28

Chapter 28: Protectorate Interlude

The weekly briefing had been going on for close to an hour and a half, and most of the Wards were flagging badly. With the aftermath of the fighting downtown last Thursday and the majority of the Merchants getting mopped up on Saturday everyone available had been out showing the flag and projecting power as much as possible instead of attending briefings, and this absolute monster of a meeting was the unfortunate result of that.

Clockblocker was about to start snoring when Piggot finally mentioned something that wasn't prisoner transfer to the BBPD for non-cape Merchants or yet more changes to patrol routes.

"We have finally gotten information from the Thinkers about this new independent who has sprung up in the last week calling himself Warlock," she announced, biting the name off. Stabbing a button on a pad in front of her pictures began to cycle on the projected screen as she picked up a report and began to read off of it. "The first actual sighting was on Thursday when he supposedly assisted New Wave by healing Brandish, assisted in the capture of Stormtiger, and then went on to assist Panacea in clearing over two hundred cases at Brockton General.

"Two days later New Wave contacted the PRT on his behalf and he, along with Laserdream and Panacea," she paused and glared down the noises that occurred before continuing. "Corralled ninety-four people for close to an hour, set up a capture field, drove everyone into the capture field, hunted down stragglers, and took selfies with Squealer in the background." The portly woman was red-faced as she stared down at the report and up into each of the Protectorate capes' eyes and the paper was crumpled as she continued. "And earlier that same day he walked in to the cafe that was at the center of the Stomtiger/Ame-onna fight and repaired everything, created a counter from the rock wall he had previously raised, and then held an impomptu press conference from a throne, then disappeared before any of the Protectorate could get on-site to question him."

Once again she stabs another button on the pad and a video clip plays of a dark-clad cape with a silver skull mask lounging on a throne. There are small chuckles from the Wards section during some of the flippant answers, turning into stifled laughter as the goose emerges from the hat and the cape disappears.

Piggot tries glowering at everyone before sighing. "Based on picture, video, and reports from trusted sources, that gives him Striker, Blaster, Shaker, and Mover ratings. Considering how smoothly he worked, there are suspicions that he's not new, so possible Stranger to account for not being seen. What's worse is the responses from the Thinkers." She gestured to Armsmaster irritably, snatching up a pen and twisting it in her hands.

The armor-clad cape paused for a moment before he spoke. "Results from WEGDEG were unusual. Appraiser reported 'Hooloovoo', while Eleventh Hour kept reporting 'NAN'—not a number. Upon viewing video, including the one just shown, multiple Thinkers reported Warlock was was telling the truth, while the goose was noted as being both alive and not at the same time.

"Due to the inconsistencies, we are currently working with the assumption that 'Warlock' is either an unpowered human using Tinker-created items, or a human-form projection." The beard bristled a bit as he frowned. "The information that he required a separate implement to heal, even if it was called a 'wand', supports the former hypothesis."

Piggot cut back in. "I do not want a Tinker like this in Brockton Bay. The Empire and ABB will not play as nicely, and both would love to get a Tinker capable of outfits like this. If you see Warlock, report it to Console immediately. We want to have a talk with him.

Unfortunately that was the last of the interesting parts, soon the Wards were back into a collective doze until patrol.

Aegis walked through the door that Miss Militia held open for him and walked over to a seat. "Director Piggot, you asked to see me?"

"Sit down, Aegis."

After ensuring that the bandana-wearing cape had secured the door behind her, Piggot engaged the anti-surveillance baffles and turned to the Wards leader. "You said there was more information about Warlock's civilian identity."

"Ma'am, I would like to point out that this goes far past the Unwritten Rules—"

"Aegis, what could an otherwise unpowered person do if caught outside of his Tinker costume? I am not suggesting or implying that we contact them out of costume, but watching them to ensure that the gangs don't move first is important."

Carlos' mouth twisted behind his mask, but his glance at Miss Militia told him nothing as she stood there silently. "I am only in one class with James Peverell, on Tuesday mornings. He arrived with his girlfriend, Crystal Pelham. She was flying rather than walking, which was unusual for her. They both spoke with a girl named Sarah who I have seen talking with them before. Crystal left, this time walking as if she was in pain—"

"In pain how?" Piggot asked.

"Perhaps some sort of thigh injury? She was walking very gingerly, almost limping"

Miss Militia touched his shoulder. "And?"

"If James Peverell was Warlock, he would have had access to the healing tools seen before and healed Laserdream."

The two women shared a look. Piggot's tone was as dry as the desert. "Anything else?"

"No, director."

The director gave a sharp nod and turned to the other cape. "And today?"

"Peverell shares two classes with Crystal Pelham on Wednesdays. A computer programming class from shortly after 13:00 until 14:00, and a Parahuman Sociology class also shared with Victoria Dallon from 15:45 to 16:00. James Peverell was seen to attend both classes. Warlock was seen using his transportation power between 12:50 and 13:10, when he entered Quinn Calle's law office, and again at 15:20 when he left the office, raised a lectern, declared that he was Myrrdin's 'good twin', and was attacked by a flight of geese."

Piggot looked up from some scribbled notes she had taken. "Was Peverell seen during this?"

The flag-wearing cape shook her head. "No, although this isn't unusual. He and Laserdream had moved off after the first class into a private room, so they may have been… preoccupied."

With a sour grunt, the portly woman made a few final notes before pointing her pen at Aegis. "Keep an eye on this Peverell, but don't go out of your way to look suspicious. If it seems like anyone gang-related may be sniffing around, I want to know about it immediately."

"Ma'am." Carlos nodded.

"Miss Militia, take the kid off active surveillance, but continue to rely on information from the people in the PRT officer track at the University."

"That was already done over the weekend, all units were pulled to assist with prisoner detainment and transfer."

"Fine. I don't want to be in the middle of a fight over a woman with two suit-wearing wannabe capes, so let's try and let them sort it out themselves. Dismissed."

Amy threw herself on the bed and kept a sharp ear out for everyone still wandering around the Pelham house. Warlock had been the talk of the night with his multitude of powers. Everyone seemed to like him from the short periods they had dealt with him. Even Carol, of all people, offered the opinion that 'at least he had the sense to deal with lawyers before he did something that needed one', which was almost enough to be considered praise from the woman.

Crystal, though… her cousin had sat next to her and reached out and held her hand, squeezed it, and smiled at her. It made the brunette's heart flutter a bit.

And then she had paid attention to the rest of her biology.

Crystal's boyfriend—and James just had to be Warlock—had dumped unnatural amounts of semen inside her that was still detectable a day later. The girl had to be pleasantly sore and walking funny, and James hadn't even bothered to heal her.

Fuck, he had marked Crystal with his seed, fucked her bow-legged, and kept her from doing anything about it so that Amy would find out later.

…and, and, he had taken her to his secret lair as Warlock earlier, put her on his lap so she could feel his fucking huge prick against her ass, held her, and….

She swallowed thickly and felt the faint hint of velvet on her neck. He had collared her. Fuck, if she had only had a bit more daring she might have been bent over that table as he pressed her face harshly into the cold stone, his huge, no, monstrous cock about to plunder her depths. He'd take the mask off and put it next to her head as he leaned down and told her to beg for what she wanted.

"Please, fuck me, J-master—!"

Amy jolted back to herself, not even aware that her hand had drifted into her pants while she lost herself in the fantasy. Pulling it out she examined the juices coating her first two fingers. James was a nice guy, he'd never…..

Master, though, he'd fuck her then make her taste herself as he forced his cock down her throat….

Both hands started moving this time, one slipping past her panties, the other bringing wet fingers towards her mouth.