The Protagonist System

209 Unexpected Expectations

Emily Piggot, Director of the PRT ENE, didn't normally approve unexpected expenses; however, the price was reasonable for exclusivity and no one else had the rights to publish the footage. She sat in her office with all of the capes under her authority and all of them had wide eyes as they watched Atlas literally tear apart and destroy every single derelict ship in Brockton Bay.

Dead silence filled the room when the cape flew away from the surprisingly clean water and the video ended.

“Did I just see what I thought I just saw?” Dauntless asked. He was a cape that could empower items to give them special abilities.

“You tot you taw a puddy tat?” Assault joked with an incredible imitation of Tweety Bird. He was a cape that could store and redirect kinetic energy.

Everyone was used to his oddball humor and ignored him.

“That was Alexandria levels of power.” Armsmaster said, his eyes narrowed.

“After reviewing the footage, it's proof that Atlas intentionally downplayed his abilities when he was in for an assessment.” Emily Piggot said.

“No, he didn't.” Miss Militia said to defend him.

Emily hit a button on her laptop and showed the results on the screen. “That does not indicate the level of power he can bring to bear.”

Miss Militia held in her sigh. “He told us to change the limits of everything and we did. He broke the treadmill in ten seconds, so we couldn't measure his running speed. Our weight machines, even the industrial compression machine, can only rate up to two tons. He didn't even strain himself. The obstacle course... his mother had done it just before, so he knew exactly what to do to go through it as efficiently as possible.”

“Even so, he was classed as 9s in the categories we tested him in.” Amrsmaster said and then he understood. “Our tests didn't account for anything beyond the obvious, so his numbers don't reflect reality because of flawed data.”

Miss Militia tapped the tip of her nose and nodded.

“The established ratings don't go above 10 officially.” Armsmaster said. “If he really is Alexandria levels of power, with a blaster power as strong as Legend's, then he needs to be classed in the same category as them. Triumvirate level.”

Nearly everyone looked stunned at the revelation, except for Miss Militia and Emily Piggot.

“So, they'd become the Quadrumvirate?” Their youngest cape named Vista asked and everyone in the room looked at the short cute blonde. “I like math and read a lot.”

“It doesn't roll off the tongue, so I doubt PR would go for it.” Triumph said. His power was sonic attacks from his mouth and he wore a large lion head shaped helmet.

“That's assuming we let anyone else know about this.” Battery said and looked thoughtful. “He could either bring a lot of people here to challenge him or cause all the small time villains and criminals to flee.”

Emily smiled at her and nodded. “Exactly. We have access to a rare resource...” She said and changed the report on the screen to play a grainy video captured on a particular roof's security camera.

Everyone watched Atlas confess to Panacea and saw her panicked reaction. Some of the males winced, some of the females groaned, and the rest were a mix of surprise and shock. However, there was one muffled laugh and no one looked over at Taylor, since they all knew how and why she triggered.

“...and I intend to capitalize on it.” Emily continued. “His little tantrum was surprisingly quiet for how destructive it was and the only real light show was when he finished off the tanker blocking the bay.”

“I bet Mayor Christner is jumping for joy right about now.” Triumph said, which was funny, because he was the mayor's son. “With he bay opened up and cleared out of debris...”

“There are many thing that can happen now, some of them good.” Emily said and that gained everyone's attention. “As soon as it's reported on the news, a lot of people are going to be interested in the various plots of real estate that are suddenly much more valuable properties with access to the waterfront.”

“You are right, director. That can't be a good thing with how many small time capes are still around and there are a lot of abandoned warehouses and businesses all along the dockyards.” Armsmaster said. “If I can call Dragon in on this, I can have her check the current state of the market.”

Emily nodded and Armsmaster stilled and only his eyes moved, using his helmet interface instead of voice commands. The screen on the wall changed from the PRT logo to show Dragon's face.

“Good evening, everyone.” Dragon said.

“Dragon.” A few of the capes said and the rest nodded or waved.

“It was fortunate I was watching the area, because I managed to snatch up a few choice areas myself already.” Dragon said and a topographical map appeared and she highlighted three of the larger plots in green. “However, I was too late to do anything to contest the rest.”

The map changed and a few people caught their breath as 16 different properties were highlighted in red, including the huge trainyard and both decommissioned ferry terminals.

“Who could afford all of that without any notice?” Emily asked.

“I could have.” Dragon said. “As could several rich socialites... including...”

A picture of Bad Canary appeared on the screen.

“Her recently acquired recording company is the LLC that bought up all those properties after paying the previous owners well over the current market value for them.” Dragon said.

“Which means they didn't even bother trying to haggle.” Armsmaster said. “How did Miss Macabee find out about this before we did?”

Dragon sighed. “That's my fault, I'm afraid.”

“How?” Several people asked, Emily included.

“I sent her an anonymous email about the Birdcage and wanted to use her in an undercover sting operation to find out exactly who did it and why.” Dragon said. “Since she was the only cape that received an immediate benefit from its destruction, I assumed she would easily make contact with whomever it was that freed her and possibly make them confess.”

Nearly everyone in the room nodded, since it was a good plan.

“That was a sound strategy.” Armsmaster said. “So, why is she here in Brockton Bay?”

Dragon did a bit of typing on the screen and then it showed the very last bit of the video with Atlas blasting the large oil tanker into oblivion.

“Son of a bitch!” Taylor shouted angrily and started to grow.

Three different people aimed and fired tranquilizer darts into her and her growth slowed down and stopped. Her skin was partially green in spots and one of the darts hadn't penetrated, which was why three people had dart guns. She shrank back down to normal size and looked really drowsy. Amrsmaster closed the hatch on his gauntlet and Gallant did the same.

“Thaaaanks, Visssta.” Taylor slurred and her eyes closed as she collapsed on her chair.

“You're welcome.” Vista said as she holstered her tiny pistol and then she had to use both hands to stop the much taller girl from falling to the floor and held her steady.

Emily nodded to her and Vista sat up straighter and looked pleased.

“I had my suspicions about Atlas after he showed up in Canada and took out the Dragonslayers and Heartbreaker in one night.” Dragon admitted.

“He WHAT?!?” Emily yelled and everyone started whispering and commenting that they were odd targets. “Why weren't we notified? Where was the all points bulletin warning about all of Heartbreaker's victims tearing everything apart in revenge?”

“You were notified by me, as were all the PRT directors including the Chief Director, on orders from Narwhal. I can't make you read every general notice you're sent.” Dragon said and Emily tried to not frown at how true that was. “The APB about the expected retaliation wasn't necessary, because all of his victims were freed from his hypnotic programming... after he died.”

That had everyone muttering more comments about how that could be possible.

“How did you find that out?” Armsmaster asked.

“Atlas himself hinted at the Heartbreaker situation after visiting Narwhal and delivering the Dragonslayers to her for arrest and allowing me to reclaim my stolen tech.” Dragon said.

“He didn't destroy it all when he attacked them?” Armsmaster asked, concerned that the tech was compromised. “I hope you took proper precautions...”

Dragon smiled at her friend. “I did, also on orders from Narwhal.”

Armsmaster nodded and smiled back.

“As for what he did...” Dragon paused and played another clip. This one was her drone approaching the destroyed warehouse that used to be the hidden base of the Dragonslayers. The three large dragon-like armored suits stood amidst the rubble and were still in their servicing cradles.

“How was that possible?” Armsmaster asked and examined the video. “It looks like he covered them with something and then blew everything up from that centerpoint.”

“I believe he said he put up an energy shield up around himself and the suits, then did a high power blast like he used on the oil tanker.” Dragon told him.

Assault let out a long slow whistle. “No wonder there's nothing left.”

“It was mostly toothpicks and a few shreds of metal.” Dragon said with a soft chuckle. “I have to assume it wasn't on the same scale as what was needed for the tanker.”

“Agreed.” Armsmaster said and sat back on his reinforced chair. “How do we proceed from here?”

“Miss Militia.” Emily said and the military themed cape perked up. “It seems the young man that had taken a liking to you is currently free of attachments.”

“You're gonna try to honeypot him?” Assault asked and his wife Battery smacked his shoulder. “What? I didn't say it was wrong.” He said to defend himself. “It's just that New Wave already did that to the kid and he's going to be really careful about things like that.”

“Yes, he is.” Emily said and pulled out a USB drive and tossed it to Miss Militia. “Give him a peace offering of the footage to let him know that not everyone was ignorant while he was blowing off some steam.”

“Understood.” Miss Militia said and tucked it into her bandoleer, the excuse would get her the chance to talk to Atlas about it. “Do I let slip we own the rights to it as well?”

Emily shook her head. “That will get his hackles up and send the wrong message. The last thing we need is for him to think we're trying to threaten him with releasing it.”

Miss Militia nodded and smiled, even though no one could see it behind the scarf hiding the bottom half of her face.

“What about using that against them?” Battery asked and Emily gave her a single raised eyebrow. “I mean, the honeypot thing. New Wave just had a huge popularity boost. If it somehow came out that it was all a trick to get Atlas to join...”

“...all that positive press would almost instantly turn against them.” Emily finished. She thought about it and then shook her head. “No, that also makes us out to be the bad guys. It's a good idea; but, we'll keep it off the table for now. If things don't work out on their own, then we can hammer them for claiming they're better than the local Protectorate Team of capes.”

All of the people in the room nodded, except for one, whom was still unconscious.

“Dragon, keep some of your surveillance focused on watching Atlas and continue your investigation. If Bad Canary somehow figures out how to get in contact with Atlas, I want to know about it.” Emily ordered.

“Will do.” Dragon said.

“This meeting is adjourned.” Emily said and stood up without any discomfort. “Dismissed.” She said and picked up her coffee cup and sipped the strong brew. She saw Vista, a space manipulator, trying to shake Taylor Hebert awake. “Someone give Vista a hand taking Hebert back to the Wards area.”

Aegis and Gallant both picked Taylor up and Vista smiled at them as they left the room.

*

“You two are the dumbest...” Carol growled as she paced back and forth in her living room as the rest of New Wave watched her nervously. pletely ignorant... foolish...”

“Carol.” Sarah said, her voice firm.

“...incompetent...” Carol stopped pacing and tried to not glare at her idiot daughters. “How could you be so stupid?!?”

Both Amy and Vicky winced at the amount of anger in their mother's voice.

“Carol!” Sarah exclaimed.

Carol let out a muttered curse and sat down with her arms crossed beside her sister.

“Thank you.” Sarah said and touched her shoulder briefly. She turned to the two girls that might have just ruined everything, right after New Wave had everything back on track for their cape accountability movement. “Now.” She said and leaned forward. “How could you be so stupid?”

Both girls looked stunned as their reasonable aunt asked them the same question their angry mother had.

“We literally just announced ourselves as the best cape team in the world and then you immediately drive a wedge right through the center of it!” Sarah shouted and paused to calm down and take a breath.

“He just... out of nowhere! I had no clue and... I... I wasn't ready.” Amy said, her face red. “It was too fast and... and I panicked, okay? I was already freaking out about the press and then he said that!”

Sarah sighed at Amy not realizing Greg was trying to reassure her and gave her something she should have been happy about. “Then Vicky treated him like a stranger during their patrol because of it.”

Vicky opened her mouth to deny it and Sarah held a hand up to stop her.

“The video of your completely silent fast food meal is all over PHO and has tons of comments about if the sound is muted or not.” Sarah informed her.

Vicky looked embarrassed and ducked her head slightly. “Amy was hurting and I wanted to prove I was on her side. I also didn't want Greg to think that I was ignoring what happened or that everything was normal.”

Amy took her hand and Vicky interlaced their fingers.

“I'll always be on her side, no matter what.” Vicky said and lifted her head, almost proudly.

“You also treated one of the most powerful capes on the planet like he was diseased and you hated being around him!” Carol spat at them and they both winced again.

Sarah put her hand back on Carol's shoulder and the angry woman huffed. “You've put yourselves, and us, into a very awkward position.”

Amy couldn't take that accusation without comment. “What was I supposed to do when he suddenly confessed like that?”

“You. Should. Have. Lied.” Carol growled out, each word harsh and clipped.

Both girls looked shocked, especially at all of the nodding heads around them. Even their father was agreeing with her and that was a scary thing, since he always defended them from their mother when he could.

“Just saying the words would have been good enough, even if you didn't mean them.” Sarah said and Carol nodded. “If you could have pretended you loved him, just like Vicky was pretending, it would have been much better than what actually happened.”

“I wasn't pretending!” Vicky denied.

“Oh, please.” Crystal said with a roll of her eyes. “You fall in and out of love with that Dean moron every other week.”

“He's not a moron!” Vicky denied.

“He lets you walk all over him like a doormat and he's your sugar daddy that never tells you no.” Crystal responded with a laugh. “Only a moron would do that.”

“We're getting off track.” Sarah said with a calm tone. “Giving Atlas the cold shoulder like that has made everything worse after Panacea's firm denial of his feelings.”
“I... I didn't...” Amy started to defend herself and her words trailed off into a whisper. She actually had denied how Greg felt and then fled.

“If this gets out, it could ruin us.” Sarah's husband Manpower said. “Despite how bad it looks, it could be twisted to be even worse.”

“How could it be worse?” Eric asked, sure he was missing something.

“Do you want to tell them or should I?” Carol asked her sister.

Sarah took a deep breath and let it out. “Panacea immediately breaking up with Atlas right after him joining New Wave, and Glory Girl's harsh treatment of him as well, paints us in a very bad light.”

“We know that part.” Eric said and Crystal nodded. “What are we missing?”

Sarah nodded at Carol.

“Both Panacea and Glory Girl used their bodies to lure in the new powerful cape in the city and tricked him into becoming a member of New Wave. Now that he joined up publicly, their job is done and want nothing more to do with him.” Carol said and felt satisfaction at seeing the horror on their faces.

“Yeah, that's way worse.” Eric agreed and Crystal nodded.