Orb Weaver: Wrath of God, 12

“Hey Dad,” I said. I was close to my current objective. Someone went running past, talking about how “the bugs were just everywhere!”

Well, the owner of the bar shouldn’t have let his fine establishment be used for E88 caches.

“Taylor!” He paused. “Is Orb Weaver bothering you? Like Julia?”

Well, Dad did remember the code words. There weren’t a lot but “Like Julia” was a question: Are you under duress?”

“Sophia was always the big problem, Dad,” I said. No. I’m fine. “Are you at the PRT?”

“Yes. I want you to join me.”

I sighed. “Dad… Orb Weaver is kinda angry.”

“You mean the kind of angry that kills fifteen men?” A new voice broke in. Emily Piggot. “I am not comfortable with you working with a vigilante that has shown such a ruthless streak.”

Interesting, Vigilante. Not villain. Oh. It looks like something else is happening. Before the call I’d spoken to a girl, given her some passwords and now… her father was home.

****

I sensed Richard Janks as he got out of his car. His movements were nervous, abrupt.

After all, I was watching them on a burner phone. Subverting a normal home security system wasn’t that difficult, especially when you left the password on a sticky note next to the main box. After all, an intruder couldn’t get to it without triggering the alarms in the first place.

Human intruders that was.

But Sheila was in his office, looking at the information I’d provided her after cracking the computer. Or rather, using a bug delivered USB chip to install malware. There was a reason why every computer in the PRT either did not have USB connections or had modified connections with a wide range of restrictions.

The information I had downloaded was…mostly confirming what I already knew. Mr. Janks knew more. And he would tell it.

“I’m home, Sheila!” he called. “Sheila?” He sounded nervous. Then he saw the open door to his office. “Sheila!” he said. “That’s my—“ then his voice trailed off as Shiela turned around the teenager hugging a stuffed animal, the files on his work computer flicking on its screen.

“Orb Weaver lied, Daddy…” she said. “Right? It’s just a lie.” Her voice quivered.

“You looked at my computer?” he asked. “I—“

“Ah, Mr. Janks, so good of you to join your daughter and myself. We have been having such a fascinating look at your job…”

****

“Orb Weaver is…extremely angry.” I would have to be careful. If Emily Piggot was on the line, so was Armsmaster, or perhaps others—Dragon or even thinkers from the Think Tank. I couldn’t lie. I couldn’t do anything that might get them digging. “What was done to Shiela…” I didn’t have to pretend to let a quaver in my voice. “Orb Weaver is furious. The Empire will be destroyed, no matter what.”

“And you?”

“I’m helping him mostly by picking out targets that can be… convinced to mend their ways. Orb Weaver will destroy the Empire but how it is destroyed is in large part, up to me.”

Not a lie.

“Investigator. Lebensraum is no loss, but you do understand that by doing that, Orb Weaver has defined a conflict far more lethal than most other conflicts in the Bay. The Empire will be pulling no punches.”

“Like they were pulling punches with Sheila, with Madalyn who just wanted to play the violin, like they were pulling punches wit—“ I swallowed. I hadn’t expected to feel like that.

I was too used to offloading my tells into my bugs. I hadn’t been prepared…

“Like they may no longer hesitate to shoot a fifteen-year-old Parahuman in the head,” Director Piggot replied.

****

“Not a violent man, no, we are not, are we, Mr. Janks? Gang initiations are so… uncouth. You merely spoke to the right people and arranged for unfortunate issues to befall the… wrong sort. Arranging for health inspections, often right after Empire thugs have… made a mess.”

“I—“

Suddenly, Sheila burst out. “When Teresa couldn’t see me anymore! Did you do that? Did you have someone scare her?”

“Honey, her family was—“

“She was my best friend in elementary school!”

Janks stepped forward, then stopped as he noticed the roiling mass of insects around him, along the walls, on the ceiling. I’d moved them there, quietly, while he was focused on his daughter.

There were no insects around Sheila.

“Well, Mr. Janks? Come now, do not be shy! Do not be humble! Your daughter deserves to know the great lengths you have gone to on her behalf.”

“I—honey, it was…”

He fell silent as Sheila turned her back on him, burying her face in her stuffed animal. I sent bugs over the lighting fixtures, seeming to cause the shadows to deepen around Sheila.

“There was another named Sheila. A reporter with an eye towards evil and who fought it. And one of your good friends Mr. Janks took everything from her. Her mind, her memory, everything that made her who she was… I am extremely angry Mr. Janks. Do you understand what that means?”

“I have money, just don’t hurt my daught—“

“Hurt your daughter? Oh, Mr. Janks, I fear I couldn’t hurt her as much as you have on my best day.” Sheila was starting to cry. “But no. She is blameless and under my protection. And as for you? I do not want your money.”

“What do you want?”

“You have harmed this city. Your daughter cries—that tears at your heart… but there are parents in this city who will never see their children again…” As I spoke, swarms of bugs formed small diorama’s, people kneeling by a grave, a body laying on a street. Janks flinched. “DO NOT LOOK AWAY Mr. Janks. This is your doing. You never pulled the trigger or swung the bat, but this is your doing.”

“What do you want?” He repeated, staring at the swarms of bugs.

“You will go to the FBI, you shall tell them everything. The great sins and the little sins. The truth, neither embellished nor reduced.”

“I can’t!”

“You are declining my offer?”

“Sheila—they’ll kill her.”

I paused, marshaling my thoughts. “K-Kill her? But are they not fellow defenders of the white race and the purity of womanhood? Are they not your friends? Why would Sheila ever be in danger from your good friends?”  Janks swallowed. “Or perhaps your choice of friends was unwise?”

****

“They have to find me,” I said.

“And they may surprise you. Like a certain Master did.” Her voice was dry. Why isn’t Dad on the phone? Then I knew. Director Piggot assumed that I’d already made my decision. Dad would get upset, she was trying to poke holes in my plan, to convince me it was wiser to seek refuge.

“They may, but I can help Orb Weaver avoid further… injury or death. I already helped pick those who might be at risk from the Empire. How about this. If I think I’m in trouble, if I even get a hint of it, I’ll call the PRT.”

She paused. “You’re set on this?”

“Yes.”

“Is Orb Weaver there?”

“He’s not in a position to talk now.”

“Then give him this message from me. If you come to any harm, and it looks like it was a part of one of his little games, he will no longer be considered a vigilante, but a villain and will be dealt with accordingly.” 

Now that was a threat. “I’ll tell him.”

“Good. Here’s your father.”

****

“You have a sister.”

“We haven’t spoken in years.”

“Yes, not since she discovered your new friends.”

“How did—“

“I know many things, Mr. Jakes.” Or rather, I’d had time to go over his papers and even his journal. If I ever set up a criminal conspiracy, I’d make journals a mortal sin, or at least mandate writing them in code. “But she is a righteous woman, and I believe she will take your daughter in.” After all, I’d called her earlier. As I spoke, I pulled the bugs away from the lights, so now Sheila was more brightly illuminated, standing out from the shadows.

He pulled out his cellphone, and trembling, punched in a number—it took several tries.

“Beatrice?” he spoke. Suddenly, his face crumpled and he started crying. “Sis, I—I fucked up and Sheila needs help.”

I listened to their conversation with one ear, while insects went through the house. There was a gun, and its drawer was webbed shut. Medicine that could be used to commit suicide… Even the kitchen knives. I had demolished him, but I would not permit him suicide. I also made a “gesture” from some of my bugs to bring Sheila over, out of close earshot of her father, still in range of the receiver.

“I have a plane ticket ready for you, and a taxi will take you to the airport. Your father is likely to spend some time in prison. I am sorry.”

“He gets to go to club fed,” she said, sniffling. “Some prison.”

“No matter how luxurious the room, a door that locks from the outside is a terrible thing,” I said, remembering a locker. “Punishment is one thing, but I think rehabilitation is better. And you will play a role in that.”

“What?”

“Your father loves you, yes?”

“Yes, but—“ She shook her head.

“And you love him, else you would not be so devastated.”

“Yes.” More sniffles.

“Then you must help him. Stay in contact, help him, love him, but never excuse his sins. He loves you, and the desire to look you in the eyes, one day, may bring him back.”

“Will it?”

“I am sorry. I cannot say. I can only say it is more likely with your help.”

Sheila said nothing else, then looked back at her father, when the cab showed up. She walked out of the house, getting into the cab. Soon it had pulled away and was driving to the airport.

Janks was standing alone in his living room.

“Well, Mr. Janks?”

He dialed another number. “Hello, is this the FBI? I’m… Richard Janks, and I’m with the city health office. I’ve been working with the Empire to harass minority businesses and also launder money…I’d… I’d like to make a full confession.”

I waited until several unmarked cars drove up. Evidently the FBI was at a high state of alert.

****

“Taylor,” Dad had said. “I—this is dangerous, and don’t trust Orb Weaver.”

“Why not?” I asked. “He’s helped—“

“He’s a fanatic,” Dad said. “Fanatics are dangerous, Taylor. When it comes down to it, he might decide you’re an acceptable sacrifice, no matter what Director Piggot says.”

“I… I’ll watch him Dad. If there’s any danger, I’ll call it in. I… love you, and I have to go.” I quickly hung up.

Dad had said something very dangerous, especially if Armsmaster was on the line. I couldn’t deny that Orb Weaver might sacrifice me…

Because, to get rid of the Empire, I would.