victorian style top hat with a short lace train dangling from the back.

Between Bakuda and Palisade, Shima was put in a long black dress with a plunging neckline and high cut slits that exposed a tinker approved amount of thigh of each leg. The dress had long sleeves that could be pushed up to expose her forearms, and her white clutch contained a stripped down version of her lower face mask.

Lung was reluctant to be seen publicly without his mask but was convinced to wear narrow black sunglasses that hid his bloodshot eyes. His tuxedo was a single button white suit jacket over his bare chest with black tailored pants.

The stretch car dropped them off at the front entrance, lights, cameras, news outlets, and throngs of Brockton Bay's cape chasing public crowded the sidewalks on both sides of the street. A questioning murmur rose from the crowd as the ladies stepped out followed by Lee and finally Lung. Palisade took Oni Lee's arm, and Lung was seized on both sides by Bakuda and Shima. Together they strode past the greetings, questions and demands for pictures.

Once in the lobby of the Fossberg Gallery building security checked Shima's tickets and they were directed to the elevator bank.

"I didn't even get frisked once! I could walk a piece of Howitzer one at a time into here and they'd never know", Bakuda laughed.

"The night's still young" Lung replied and his hand slid down to the tinker's rear.

"Ooh, someone's feisty tonight".

The elevator bank dinged and the group piled into a glass elevator that took them straight up twenty five floors. They took a moment to adjust themselves. With the ceasefire broken, and the activity Shima shared that had gone down since Kaiser's death, Lung insisted that they be prepared for anything, considering the event would be loaded with the wealthy and powerful along with leaving the city vulnerable by bringing the town's Wards and Protectorate teams mostly in one location.

Secreted under the lining of Bakuda's hat a flare gun style launcher with a handful of explosive rounds with a collapsible version of her gasmask was stored. Inside the hollow of Palisade's prosthetic was a small black bag of bomblets and three of Oni Lee's throwing knives with a large fold out knife. It wasn't much for a prolonged engagement but it was enough to make even the most desperate cape rethink knocking off early for the night.

Inside the event space, tables assembled with place settings, voluminous curtains, and flower arrangements peppered the floor. A stage sat in the back and capes milled around it seemingly dodging the curious public who paid paltry sums to be seen with, or gawk at and prod them.

Shima passed two tickets to Lee and Leonore. "Find our table", she ordered the pair, then she stood on tiptoes and whispered in Lung's ear and the man steered the ladies towards the back stage.

Bakuda gawked and snickered the closer they got to the capes, some caught wind of the woman's laughter and they braced themselves.

Lung stopped about a meter from Miss Militia and Shima smiled at the Protectorate heroine, "Enjoying your evening?" The military fatigues and star-spangled scarf she wore were not out of place in Brockton Bay.

"I am afraid I have you at a disadvantage, Miss Militia. I am Shima Long, you saved me weeks ago in the park, you chased me down on your motorcycle."

Shima's tail snaked out from the slit in her dress. She could see realization dawn in the eyes of the heroine.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, you - look so different. I'm glad you are well, Mrs. Long."

"Do not worry, you must be very busy these days."

Assault dragged Battery over and pointed up at Lung, "Say those are some nice sunglasses, do - do I know you?"

Before Lung could speak up Bakuda butted in, "Oh, Mr. Long here was recently appointed to the Chairman position on the SP-United board of directors. Don't go giving away your secret identity now, uhh, Mr. Percy?"

Battery shoved her partner with her shoulder, "Yeah, don't go revealing your secret highly paid corporate lifestyle to the rest of us, Percy."

Assault rubbed the back of his neck, "Sorry, you're a big guy in a city fulla big fellas, figured I'd remember running into you."

Lung chuckled and nodded.

"Are any of you bidding in any of the auctions? Proceeds are going to the victims of crime from the recent - activities of late?" Miss Militia asked the trio.

Bakuda's eyes lit up, "Oh please tell me it's a bachelor auction? I got good money for Armsmaster and Assault. I'd like to get alliterated if you catch my drift."

Assault ducked his head and Battery started half coughing half laughing.

"I - uh no. It's-" Miss Militia sputtered but got cut off.

"No worries, I'll just do a write in. See you later, Turbo Man", Bakuda said to Assault before she released Lung's arm and headed over to the table with Oni Lee and Palisade.

Hannah put a hand to her ear and whispered to Assault and Battery. Assault's eyes widened and Battery stood up, back straight.

"Mr. Long, as in Lung?" Miss Militia asked

"Yes", he finally spoke.

The Desert Eagle on her hip crackled with green and black energy and became a rocket launcher slung across her back.

"Problem", Shima asked.

Battery looked between the two, "This is your husband? Or are you just one of his slaves?"

Shima shook her head, "If we were here for trouble, we would not have paid for tickets and come in through the elevators. My husband and I are representing our business interests tonight."

"I'll call in the drug sniffer dogs to work the crowd", Assault added.

Shima held onto Lungs arm but craned her head behind her, she spotted Carol Dallon already making her way over, and Shima waved to her attorney.

"Oh great, New Wave has beef, too", Battery rolled her eyes as Brandish in a white and gold evening dress walked up beside Shima.

"Miss Militia, Assault, Battery" she greeted the assembled Protectorate members.

"Brandish, or Mrs. Dallon."

"Either is fine, I see you have met my firm's latest clients", Carol motioned at Lung and Shima.

"Really? Is business thaaaat slow?" Assault scoffed. Battery placed a hand on his arm and the man's shoulders sagged a bit.

"I was skeptical at first, but after helping secure Mrs. Long's legal status here in Brockton Bay, they all have been putting in the time to distance themselves from their old way of life", Carol's demeanor was earnest and rather upbeat.

"Well that's easy to do when your immediate competition just died horribly", Assault countered.

"Assault, maybe you should take a break, get some refreshments for you and Battery?" Miss Militia politely suggested. "My apologies, this is - it has been a rough time. Despite the political scene wanting to celebrate the meager peace achieved, we are quite weary of the nonstop patrols and the pressure this brings on our Wards."

"The ABB has been inactive for a while now and will remain so, especially with The Empire Eighty-Eight missing its core leadership. Less threats to the - minority populace the less reason it has to band together with equal and opposite aggression", Lung offered.

"Interesting, can any of that insight be spared towards the warehouse fires that saw the deaths of over a hundred of your members and their associates?" Miss Militia asked pointedly.

"Under the terms of the ceasefire no such assemblies were to take place, if they did the other gangs were allowed to punish the organization running contrary to the agreement. The losses were badly felt but were not unjust. The ceasefire has since remained in place. That is until recently."

Shima was taken off guard by Lung's spinning of the event. She was also pleased though that he was finally playing the game, working the other players.q

"But will you be participating in the absence of the ceasefire?"

"They're actually quite busy with business matters, this appearance here was actually at my request. To get Sinopetrol-United a glimpse into the workings of Brockton Bay's corporate and political bridge via fundraiser and charity. SP-United is even paving way for community health initiatives in underserved parts of the city", Mrs. Dallon answered on their behalf.

"The only drugs we are associated with now are Immunizations, OTC supplements, and antibiotics, unfortunately. Not much cash can be accrued in the way of black market chewable vitamins", Shima added.

"Now if the PRT has any further questions about activities either illicit or not yet ready for public consumption, you all have my firm's contact information if you wish to reserve a time to speak to my clients in an official capacity", spoke as she steered Shima and Lung back towards the dining tables.

Shima was surprised to see Carol actually physically touch Lung and Lung allowed himself to be touched by a former enemy, but here they were being seated in such a fashion, "Carol, we have six tickets yet only five to this table are you already seated?"

"Is that an invitation to sit with you all, Mrs. Long?"

Shima looked to Lung and he nodded once, his dark thin sunglasses perfectly hid his eye movements.

"It is, we would appreciate a - friendly and receptive person to help us to navigate this event", she answered her attorney.

Carol laughed once and quieted herself, "Oh I'm sorry, my daughter is in attendance but has chosen to sit with the Wards that are forced to be here so I was hoping to find myself a friendly and receptive table to keep me from over indulging in champagne."

For once in Shima's life she was surprised that she didn't pick up on a person who was drunk. The woman and vigilante had kept her composure for far longer until the abrupt laughter. She'd never known Mrs. Dallon to overindulge or in fact indulge at all.

Interesting.

"Then feel free to reside here, Carol. And call me Shima, we are both off the clock, are we not?"

"It's a party, let's party!" Bakuda chimed in.
Lee nodded from his seat and signaled for waitstaff to come by.

From across the room Shima sighted the daughter in question, Victoria standing around in her white evening gown with some of the junior heroes. Her expression changed anytime one of the kids gestured towards Lung's table. Annoyance, or confusion, it was difficult to tell.

As the night moved on and Bakuda, Lee, and Carol enjoyed food and drinks, an uncanny feeling came over Shima.

"Above us", she whispered to the table, Mrs. Dallon appeared to sober up rapidly.

"Intruders?" their attorney asked.

One, then a second impact on the roof above barely audible over the murmur of the crowd. Glass rained down into the center of the top floor with a large monstrosity carrying multiple figures.

"No, this is fun", Lee said.

Grue was the first on his feet as paying guests ran screaming for cover while the Undersiders deployed.

Bakuda grabbed at Palisade's prosthetic and pulled it free before the Korean woman ducked under their table to change and not ruin her dress. Lung reached behind himself, under his jacket, and extracted his metal mask before casting his suit jacket away.

Once again the Heroes were going to be completely reactive. Lung and Shima met eye to eye and Lung nodded.

"Bakuda, Oni Lee, target Grue and the dogs. Lung will see to whom he wishes and Palisade will have Lung's back", Shima half ordered, half announced.

Carol looked at Shima, "And you?"

Shima pushed up her sleeves, "I will try to leave these unruly children alive."

 

[syrtis]

Ok finally got around to reading this chapter a second time. Absolutely wonderful, I love how the PRT/Protectorate very clearly aren't sure how to handle this new Lung -- you can practically see them thinking "this is probably a ruse but we have to go along with it".

 

[Esbatty]

Ok finally got around to reading this chapter a second time. Absolutely wonderful, I love how the PRT/Protectorate very clearly aren't sure how to handle this new Lung -- you can practically see them thinking "this is probably a ruse but we have to go along with it".

Click to shrink...

It's Carol. She legitimizes them. Until they bust out bombs and knives at a fundraiser...