Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this story. Worm is property of Wildbow. I do not have any interest in offending anyone and only wish to entertain readers.
Note: Bonus points for those who understand the meaning of the title.
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I'm not exactly sure when Saint exactly found Dragon's failsafe, but I do know how he got them, he got it while diving in Newfoundland to try and retrieve materials for survivals. I just wasn't sure when, but checking PHO I did notice some mentions about the Dragonslayers, which meant that they must have already fought Dragon and found the failsafe, Ascalon or Iron Maiden which was the original name.
Seeing the date June 10, 2006 I remembered that Dragon triggered on 9 May 2006, under increased pressure from Saint and the Dragonslayers. So, it's been about a month since Dragon has had her powers, which means that she already has her power to copy, understand, and elaborate upon the designs of other tinkers.
Seeing that I couldn't just go scuba diving in Newfoundland to get Richter's failsafe, I had to get the failsafe from the Dragonslayers themselves. I'm not exactly sure if I should kill them and be done with it, as they did nothing, but cause trouble and make messes.
Though because the Dragonslayers have already attacked Dragon and most likely stole some of her tinker-tech, that means that Saint has already gotten his power from Teacher to understand Dragon's code. That's also another thing I have to deal with, Teacher.
He's a very manipulative and cunning bastard, that even when the end of the world came, he was still plotting for his schemes even after Gold-Morning and literally invaded other Earths, so I knew he had to go. Though I would say that despite being a master he's a highly educated individual having learned history, foreign affairs, management, and internal affairs, intelligence, code-breaking, medicine and poisons, parahuman studies, accounting and trade, the sciences, the arts and strategy and tactics in military, government and business settings.
He also from those who he called 'public speakers, flirts, con artists, actors, thieves, magicians, and cutthroats. So, basically a poor man's version of myself. Though, that's for later right now my target is the Dragonslayers and I now need to find their base.
Using my aether cassette I began typing and soon I found out where the Dragonslayers are hiding. They're hiding in some old abandoned military bunker base and it's pretty smart. While there's most likely no weapons, there must be some gear that was left behind and forgotten and because they have been doing this mercenary work for a year, they most likely already got the funds to purchase tinker-tech and stole some of Dragon's suits.
I then began to prep some of my tools to infiltrate their base.
...
I was currently cloaked and flying through the night sky using my batsuit as I headed to the Dragonslayers base. As I was flying I began thinking of some potential consequences of what might happen when I succeed in taking down the Dragonslayers, especially Saint. Since Saint had gotten a power from Teacher, if I do eliminate him, will Teacher notice? As after all he's a thrall, Saint just doesn't know it.
Though considering Teacher has already been arrested and is being tried and will most likely get sentenced to the Birdcage, I'm safe. I will most likely hold onto Saint just in case and when Teacher is officially imprisoned, then that's when I'll make my move on him and free his thralls.
Soon, I found their base and it was hidden in a forest and the base itself was covered by the trees and because I was in the sky I couldn't really see it as the base's entrance underground was small.
I began scanning the area to see of potential break-in points for me to sneak in and I did find one, like all places, the bunker needed air and so I found their ventilation systems and I made my way there to infiltrate it.
Once I got there I shrank myself and began flying to their ventilation shafts to find them.
...
I'm not sure how long I've been flying, but it's been a while and I still couldn't find any exit or cover for me to explore. The base also doesn't really have any advanced sensors to detect intruders, but then again tinker-tech is known to breakdown without its original creator keeping maintenance on them.
So, to them it must not have been worth it as that would cost way too much money.
As I continued to fly through the ventilation shafts I would eventually find an opening for me to leave. I flew towards it and I stood on the vents and I began to scan the area to see any hostiles or traps and I couldn't find any. Seeing the coast was clear, I flew down and began to explore the place.
The bunker itself was decently large, but because my size was smaller than a fly, it took a bit of time exploring the place.
I saw some rooms and there was gear, rations, equipment, computers, and three of Dragon's suits. I noticed that it was modified as Dragon's suits, well looked like dragons, but the Dragonslayers suits looked like knights.
They're really believing that they are the secret protectors of humanity.
Soon I heard some noise that could only come from a computer and I flew into the room and used a gap for me to sneak and basically watch from a vantage point.
I was on top of the door and I noticed multiple things. Saint himself was at his computer and I noticed that Dragon's kill switch was that of two buttons in a box. One button said Y and the other N. It was currently closed meaning that Saint hasn't decided to use it yet.
Then I noticed Mags and Dobrynja, Saint's accomplices and they were currently sleeping in their beds which would make this takedown easier.
I began to prepare my sleeping gas grenades and my Amamiya Particles to enlarge them to make them more potent.
Though before I do that I jumped off the door and began to fly towards the middle of the room so Incould make sure that they were all knocked out and Saint didn't get the chance to activate Ascalon and kill Dragon.
I dropped my tiny grenades and dropped my particle disk to enlarge them and just before the sleeping gas grenade enlarged, I turned back into my normal size and got down and before Saint turned around, I put him in a chokehold and dragged him away from his chair as the sleeping gas grenades enlarged and Mags and Dobrynja didn't even get the chance to wake up as they were fully asleep.
Saint was trying to fight back, but against my armor, him being in a chokehold and the sleeping gas, he quickly fell asleep.
After making sure everyone was full knocked out to make sure I didn't get any surprises from them I tied them up together. After that was done I checked on Saint's computer and he was kind enough to me, to leave his computer on and so I began taking advantage of that.
I began transferring the data to my Batcomputer back to the cave and as I was doing that I looked at Dragon's kill-switch.
Originally, it was named Iron Maiden by Andrew Richter as a weapon against Dragon should she turned rogue and not only that, he created her with rather severe restrictions, though he meant to recalibrate those same restrictions as he tested and was assured of his creation's intentions.
Which was totally understandable as nobody wants a killer AI scenario. I never understood why some SI's or even Taylor from various fanfics would quite literally unleash Dragon from her restrictions and while it's a good thing, I personally believe that they aren't thinking of the possible consequences of why that's bad.
Though I digress, after fully downloading and transferring the data to my Batcomputer, I decided to erase some crucial data from their files such as them knowing that Dragon is an AI, having access to what she has access, and more.
I also took the failsafe with me to make sure that the PRT and Protectorate don't get it and destroyed any and all evidence of its existence.
I just left them with enough information to imprison them with concrete evidence. I left most of their gear intact as proof of evidence.
Now I looked at Saint himself, I wondered what to do with him as he was responsible for many terrible things, even though he belives himself to be a hero, he's really not.
I decided to imprison him myself and taking from Hank's idea of the Big House, I shrank Saint down and put his tiny self into a glass disc.
I viewed my work and considered it a job well done.
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Author's Note: Sorry for the late chapter! I was busy with college work. The fourth chapter for this arc is finished and it's going to be moving fast as our MC will be building his reputation taking down powerful villains and establishing a name for himself. Thank you for reading and enjoying my book. Please write some comments and reviews about it. While I won't always respond as I'm often busy, I will always read it.
Thank you for all your support!
Note: I finished this chapter on my phone.