71

A Darker Path

Part Seventy-One: A Whole New World

[A/N 1: This chapter beta-read by Lady Columbine of Mystal.]

[A/N 2: The Rules for Fighting Atropos supplied by Milarqui on Spacebattles.]

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Topic: I Went Over There

In: Boards ► Brockton Bay ► New Capes ► Atropos

Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me) (Verified Dethpicable)

Posted On Mar 4th 2011:

Hello to all you wonderful people of Brockton Bay!

I hope you've all had as productive a day as I have.

Those of you who follow my doings on here would be aware that I explained to the last four quarantine zones how they had twenty-four hours to shape up or I'd be there to ship them out.

Pastor did the smart thing. He let his people go and surrendered to PRT custody a full two hours before I was due to go all Biblical on his ass.

I like it when people do the smart thing. Saves on ammo.

The villains in Gallup and Gary were a little more reluctant, but when I showed up and explained matters to them, they saw reason. I understand that a few took the option of 'go and never sin again', but the vast majority chose to take their chances with the legal system. I have it on good authority that this will indeed factor toward their sentencing.

Flint, on the other hand ... made me go over there.

I mean, you all saw me tell them to cut that shit out, but they chose not to. So, I had to go in there and cut it out for them. It was a little bit of a slog, I will admit that, but by the stroke of midnight, there was only one cape left in the city (me). Best workout I've had in a long time.

I'd just like to acknowledge the fact that the PRT really stepped up, providing room and board for all those displaced villains. I honestly couldn't have done it without you guys. Best minions a ruthless serial killer could hope for. (Kidding. Honestly.)

(I've had better.)

(Mwahahaha.)

Oh, and also, there were some costumed kids running around at Gary, playing at being villains. Not sure what they were after. Maybe autographs or something. I got selfies with them, anyway.

So, what's next on the agenda?

Well, the next time someone threatens the peace and harmony of Brockton Bay, you'll find out. Or rather, they will.

Be informed: a new city arises.

Mwahaha.

Oh, and before I forget: congratulations to our very own Director Piggot for her promotion to the Directorship of PRT New York. I wish her all the good fortune there.

Toodles!

(Showing page 1 of 126)

►Bagrat (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Replied On Mar 4th 2011:

Well, crap.

Okay, I get it.

Atropos is bullshit squared on a bullshit sandwich.

But HOW in the goddamn HELL did she pull that one off?

Her Flint appearance is fine, but what's got me scratching my head is how she pulled off the Gary/Gallup show.

[This] is Gary, Indiana, as of twenty minutes to eleven, local time (2340 EST).

[This] is Gallup, New Mexico, as of twenty minutes to ten, local time (2340 EST).

Yes, those two bits of footage were independently recorded by the PRT at the *same time*, down to a tenth of a second, twelve hundred miles apart. If you focus in on Atropos, you can see exactly the same mannerisms and gestures at the same time. Even the breathing patterns are identical.

(I'm not going to say the voiceprints are identical too, but ... well, they *are* as close as can be matched with two different recording systems).

They only diverge after she steps into the portal in Gallup.

So, we knew she could teleport.

Now, apparently, she can be in two places at once.

Ladies and gentlemen: Atropos.

She does what she does.

►SocioVader

Replied On Mar 4th 2011:

Haha wow, the beatdown she lays on August Prince.

Kid should've quit while he was ahead.

►UnlikelyRomance

Replied On Mar 4th 2011:

Pastor lasted approximately 22 hours longer than I would've.

Makes you wonder what he said to his flock before he bolted.

►BlackSquiggles

Replied On Mar 4th 2011:

BWHAHAAHAHA!

That was glorious!

►Reave (Verified PRT Agent)

Replied On Mar 4th 2011:

The reports are correct.

Pastor severed his ties with his Flock and voluntarily gave himself up to PRT custody just before 10 PM EST, or 7 PM local time. He verified that Atropos' ultimatum was the driving force behind his surrender.

Atropos showed up at each of the Gary, Indiana and Gallup, New Mexico quarantine sites at the same time and gave the same speech, causing the vast majority of the villains to surrender themselves en masse. After she left the Gallup site, she was attacked at the Gary site by three notorious child villains, whom she overcame with her usual flair.

I am also authorized to verify that Flint, Michigan has been cleared of all capes. The Chicago PRT and Protectorate are conducting a sweep of the quarantine site for any other undesirables.

All in all, a good night's work.

►Atropos (Original Poster) (Banned) (You Wish) (UnVerified Cape) (Can Actually Kill Anything) (Yes, Really) (Watch Me) (Verified Dethpicable)

Replied On Mar 4th 2011:

You're welcome, guys.

All yours.

►BrickFrog

Replied On Mar 4th 2011:

Okay, is nobody going to talk about how there's now two of them? Or she can duplicate herself or something?

What the hell is going on?

She was bad enough when there was just one of her.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Atropos Fan Club Member)

Replied On Mar 4th 2011:

Dude, seriously, what the fuck? Atropos kicked the gangs out of Brockton Bay, ganked the Endbringers, and now she's cleared the last of the quarantine zones. What is your *problem*?

►UnconcernedFox

Replied On Mar 4th 2011:

*settles back in post-popcorn haze*

*that was AMAZING*

*can't wait to see what happens next*

End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 124, 125, 126

PRIVATE MESSAGE

To: Atropos

From: Faultline

Subject: Hi. Can we meet?

I'd like to talk about the possibility of my Crew coming back into BB, getting jobs with the Betterment Committee, and maybe killing the powers of a couple of them.

PRIVATE MESSAGE

To: Faultline

From: Atropos

Subject: Re: Hi. Can we meet?

Sure. Stay right there. Be with you in five.

City Limits, Brockton Bay

Faultline

Melanie Fitts sat in the driver's seat of the nondescript sedan, hoping that she wasn't making a fatal mistake. She was very good at what she did—her Crew wouldn't have survived for as long as it had without any losses if she wasn't—but there was the level she worked on, and then there was the level Atropos worked on. There was no doubt in her mind that Atropos would go through both her and her people without breaking stride if the need arose.

Despite their protests, she'd made the Crew stay back in Boston, keeping their heads down while they waited for her return. If for whatever reason she didn't come back from Brockton Bay alive, the Number Man had instructions to contact them in a week or so and share out her personal funds to them. While she didn't think it would turn out that way, nothing was ever lost from taking sensible precautions.

She checked the dashboard clock—four and a half minutes since the return message—then looked out the window at the city limits sign with its hand-painted addendum. 'Atropos' Hometown - if you're a villain, consider this your second warning'. Technically she was a villain, though that didn't need to remain the case. Hopefully, Atropos would be willing to listen—

"Hi."

"Jesus!" Melanie spun around to stare at the black-clad form relaxing in the passenger seat as though she'd been there all along. Her hand reached by reflex for her shoulder holster, and she suppressed the movement just as quickly. "Must you do that?"

"I kinda do, yeah." She was pretty sure she could hear a grin in Atropos' voice. "Before we get to talking, start the car. I know you're on the up-and-up, so I'm inviting you into the city."

"… oh." Melanie had not expected that. "Uh, thanks." She turned the key to kick the engine over, then put it in gear and moved the car onto the highway. Atropos didn't seem pressingly eager to start the conversation, so Melanie waited until they were moving over the freshly laid blacktop—seriously, that was one smooth highway—before she broached the subject. "So, we were thinking some of our powers could be useful for the Betterment Committee, and I've been hearing rumours that you're taking in other villains so long as they commit to no more crime."

"All of which is true," confirmed Atropos. "You also mentioned Ending the powers of one or two of your members. Labyrinth being the main one, am I correct?"

"Yes." Melanie's hands tightened on the wheel. "Her powers rearrange her surroundings. They also reflect her mental state, which can get pretty grim."

"Once I've dealt with the powers side of things, you should be able to help her attain some kind of equilibrium." Atropos sounded entirely sure of herself. "So, about the question you really wanted to ask."

Melanie froze for half a second. She'd anticipated working her way around to the topic, not having it just asked of her. Hell, Atropos might think I mean something entirely different. "Question—?"

"Cauldron …?" prompted Atropos.

Nope, she knows exactly what I wanted to ask. "Uh. Right." Reflexively, she glanced in the rearview mirror. The city limits sign, she was pleased to see, was well out of sight. "Is this why you told me to start driving?"

Atropos nodded. "So they'd know for sure that you're in my city, under my protection. Ask your question."

Melanie took a deep breath. After so much time spent chasing shadows, she had trouble believing that the Holy Grail had just fallen into her lap. "You said on PHO that Cauldron wasn't permitted into Brockton Bay, that they knew what they'd done. What have they done?"

A cell-phone rang, a tone unfamiliar to Melanie. Atropos pulled it out and put it on speaker without saying a word. A woman's voice came out of it: "Is this wise?"

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a shit." Atropos pulled an air horn out of her pocket and gave Melanie a second to cover her right ear with her hand before she treated the phone to a blast of it. Ending the call, she slid the phone and air horn back into her pocket. "Maybe next time she won't butt into someone else's conversation. Now, where were we? Ah, yes, Cauldron."

"Was that … that was them?" Melanie knew she was well out of her depth now. Cauldron had tried to warn Atropos off, and she'd done the audio equivalent of flipping them the bird. Or maybe punching them in the nose.

"That was Contessa. She tried to put a gun in my face once." Before Melanie could ask how that situation had resolved itself—she couldn't see Atropos taking having a gun in her face lightly—Atropos kept talking.

As the car rolled through Brockton Bay, she regaled Melanie with details about Cauldron's operations. Blanks and gaps in Melanie's knowledge, some she hadn't even known existed, were filled in almost casually, as though Atropos had zero fucks to give. Still, there were some details left out; specifically, the names of some of the people at the top, even as Atropos cheerfully explained the finer points of Projects Terminus and Nemesis and others.

"Okay, so who's running the show, apart from Contessa and this Doctor Mother?" Melanie asked outright. "Because I can't see just two people making it work, especially since you said Doctor Mother doesn't have powers."

"That part, I'm not going to tell you." Atropos didn't seem offended so much as she was unconcerned. "It won't help, and they know they're on notice anyway."

"So why are they doing all this?" Melanie had been trying to figure that out for the longest time.

"To save the world. It's ham-handed as fuck, and on its own it would've failed, but that's what they were going for. Anyway, I've told them they can stand down. I've got it under control."

She wasn't sure which statement surprised her more, but that was Atropos all over. "Okay, um … can you tell me anything more? Like … what the hell are those omega tattoos about?"

"They're an identifying mark." Atropos held up a finger ahead of Melanie's interjection. "Not just to show that someone's a Cauldron cape. Look at them under a microscope. They've got microdots buried in them. Names, dates, type of vial. Dunno how much that'll help your people, but it's something."

"No." Melanie blinked. "That's … that's huge. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Atropos tapped the brim of her hat with two fingers. "Toodles."

"Wait, I—" Between one instant and the next, Atropos was gone. "Fuck." Melanie slumped in her seat.

She wanted to pull over and message Atropos to ask more questions, but the sensible part of her brain, the part that she'd trained herself to listen to, told her that there would be no more information forthcoming. What she had was more than she'd dared hope for; a dispensation for her Crew to come to Brockton Bay and arrange to have Elle's powers (and anyone else's who wanted it done) removed for good. In addition, she had invaluable information about Cauldron (including the tantalising aspect of the tattoos) as well as the slightly anticlimactic news that they were standing down, by direction of Atropos.

Driving back to Boston tonight would be tempting fate, she decided. It's after midnight already, and driver fatigue hits hardest in the next hour or two. I should grab a motel room and crash until sunrise.

But she wanted to celebrate, damn it. She wanted to do something a little wild and crazy, let her hair down a little. Ironically, she couldn't just walk into Palanquin to get a buzz on, because she was still in the process of transferring the title and the liquor license to the new owners, and the place was shuttered until that was done. But she did know of a place that was open this late.

Brockton Bay College Recreation Center

Laserdream

There weren't a lot of people in the Rec Center at one in the morning, but Crystal was one of them. Her attempts to study in her room kept getting interrupted by intrusive thoughts of Amy and Vicky possibly quitting the team; one to go rogue, and the other to go civvy roadworker. She wasn't sure which notion was more distracting, so she'd come down to the Rec Center to see if a little fuzziness around her thought processes helped or not.

She was drinking with Anne Barnes, with whom she shared a couple of classes, but otherwise barely knew. It was a protective herd mentality; neither of them wanted to get hit on by guys who were drunker than they were (or more sober, for that matter) so they were sitting together to present a united front against unwanted advances. Sister support, that sort of thing.

"Hey, set me up." It was a new face, a tall brunette Crystal had never met before. "Jameson's, top shelf, on the rocks. I am celebrating tonight."

"That's nice," Anne said, turning to look. "What's the occasion?" Crystal wasn't quite sure why the redhead was drinking, but she'd been looking at pictures on her phone, giggling, then taking a drink. If she wanted to talk about it, she would. If not, she wouldn't.

"Moving back into town." The newcomer accepted her drink and paid for it, then came over to the table after giving the rest of the room a comprehensive sweep. Pulling out a chair, she joined the protective huddle. "Helping out a friend. Learned some cool shit. I won't be able to sleep, or concentrate on anything, until I murder a few braincells with high-end booze."

"Trust me," Crystal said solemnly. "I know exactly how you feel. Two of my teammates are quitting the team—don't tell anyone, it's not official yet—and I have no idea how to handle it, except by distract-hic-distracting myself with liquor."

"Teammates?" The brunette stared at her. "Holy shit, I thought it was you, then I thought nahhh, but it really is you. Laserdream, right? You do forcefields and lasers?" She took a gulp of her drink like it owed her money.

"Crystal, out of costume." Crystal put her finger to her lips for an exaggerated shhh. "Don't want to confuse th' public. You a fan?" It had been ages since anyone had asked her for an autograph. She was pretty sure muscle memory would still let her do it.

"Not technically a fan, but not not a fan either." The woman paused, then shrugged. "Actually, what the fuck. I'm going legit anyway. Faultline, but you can call me Mel." She held out her hand to shake.

Crystal blinked. Anne appeared to be giggling helplessly, even though she wasn't that drunk. "What, the Faultline? What-hic-what're you doing back in the Bay? I thought all the villains left. Or died," she added, for reasons of accuracy. Accuracy was important. Mel's handshake was firm and muscular.

"They did. We did. I left." Faultline (if it really was her; Crystal suspected it was) finished off her glass. "Then I came back to ask Atropos a favour." She paused as Anne broke out into a fresh series of giggles. "What?"

"M-my s-sister," Anne said with a giggling hiccup. "S-she's the leader of, of th' Atropos cult." She started giggling again. "Atropos doesn' like her, I don' think, but she's said nobody can hurt her." She shook her head. "Emma's such a fuckin' mess right now. Here, look."

Avidly, Crystal stared at the photos on Anne's phone, of a pretty younger version of her in goth outfits, walking around with a bunch of similarly outfitted teens, apparently spreading the word of Atropos. Even in the photos, it was easy to see the gleam of fanaticism in her eyes. In one picture, she was holding a neatly printed sign that said:

The Laws of Our Lady in Darkness:

No worship. She refutes any claim to be a goddess.

No robes or masks. We are but Her Followers, and are responsible for our actions.

No killing. If killing is required, then She will do it.

No charity theater. Do good that actually fixes problems.

No performing deeds in Her name. We may revere Her, but we must own our actions.

"Hahaha wow," Mel marvelled. "She's really gone all-out, hasn't she?" She tilted her head to one side. "I mean, the rules aren't bad. They're pretty good, to be honest. They're not telling people to sacrifice their first-born or anything."

"Not even asking for donations," Anne revealed. "I mean, people can give, an' they do, but they always give a receipt, an' they use it to buy stuff for kids, or they pass it on to a proper charity." She hiccupped again.

"I've heard of worse things." Mel got up. "What're you guys drinking? My treat."

While she was at the bar getting fresh wine coolers and another glass of Jameson's, Crystal looked carefully at Anne. "You okay? Want us to get you back to your room?"

"Nah, nah." Anne gave her a happy, buzzed smile. "Night just got inneresting. Not often I get to drink with a superhero an' a supervillain. Plus, she completes the set."

"Set?" Crystal frowned. "What set?"

Anne went to pull on some of her own hair, but nearly poked herself in the eye instead. "Hair. Ow. Hair is what I mean. Redhead." She pointed at Crystal. "Blondie." Then she waved at Mel, who was just on the way back. "Brunette. Th' major hair groups. Hairdresser's nightmare."

Crystal found that hilarious for some reason, so of course when Mel got back to the table she had to be filled in. The laughter went on for a little while; when it died down, Crystal turned to Mel. "What favour'd you ask Atropos for? If you don't mind me asking, I mean. If it's top secret cape stuff, I'm hip. I can deal."

"Nope, it's fine." Mel hit her drink hard, then nodded as she put the glass down. "That bottle had dust on it, but damn this is good booze. And I know good booze. So, the favour is that me and my Crew can come back, so long as we don't do crime." She took another drink, then grinned at them. "And she said yes!"

"Woo, congrats!" Anne tried to high-five Mel, and succeeded on her third attempt. "You're part of th' Atropos fam now. Welcome back."

"I'm part've it too," confided Crystal. "Vicky calls me up when she's not sure what's going on, an' just unloads on me like a tump druck. Everythin' that's goin' on. So Amy's been sneakin' out to do stuff with Atropos, an' now she wants t' go rogue. Coincidence? I think not!" She tried to tap her nose with her finger; it took two tries. Crossing her eyes, she went for a discreet belch, but ended up rolling one out that probably rattled the glasses at the bar.

That got more laughter, and a high-five from Mel. They kept drinking.

The Supreme Earth (known to some as Earth Shin)

Goddess

"Highness, I ask this purely out of concern. Are you certain that this is a wise course of action?"

Bianca raised a stately eyebrow as she gave Tori a searching look. "Of course I am certain. Everything I do is the right thing to do. The moment I received word of this Atropos, I knew she was the perfect tool for my aims."

Earth Bet was technically cut off from the Supreme Earth (as was the right and proper designation for the Earth where Bianca resided) and there were many capes living there, far more than on the Supreme Earth. However, there were gaps and cracks, and information had a way of finding its way everywhere. And no cape had captured the public imagination since the early days of the Protectorate like Atropos had.

Bianca had only learned about Atropos in the last few weeks, and she had been preparing busily ever since. One such as she who could destroy the likes of the Slaughterhouse Nine and the Endbringers would be ideal for hunting down and scouring out the last holdouts of resistance against Bianca's rightful rule over all of the Supreme Earth. As the loyal enforcer of the reign of the Goddess, Atropos would of course be rewarded handsomely for her continued service.

Tori tried again; misguided though her doubts might be, she was unquestionably faithful to her liege. "I've heard rumours that she can see a trap before it's sprung, and always knows how to destroy her opponent. Their PRT has this posted up in every building." She handed over a sheet of paper.

Bianca huffed and started reading.

The Rules for Fighting Atropos

Rule 1

You don't fight Atropos. She kills you or cripples you.

Corollary

If she doesn't kill or cripple you, you'll wish she had.

Rule 2

If you think you're fighting Atropos, it's because she's not even started. Or she's just humoring you.

Rule 3

If you believe you've pulled Atropos into the battlefield of your choice, she's probably put a mine under your feet ten minutes before you arrived.

Rule 4

If you have ambushed Atropos, in reality she's just set you up - you just didn't see the chandelier that started to fall on your head after you triggered that Rube-Goldberg device she prepared yesterday.

Rule 5

If you have Atropos in the eyesight of your sniper rifle, she's about to teleport on your back and use your own rifle to golf you down into the street.

Rule 6

If you found a villain stupid enough to think they can kill Atropos and convince them to do so, the next you'll see of that villain is their body. Atropos will then become the last thing you'll never see.

Rule 7

If you aim a missile at the building Atropos is in, she's probably just waiting for you to launch so the derelict can be brought down with a minimum of fuss. Don't expect her response to be this measured.

Rule 8

If you go for the nuclear option, she'll pick up the nuclear and give you the option of which hole it will go through.

Three lines in, she looked up from the page. "Immaterial. We will not be fighting her."

"I'm just saying that she's terribly dangerous, Highness. She may choose to oppose us. And there are many examples of her predicting when and where her opponents will attack. Also, she has boasted of the ability to remove Master effects from herself."

"I know all this. Did you think I do not know this?" Bianca shook her head in annoyance. "Tell me: has my sense of imminent danger ever failed me? Has it ever not warned me of a foe before they got close enough to attack?"

Tori was forced to concede that one. "No, Highness. It has not."

"Well, then." Bianca allowed herself a superior smile. "I sense no danger in the offing. This means that either the dimensional barrier that separates us is sufficient to shield her senses from me, or my abilities are sufficient to overwhelm hers. Is the device ready?"

"Almost, Highness. I spoke with the artificers and they claim they need less than a day to complete it."

"Excellent." Bianca gestured gracefully, dismissing her lieutenant. "If there was nothing more?"

"Just …" Tori grimaced, evidently unwilling to contradict her sovereign. "What will you do, once she is here, if she then presents as a danger to you? If her powers are able to detect you, and if she can throw off your control? What then?"

"Ah." That was a possibility Bianca had not seriously considered. She didn't think it was at all likely—nobody in her presence or hearing her voice had yet managed to ignore her influence—but it was probably a good idea to humour her lieutenants in their concerns. "How would you suggest we keep her in line, in such a case?" She would not be following orders, of course, but accepting suggestions was a useful way of informing her own decisions.

"She has both a 'fan club' and a cult devoted to her name," Tori replied after a moment or two of thought. "Once we have her within our power, we can then send our agents to extract the leaders of both. Keeping them at widely separated locations, we will not even need to issue overt threats. She will know what is meant, and if she has any feeling for either one, she will comply."

Bianca frowned. "Why not simply place them under my influence? That way, they won't be inclined to attempt escape, and can urge her to follow my directives."

"Not necessarily a good idea, Highness." Tori cringed as Bianca's frown deepened at the implied criticism. After a moment, Bianca nodded for her to continue, and Tori relaxed a little. "If she cannot sway them back to her side, she may consider them dead to her and choose to give them final rest, then turn against you. I do not believe that we've seen her angry yet; nor do I care to."

Reluctantly, Bianca nodded. Tori made good points, as unlikely as that scenario may be. "Fine. Do it that way. Let me know when the final preparations are complete."

"As you command, Highness."

NOT. A. WORD. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

"Y-yes. Not a word of warning."

GOOD. Bony knuckles popped. THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN.

Laserdream

"Boyfriends?" Crystal shook her head as she unlocked her dorm room door, then regretted it as the world swayed around her. "Not worth it. If you're dating someone who's not a cape, then they're either too intimidated to make a pass, or they just wanna be able to say they fucked a superhero. Found that one out early on." She growled in her throat at a few memories that popped up. "Not early enough." The lock clicked, and she pushed the door open. "C'mon in."

"Damn, that sucks." Anne swayed a little as she followed Crystal inside, with Mel bringing up the rear. "Hey, nice room. Li'l heavy on the cape posters though, isn't it?"

"Hey, you do what you know." Crystal gestured at the posters. "All signed. Perk of bein' in the biz. Bat your eyes an' say you're lookin' for pointers, and they'll sign damn near anything. How about you? Boyfriends?"

"Pfft, nah." Anne leaned over to look at the signatures on one poster, then lost her balance and half-fell onto Crystal's bed. "Hahaha … wooow. No, guys are all either wannabe lawyers or scared 'cause daddy's a lawyer. Nothin' in between. Sucks. I got needs too, y'know."

"I hear you." It was Mel who'd spoken; Crystal and Anne both looked at her, and she gazed owlishly back at them. She'd been hitting the whiskey instead of the wine coolers and had caught up to them, drunken-wise, with impressive speed. "Know what's worse thing about bein' leader of a villain team? They all see me as mom, y'know? If I screwed any one of 'em, it'd be weird. An' throw the whole dynamic off. But mainly be weird. An' I can't just find a villain guy, 'cause he'd prolly try an' stab me in th' back. So I'm alone at th' top." She giggled, but it was more of a sob. "I go through so many damn batteries."

"Here's to batteries." Crystal sat down on one side of Anne, and Mel on the other.

They dug into the bag Mel was carrying; when the Rec Center had closed, she'd negotiated with the bar staff, and they'd come away with more wine coolers. Ceremoniously, Mel handed out a cooler to each of the other two, then took one herself. The caps came off, and they clinked the bottles together. "To us," Anne proclaimed solemnly. "Friends f'rever an' f'rever."

"I like having friends," Mel said, putting her arm around Anne and hugging her close. "Y'r a good friend, for listening. Don' have too many of those."

"Yeah," agreed Crystal. "Never had a villain friend before. Orra lawyer daughter."

Anne giggled. "I'm inna cape san'wich. Hero one side," she kissed Crystal on the cheek. "Villain on th' other."

Crystal was just taking another drink when Anne's second sloppy kiss landed right on Mel's lips. Mel looked startled. Then Anne kissed her again. That one was a lot less accidental and a lot more serious. Mel didn't resist.

"Uh, I'll just—" Crystal got exactly that far before Anne's arm snaked around her neck and pulled her close. Um, is this a bad idea?

Then Mel's lips pressed against hers, warm and inviting. The last remnants of her good judgement fought a losing battle against alcohol, and how long it had been, and the way Anne was nibbling at her neck, and she found herself kissing the villain right back.

After that, things got wild.

Relevant Side Story: And Also, This Happened, by Masterweaver

"...so summing up, the idea of giving dad an anti-depressant gland is actually pretty clever, Vicky, but I'd want to test it on some mice first just in case."

"Totally get that, I just-"

Carol glanced at her phone as it buzzed. "It's Sarah. That's convenient timing-Hello, Sarah, I was going to call you in a few minutes-"

Her expression shifted to one of confusion.

"...Really? I-well, I suppose I could, but why exactly do you want to call a family meeting?"

There was an audible sigh from the phone.

And then, as Carol listened, her expression shifted to shock. "She did what?!"

Vicky and Amy shared a confused look, trying to determine if one of them was the she in question.

"No, I don't think I'm-well, this is kind of a big deal! Yes I know she's legally an adult, but-you're sure nobody has...? Well, of course they have-I'm sorry, did you say Barnes?"

Mark frowned. "Barnes? As in Alan Barnes?"

"Maybe," Carol told him distractedly. "Are they all still at the dorm? Okay. Listen, you're better at... the social part of this, you go talk to them, and I'll... look into the legal side. No. Yes, Sarah, I know. Honestly, there's some stuff that we need to talk to you about as well... Surprisingly, no. Well..." Carol sighed. "Yours is more scandalous, mine is more worldshaking. ...What?! No, of course not! Don't even joke about that, Atropos is far too frightening to be a member of New Wave."

"Something something holding capes accountable," Vicky murmured, holding up her hands at her mother's glare.

"It involves the future of New Wave, to a degree. I'm still getting a read on the situation. ...Well, not just her, no. Yes. ...Have you been talking to Mark?" Carol rubbed her temples. "Fine, yes, you both have a point. Alright... Alright, yes! But bringing things back around, just-just tell Crystal I'll... be discreet. Yes, Sarah, I am capable of discretion. I am! Hrmph. I'll call you back later."

Carol hung up the phone, put her head in her hands, and sighed loudly.

"...soooooooooo," Vicky asked, "do we want to know what that's about, or...?"

"Crystal had a drunken one night stand with Alan Barnes' daughter and a woman I'm pretty sure is Faultline."

Vicky blinked. "Uh... wow. That's... uh, that's something. Good for her, I guess? Wait, I thought Faultline left town. What's she doing here?"

"Probably looking to negotiate with Atropos to get her case 53 teammates a fix," Amy offered. "I can look the three of them over for drugs and STDs, you know, make sure their judgement wasn't impaired."

Mark pat his wife on the shoulder. "At least our daughters don't get into drunken threesomes with villains," he reassured her.

Carol peered through her fingers suspiciously at the two girls.

"Brute squad swears off alcohol," Vicky promised.

"Don't look at me," Amy protested, "I'm dating a rogue!"

"...That's good," Carol conceded. "This... is probably going to get a bit messy."

Vicky put on a big, wide grin. "So my idea about leaving town doesn't seem nearly so extreme now, does it?"

The exasperated sigh that followed would go down in legend.

End of Part Seventy-One