20

Vault 4.2

-April 12, 2011, 6:00 am, Dockyard Workshop-

The echo devices in front of me blinked online, all the basic functions were active, my own Sheikah slate had been modified even further to allow echo compatibility. That had been a programming nightmare and a half, especially given all the other modifications I had done. Still one echo device for everyone, even Danny, was good for a small fugue. The New-U station was active and should be working at full capacity, though I really don't want to test it just yet. Dying hurts a lot.

Maybe it was Sylph's own fear leaking into my consciousness, perhaps it's all the trauma of me dying, or hell it could just be good old fashioned fear of death, regardless it was untested and that bothered both me and Sylph. The answer was of course to kill someone and see if they popped back, Emily would've volunteered even.

"I owe you my life."

The sheer devotion she showed in her voice made me worry. There was a hunger behind those words and I feared asking her what she really meant. Dinah on her end had apologized for getting trapped and forced to call me. I had already forgiven her regardless, but it felt nice to receive some gratitude…

That thought brought up Taylor, she had left the workshop and I could tell the crime in the docks and the former ABB area had been stomped to the ground. She and I share that type of temper. I can feel my fist clenching and unclenching in irritation, why? 

"Dammit Taylor." I muttered as I put together a rough rider shield. I was going to give this to Danny, this should protect him better than the absolute one from Dune and draw less attention. I wasn't sure if I wanted one for me, even if it was something that was undoubtedly useful.

My stomach growling distracted me and I sighed. I couldn't keep doing this, I needed to eat. So I grabbed some biomass from the mushrooms and converted them to a mix of fruits by using the red water stones. I then analyzed them twice over to make sure I wouldn't die and bit into one.

"Tastes like the real thing." I said between bites. Apples, pineapples, bananas, grapes, kiwi, and cherries all good fruit to have. I then proceeded to grab some more and made myself some bread, butter, a bit of flame alchemy and I had toast. I was so fixated with my food that I barely heard the door opening, I smelled coffee. It wasn't the pure black sludge Danny liked, I could tell that from the smell alone. Whatever blend it was, it smelled divine to my nose, Emily held two cups and she offered me one.

I automatically walked towards her and grabbed the offered cup and drank. It was a sweeter blend, something about it reminded me of the beach, the sun, the heat, 

A boy walks along the shoreline, the rising sun greeting him. His family had decided to take him out to learn to swim on the beach. His uncle had even brought an inflatable raft for all of them to use. 

The memory of my past hit me like a truck. This blend… 

"Who taught you this?" I asked even as I drank more. It was just short of sweet, something in me wanted more, to remember, to forget again.

"Someone who was silly, someone who was serious, someone who was selfish, and she gave her life to save everyone's. Marie… I know who you are. Or rather some of who you are." Emily said calmly. My spine felt frozen in place, I needed to run but my body wouldn't listen. Her gray eyes bore into mine, I could see Marie's, no, my reflection. 

"What did I do to you?" A piece of me asked even as the rest shivered in fear, I could see the way her emotions played in her eyes, in her face, in her breath. She was almost as nervous as I felt, but she was more worried about me.

"Nothing. I always refused the modifications, but if you're referring to my time travel, then well… I triggered and decided that I wanted to be a hero too." I could almost taste a lie in the air, she wasn't telling me everything.

"Did we fail?" I asked, but she looked away for a moment before saying,

"No, and I won't answer anything else, not right now at least. You need to rest." That wasn't an answer, so instead of trying to force her to tell me I simply stated dejectedly.

"So I failed."

"If you did, I wouldn't be here. And stop trying to guess Marie." Emily admonished me while getting closer to my face. My heart beat spiked for a second before I forced myself to calm down. 

"Marie, wake up!" She yelled as she shook me, the old sofa was too comfortable for me to just instantly wake up. Her face was really close to my own, there was the smell of chocolate in the air.

A memory of an older Emily flashed before my eyes. 

[Inactive bud] Sylph stated as an answer to my unspoken question. Though part of me wondered why Sylph hadn't detected it before, I had more pressing matters to think about. Like her connection to Fortuna.

"So what are you building?" She asked, grabbing an echo device. She flicked around the screen a few times before smiling. "So this is a limitless storage device or something?"

"Well no, it syncs your biometric data to the new u station and in case of death it reconstructs you for some petty cash." I replied absent-mindedly.

"In English?" She asked after giggling at my answer.

"Respawn point for a couple of pennies."

"... Hahaha." Emily began cackling uncontrollably for a few seconds staring at my eyes, "God, you never cease to surprise me." She said smiling, grabbing my hand she pulled me along to where the shields were and asked for me to explain what they did. For the next hour I spoke with her, she listened hungrily and sometimes she would have me eat while she told me of some of the differences between me and the other me. One key difference was that I had run away early, apparently I wasn't half as good of a friend as I was now. And yet somehow we ended up meeting several times, culminating in me saving her.

"Sounds like you really admired her." I said after finishing my coffee. My hands itched to work on something and I decided that building a gun would be useful. The designs for the infinity pistol appeared in my mind and in a flash I began to form the materials. She hummed for a moment and I began the assembly. Barrels, chambers, grip, muzzle, trigger, all the little things that make the gun work were like putty in my hands. I could feel Sylph behind every move, but I was still in control.

"I guess I did. Though there was something more than just admiration, she was… You saved me. Bonesaw had killed my dad and I was about to be turned into something for her, I screamed and you broke in and beat back bonesaw. After that you gave me a place to stay, all because you heard me cry for help." Emily explained, her eyes growing empty as the memories flowed, "I never regretted it, not for a single minute, even after the end."

"Again with the mysterious end?" I complained, my tone however remained friendly. She chuckled and let me finish making the gun, it was a shock variant. Rather useful given that it should fuck over Shadow Stalker.

"Yup. Now want to go on patrol? Danny won't be here until after 5 in the afternoon. Taylor is sleeping right now, Amy and Dinah are watching crappy movies with Belle and Quinn." She listed off everything that she could think of. I tilted my head slightly and asked,

"What about the others?" I didn't bother to ask if she would be okay on a patrol with me. I trusted my tech would protect her. Though I should get her a costume or something. A basic bodysuit with a full visor helmet should be enough, now where did Taylor leave her silk?

"Bryan is off at his job as security for the dockworkers, Alec is sleeping off an all nighter and Rachel is taking her dogs out for a walk." Emily replied, though she didn't mention one person.

"And Aisha?"

"Who?" I groaned and looked around, nothing was amiss and I didn't sense a void in my memories so…

"Fuck. Belle! Poke Aisha until she turns off her powers." I ordered my always there AI, a piece if my mind reminded me that I had promised to make a better costume for Aisha. A stealth suit based around Zer0's tech would take about an hour if Aisha cooperated. I looked at Emily, and she simply nodded. I mouthed thanks to her, the door opened and a void was seen, soon after I stretched my hand out to the [stealth], grabbing Aisha by her shirt.

"I need you to stand still while I take your measurements and not use your powers for an hour or two." I said ignoring her complaints about personal space, the measurements were done and I needed to create the fabric, program the electronics, make fail safes for electric and emp based attacks and get her a sword, some knives and teach her where to stab.

No biggie. While I did that, Emily talked to Aisha, and it turns out that my friend, who has probably manipulated me, is very good at social situations.

" Trust her, you're better than your paranoia. " I said to myself.

While I could've used alchemy to forge most of it, I opted to make digistruct printers and machines. While they finished making the materials I looked at Lisa's report, the Bastard Son had been sighted alongside Trickster. My eye twitched in annoyance, I should've killed Trickster. Sighing over the loss of that opportunity I continued to read, Sundancer was in PRT custody, Genesis and Ballistic were currently working with Faultine's crew. No sign of Oliver… Fuck, did I get him killed? Did it matter anyways? I should try to find him, though given Contessa was around, maybe she saved him?

Exhaling in frustration I began thinking of ways to kill Bastard Son, sure it would more than likely bring the Elite to Brockton… Actually why is he in Brockton? From the top of my head the only people that have the pull with the Elite are Empire, PRT and Coil. Empire would fit, but I doubt Gesellschaft would approve of them; given that I haven't pushed Anders enough for that, I can discard it. PRT… Rebecca would probably do it, and yet that doesn't make sense if what Emily said is true. So that only leaves Coil and I don't have necromancy available to me so I can't force him to talk.

" However, Accord probably knows. " A small thought appears and judging it sane I sent Lisa a message to contact Accord. He'll probably ask for money but raw materials are easier to trade and leave no paper trail if they're made on the spot. Hearing the digistruct printer finish I take the material and begin forming the suit. It is skin tight, the material itself is resistant to bullets, the elements and the vacuum of space, and Aisha… Well she says,

"Goddamn, this shit feels like a second skin." Aisha had used her power for a minute to change clothes and Taylor's description of her body was on point. I quickly turned away and began making a simple mask, rather than base it around Zer0's I opted to follow Canon and make a demon one. Dark gray with black horns, special lenses that can make stuff like flashbangs ineffective and a small respirator that should let her breathe through smoke and most gasses without any issues. In addition to a small communicator that should allow for her to talk to Belle and Quinn.

It took me less than 5 minutes to make it and Aisha was doing cartwheels. I can hear Sylph's laughter in the back of my mind as I toss the mask to her. She quickly snatches it midair without much effort and puts it on.

"So what does this do? Let me shoot lasers? Read minds?" She jokingly said, I could feel the smirk behind the mask.

"It's just a good mask that can tank a point blank shot from a tinkertech rifle. Much like your costume. Immunity to flashbangs, some minor gas protection and a small device that lets Belle and therefore any of our team talk to you and vice versa." I listed off with some amount of pride in my voice. Aisha whistled before saying,

"You did all that in a couple of minutes? Fuck girl, you tinkers are bullshit. So what do you two want to do?" 

"Well Emily suggested that we go on patrol." I replied, turning my back to both of them and beginning to make a simple bodysuit for Emily. I found some silk that Taylor had left and began taking measurements. I would have enough even without using alchemy and all I would need to do is add some basic protections for it to be an effective bodysuit. Light gray with some gold and black highlights along the limbs would be good for aesthetics. Though deep blue could work better.

"Well, that sounds pretty boring, plus it's too early to go and do patrols. Why don't we just go out for a bit and have fun?" Aisha loudly complained, the silk in my hands slowly becoming clothing is not even a distraction as my mind races through several designs for a visor for later. Alchemy makes the process almost automatic.

"Aisha, we technically should be at school right now. Sure this is Brockton, but I have no interest in avoiding cops." I pointed out, not bothering to look at her.

"... You didn't tell her?" Aisha asks after a moment of silence.

"Tell me what? Emily?" I asked and Emily glared at Aisha before looking towards me in the eyes. She looked down and sullenly stating, 

"Bakuda's attack was rather thorough in its effectiveness, she targeted highly populated areas, hospitals and schools. Winslow, Arcadia and Immaculata are the only schools left with enough infrastructure to house students. Most of us have been taking online classes while things settle down."

Chris's body flashed before my eyes again, the smell of his corpse filled my nostrils. Bakuda was still alive, he and so many others dead and unavenged. I made a mistake, I should've killed Explosion. Observed as its host begged for her life under my blade, maybe turn her into a prototype homunculus body? 

A piece of me wanted to rage, but I forcefully suppressed it. I could feel the connection to my shard increase as my emotions got wilder, I could feel the distress coming from the Bud's host, Stealth was curious. We drew back the emotions, filtering through chemical concoctions in our brain until I could be me again. Sylph's alarm at the fusion of our minds was rather sobering, it meant that if we ever fused she and I wouldn't exist.

"Fuck." I whispered, my body trembling with a mixture of fear and rage. Why is this affecting me this much?

[Why ask what you already know? It's all too fresh.] Sylph manifested next to me and I jumped back. She casted no shadows and I relaxed, just a hallucination. Which admittedly is bad, but not the worst thing in the world. I decided to drown the worst of it in a haze of numbness, not to the point Taylor does to deal with shit… Oh fuck we really are related.

"Can't go out, too pissed." I said letting my anger roll around my head, clapping my hands and placing them on a nearby wall and let the alchemy flow. Enough space for a shooting range, and the requisite materials were handily available. In less than a second I was done creating it, I let Sylph take the reins of my body to make a lot of guns. While my body moved without my input I decided to make small talk with Emily and Aisha. Dozens of small wooden targets pop up, down the range.

"I'm making a lot of guns, do any of you know how to shoot?" I ask, though my voice sounds wooden.

"...Wait, how did you even do that? You can't just summon an entire room!" Aisha shouts as if she didn't know… Actually I never did show off with Alchemy in front of her.

"Chemistry mostly. It is the basis of transmutation, though I cheat with stones to provide the raw power." I easily admitted as if they knew what I was talking about. A Tediore smg was assembled and my hands moved to make one of several Jakobs shotguns, I wanted the Hellwalker. "Regardless if you're interested you'll need some dedication, and by that I mean several months of studying crammed in your head for you to memorize all the interactions and then come the formulas. Which is a pain in the ass at the best of times." I continue complaining even as another gun is assembled and filed away. For several minutes I create weapons, assault rifles, explosive hand cannons, lasers, grenades, rocket launchers and a few extra echo devices.

Time passed and after a few dozen guns I was done. All that was missing from my list was some fast travel stations, which would also double as New U's, and Eridium. The former would be easy to make, but the latter required storage and the old saying of putting all your eggs in one basket burned itself into my mind. I needed more bases, I needed more time and I needed to stop Aisha from playing with… When did I make a Krakatoa?

"Aisha, stop messing with that!" I quickly yelled as she took aim, dashing towards her. I took hold of the rifle's barrel and aimed it upwards, my other hand pressed on her wrist forcing her to let go with a yelp of pain.

"How the hell are you seeing me?" She asked as if she was using her powers. A faint buzzing filled my ears and I could feel my shard pulsating in my brain.

[Anti-Stranger and Master effect deployed.]

Fuck, I feel something wet run down my nose. My blood tastes weird.

- April 13, 3:00pm, borderwalk-

Emily's gray eyes drilled holes to the back of my head as I made my way to Parian's shop. After the near disaster that had been yesterday I had decided to abort the stress shooting and took a 12 hour nap. Danny had eventually appeared and surprisingly didn't ground me or anything, he only asked that I took better care of myself. He also did guilt me into apologizing to Taylor, which I would've done. Eventually. Once things weren't so awkward between us. So with yet another free day ahead of me Lisa managed to convince me to talk to Parian, and Emily eventually joined me after introducing me to her dad.

I don't think he liked me given that he spent several minutes stewing in anger as he glared at me. 

"So that's the famous Marie…" Steven Cross muttered, Emily shared his eyes but unlike her blonde hair, his was almost pitch black with a few strands of silver decorating it. The man looked like he hadn't slept in days and his breath smelled of nicotine, though given that he was in a PRT uniform I wasn't going to begrudge the man for bad habits.

" Did he suspect that I was a parahuman? " I thought as I stalled actually entering Parian's shop. My eyes wandered to the not so hidden empire grunt that was busy spying on the shop, my ears picked some parts of the conversation he was having with his boss. If I got it right Parian had refused to join them and they wanted to apply some pressure, thankfully he wasn't planning on doing something stupid like trying to kidnap me or Emily.

I breathed deep, " Remember the plan, offer silk and other materials. In exchange she doesn't act against us. " I remind myself for the fifth time, Lisa agreed with the wording we're just asking her to keep her neutrality. No chance of her turning me into a meat doll. Adjusting the small backpack I slung on my shoulder, I opened the door. The boutique was rather well maintained given the recent explosive problems. Floors cleaned to a near spotless shine, several very pretty dresses and clothes and several dolls staring at me. The sound of the bell on the doorway snaps me out of my thoughts and I step inside. 

Emily followed suit and walked over to the counter, there were no employees visibly here, but I could hear some footsteps from the back approaching. I drew out a notebook from the backpack and Parian appeared.

"Sorry for being late, miss… Oh Miss Cross and?" Parian asked, though her mask hid her face I could feel her eyes fall on me.

"Flynt. I'm Marie Flynt, I wanted to ask for your autograph and I was asked to give you an offer." I quickly said, " Do you have a place we can talk? Away from the windows?"

"I've said I'm neutral in all matters. Why would the empire…" was all she managed to get out before my anger rose and I quickly interrupted her with,

"I'm not part of the empire. My mom was killed by them."

She stared at me, and nodded after a few seconds, waving her hand curtains closed along the windows, not enough to cover them, just enough to lower the lighting. She summoned several dolls that carried clothes and bid us to follow her to what I could only assume was a dressing room. It wasn't one, it was a rather simple looking office, there was a desk with a simple office chair, a small table and there was a small sofa where Emily and I sat. Across us in a comfortable looking chair sat Parian.

"You have 10 minutes." She coldly said, though I could feel that she was nervous. Her shard was telling her to keep an eye on me.

"Well in accordance with the unwritten rules I must reintroduce myself. I am Marie Flynt, I've also been called Harlequin, Maeve and that crazy girl that killed Lung for almost a day." I said forcing my body to adopt a more relaxed posture, the doll nearby stilled and I could smell Parian's discomfort. Grabbing my backpack I removed the small bit of spider silk I had brought. It was no more than a bundle, but it should be enough.

I slowly placed it on the table in front of her and asked, "I presume that you know what that bundle is?"

"Spider silk, it's fresh?" She asked somewhat astonished. I could see bits of the bundle ripple under her gaze.

"Yup. What I offer is simple, I can provide you with any and all materials you require to make your clothes."

"And I join you?" There was some bitterness in her tone, not unexpected given the circumstances.

"Nope, you just don't attack me or those with me. Which are the former undersiders, Weaver and the Harlequins." I said and Emily coughed. Her glare was enough of a message. "And Emily." I hastily added as she poked my ribs in anger.

"So if I see you rob a store I let you go?" She asked, and my right eye twitched. What was wrong with people?

"No, in that case you can try and stop us. But that won't happen, we're heroic leaning rogues." I explained, not letting my anger infect my tone.

"Uh huh, and how would you even transport anything here?" Oh, trying to poke a hole in my offer? That's gold at the very least she believes I can deliver.

"I'll just make it here, like so." I replied and tapped the bundle of silk, turning it into linen, I tapped it again and turned it to cotton, then silk again. The circle I had hidden in the bottom of my shoes had lit up like a Christmas tree as the transmutation took its toll. Not my preferred way of hiding things, but it's the best I could come up with without using rings, necklaces or even drawing proper circles.

"Incredible." She muttered, I could feel her shard working overtime, the mere possibility of data was more than enough to make it drop all security and contact Sylph. I tuned their conversation out and focused on convincing Parian.

"I know, and if you want to join us? Well you're welcome to do so whenever you feel like it. Our main goal at the moment is stabilizing Brockton Bay." I said with some self satisfaction, and though I heard some footsteps from the outside, but given that they stopped before they could even get close enough to hear in this room, I decided to ignore them.

"And afterwards?" Parian asked with some genuine curiosity.

"Probably deal with some A rank threats. Oh and before I forget, be careful. The bastard son, from the Elite, has been seen around Brockton. He is a master and I'd rather he didn't have you. From what I've been able to gather his power comes from objects so be careful when picking up stuff, anything is a weapon after all." I informed her and stood up, "Well? Do you accept it? I provide you with materials and you stay neutral."

"Can I have a few minutes to think?" She asked seriously. I could tell that she was interested, but conflicted. Will joining them make me the enemy of the empire? What about if I just take the neutral deal? These questions and more must've been in her mind.

"Sure. Emily, you coming with me?"

"Sure. I'd love to pick your new outfit." She says and I feel like someone dropped a glacier on my spine. Clothes shopping…

"Just kidding." She says after a few seconds of dread. I breathe out and I hear her whisper, "It's not as if one of us has the cash for it at the moment." Please, Simurgh, Behemoth, I'll even take Scion. Appear now so I can reasonably escape from this self inflicted hell.

There was an explosion nearby, I covered Emily with my body and waited. I didn't need to see Parian's face to know she was worried. My slate glowed as I changed into my costume.

"Do you mind if I make a small hole here so I can appear from somewhere else?" I ask and Parian nods before rushing out. I pull out an infinity pistol and hand it to Emily.

"Infinity pattern, spread is tight, made to stun, small switch can make it lethal. Aim at center mass." I instructed her and made a small hole, used a stone to make a tunnel to a nearby building and sealed it behind me. Emily's face was one of betrayal, as if I was going to risk her… Or maybe she thinks she can handle it? I didn't even bring her costume, nor an echo device for her to have a shield… Though she did bring eggy with her.

Regardless I didn't have time to ponder, I swiftly ran and climbed out of the tunnel. About half a dozen armed men were firing at the empire grunts. Who they were and why they were attacking didn't matter at the moment, civilians would get hurt if this continued. I had a somewhat ruined building as a base and I clapped my hands. Walls surrounded the groups from the outside, and I climbed on top of it.

"You know, here I am trying to find Harlequin something to eat and I can't go out for 5 minutes without you bozos shooting up the place." I loudly complained as both groups aimed their guns at me. And began firing, the shield I had equipped had a 99% chance to eat the bullets so I just sat there waiting for them to stop. 

"Harlequin, honey. Would you mind calling the police?" I asked Belle over the comms.

"Already on their way, did Parian agree?"

"Not yet. Though I believe it's just a matter of time." I reply while keeping an eye on them, I digistruct an Unforgiven into my hand, the variant with the masher accessory. I wait to see what they plan to do and the brief sound of something breaking through the wind like a whip is all the warning I get.

A car door sliced through where I was and I turned to see a black and red clad mage, with another car door aimed at me. Fucking hell, it's Rune. She fired her car door, I fired my gun. Each bullet tore through the door like a hot knife through butter. Quickly reloading I jumped down and fired at the now returning door. It was ripped apart before I hit the ground.

"Oh, it's Sabrina. The teenage Nazi bitch. Pleasure to meet ya. I'm Maeve." I cheerfully said as she fired several small bricks at me. Tossing away the Unforgiven I drew the master sword and sent a wave of energy to intercept them. The dust was a good cover as I managed to get to her with ease.

I carefully place my blade on her throat and stare at her. Beneath the mask all I can determine from every bit of her body language is one thing: she isn't there. Another explosion occurs and I see the man responsible. He looked like shit, his costume was caked in dirt, and most tellingly he was unmasked.

" You! I'LL KILL YOU! " Krouse, Trickster, whatever you want to call him shouted as he switched a rock that was on Rune's belt for a grenade.

" Do I save her? Do I try to save her? " Are my thoughts even as I grab the grenade. My shield bursts apart with the strength of the impact. I stare at Rune for barely a second before driving my fist into her gut. I express my thoughts to Sylph who gives me the equivalent of I'll try as a shrug. " Sleep ." I order, pitching my voice to mimic that which the Bene Gesserit feared. Rune buckles for a moment before Sylph infects her shard. She screams like a banshee, before hearing something snap inside of her.

[Are you sure you want to spare her?]

" Not at all. However, killing her now would only complicate things, besides I can use her as bait for Kaiser and the rest. And despite everything I promised to try and be a hero. " I reply with disgust in my tone. A very large part of me refused to be pragmatic and wanted to kill every empire member on sight. But a colder side of me said, to let them come. Gather them all in one place and kill them. Be patient.

And now to deal with Krouse, I could leave himself alive, but he's been seen with the Bastard Son. And he's responsible for Noelle, who nearly killed Emily, Taylor, and would've destroyed the Bay… Not that I genuinely needed any justification, plus I want to meet Sundancer and apologize. 

Trickster cursed loudly as he threw another grenade at me, the circle in my hand glowed as I gripped the grenade. It didn't even get a chance to finish arming itself. I wasn't going to wait, I drew as much heat as I could from my surroundings and dashed towards Krouse, one swift strike was all it took. His head flew upwards and his eyes still glared at me with unabashed hatred. I swung again, slicing the head in half, and one more time vertically slicing Krouse from neck to crotch. I sheathed the master sword and drew my old staff. Tapping the ground I formed several hands and those held the body together. I made sure to leave nothing to chance and no one should be able to touch any part of his body.

"You… killed him." Parian said in shock. 

"Yup. The man helped Coil, who threatened someone…" My heart skipped a beat, I breathed in and out. What was Emily to me? A friend? A confidant? Someone I could see myself dating in a few years? An agent for Cauldron? I exhaled and continued, "Someone dear to me. By the rules I did nothing wrong, besides he threw a few grenades at me and I'm done with cheats." 

"How do you know that?" She asked, still nervous over the murder that happened in front of her.

"I can see the future, Parian. I try to not do it constantly since that just causes an endless loop of death. Anyways, I hope that you'll be well, I have to stay and talk to the police. And the PRT. Since you didn't do anything, you can still go back to your shop and make sure those two girls are okay."

"No." She replied before sighing, "It's my territory, my responsibility. At the very least I can help you tie up those guys." And with a wave of her hand several hundred dolls appeared out of everywhere and jumped into the box I had placed the men on. I heard screaming and then silence. Tapping my staff the walls were lowered and the men were tied up in various positions.

"Thank you, mind if I knock them out?" I ask out of politeness. Summoning several dolls and clothes she makes a seat for herself and says, "Sure."

Nodding I approach each and every man, tapping them with my staff. A bit of human alchemy and they're out like a light. I approach Parian and ask, "Well? Do you accept our deal?"

"Do I have a choice? You'll kill me if I say no." She bitterly replies. Do I look so bloodthirsty? I stare at the corpse of Trickster even as I think about it… I guess that it's a reasonable concern. 

"Parian, I promise I won't kill you even if you say no. I'm not a fan of forcing people to join me or anything. I'm not the PRT or Coil." I coldly bit back at her.

The silence that followed was deafening, neither she nor I would speak or even emote. I saw the curtains move from within the boutique and breathed easier, knowing that Emily was fine. A few more minutes passed, and Parian asked,

"Fine. Can you get me about a dozen rolls of silk for next week?"

"I could do it right now if you're willing to exchange fabrics."

"Okay, we have time until the police arrive anyway." She replies and more or less drags me to her shop. In the back room I find pieces of cut cloth of various types. I get to work with Alchemy humming to myself to the tune of Katamari on the rocks.

By the time the PRT showed up with the cops I had fulfilled my end of the deal and tried some tea that Parian had brought. I'm not a fan of the bitterness, but the cookies were good. They had sent Velocity and Miss Militia. I exit the shop with my hands empty and my stomach somewhat full.

"Maeve…" Miss Militia said with dawning horror in her voice.

"Trickster helped Coil harm my family. I paid him back. Besides, Rune is still unconscious over there." I interrupted and pointed at the fallen body of Rune. "So I'm guessing you want me to come with you."

"Maeve, you've killed several parahumans and gang members. You aren't under arrest yet. But we do need to take your statements." Velocity said, preempting Miss Militia's own response. The woman glared at her partner and I laughed.

"Fine, take me to your leader, human." I play up the fairy angle. From the shadows I see a small swarm of bugs looking in my direction and I merely shake my head. They don't bother to try and cuff me and I enter their van. I see Vista's cape sticking out like a sore thumb from the front and sigh.

I wasn't going to escape easily.

4.2, end