Got the Grimoire, Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Monday, March 14, 2011

I made it back to the Bay just about in time for my shift, walking in with a massive yawn, most of my fatigue only being held back thanks to caffeine and a jolt of magic through my system. Even if I was physically fine, I still felt mentally and more than a little emotionally tired after my little nighttime jaunt.

“Morning,” I said to Ethan as I entered the Protectorate equipment room (a fancy way of saying ‘locker room’) and began to don my costume. “I’m surprised Piggot authorized this, considering what just happened and everything.”

“She probably figured you were getting antsy after that,” he replied. “Miss Militia has been authorized for partnered patrols as well after she shot the training dummy with live anti-material rounds.”

“Ha! Sounds about right. Our dear MM is a woman of action,” I chuckled, shrugging into my jacket and beginning to button it up the front. I loved the outfit, but man, it had a lot of buttons.

“That she is. Hey, Mak, I just wanted to make sure…”

“Hm?”

“We’re cool, right?”

I blinked. “Of course we are. Why wouldn’t we be?”

“Well Battery and I did kind of call M/S protocols on you yesterday…”

“Yeah, but you guys were completely right to do so,” I said reasonably. “I might mostly know my own limits, but the manual exists for a reason. I shouldn’t have gone off and done what I did without supervision, even if Colin tentatively agreed to it.”

Ethan studied me for a moment. “You are an… oddly forgiving guy, you know that?”

“Do you want me to hold a grudge?”

“No, no, this is good. Just not what I was expecting.”

I gave a half-hearted shrug. “Look, if I held a grudge over every little petty grievance I might have, I’d just spend half my life pissed off. Tried that once when I was younger. Trust me, it just made me and everyone in the immediate vicinity miserable.”

That made Ethan stop in his own suiting up and give me a grin, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Mak… are you saying you were an angsty teenager?”

I snorted. “More like an angsty young adult.”

“Angsty teenager sounds better and more like you. Well now that I know we’re good, you wanna grab a beer later?”

“Always.” I offered my fist and he tapped his knuckles against mine. “Oh and I’m having a housewarming party soon. Once Valefor is out of town at least. Be great if you and Sam could make it. Not everyone there will be Protectorate though, I was going to invite New Wave and a couple of outside friends that I have.”

“I’ll see what we can do,” he said thoughtfully. “Talk it over with the wife and all that. Can’t avoid every social function where non-capes are present, otherwise it would be a little too easy to spot who the Protectorate are.”

“I mean… Do you really make an effort to do so anyway?”

Ethan hesitated. “We try as best we can. There are a few agents that I grab a drink with every now and again and I know Sam has a few girlfriends around the office, but with the way our schedules work and then the whole ‘being a parahuman’ thing… It’s tough to not get disconnected from other people.”

“I know what you mean,” I agreed. “Most of my- No, basically all of my friends are other capes. I’d say I’m friendly with a couple agents, like you, but I’ve never even considered spending time with them out of costume.”

Probably a reason so many capes got pretty… intense. Not enough time being around normal people.

“Eh, Robin and Shawn are actually a lot better at blending in than people like us, they got civilian buddies and everything. Capes like you and me are just a bit… anomalous,” he said.

“I’m kind of surprised. You always struck me as the sociable type,” I said.

“I am, but I value the wife and I’s privacy just a tad more.”

“And anyone who spends more than a few minutes with you two would easily put together who you are beneath the mask,” I guessed.

“Exactly,” he agreed.

Once we’d suited up, we took off into the city. Just because a dangerous criminal was on the loose, didn’t mean we could just hole up in our bases and wait. Crime didn’t just stop and people still needed the reassurance that the PRT and Protectorate would do our best to protect them from the gangs. Despite what some might say, optics and PR did have it’s place in preventing crime. Plus prevention was always better than cure.

“You hear we might have another gang trying to take territory?” Assault asked conversationally as we hopped rooftops.

“Shit, already?” I sighed with weary resignation. “Who? Please for the love of God, tell me it isn’t the Teeth.”

“Nah, they haven’t moved from Boston. Small-time drug pushers. Used to be at the edges of the city, but they’re trying to grab up the Docks. Call themselves the Merchants and they have at least three parahumans that we know of,” he explained.

“Oh.” I felt myself relaxing slightly. “Heard of them, yeah. Skidmark or something is their leader, a Shaker.”

“Sounds right. It’s only been a few days, but they’re going to have a hell of time trying to establish themselves there,” he commented.

“Why’s that?”

“Think Tank is pretty sure that since Lung and Oni Lee are in custody, the ABB is going to fracture along old national lines like before Lung came long. So it won’t be a small up and coming gang against one large one, it’ll be a free for all between half a dozen or more small gangs. All trying to get a slice of the pie. The streets are going to be full of blood if we don’t do something about it.”

“Then why aren’t we going there? We’re just doing a route here in Downtown,” I pointed out. “Are the people in those areas of the city worth any less because there isn’t as much money? Are we the Protectorate ‘Downtown Brockton’ now, or are we still the Protectorate East-Northeast?”

“You’re speaking my language,” Assault agreed. “But I don’t make the calls. I tried to submit a patrol route that took me into the Docks, but our analysts rejected it and said that the situation was ‘too unstable at this time’. Which is bullshit.”

“Glad you think so…”

It looked like Kage, Firestorm, and Arachne were going to be busy in the coming weeks.

Our patrol eventually took us to the Boardwalk and the standard meet and greets there, albeit with a great deal more caution. With a Master like Valefor around, protocols were tightened, the amount we were to interact with the public cut down even further than normal. Assault and I both had our heads’ on a swivel, constantly on the lookout for anyone that might be under Valefor’s sway and try and take a shot at a pair of heroes on patrol.

Several hours passed quietly though, until we received an urgent call.

“Assault, Magus, we just got a call from the Towers,” Vista, our Console for the day, said. “Looks like Valefor has done it again.”

I grimaced. “Is that the third one then?”

“Fifth,” Assault replied. “You haven’t been reading all the updates, have you?”

“Been a little busy.”

“Fair enough,” he conceded. “They’re starting to form a pattern.”

“What like… a pentagram or something?”

“Basically.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling faintly unsettled. Could parahumans use magic? I didn’t think so, but then again, maybe I’d introduced it into the world. Or maybe I was just being pessimistic. “Their little rituals like this, they don’t actually do anything, right?”

“Nah, just a crazy cult being a crazy cult,” Assault said, much to my relief. “Well let’s get to it. Might be something one of us can glean from the site.”

With that we took off. The Towers were probably the nicest of Brockton Bay’s residential areas and I technically lived on the outskirts of it. Not deep enough in the core to say “I’m rich”, but enough to say that I had at least a very well paying job.

The scene we were greeted with was… unpleasant, to put it mildly. Blood was splattered everywhere in the living room of the apartment and to make it worse, there were two victims this time. I had to fight down my bile as I regarded the scene, took in the scent of blood and… other things. It was like looking at a scene out of a horror film, the way the two people were in symmetrical positions with each other and then the sheer amount of small cuts upon their skin in various shapes and patterns…

I’ve said it before, but I will reiterate: Knowing about how evil someone is and then seeing it face to face are two very different things. I’d known about the previous murders, even seen photos of the crime scenes, but standing in the same room as them… It added a new level to how I felt about Valefor. It turned from dislike on the principle of being a villain into an outright hatred at how he could so callously kill other human beings.

“Why are we here?” I asked Assault under my breath as we took in the carnage. “Isn’t this something that like… trained investigators handle?”

“Yes, but we also need eyes on the scene as part of our job, since this is a parhuman crime,” he explained. “Plus, you have a Thinker rating, right?”

I did and not just thanks to my future knowledge or clairvoyance. I sighed, already knowing that I was in for an unpleasant experience, then kneeled down and placed a finger upon one of the knives. No skin contact required, thank God. Psychometry was a power that I didn’t have cause to use often, especially because I didn’t have the strongest version of it, only the bare bones. An impression of pain and fear filled my senses, almost making me throw up on the spot, followed by vicious satisfaction from another person. And death of course. Death had it’s own unique ‘flavor’ so to speak.

“Definitely Valefor,” I muttered, standing up and using a wet wipe to get some blood off my gloves. “I think he might have participated personally this time, not just hypnotizing these people. I bet if you check, you’ll find evidence of another blade being used on them, one that you won’t find anywhere in this apartment.” I stumbled away from the bodies. “Can you give me a minute? I’m just gonna be… up there,” I pointed up toward the sky.

Assault gave me a pat on the back. “Take your time. Try not to puke and hit someone’s car.”

“No throwing up, just need some fresh air. Be back in a bit.”

I didn’t give Assault anymore time to stop me as I found the balcony of the apartment and took off into the sky, taking deep, calming breaths. I took a moment, floating there to just calm myself, have a minute of contemplation and-

Pain lanced through my back and I was thrown out of the sky as I felt like a freight train struck me in the back, all of my various wards and reinforcements flaring, a few shattering under the force of the attack. I spun end over end until I managed to right myself, just in time to see a glowing woman hurl another bolt of helix shaped light at me.

Purity. On a sunny day too. Bold of her to attack me alone though. I held up a single hand and a runic matrix grew into existence, deflecting the attack up and away from me.

“Attacking a hero in broad daylight without reason? Kind of reckless of you,” I commented idly, already catching another bolt of light with my hands and absorbing the power. I couldn’t dodge, too many buildings and people below. “I thought you were smart enough to stay away from the Empire after I didn’t see you for Kaiser’s little kill team.”

For some reason, that brought her up short. “Kill team?”

“Oh he didn’t mention?” I scowled. “How long have you been back with the Empire then? I heard from a friend that you’re trying to turn over a new leaf, yet here you are, Kaiser’s attack dog once again.”

“I am- I’m not- You killed some of my friends. You aren’t a real hero, just a government killer.” Her hands began to glow, readying for another attack.

“It was self defense, you delusional bitch! Most of the Empire jumped me, might have even killed me if I didn’t return the favor,” I snapped angrily.

The glow around her hands wavered. “You’re… You’re lying! Kaiser told me what happened! You attacked them without provocation!”

“Who’s more likely to lie, huh?” I asked, spreading my arms to the side. “If you really think I’m more likely to be a liar than Kaiser of all people, just blast me.”

I’d survive and it would hurt like a motherfucker, but it would tell me about her true intentions. If she was just attacking out of anger/ stupidity… Well I could forgive a lot if it was coming from a genuine place, especially if she thought I’d killed people she cared about. But if she was just looking for an excuse to fight? Well then I’d stop playing nice.

The glow faltered and died. “But then why…”

An explosion went off in the distance. Then another. And another. More and more, all across the city.

“And would you look at that, now you’re an accessory to terrorism!” I felt my temper flare and now it was my turn to have a glowing palm pointed at her. “I’m going to give you exactly one chance: Surrender or I’m going to show you exactly how I was able to send the Simurgh running.”

I saw her bite her lip and mouth something to herself. I could just barely see it.

For Aster. For Theo.

Her face hardened and her palm started glowing rapidly again. I felt my heart sink and I prepared to do what I had to-

Only for Assault to slam into her back with bone crushing force. The glowing woman was sent tumbling down multiple stories only to slam into a rooftop and bounce once before rolling to a stop, the glow around her fading completely to reveal plain old Kayden Russel.

I blinked at Assault who had expertly landed and used the resulting kinetic force to roll to his feet right next to Purity’s unconscious form. I floated down and landed nearby. “Well shit. That’s my interior decorator.”

Assault paused and then laughed uproariously. “Hopefully she gives refunds.” He gave me a reproachful glance. “And that’s the last time I let you go anywhere alone.

“Yeah, fair enough. Let’s call up a squad and-”

We paused and glanced across the skyline. “Hell, we’ll be tied up with this. Valefor or the Empire you think?” He asked.

“Could be either. Knowing our luck, could be both.”

Assault shot me a slightly panicked look. “You think that the Empire teamed up with Valefor?”

“Or he got his hooks into them with his powers. Either way, I don’t think it's a coincidence that the Empire attacked me and then we discovered shortly after that Valefor is in town.”

“Yeah… Yeah you’re probably right. Console, you there?” Assault asked.

“Console is here,” Vista said, voice only a little tense. “What’s your position? Omega-Gamma-Epsilon-Seven.”

“Kappa-Bravo-Whiskey-Eleven,” Assault replied with his own M/S password for the day. “We just got attacked by Purity. We’ve got her down and ready for pick up.”

“Theta-Alpha-Charlie-Eight. Vista, what the hell is going on out there?”

“Bombs all over the city and Empire out in force causing havoc. From what we can tell, the explosions were all focused on non-white businesses and now we have packs of Empire roaming the streets. BBPD are doing what they can, but Piggot is also deploying three squads of our own troopers to assist in case of parahuman presence. Armsmaster and Dauntless are also deploying,” Vista summarized.

“Where are we needed most?” Assault asked.

“Docks if you can. There are multiple running gunfights going on.”

“We’re on it.” He cut the connection and glanced at me. “Would you mind…?”

“Not at all.” I knelt down and with a quick motion, teleported both myself and Purity through the shadows and back to the Rig’s high security cell block. I surprised the hell out of the on duty guards, so I gave them a small wave. “Hey guys. Got a live one, multiple fractures and probably some internal bleeding. Might need some treatment before you put her in a cell. I’d recommend lots of sedation, or else you’ll be getting laser blasts to the face before you can say ‘uncle’.”

“We got it from here, Magus,” one of the guards said with a quick salute.

I shot them a thumbs up and then ‘ported back to Assault’s position. “Alright, let’s get to it.”

We took off into the carnage of the Docks.

I could already tell that it was going to be a long day…

I hate Mondays...
***
A/N: What's this? A chapter not posted at an ungodly hour of the evening? What happened? Well I was able to muster up the energy/ time to actually get a good chunk of this chapter written before today, so I only wrote about 1.1k words today, the rest of it was in bits and pieces throughout the week and a larger chunk last night. Progress :)

My thanks to you all for your continued support. I hope to reward it soon with more than just a couple chapters in advance. It's getting into summer time so my boss tends to out of the office more often, meaning I get some spare time in between actual work to goof off. We'll see what I can pull off. I'll catch you all next week or maybe sooner if I can pull myself together.