Wyrm Lord of Brockton Bay 13 (Patreon)

Step 22: Door to roof of Boston Missionary Baptist Church.

Step 23: Turn on phone.

Step 24: Face northeast.

Step 25: Activate Camera App.

Step 26: Bend knees and brace for impact.

Step 27: Start recording the battle.

Step 28: Shake phone a little, no more than 5 mm from starting position in any direction. 

Step 29: Fix camera’s view on Wyrm.

Step 30: Stop recording.

Step 31: Slide down the rooftop to the left.

Step 32: Jump down.

Step 33: Land on car.

Step 34: Walk off the car.

Step 35: Enter the church through unlocked door.

Step 36: Door to Media Room, Home Base.

Step 37: Walk up to computer. 

Step 38: Sit down and turn on computer.

Step 39:...

...

Step 121: Upload edited video. 

Step 122: Click on “Create Post” button.

Sub-Path Complete. Re-routing to Main Path. 

Step 2,220: Call Rebecca.

Step 2,221: Wait for Rebecca to ask the question.

Step 2,222: Respond by saying, “If he chased after Leviathan, then he would have met Scion and triggered Scion’s rampage.”

Step 2,223: Say “goodbye. I will see you at dinner tomorrow.” 

-VB-

Alan Marris

June 13, 2011

Boston was devastated, so I focused on growing my business and influence within the Bay. Unfortunately, I knew that sooner or later, it would bring attention I didn’t want.

The Coalition was exactly that. Even though I’d gone off to Boston, fought the Endbringer, and showed the world that I was not someone to be trifled with, I had done the exact opposite: I stoked the fear of the mentally impaired idiots - because what else were traumatized people with power? - into gathering against me. 

It made me wonder if I should react to this world, Earth Bet, with rational decisions and logic. After all, those in power all around the world were parahumans with more than a screw missing in their heads. If I reacted to them rationally, then I would be at a disadvantage. On top of that, why should I keep to myself as I have? Even though I have clearly shown a “disinterest” in not pushing anyone under my command by force or expanding my territory, they just kept on considering me their enemy.

… Perhaps I should stop holding back. To stop being the “Smaug” of Brockton Bay. Sure, it had gotten me the power base, minions, and familiarity I needed and wanted, but it had also done nothing to dissuade the idiots from forming alliances against me. 

That said, what could I do? 

… Lisa would have an idea. She’s been keeping tabs on the idiots after all.

-VB-

“What do you mean I have to wait for them to come to us?” I asked with a growl. Lisa snorted while staring at me before turning her laptop around for me to see what was on the screen.

“They aren’t just gathering capes; they’re also hiring entire organizations and allying themselves to big names like the Elite.”

I read through the e-mail I was seeing. It was ended with a “@elite.org”. Elite had their own website? Actually, why wouldn’t they have their own website? “The Elite wants to ally with the Coalition?” I mumbled out with a displeased grunt.

Unlike the Coalition, the Elite was a well-established villainous rogue group. Even if their branch memberships had differing leadership styles which ranged from corporate-funded heroes to only a step above the Slaughterhouse Nine, they had a distinct desire to mess with a certain political and societal balance within their areas of operation. Imbalance was, after all, bad for business.

But the Elite didn’t operate in Brockton Bay. I heard rumors that they were trying to expand into Boston, but Accord had put an end to that. Accord was still in Boston, spurning up something within the ruins of the port city. 

‘Obviously, he’s remaking Boston into his own image,’ I thought to myself. 

“What’s holding them together?” I asked.

Lisa smiled. 

“The Elite’s using this chance to scout out the competition,” she replied. “Some of the Coalition don’t care, but most of the smart ones know that the Elite will be their biggest problem after the Protectorate if they manage to stop you.”

“That’s actually what I’m confused about,” I said exasperatedly. “Stop me from doing what?”

Lisa hummed. “From what I read, they’re just flat out scared of you.”

“I understand that much, Lisa. I’m not dumb. What I want to know is exactly how and why they are fearful of me. I want to know what I can do to fracture their little confederation of idiots.”

“If you’re looking for something to break their band, then I think you’re out of luck,” she sighed as she leaned back into her office chair.

“... Why?” I asked, a little bit warily and a little bit confused. 

“They’re not centralized, so they don’t have a central command for us to break.”

Made sense.

“They’re allied with the Elite, but the Elite haven’t exactly put their all into their endeavor.”

They haven’t? That’s good news.

“At this point, it’s closer to a defensive pact.”

And that’s bad news.

“So if you’re okay with bringing down all of the Elite’s branches east of the Mississippi, then I guess you can attack them.”

“What else?”

“They are a lot of members of this Coalition, but they are annoyingly tight lipped about who is the actual leader. I identified recruiters and regional recruiters, propaganda writers, logistic managers, and more, but the actual leader of the Coalition? I haven’t found them, yet.”

“Didn’t you show me a list of names before?” I asked.

“Yes, but I’ve already gone through those names. None of them are important… except maybe this guy.”

She turned the laptop back towards her, and after a quick typing, she pulled up something. Turning the laptop back towards me, I saw what was on the screen.

“‘Mantellum’?” The name in question belonged to a Case-53 who was part of the Coalition. His power was … “Power negation, huh?” 

“They hope that his power, which has a radius of effect power nullification, can be used to fight against you. They have other power negaters and nullifiers, but the Coalition is hedging their bets on him.”

“... And do you know where he lives?”

Lisa smirked before it turned brittle .”You’re … ah, going to kill him?” she asked nervously.

“I’ll go talk to him, if you aren’t happy with me just killing idiots, even if it would do the gene pool a favor.”

She stared into my eyes, trying to find answers with her power no doubt. 

“... He lives in Boston, actually. There’s a small community of Case-53’s who hide away from public, thanks to one of their own’s Tinker who can bend space. Think of it like M.C. Escher but more modern.”

I nodded. “What can you tell me about him?”

“Power nullifying effect comes from his ability to project a field,” she replied. “Makes any kind of perception power useless. Basically, it’s a perfect counter to combat Thinkers and annoying as hell to Thinkers in general.”

“But not you?” I asked.

“Not me~,” she hummed with a foxy grin. “See, Mantellum’s power, from what I gathered, only works if you’re directly there.”

“... Wait, if his power works mostly on Thinkers, then how do they intend to use him against me?”

Lisa blinked. “To blind you.”

“... Blind me?”

“Yup. You know that you’re not exactly smart when you’re a dragon, right?”

“I do.”

“Well, they have more than a few Tinkers who can project other capes’ powers-”

“What the fuck don’t they have?”

“Shush, let me explain.” A pause. Why did she pause? “So they were hoping to use Mantellum and few others like him for their power nullification and negation to render you … basic, because they found out how you fight.”

I blinked before my eyes narrowed. “They learned about how I fight?” 

“You use whatever your senses are, right? The one that lets you control water, air, fire, and earth. And whatever those missiles are.” She sighed. “I still can’t believe you can outfire Legend. LEGEND!”

I grinned smugly. “I have a talent.”

She huffed at me. “Anyways, this community…” she bit her lower lip. “From what I can gather, it’s a good place for Case-53. Please don’t burn it to the ground if they don’t try something first.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Lisa, we’re dealing with idiots here.”

“At least try.”

I shrugged. It wasn’t a big deal for me. “Sure.”

I had a plan and a target in mind, now.

Mantellum and Boston.

To Boston!