I'm starting to wonder if I'm too paranoid.
Elevators have cameras.
Therefore, I should take the stairs.
It's a simple concept; I think even a dumb kid who wanted to run out and play hero the moment they got powers may even consider such a thing.
Yet, here I am passing floor 11, and I am regretting my decision.
It took a bit longer for me to finally get to the rooftop entrance. I looked up at the camera and snorted, knowing it was 'fake,' or rather, it wasn't 'working properly.' And there was a little keypad to open the door.
6195
The door popped open easily as I was greeted by the cool night air, especially this high up.
The building was owned by my uncle—not by blood. The lawyer who handles everything for my family may as well be my uncle. He and my father were always close friends.
Dad always said how he appreciated the friendship because it was sincere. He never had to watch his back or be careful about what he said or did.
The building itself wasn't the tallest in the city. That little achievement went to the Medhall—the front that launders and funds the Nazi gang in the city. And even Medhall wasn't that large if you compared it to the skyscrapers in bigger cities.
But Brockton Bay was just a coastal shipping city; one shouldn't expect to see such massive buildings here.
Still, it served my purpose, and since my uncle owned it, I had easy access. It was 'officially' the location for his law firm to operate in the state. Granted, he barely spends time here since the vast majority of his work happens in New York, but having a location here helps quite a bit, or so I'm told.
Beyond the one or two floors occupied by Uncle's law firm, the remainder of the floors are just like every other random office building. Rented out to other companies, firms, or what have you.
I think there was some legal stuff about people hanging out on the rooftops of high-rises like this, which is why Uncle had the camera 'broken' intentionally. He liked to come up here to smoke, and he liked to have plausible deniability.
I took out my monocle, adjusting it to my eye as I looked around.
It was vastly superior to most binoculars I could purchase from a random retail store. Hell, I could 'zoom' in to an obscene degree. I found a man walking down the street on the other side of the city, and I could zoom in on his phone and vaguely see that he was texting someone.
There were, of course, other settings on this Mystic Code that my grandfather liked so much. One of the settings allowed it to switch to a sort of 'magic vision.' I didn't know the technical name for it, but it could pick up more condensed areas of magical energy.
My house was the biggest hotspot in the city; even from here, I could see the big 'blob' that appeared within the glass spectacle.
[Where are you now, Lancer?] I sent it through our link.
[I am headed north, Master. As you requested, I am doing a simple sweep of anything within my senses. However, as I stated before, a city like this makes it difficult to pick out individual nuances.]
[Even if you try to sense 'death' and 'decay'?] I asked.
[I apologize if this may come off as rude, Master. But this City is wrought with such things. I have passed over twenty dead and decomposing bodies left above ground thus far.]
Fucking Brockton Bay.
It honestly has one of the highest non-rape crime rates in the country.
Well, if they were hot, she would have said something.
It was simply luck before that we were close enough for her to sense it. Or maybe it was because of the fresh blood?
I adjusted my direction and look. [I can see you from my positon.] Well, I could see the big blob that was the magical energy that seeped off her. And this was her being discreet. Keeping your head in that direction, you're moving towards the docks. I can see something about six blocks ahead, then two blocks to the right.
[As you command.]
Unfortunately, in a congested city like this, miniscule 'Magical Energy' signatures didn't mean much. If there was someone with just above average OD despite not having circuits, they may 'contaminate' a spot if they stayed there for years.
And ghouls didn't have a lot of magical energy, ironically. That's why they needed to feed on blood, to keep themselves operating.
As for a Dead Apostle…I had no idea what that would even look like.
My Monocle wasn't omnipotent; he could be in the sewers for all I knew, and I wouldn't know. Or he could be expertly hiding himself just as well in the open.
[Master.]
[Did you find something, Lancer?]
[I have found no Ghouls or Dead Apostles. However, I have come across a group of men in masks that are lighting cloth on fire, which leads to a bottle of what appears to be alcohol while saying they're going to burn down a home of some others due to a difference in skin color. However, their wording was much more offensive.]
[Break their legs.] I didn't even hesitate to give her the go-ahead.
Fucking Nazis.
I'm fairly sure that even most Magi would turn their nose up at people who willingly dress up and act like Nazis.
[I have broken their legs and I am returning to my duties. I made sure that I was unseen.]
[Good job, Lancer.]
[Thank you, Master.]
Maybe if it were some random kids just sporting Nazi tattoos, I would have some compassion. It's no secret that the Empire 88 is more than willing to press gang people into its ranks. Or sometimes, you just have to join to survive.
But a bunch of idiots getting ready to molotov a random person's house deserves no pity.
I wouldn't be losing any sleep.
[Master, I'm at the location. I do find much blood has been spilled here, but I find no dead bodies or ghouls. Artoria informed me a few moments later.
[Anything else out of place?]
[Hmm, this location does feel particularly unpleasant. However, I find nothing else worthy of note.]
Maybe it was used before and abandoned?
[About two and a half miles north, then half a mile west, there's another hotspot to investigate.] I told her as I adjusted my monocle again.
[I am on my way.]
I started scanning more of the city while she continued onwards, and I saw something. I zoomed in on it because it was heading right towards me.
I, who was quite a few stories up off the ground, standing on a roof that overlooked most of Brockton Bay
"Oh goddammit." I cursed under my breath because I saw that it was a person.
[Just a warning, I'm about to have company.]
Are you in danger? I shall return immediately.]
[No need, there's no danger. It's a 'Hero.'] I felt myself roll my eyes as I said.
A blonde-haired girl wearing a short skirt and a fake tiara flew towards the rooftop I was on; she had clearly noticed me.
Glory Girl.
One of the teenage members of 'New Wave.' A Hero group who intentionally don't wear masks, spouting something about accountability.
[I have my Command Seals in a worse case scenario. Continue to investigate, please. I can handle this.] I told her again.
[Very well. However, if there is any indication of danger, do not hesitate.
Out of every place in the city, every person, she found me.
"Hey, I don't recognize you. Hero or villain?" Gloria Girl floated there, asking me.
"...Did you seriously just ask me that question?" I responded rather incredulously.
"What?" She blinked in confusion.
"If I were a villain, why would I say so?"
"Oh, you must be new!" She perked up, ignoring my sarcasm as she happily plopped down onto the roof like she owned it. "You're not supposed to go around pretending to be on the other side."
"...what?" It was my turn to be confused.
"Right, I haven't done this in a while! Anyways, if you're new to being a Cape, there's this thing called the Unwritten Rules. They kind of get picked up online sometimes, but those aren't always accurate."
Oh my god, it's real.
I mean, I knew it. I knew about Worm, but having her genuinely say it with sincerity was just…breathtaking in its stupidity.
"Alright, first, respect secret identities. I'm sure you know about New Wave, right? Even we don't go after the secret identities of other capes. In turn, they don't bother us if we're not suited up and working."
"..."
"Also, no going after family members, friends, that sort of thing. Keep Cape business to the streets and while masked. Also, if someone calls a truce, play nice. No powers or fighting or whatever. And no killing either. There's sort of an agreement that if everyone starts killing, things are going to escalate a lot and get really bad."
"Haven't the gang leaders in this city killed tons of people?" I pointed out dryly.
I intended to keep ignoring her rambling for the most part, but I couldn't help myself.
She scratched her head. "Well, it's mainly a cape thing. Don't kill other capes, because capes can do a lot more damage."
"So unpowered people just don't matter?"
So much for 'Heroics.'
"What? Of course they do! It's our job to protect them!" Glory Girl said proudly. "Look, it's not perfect; we're just doing the best we can."
Perfect?
I'd settle for something halfway intelligent.
"There's even one for villains. No randomly attacking people and causing chaos. No Master powers—you know power classifications, right? Everyone parrots them online, so they're pretty well known."
"I know." I said plainly.
She just nodded. "So no mind-controlling people. No rape or sexual assaults. That's a big one too. Alexandria popped up in front of the last villain who went around doing shit like that."
Well, that's at least pleasant to know.
However,
"What about Heartbreaker?" The 'Villain' living in Canada who has a mind-controlled harem of women in the dozens that no one seemingly cares to do anything about.
I'm fairly sure he grabbed a famous singer last year, and no one did shit.
Glory Girl scrunched her nose. "It's complicated…." She didn't seem to have an answer for that.
Sure it is.
"And don't use guns." She held up a finger, as if to change the subject. "Or if you need to for, like, power reasons—like Miss Militia, you need to be careful. Everyone says that if Capes start using guns, things will escalate."
'Don't use weapons that can hurt us; it's not fair.'
How asinine.
"I think the biggest one is Endbringer attacks. If the Siren goes off, no matter what's happening, Heroes and Villains, all Capes stop and a Truce is called. And it lasts for like a week or so after the Endbringer fight ends. Doesn't matter where it's taking place."
Right.
That I could at least get behind.
"And there are smaller ones. Like, don't disguise yourself as another Cape. Don't randomly change your costume just to confuse people. Don't pretend to be a hero or villain when you're the other."
Honestly, I think I lost a few brain cells in this conversation already.
Now I know why she fully believed that someone would identify themselves as a hero or villain to her.
She actually believed that nonsense.
"Noted." My brain rebooted, and I finally gave her a reply after she stared at me, waiting for a response.
"So, Hero or Villain?" She put her hands on her hips, almost playfully.
I felt my eye twitch.
"Neither." I couldn't even bring myself to lie, not because I had some moral quandary about lying to her face, but because my pride wouldn't allow me to even pretend to play their stupid little game of cops and robbers.
She frowned but perked up a moment later. "Are you really new? Your costume is pretty good. It's so…retro. But not like Cape Retro. Like older retro, you know, before phones and stuff. I think my dad called it something. What was it…N…Neo…Noir? That's it!" She looked proud of herself.
…I would hardly call that an apt comparison.
Just because I'm wearing a suit and a coat with a mask…?
Was I this fucking dumb when I was her age?
Well, I am technically her age, but before.
She slowly floated around me. "Most new Capes start with jeans and a hoodie, you know. You look like you've been prepping for a while. Is this your first night out, or just the first time you've met another cape?"
I felt my eye twitch.
"Oh, right. I'm supposed to say something like, 'Did you know that most unaffiliated Capes end up dead or in gangs?" She said in a sort of faux authoritative voice, like she was parroting someone else. "But it's true, you should be careful. The Wards aren't bad either, if you're that age. If not, the PRT's benefits aren't bad. What powers do you have? I saw that little glass thing on your eye glow. Are you a Tinker? Tinkers are even worse. If a gang sees a tinker, they grab them quick. I think even Kaiser would grab someone not White if it meant he could get his hands on a Tinker."
I wonder if Lancer could kill me from how far away she is, to spare me this.
"You don't talk much, do you? Are you going for that whole dark and broody look for your persona?" She floated around until she was directly in front of me. "The PRT doesn't like that; you'll look like a villain or something. And it's better if you do something with bright colors or a bit more heroic."
[Master, I reached the next destination. I believe I have found remnants of Ghouls. The bodies here are no longer human; however, they are also deceased. I believe the Ghouls here have starved to death; I do not pick up any traces of blood to feed them.
I ignored the floating girl next to me and quickly jerked my head back to where Lancer was.
[You have the Rune paper I gave you; use it to burn everything and clear up any traces if there's nothing worth investigating.]
While she's not a Magus, actualizing a Rune I drew onto some parchment was child's play for her. She could have probably done it herself; runes aren't difficult to use, and she is a goddess. But I thought it would be the polite thing to do considering our partnership.
"Hey, are you listening?" Glory Glory blocked my vision. "I'm trying to tell you some important stuff." She huffed indignantly. "What's your name anyways? I can't keep saying 'you' to get your attention."
I felt my temper slowly starting to rise.
The way she was just…expecting me to give her my undivided attention after she essentially ambushed me up here.
You would think with my curt responses, she would take a hint.
[I have set fire to the building and made sure that the flames will not spread, master. Where do you request I head to next?]
I ignored Glory Girl and stepped to the side to see where she was again.
[Alright, start heading southeast, I'll—]
"Hey!" Glory Girl flew in front of me again. "Don't you know it's rude to ignore someone when they're talking to you?" She harumphed, hands on her hips.
"If you're offended, then stop talking to me." I finally snapped. "Jesus, can't you take a goddamn hint?
I know, in her own way, in her mind, she was trying to be 'helpful,' which is why I put up with it until this point.
"Oh wow." She blanked. "Someone's an asshole."
"And someone has an inflated sense of self-importance." I shot back. "So kindly, take your plastic tiara, and go play superhero somewhere else."
I don't think she expected me to clap back, because she seemed speechless. Or maybe I hit the nail on the head, and she wasn't prepared for that?
[Head southeast; there's a large building that's a few stories taller than the ones around it. When you get there, head west for two blocks, and you should find an abandoned building with a brick chimney. That's the last one in that area.] I quickly sent it to Lancer.
[Affirmative.]
"Here we go, I'm going to call this one New Asshole in the Bay."
I heard her and turned around to see her with her phone out, and…was she seriously recording me? She was holding it up like she was going to record a short video for whatever dumb social media they use in this world.
Wasn't that, like, super inappropriate for capes? Like, getting up in another Cape's face and recording them felt like a huge social faux pas.
Granted, I wasn't a cape, but still. She thought I was, and she seemed to care quite a bit about the whole culture.
Then again, she regularly cripples thugs and has her sister quickly come heal them so she doesn't get in trouble.
And I did take precautions that recordings won't be too bad, but I also didn't want to stress test that sort of thing so bluntly. And if the Dead Apostle randomly sees a video of a 'new cape' or something like that the same night that various hideouts of his go up in flames? Well, connecting the dots wouldn't take a rocket scientist.
Regardless, fuck her.
I took out a smoke bomb and threw it at the ground. I was surprised by how quickly the rooftop was now covered.
I heard her coughing, and I had more or less memorized where everything was up here. Not to mention it was easy to find her with her being so loud.
Her screech of surprise was a dead giveaway.
And with a bit of reinforcement, I could see her silhouette.
"Hey!?" She blurted out as I snatched her phone out of her hand.
She didn't see it as I chucked it off the side of the building and then walked towards the exit.
Did I need to do that?
No.
Just walking away would have sufficed before she got a chance to fully record me.
I quickly punched in the door code and slammed the door shut behind me. I heard a bang on it from the other side; presumedly she hit it out of frustration, but I couldn't hear anything more as I swiftly descended the stairs.
Now, if she were intelligent, she would be watching the exits.
Fun fact: this building has a maintenance tunnel that leads to the nearby parking garage.
[Line Break]
There actually were some places on the Boardwalk that weren't named inappropriately despite the Bay not being beach- or swim-friendly.
I hung my legs off the side of the walkway with the water gently crashing against the rocks below.
My eyes were irritated from using Reinforcement on them.
I wish I had brought some Advil with me.
The surroundings vibrated slightly. Lancer walked through the bounded field I had set up on this spot.
This part of the Boardwalk doesn't really have people coming around this late, but why take any chances?
"I have completed the last of the assigned destinations." She stated.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out one of those folded tourist maps of the Bay. I found it sticking out of a trashcan nearby. It mostly detailed the touristy spots on the boardwalk, but it worked in a pinch as I noted down the spots she had hit so far.
"Describe the last one." I asked her. "You said it had Ghouls this time?"
It was the eighth location she investigated. It was a bit more difficult and annoying to find spots without being high up, but I didn't want to run into Demolition Barbie again.
My patience had reached its limits already.
"It appeared to contain more ghouls than all the others combined, Master. And there were considerable amounts of blood held within as sustenance."
"Some kind of experiment? But what would the Dead Apostle be experimenting with? You checked the Ghouls; nothing strange about them?"
"If you mean to ask if they are these 'Parahumans,' then they are not. They were all normal humans before their deaths and transformations." She shook her head.
I clicked my tongue. "How annoying."
"It appears we will not receive answers tonight." She walked over and sort of mimicked my actions, taking a seat a bit closer to me, her legs hanging over the edge.
I think she was just copying me intentionally, like I was some window into being 'human' that she used as guidance.
"You're right, that's enough for tonight." We're still just trying to reach out in the dark. The city is massive; it's going to be difficult to find the Dead Apostle while it's hiding. "It's a strangely pleasant night, though." I looked up; the moon was half full, and the weather wasn't bad either. Not too cold nor too warm.
"Yes, it is quite pleasant." Artoria had a faint smile as she looked out at sea, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear as it got caught in the wind.
While I wasn't frothing at the mouth and running myself ragged, I most certainly was still angry. This was my city, and some Dead Apostle came waltzing in, completely ignoring my presence.
Not only that, I suppose, either.
My little meeting with Glory Girl gave me a certain realization.
This city is a mess.
My city is a mess.
I'm going to need to clean it up properly after I'm done with this Dead Apostle business.
Nazis, fake dragons, and druggies running around in Mad Max-level vehicles. It genuinely sounded utterly ridiculous to even think about.
"Thank you, Lancer, for accepting my summons and even helping me with all of this." Did I thank her already? Either way, I made sure to do so. I could act like the sky wasn't constantly falling with her at my side.
Lancer let out a faint hum, like she didn't register my words for several moments. "Master, May I ask a question?'
"I'll answer whatever I can." The same promise I gave to her before: if she needs help with anything, I said I would do my best to help.
"It is common for those acquainted with each other to use their name, yes?" She looked at me. "It has been a very long time since someone has used my name. It felt pleasant to be called such when we were together. If the situation is permissible, could you please continue to use it?"
"If that's what you want, Artoria."
I hadn't even thought about that when I used her name when we were walking around before. I suppose it was a very human notion that she was trying to grasp at.
She smiled a bit more.
I took out my phone. "I'm going to call my uncle and ask him for a bit of help before we head back." I set it down next to me and put it on speaker.
Perhaps she was curious; she looked down at it as it rang.
"Frederick, is that you calling me so late at night?" He answered quickly.
"Hello, Uncle Richard." I responded politely. "I have a guest with me, and you're on speaker. But you're welcome to speak openly."
"Noted." He hummed. "I suppose a proper introduction then if you said 'guest'? Richard Bellamy, Esquire. I handle the accounts and legal matters of young Frederick's family." He sounded proud.
And he could read between the lines.
"A man of noble status? I am Artoria Ectorius." She used the name I 'gave' her.
He chuckled from the other side. "Well, as a lawyer, I don't get called noble very often. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Madam."
Though they hadn't technically met yet. But Uncle knows how to navigate these kinds of situations to make himself look good.
If I recall correctly, 'Esquire' had a different meaning a long time ago. Like a lower nobility title or something? My knowledge on it was vague.
"Now, Frederick, what can I do for you? Something rather important if you called me up so late, hmm?"
"Sorry for the late call, Uncle. I have a few things I need your help with. First, do you have methods to create identities without causing any eyebrows?"
"I do know a few people." He confirmed.
I just nodded, knowing he has fingers in a lot of…not-so-legal activities. "Artoria will need an identity. I'll send you the relevant information when it's convenient for you."
"It's a small matter." He said casually. "How thorough would you like it?"
"Enough that it will pass scrutiny." I wasn't sure how else to phrase it. "And I have a few other matters to discuss."
"Matters." His tone changed. "The unsavory sort of matters, I presume by your tone."
"Unfortunately." Thankfully, Uncle was 'in the know.' "I have a leech in my city that I'm currently hunting. Artoria is helping me quite a bit, so there isn't a concern of safety. However, I need assistance to find it. Can you start shifting through all the land and properties for sale in Brockton Bay?"
Uncle was silent for a moment, probably processing everything. "That's going to take awhile, Frederick. I'll of course get started on it, but even with setting all my interns and staff on it, it'll probably take a few days for just a surface-level evaluation."
"Anything is better than nothing." I knew it was a big ask. "While you're at it, look into buying up all the properties and land for sale in the Bay."
"Oh?" I could hear him perk up. "It sounds like you're planning something."
"I think it's time the city started getting cleaned up."
"I can most certainly do that. I presume you want to keep it hush for now. I can manage it without anyone taking notice through various methods."
If one company or person started mass buying properties and land that have sat empty for years, it would cause a bit of a commotion. Prices would be hiked; others might smell an opportunity and buy their own in hopes of flipping it for a profit.
"Anything else?" He asked, and I could hear him writing it down from his end.
"Do you know Medhall?"
"The pharmaceutical company in Brockton Bay—I'm aware of it. I do keep an eye on things happening in your area even if I'm primarily established in New York."
"Max Anders, the CEO, is the Nazi idiot running around calling himself Kaiser." I bluntly revealed.
I recalled from before, that the Leader of the Nazi Gang, Kaiser, used the Company to launder money and give legitimacy to many of his gang members. Of course this wasn't public knowledge, otherwise it would never be allowed.
"Well, that's certainly an interesting piece of information. It would be my pleasure to bring down the company if you're so inclined. You know, I grew up on stories of my grandfather telling me about his time in the war."
Uncle Richard's grandfather spent time on the front lines. He has a certain opinion about Nazis.
"See if they're publicly traded for now; if they are, start quietly buying any stock you can. If not, find out who their suppliers are and start from that end. At the very least, we can probably bully them from distribution channels."
"Sounds fun." He said cheerfully.
Well, it was on my dime, so he was being honest about it.
Then again, I would happily burn away millions of dollars just to annoy a bunch of stupid Nazis.
"And the PRT, look into their suppliers too. Who does their equipment? Probably some government contractors. See if their companies are publicly traded and try to get some kind of share."
"Planning on butting heads with the 'superheroes'?" He chuckled.
"Better to be prepared. Just in case."
"I'll get on it in the morning." He told me. "Is there anything else?"
"That's all for now, uncle. Thank you."
"Of course." He sounded warm. "Don't forget to call just to check in. You're almost an adult legally, so those emancipation restrictions will disappear. Keep playing the good schoolboy until that happens."
A friendly reminder.
He knew my real temperament, and he was the one who set up the emancipation in the first place.
"I'll keep my head down, Uncle."
"Good lad. Well, the Missus is going to have my head if I don't join her in bed soon. Stay safe, Frederick."
"Goodbye, Uncle."
The call ended, and I let out a short breath.
Well, it was a start.
[Line Break]
A/N
Frederick gets his first taste of Capes and is promptly annoyed by it.
If you want to support me, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / astoryforone
I also have a boosty if you can't use the above.
Leave a comment, it helps me know if a snippet is liked or not.