94

Date

2011 May 28th - Friday - Earth Bet Time

Emily read over the copy of the announcement of the Nine's death once again as she took a break from her workload.

It still filled her with a level of satisfaction (though not more than the destruction of Ellisburg) that was hard to describe. Of course, at the same moment, she was aware that the current government, and the leadership of the PRT, were trying to pursue criminal charges against Dragon. After they had stonewalled her every time she had offered to deal with the Nine.

When she had read the Director level request for information about Dragon to be used in the case, at first, she had thought that a new parahuman used the name Dragon. But no, those colossal morons decided to go against one of the most famous and most powerful parahumans. in the world. Fully aware that Dragon was best buddies with Lux Arcana/Serenity.

So, knowing the futility of the action, she used the finest skills she had honed during her tenure as the Director of PRT ENE to avoid participating in this madness.

The mighty skills of bureaucracy. Stalling, delaying, asking for clarification, and forms that served no purpose other than annoying people.

It seemed the last few years weren't that useless…

She placed the already dogeared memo on the desk, adding a post-it note for her secretary to have it framed and hung next to the announcement of the destruction of Ellisburg. Which hung prominently next to her degrees, with an added digital frame that continuously showed the explosion that erased that cursed city and villain from the Earth.

Then Emily turned back to her computer. While her workload decreased with the Merchants and the Empire captured and Lung seemingly giving up (though there seemed to be some odd movement with him), she still had mountains of work to wade through. Though at least she could relax on Sundays.

Currently, one of her biggest worries was that Brockton Bay was declared the City where Leviathan Died, which caused it to attract all sorts of attention. Attention that she had to deal with.

Granted, it was mostly tourists (the Major was pretty happy about it), pilgrims, and the horror of horrors, politicians.

It seemed every politician in a five hundred-mile radius wanted to be seen around the site of the Endbringer battle, so they flocked to the city en masse. Though, why the Head of Transportation of some Podunk little town needed to make a speech about Leviathan, and how much he was doing about it, escaped her…

At least, those pests were the responsibility of the local government. She just had to send a few parahumans for security. So, it was the perfect punishment detail.

The petty and not so petty criminals, scammers, were not as much. Especially when new parahumans decided to visit the city.

Most of them were just here to sightsee, either to see the battlefield or they hoped to see or even meet Lux Arcana. Dragon informed her that some parahuman offered ludicrous sums just to have a meeting with Lux Arcana and to have a chance to fight with her.

She kinda wished they would do so. Then she would try to convince Lux Arcana to let Darwin take its course…

Those were easy to deal with compared to the rest, who decided that the city with its increased population, commerce, and the lack of parahuman villains made it the perfect place to set up shop. They were already rumors about an illusion-wielding parahuman who robbed people who took a wrong shortcut.

Another was a guy named Muncher, who seemed to think that resurrecting the Merchants was a swell idea. He hadn't done anything actionable, but it took Armsmaster all together five minutes, and a disappointed headshake to find the parahuman's base of operation. After another three minutes, Dragon had the description of his powers on her desk.

Eating metal to gain its properties was not the best power, but she could see how it could be used. Though he doubted he was the joining kind.

Maybe after meeting a competent parahuman he would change his mind?

After Leviathan's death, she stopped discounting the possibility of miracles happening.

Though, for some reason, she still wasn't getting a budget increase…

But she attributed that to the Chief Director being her asshole self, so she wasn't that angry.

The situation with parahumans was also getting interesting.

All over the country trigger events were being reported becoming much milder, and powers were becoming much more useful for the given situations. Some people even tried to research this phenomenon worldwide and came back with the surprising result that it seemed it was happening all over the world.

She would have attributed it to Leviathan's death, but they started much earlier. It was only the PRT that was playing catch up, as always.

They were even rumors circulating that the recently joined parahumans, either to the Protectorate or Wards, were much more well-adjusted and fewer issues (she would believe it when she saw it). However, the leadership was rather cross because those parahumans who had the ability to heal would approach the Healer Union first, then would start negotiation with the Protectorate with their help.

Parahuman healing budgets increased exponentially overnight.

She was just quietly smug because they had access to Panacea, who decided to provide healing to the local heroes pro bono at least a few times. Whoever was advising the girl, they sure knew their stuff.

Emily was about to go over several requests that the Union made when there was a knock on the door.

"Yes?"

Her secretary stuck her head in, and she was glad to note that there was a smile on her face.

"Director, we were approached by a family that wants their child to join the Wards."

"Well, that didn't take long. Powers?"

"Earth controlling and sensing."

"Doesn't sound bad. Who is meeting with them?"

"They brought their own lawyer, so legal is currently there with Assault."

"Assault? Really?"

The secretary just shrugged.

"The kid is a fan."

"Figures. Thank you and keep me updated."

"Yes, Director. Coffee?"

Emily looked out of the window, noting the crimson hues of the clouds, and sighed.

"Bring the entire pot…"

"Yes, Director."

After 'enjoying' a cup of Brute grade coffee, she had returned to one of her other pressing issues.

The disciplinary action that several people from the leadership wanted to take against Armsmaster for sending that design to Serenity. But seeing as a lot of suggested 'punishments' were relocations, Emily suspected that most of those Directors didn't really care for the design, they just wanted to poach one of her parahumans.

And right after she had housebroken him somewhat…

Well over her dead body!

Finally, a parahuman built something that benefitted the entire world, and these capital morons wanted to punish him? She doubted the man would mind if they even fired him. He would be in another lab, working with Dragon and Serenity five minutes after he left the building.

So with a sigh, and a shake of her head, Emily began to draft an email that would explain this to the other Directors in short words so even those who are mentally challenged could understand it.

Date

2011 May 30th - Sunday - Earth Bet Time

He watched as the Master worked the material, his movements graceful, yet contained no waste. His only job was to maintain the flame, so he could properly think while he did that.

Brockton Bay and America were lost to him.

He committed too many crimes, so they would never allow him his peace. Not that he was suddenly remorseful about those crimes while deciding to suddenly change everything about himself and live a life of peace.

No, he liked the darkness. He liked the danger. He reveled in it.

But he was not stupid and knew his days here in the States were numbered, so he divested himself of everything useless, and prepared to move back to his home country. He was already in talks with some of the local players that would welcome someone of his caliber.

Now, the only thing left was to satisfy his honor.

As he watched as the hammer fell and rose, he knew that even that would soon be accomplished…

Date

2011 May 30th - Sunday - Earth Bet Time

"So, you are joining Arcadia in September?" asked Vicky, as she was sprawled out on Taylor's couch next to her sister as they watched the Battle of Ellisburg again. The others wanted to see some kind of lame horror movie, but she won the card game so she got to choose.

And the movie, while simple, was too badass not to watch. Again.

"Yes. Dad already talked to the school and when they heard what happened with Winslow, saw my results from the homeschooling program, and they realized I don't need a scholarship they agreed really fast," answered Taylor as she munched on popcorn in her Leviathan pajamas.

Amy just snorted.

"It was probably the scholarship thing that convinced them…"

"Yeah, but I don't mind. I have more money than I need."

Her traitorous and very rich sister nodded in understanding.

"I know what you mean… All that money and I don't even know what to do with it!"

She was about to lay into them when she noticed their lips were twitching as they were trying to keep their mirth under control. So, she just huffed, crossed her arm, and turned back to the movie, just in time to watch Alexandria go up against the abomination dragon.

"Fine, be that way! See if I continue to give you awesome fashion advice!"

The other two girl's response to that was to break out in laughter. She retaliated by pelting them with a pillow.

Soon the room was filled with shrieking laughter as three superpowered teenagers tried to kill each other with pillows.

The next morning Taylor had to replace the ceiling lamp, but it was totally worth it.

Date

2011 May 31st - Monday - Cauldron Dimension Time

Legend listened to Doctor Mother as she explained what happened and described the results of their research and investigation, while also explaining the projected consequences.

Altogether, it could have been worse.

After he joined the group he quickly realized that in the end, if they succeeded with their intended goal, they would not be coming out smelling like roses. But he swallowed his concerns and tried to convince himself that it was necessary.

And now, everything they had worked for vanished into thin air.

He couldn't even explain how relieved he was. Without the looming threat of Scion and the Endbringers, he could finally relax…

He was broken out of his reverie by Eidolon, who ever since Leviathan died was just a ball of frustration and anger.

"So, what's the next step? How are we going to find this new enemy? Or are we just going to give up?"

"Optimally, yes, that would be the next step," replied Doctor Mother, and if Eidolon's behavior bothered her, she didn't show it. "Unfortunately, it seems this Enemy has much more control over the agents than the previous ones. We can't use the powers to look for it. And without powers…"

"We are sitting ducks!" finished Eidolon for her.

"Crude, but yes."

There was a brief pause as everybody thought about the issue, but Legend saw that nobody had any idea. He was sure Contessa, Alexandria, and Doctor Mother had gone over the issue with a fine-toothed comb before they asked him and Eidolon to join the discussion, so he doubted he could add anything new to the topic.

He was much more interested in knowing that Contessa's protection of their jobs was coming to a rapid end. He was always leery of using her power to guarantee their position in the PRT and Protectorate, but he was very familiar with a certain paved road.

Tentatively, he spoke up.

"I may have an idea for my position in the Protectorate."

"Oh?"

"It's simple. I will retire."

There was a brief pause as all of them digested it, and predictably it was Eidolon who reacted first, while others looked on, curious about the explanation.

"What? Why?"

"Well, it seems no matter what we do, the truth will come out, eventually. And I doubt the truth will be considerate to us so I would like to use the remaining time to spend it with my family." He cracked a small smile. "Plus, I'm getting old. It's time for the new generation to get a chance at saving the world. There is no Scion, no Endbringers. I think I earned some quiet time."

The other looked at each other, all of them wondering what their response should be. It was Doctor Mother who spoke up once again.

"Very well, Legend. I can't fault you for that."

He lowered his head in respect and gave the older woman a smile, but a glance at the remaining members of the Triumvirate showed him they were not happy. Rebecca's face was set in stone. But after their long history, he could recognize when the woman was angry. On the other hand, everything was written clearly on David's face.

The man seemed to consider it a betrayal, but Legend didn't care.

Not anymore, he just wanted to rest.