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Got the Grimoire, Chapter 25
🕑 Added 2024-12-29 08:43:01 +0000 UTCChapter 25
I stared silently at Contessa for a moment before walking past her and toward my makeshift liquor cabinet. I didn’t feel like dealing with this situation entirely sober. “Do you want-”
“The bourbon, please. Your taste in scotch is terrible and would make Keith weep,” she said.
I paused and noticed my hand hovering over the more expensive bottle. A lucky guess or just a casual use of her power? I grabbed the less expensive whiskey as requested and poured us both a drink.
“So we’re using real names then, Fortuna?” I asked blithely as I sat down.
She gave a small shrug. “You already know all of us. The notes you left for Ms. Wilbourn were… extensive.”
“Ah. Figured that was you. Had hoped it wasn’t.”
“I would have been of no use in Canberra. I decided to be productive while you were distracted.” She took a sip and nodded appreciatively. “Bad taste in scotch, decent in bourbon, though David has a better palate.”
“You expect me to believe that you of all people apparently spend time drinking with the Triumvirate like you’re all pals?”
A ghost of a smile passed across the woman’s face as she accepted the glass from my hand. “I never said I sat down for a drink with them. Someone needs to watch the watchers.”
Well that wasn’t at all ominous. “Why are you here?” I asked bluntly. If she was actually speaking to me rather than aiming a rifle from a mile away or opening a portal right behind my head… Well then I didn’t think I was in any immediate danger. “I thought Cauldron and I had an understanding.”
“We did. Then you went and became more powerful than the entire Triumvirate.” She waved a hand to dismiss my protests before they even formed. “Do not deny it. You were new to your power, yet was able to match, if not exceed a revitalized Eidolon. I can only imagine what you’ll look like in the coming weeks, months, even years. A true asset against the real enemy.” Her dark eyes regarded me without betraying a hint as to what thoughts lay behind them. “Do you know what a dangerous, yet contradictory being you are, Mak?”
I took a deep drink from my glass without taking my eyes off of her. “Not particularly.”
“Human beings are selfish creatures. Even the best of us have desires for fame, glory, or simple fleshly pleasures. Do you realize how often it is that heroes are caught in… compromising positions?”
“I’ve seen the tabloids, yes.”
“So it is curious to us that despite all your power, all of your knowledge, that you don’t seek greater things for yourself. You are content to work for the Protectorate making only a little more than the average hero, despite being able to demand a fortune after your contributions. You could have any position you wanted in the Protectorate, yet you remain in Brockton Bay.”
“I’m a simple guy who just wants to help,” I said.
“Indeed.”
We sat, staring for another moment. I hated silence, so I finally broke it. “Again, why are you here? Is it just to play Thinker mind games?”
“Rebecca and David wanted me to manipulate you. Through trial and error, I have determined that you are best manipulated by honesty and good intentions.” She leaned forward, placing her glass down onto my coffee table. “Coil is an asset, but nothing compared to your new level of power. So, what would you like us to do with him?”
I blinked in surprise. “Huh?”
“I do not wish there to be any bad blood between you and Cauldron. You clearly despise the man and while his power is valuable, it is not irreplaceable. So I leave his fate in your hands.” She delivered the words with all the passion of a corpse. No indications of what she wanted, just… following her Path.
“I want him to die, painfully,” I admitted. “But… you said it yourself, his power is an asset and with the way the world is, you could use it. Keep him and use him however you want, but just promise me he won’t walk free with a fortune once all is said and done. If he’s still alive by the end, he will face justice. That is my request.”
The smallest of smiles graced her face and I felt as if I’d passed a test. “You continue to surprise. Calvert shall remain alive and healthy, but I give you my word that he shall be turned over to the authorities when he is no longer of use.” She stood to leave, finishing her bourbon in one long drink. “Good night and congratulations on the successful date. Door to Cauldron.”
As the portal opened, I called out. “Fortuna. You’ve had Coil for a bit now and a chance to test boundaries. You know what will happen if you hurt those I care for.”
Contessa paused before she crossed the portal’s threshold. “You fold easily when faced with threats to your loved ones, it is true, but such methods cannot hold one such as you in check in the long term. In addition if something were to go wrong… Calvert informed us that the Triumvirate put up a valiant defense before you annihilated our main base.”
“Glad we understand each other.”
She stepped through the Door with one last nod of respect and then was gone.
I watched the spot, tense, then began to call on my magic.
I don’t care what promises she made. I didn’t trust her, which meant defenses. And… that was probably another reason for her visit, wasn’t it? To galvanize me into bettering the protections around my home, myself, and my friends.
Goddamn Thinkers…
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Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday morning found the entire Protectorate ENE and Wards ENE lined up and standing in loose formation on the front steps of PRT HQ. It felt awfully similar to my botched introduction.
“Good morning,” Director Piggot said with her ‘PR’ voice, which meant it was a step less aggressive, though still stern. “And thank you all for joining us today. Since the Simurgh’s attack on Canberra and the successful defense of Australia’s capital this past Thursday, many questions have been asked. I have been authorized by both the Chief Director Costa-Brown and the hero who contributed most directly to the defense, to share certain details.”
Piggot gave me a quick nod, prompting me to step up beside her. “Magus went through a power awakening while in Canberra.” Trigger events weren't really a publicly known thing, only capes and those who worked with them a lot really knew about that sort of thing, so we couldn't exactly call it a second-trigger. “The new set of powers enabled Magus to assist Eidolon in driving off the Simurgh before her Scream could cause permanent harm.”
The crowd began to murmur amongst each other in an indistinct babble of sound. A local reporter raised her hand and Piggot gave her the nod. “Director Piggot, with this new development, could we be seeing a change in the Protectorate ENE’s stance on the local gangs?”
Piggot’s eyes were hard as she stared down the woman. “The PRT and Protectorate do not tolerate parahuman criminals period. Our stance has not changed.”
“Statistics show the opposite though,” the woman continued despite the warning looks shot in her direction by fellow reporters and Piggot. “Each year crime is on the rise and it seems like the Protectorate makes fewer arrests.”
“Director, may I?” I asked my boss. She gave me a look at going off script so soon, but graciously gestured for me to say my piece. “Brockton Bay has been mired in gang violence for years, it’s true, but the Protectorate ENE has worked as hard as possible to keep the peace despite numerous setbacks, including, I might add, a very low budget, which means less troopers, agents, and equipment for the PRT. It’s hard to fight crime when you’re just fighting to keep the lights on. However, after Canberra, things have changed. Thanks to the combined efforts of all of us at Canberra, including a huge tactical advantage given by our very own Armsmaster,” I gave a nod in the direction of my team leader, “our budget has significantly increased, along with a mandate from the Chief-Director to be more proactive in our community here.” I stepped back, making it clear that I was done talking.
Piggot pointed to a different reporter, one from a national news outlet if I had my channel numbers right. “Director, please excuse my ignorance, but if Magus is so powerful now, then why haven’t we seen a significant drop in crime already? Surely with his new powers, something could already be done?”
“While exact details of his powers are to remain classified for both his own privacy and as a matter of national defense, I am authorized to inform you that Magus is still learning to use his newfound powers,” Piggot said. “It is akin to giving a soldier a firearm they are unfamiliar with. When pointed at a large enough target, such as an Endbringer, then delicacy is of little importance. When aiming for a smaller target, finer training is necessary.” She stared defiantly into a nearby camera. “Consider that a warning for all of the PRT’s smaller targets in this city. Training only takes so much time.”
More chatter broke out as Piggot effectively declared war on the gangs of Brockton Bay, outright telling them that their days were numbered.
Heh, glad I’m not the only one going off script.
I knew that Piggot hated the gangs far more than I did, having had to deal with them and their atrocities longer and more frequently. Having a chance to taunt them for a change must have felt nice.
Another national reporter raised their hand politely and stepped forward once called on. “This question is directly toward Magus: Brockton Bay, with all due respect, is just one city in the United States, let alone the world that could use your help. Do you have any plans to assist further than just here?”
I stepped forward at Piggot’s small nod in my direction. “I’ll be going wherever I am needed, including other Endbringer battles and similar A and S-class events. However, Brockton Bay is my home and shall, for the time being, remain my priority until I’m no longer required.”
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The Great Dragon of Kyushu, Lung, watched with disdain as the upstart hero and his master flaunted their supposed strength on live television. Perhaps a fool would be tricked by their posturing, but he was Lung, and he knew the strength of the Endbringers better than anyone else. He had fought the sea serpent while his homeland crumbled and knew that no parahuman could actually fight those… monsters.
Furthermore, it was unthinkable that someone so strong would so willingly submit themselves to outside authority. No, Lung knew that despite whatever image of strength he projected, Magus was merely a pretender and a fraud at best, even if he was a step up in terms of strength from the other Protectorate dogs.
Still…
Even a dragon had to show caution, lest he be caught unprepared.
He began to call his lieutenants and stoked the fire within himself. With the destruction of the secretive Coil, territory had been opened up in Brockton Bay.
It was time for the Dragon to expand his borders and show the sheep of Brockton Bay why he deserved their tribute as the strongest parahuman in the city.
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Max Anders, CEO of Medhall and leader of the Empire 88 as Kaiser, was significantly less skeptical. He had some doubts, regarding Magus’ abilities to make an Endbringer run away, but Piggot was no fool and didn’t make baseless claims. Magus was a threat to the Empire, that at least was for certain. He still had his share of informants within the PRT, no true double agents unfortunately, but the occasional sympathizer or individual who needed an extra bit of money was well within his reach. He’d gotten everything he could on Magus, which wasn’t much, but it was enough to set him on edge when combined with Piggot’s bold statements.
“Jessica, call a group meeting,” he ordered his secretary/ teammate. “And call Victor. Tell him I need his information gathering skills. Tell him to get me anything he can on Magus.”
The Empire 88 would do as it always had when powerful new parahumans appeared: Weather the storm and endure.
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Lisa Wilbourn watched the news and wanted to curse and scream. As a Thinker, information was her bread and butter. Mak and Ms. Piggy just had to go and hand out way too much of it. She understood why they did it, it was as much an intimidation tactic as it was trying to live up to the PRT’s policy of controlling parahumans. Showing off that they had a new, powerful, and very dangerous one that was almost ready to throw at the gangs? Well, it fit their M.O of only caring about optics at least. Already news shows and online forums were buzzing about Magus and speculating on what the Protectorate could do with a cape like him on their roster. PRT/ Protectorate approval ratings, especially on the East Coast, were skyrocketing.
Of course if Mak didn’t live up to the hype that Piggy was building…
Well people loved to watch a hero fall from grace.
But Lisa actually liked the dumb, goofy, idiotic, protective guy that had practically shoved his way into her life and made himself her patron/ protector. He didn’t try to force her to do anything she didn’t want to do, just directed her powers at targets that deserved it. He didn’t try to actively dissuade her from a life of crime, just asked that she didn’t target innocents. She could respect that.
And he was infinitely more pleasant to deal with than Coil.
So Lisa did her best to get Mak his new target, something that would keep the public placated while he still worked on fixing the Bay slowly without provoking an all out war in the streets.
Just a bit longer and she’d have the exact location of the Slaughterhouse Nine pinned down.
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Taylor Hebert used to love superheroes. She’d wanted to be one as a kid, always playing capes with Emma and the other kids their age. Then she’d gotten older and seen the truth of it. That the heroes didn’t always win, that the villains still held a chokehold on her city, and sometimes the heroes could be worse than the villains.
Okay, so that last revelation hadn’t come until later, but it counted.
She’d wanted so badly to prove that heroes could actually help that she threw herself into the life of one before she was truly ready. She still remembered that painful lesson.
Then a hero showed up and made her feel like a kid again. Like heroes could help, that they weren’t just another tool used by the authorities to keep people complacent.
So she felt rather proud as she watched Magus- Mak or Kage as he’d introduced himself to her- reveal the full scope of his powers. PHO had been right it seemed. Not to mention that he was working to help improve the city in two different heroic identities.
And she was kinda sorta on a team with him! She’d deny squealing like a schoolgirl until the day she died, even if her dad kept giving her those tired, but amused smiles.
No squealing from Taylor, no sir.
Because she was Arachne and she was a hero.
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A few hours after the press release, I was dodging blows like my life depended on it.
Okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration. I didn’t think that Colin was really trying to kill me, but even during spars he got really intense. While the others were doing their patrols, Colin wanted to get my combat skills up to snuff ‘just in case you ever have to fight a power nullifier’. I’m fairly certain that I knew what he was really worried about.
The Slaughterhouse Nine had a reputation for targeting rising stars. I had put a huge target on my back and Hatchet Face was a very real, very dangerous member of their current roster. So, sparring against Colin while he wore his power armor and I didn’t get anything except my cane was his solution for trying to prepare me for what was basically an impossible situation.
I sank to my knees as a blow landed against my ribs, sending me into fits of coughing. Colin frowned slightly as he stood over me. “For a Striker, your actual hand to hand skills are still sorely lacking.”
“Sorry that I haven’t had literal years of training and practice,” I huffed irritably. “Plus it’s not like I need to know any fancy skills when a single punch will do.”
“You should still hone your fundamentals. Speed, reaction time, reflexes, stamina, all of that will be important as you further your career,” Colin lectured. “I wouldn’t be able to use my armor half as well if I didn’t put a lot of focus and effort into all of those traits in addition to my tinkering designs.”
“You’re right,” I grudgingly admitted. “It’s just… I got handed a bunch of power, but I know that without it, I’m just a defenseless guy with barely any training. You get used to having powers, even after only a month.”
One of his faint smirks darted across Colin’s face, but he nodded soberly. “I hold a great deal of respect for our agents and troopers. They have to deal with parahumans without the abilities that you and I possess. Think on that and think on how you can improve yourself.” He paused, considering. “Also think of it as a way to defend yourself if you get attacked out of costume. That way you won’t have to reveal your identity.”
“God, I hope I never get jumped again,” I muttered.
“This is Brockton Bay and you’re Asian. Odds are good while the Empire and ABB are still around…”
“I hate that you’re right. I still want to just go out and drag Lung and Kaiser from wherever they’re hiding and hurl them into the Birdcage,” I said.
Colin grunted as he grabbed a water bottle and tossed it to me before getting one for himself and taking a drink. “You’ve seen the analyses by Watchdog. If you aren’t quick enough, you and Lung might raze half the city. Kaiser and the Empire are too numerous and they could call in reinforcements from out of the country. You’re powerful, but not all-powerful.”
Not yet, I thought to myself. I couldn’t voice those thoughts, so I just grunted and then reached into one of my pocket dimensions. “I got something for everyone by the way. Figured you’d want to review them as the prime Tinker around here,” I said as I passed him a wooden box.
He opened it with a raised eyebrow and took out one of the dozen or so silver amulets that I’d spent all day crafting. Well… Made clones of myself to make craft while I practiced magic, but Colin didn’t need to know that. “These are… tinker-tech?”
“Think of them as being more like empowered items, similar to what Dauntless has,” I said. “They project a full body forcefield. Not impenetrable, but it’ll tank a few gunshots or even a Brute’s punch before failing and needing to recharge. Meant to be worn under clothing, against the skin. For the Protectorate and Wards.” I left out that I’d also crafted a full set for New Wave, Taylor, and Lisa, which I still needed to distribute. Call me paranoid, but… I didn’t want to leave things up to chance. “Figured since we’re poking the gangs pretty hard in the eye, odds are good that someone will eventually escalate. These might save a life if things get over intense.”
“I’ll review them and submit one for Watchdog testing so that we can get them in circulation ASAP,” Colin said. “Thank you.”
“Least I could do,” I muttered with a shrug. I’d thought about layering a whole field of wards around the PRT HQ and the Rig as well, but large scale magic didn’t play well with electronics, especially tinker-tech. Small things were fine, like the amulets I’d made, but physics and magic didn’t get along well once you started putting up bounded fields and the like. I was still cursing that realization since my t.v and computer stopped working at the Overlook once I’d placed some defensive barriers down.
“Take a compliment. You must have put quite a bit of time and effort into these. Are they real silver?”
“Yeah, not too expensive between my tiny Tinker budget and my salary.” Gold would have been better, but I wasn’t rich yet. “Seriously though, I want to make sure you’re all safe, even when not wearing the mask, you know?”
“A fair worry, given this city’s history,” he agreed. “I’ll see about increasing your stipend to cover these and a bonus for the time you spent crafting them.” He gave me a stern look as I started to protest. “Hard work deserves a reward.”
“Yessir,” I mumbled under my breath.
“Now stand up. We aren’t done for today yet,” he ordered.
I grumbled under my breath, but complied. The lessons were useful and I felt better after Colin’s explanations on why it was important.
It was still a damn painful training session.
Comments
Tenron Lightvoid
She can model him the same way she can Eidolon or other blindspots, but things get weird once he starts busting out the high tier magic. So rather than just rely on one model that could potentially get wonky, she cheated by using Coil's power and Thinker social-fu.
John
Can Contessa not path Mak? "Trial and error" seems to indicate that's the case.
