The Rise of Marquis 17 (Patreon)

The Rise of Marquis
Chapter 17

-VB-

It was another routine and regular meeting of the Parahuman Response Team upper echelon and Protectorate heroes in the East-Northeast department. This wasn’t to say that there wasn’t anything interesting to report in terms of development.

Personally, Robin wanted to be elsewhere.

“Everyone who can be here is here,” Director Piggot hummed. “Let’s start us off with what’s on agenda today.”

One of the director’s secretaries spoke up from behind her in his own desk, separate from the meeting table for the heroes and the branch’s top brass.

“Today on agenda, there are five points: recent re-acquisition of WMD by the March, Merchant activity and new cape recruit, Undersider’s latest hit against the ABB, the annual budget, and the latest cape on the scene.”

Director piggot nodded grimly. “Let’s start with the hardest. The Tinkertech device that the March took back from us after we took from raiding their warehouse. What was it?”

“Aside from the theory that it is a weapon of mass destruction,” Armsmaster hummed. “We have little information on it.”

“Why wasn’t this reported to me?”

“Because Marquis admitted that they were building it to use it against the Endbringers.”

Piggot clicked her teeth in distaste, and Robin understood why. Tinkertech specifically made for Endbringers was an addition to the Unwritten Rules: leave it alone. Using such a weapon against regular capes and people also broke that rule, which in turn was breaking the Unwritten Rule, which got people very angry.

Since Marquis and his pet Tinker De Soma never used it against people, everyone here could complain about it but the cape community and PRT at national level wouldn’t care. After all, there were a hundred and one plus similar situation all around the country. What’s one more in a stable city like Brockton Bay?

“James,” Piggot glanced over to her secretary. “Note that the March now has a potential WMD.”

He typed away.

Robin wanted to leave this place. Boring, yes, but he felt confined.

“Next, Merchants, their activities, and their new cape.”

“Do we have any file on them?”

“No. Merely a confirmation from our insider.”

Piggot sighed before turning to the heroes. “Your opinions?”

“The Merchants are focusing on stealing chemicals more than they did before. Maybe it has to do with that?” Dauntless suggested.

“Possible,” Armsmaster grunted. “But there wasn’t any significant power usage or power generators being stolen.”

And on and on on it went. Robin basically spaced out for the entire budget part. When budget came to the fore, it was basically Deputy Director Renick fighting for the superfluous things, Piggot for the PRT grunts, and Armsmaster fighting for Protectorate heroes, Wards, and Tinker budget.

Finally, they got to the interesting bit.

“Now, let’s discuss the new cape. Codename Sanguina,” Renick spoke up. “Presumed feminine due to curves in the armor. Presumed young due to voice. Presumed to be heroic because of her first sighting. She fought Lung for six minutes to rescue someone.”

Six minutes?

“And this was her first fight. According to eyewitnesses, she escaped successfully.”

Damn, Robin thought, impressed. “What’s her power?” he asked.

“Presumed to be Brute, Breaker, and Mover,” Armsmaster quickly rattled off. “There is currently only one video of Sanguina in action, and I will be showing it … now.”

Widescreen TV on the other side of the room lit up, and they all watched as a young woman - no more than twenty - took on some kind of red armor in an instant (where the Breaker rating came from) and fought against Lung.

He winced as the girl took a few hits, and when Lung reached what looked like his seven foot phase, she took the victim and ran for it.

Lung was fast but not fast enough, and her retreat forced his power to start deescalating.

“Definitely Mover,” Battery hummed.

“Yeah, with how fast she was high-tailing it, she deserves that Mover rating,” Assault giggled - giggled - from next to her.

“She did tank few of Lung’s punches. That’s more than what I could say about our armored PRT agents,” Renick mumbled, stroking his gray scraggly jaw. “If this is her untrained first night out, then she might become a fearsome fighter once trained. Training that we can provide in safe environment.”

Robin wanted to leave the meeting. The meeting room was always … there were times when things said here weren’t for the weak of heart.

“Recruit her?” Miss Militia asked.

“We should. Unfortunately, we do not know her exact intentions. She could be a heroic rogue for all we know,” Piggot replied. “We should push her to join us, but if not, then I will settle for her signing up as a PRT affiliated cape.”

“That’s it, then?” Robin asked.

“... I suppose that is all we have for the meeting,” Piggot grunted. “Meeting adjourned.”