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A Gang of One
Chapter 2

-VB-

“What is your purpose?”

It was a question we asked ourselves. Unfortunately, we didn’t have one.

“Why not make one?”

It seemed … like too much trouble, except it wasn’t. See, we were only all too aware of what happened to people if they lost whatever purpose or goal that had driven them in their lives. Something as simple as a job kept the body working and from deterioration.

Don’t believe us? See how long the health of retirees last without hobbies or some kind of work. Answer: not that long.

We digressed.

With one big threat out of the way and her Tinkertech in our catalogue of reverse-engineered tinkertech as the first of many, we felt aimless.

The Slaughterhouse Nine traveled towards Brockton Bay and we would fight them, for samples of both Bonesaw's and Mannequin's Tinkertech if nothing else, but what about after?

Survive Golden Morning? Sure. We could just portal away and let it happen on its own.

… we should prepare for it, anyways. We did have the Warrior’s Shard. It was very likely that he will track us down.

With magecraft and reverse-engineering Tinker specialty, we could try to mimic the parahuman effects and tinkertech, respectively. Since Panacea already proved incapable of transferring powers, we might need to get my hands on Bonesaw’s tinkertech without dying.

At the very least, we needed to get my hands on Jack Slash and Flechette.

“Hey, Contessa. How’s Cauldron doing?”

-VB-

Earth Bet, USA, New York City, PRT New York HQ

Legend knew Contessa’s Paths made little sense.

However, it was refreshing to have someone who understood and explain to him why the Path was acting as it did.

“So you are a Blindspot like Eidolon,” he remarked while walking side by side with a ruggedly armored and masked cape named “Hive” from Brockton Bay. “Which is why Contessa couldn’t Path you.”

While talking so openly about the boogieman of the parahuman underworld wasn’t smart, he had also shut down all forms of surveillance to this small corridor.

“Yes, we are.”

“So then how did you convince her to convince me to let a villain meet a Ward?”

“Because we work for the same goal as you, Legend.”

He nodded. No more needed to be said.

“She is the ‘silver bullet’ they have been looking for?” he asked quietly as they approached the thick mechanical slide door.

“Yes, but only a part.”

They stopped and the alarm rang loudly but not ear piercingly. He didn’t doubt for a second that his Wards on the other side of this door scrambled to put their masks on while he waited.

And, two minutes later, the doors opened.

Then someone screamed.

“W-Whys is he here?!” Jouster, the current New York Wards team leader, shot up from the couch. “Isn’t he-?!”

Hive tilted his head. “I’m here to assist the Protectorate,” he stated plainly.

Legend held up a hand. “He’s correct. Right now, Hive is working with the Protectorate on one of our … classified projects,” he allowed. “Flechette.”

The Japanese-American girl quickly stood up. “Yes?” she responded uncertainly.

“Hive will be observing how your power works for the entire afternoon. Then you are free to go. One of the Protectorate will cover your patrol shift.”

She opened her mouth, looking like she wanted to protest. She glanced at Jouster and others before nodding sullenly.

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you, Flechette. Hive, I expect you to be on your best behavior. Cooperation is one thing, but I will still discipline you if you step out of line.”

Hive nodded. “Okay,” he replied before turning to Flechette. “Would you like to work in this base or would you come to ours?”

Legend quirked an eyebrow at his continued use of second-person pronoun instead of first-person pronoun.

“O-Okay, what am I going to be doing?” she asked as she stepped up.

“You’ll be shooting your power-assisted shots ten thousand times.”

Legend winced.

Jouster winced.

The rest of the Wards winced.

Flechette froze.

“T-Ten thousand?”

“Do not worry,” Hive said with a smile he probably meant to be assuring but only came off as unnerving because of his rugged helmet. “We will provide food, housing, and entertainment. We will also cover travel costs and provide break times between. You will be working four hours a day with us, maximum.”

Legend didn’t expect that. Maybe Hive was a smart villain, if he was using this cooperation as a chance to try and get himself in good grace with the Protectorate.

“You’re not trying to recruit my Wards from under me, are you?” he asked nonetheless. It never hurt to be sure.

Hive merely glanced at him for a moment before suspiciously coughing what sounded like a “yes.”