"The last incident with the Slaughterhouse Nine was registered here," Tattletale's finger points to the map on the screen. "Currently, the Slaughterhouse composition is as follows – Jack Slash, Siberian, Mannequin, Amputation, Crawler, Hatchet Face, Shatterbird, and Burnscar. From recent acquisitions – a new cape, a girl under the pseudonym Cherish. Who she is and what abilities she has – unknown. From extrapolation based on the chosen pseudonym – I can assume she somehow affects attachment or emotional state of her target. The others..." she shrugs. "The whole set, just as you like, Tay-Tay. Siberian... who doesn't remember Siberian? A naked woman with tiger stripes all over her body, done in black and white tones of a forties noir film. Killed Hero, gouged out Alexandria's eye. I can say right off that you managed to achieve more. You tore Big A in half, then, completing everything with desecration of the corpse – laid me out on the table right in front of her. Hm... where does this urge for perversion and necrophilia come from?"
"Lisa!" I say, massaging the bridge of my nose with my index finger and thumb. Now that Coil is no more, meetings about further actions took place in close company, namely – me and Tattletale. From which it also became clear that Lisa had stopped restraining her dubious sense of humor at these meetings. That after what happened – she would now mock me until Christmas – I guessed. As soon as I turned around and stared at Alexandria's body, still in stasis, and then saw the smirk on Tattletale's face – I guessed.
"Lisa, we don't have much time," I say. "My repeaters already cover a radius of a hundred miles from the city, but that's still not enough. The number of hive-repeaters needed to cover territory grows geometrically. PRT and Protectorate are already ready to fly to Brockton Bay for negotiations, and I have Alexandria dead. I need this Amputation... whoever she is."
"Oh, Amputation. A cape shrouded in sinister glory," Tattletale nods. "Want to look at some trash? No, you're a tough girl, but still... try not to puke. Here." She switches the screen and photographs appear on it. I blink. The photographs show the aftermath of Amputation's visit to someone's country house.
"She's sick," I say. "Completely insane."
"And when has that ever stopped you? You'll install a direct control module," Tattletale says. "And you'll have to watch with four eyes... though I think we'll find an approach to her. After all, you're no angel either, and in terms of body count – you're not that far behind, though you started your career later."
"No... seriously? These people are still alive, right? What bastards..." I shake my head. "You'd need such a sick imagination."
"Amputation prides herself on being able to perform surgery and remove any organ from a person while they remain conscious and without anesthesia. At the same time, the person won't die from pain shock. She's like Panacea, only her power isn't limited to organics, she can implant anything – look, see the toaster in that guy's head? It's fully functional... and when it's not working – the guy suffers terrible pain... and when he turns it on – his brains slowly fry. Such... freedom of choice. In any case, Amputation can connect your Frankenstein wheelchair to Alexandria's body. Plus your abilities... I think we can pull Big Bully out of stasis. But first we need to catch her and... convince her to cooperate."
"If we find her, that won't be a problem," I assure Tattletale. "What's next in the composition? I already understand that Amputation is our ticket to 'happily ever after.'"
"More like 'brightly but briefly and suffered greatly in the process,'" she grimaces. "What's next? Crawler, a flesh mass like Noelle, tough son of a bitch. If you encounter him and don't kill him immediately – he'll develop immunity against the type of damage. The longer he takes damage from fire, for example – the more fireproof he becomes. Understand?"
"Got it," I nod. "Kill with the first strike."
"Yeah. Something like that. Mannequin – a cape whose body was replaced with a killing machine. In the most literal sense. You know Sphere's story, I think. Shatterbird – controls all glass in a huge radius. She's very dangerous for cities, can actually destroy cities... and her ability is almost like yours, she can control any glass shard, only I understand that outside direct line of sight – she can't see exactly where to strike. Usually she just explodes all the glass around so shards fly and wound as many people as possible. Within direct line of sight – controls shards with filigree precision. Burnscar – pyromancer. Strong pyromancer, can cause trouble in the city. Though all of them are no gift. And finally Hatchet Face – power negator and quite strong Brute. However... considering that even without powers you're now strong, resilient and incredibly fast – he poses no threat to you. But generally a negator is always a problem."
"I need them," I say. "Tell me where the Slaughterhouse Nine can be found now and I..."
"As they say – speak of the devil..." Tattletale smirks. "Know that your fate is near... because the Slaughterhouse Nine is currently heading to Brockton Bay."
"Really?! How convenient."
"Oh... well, I think this is the first recorded fact in this world's history when the approach of the Slaughterhouse Nine is spoken of with such joy and enthusiasm. But... yes, most likely they're moving toward the city. The Slaughterhouse constantly has member rotation... the only permanent one is Jack Slash. He's the permanent leader and a wandering villain of your level was bound to attract his attention. Besides, the usual Slaughterhouse Nine pattern is visiting places that suffered from Endbringers to take advantage of confusion and chaos. Like vultures... and Jack clearly has a God complex. Or demigod. Such a little god. Anyway, I don't know about his power. Nobody knows, however nobody could defeat him in battle. Moreover, he often manages not only to defeat his opponent, but also – recruit them, lure them to his side. In some ways you and he are similar." She looks at me searchingly. I remain silent. I don't want to give her extra reason. I already know she has a plan. From the moment I implanted a cognitive ability enhancer in her head – she became even smarter and even more unbearable... and I doubted such a thing was possible. And Taylor-me tolerates her only because I have a bunch of other things to do right now. My insects, which are already practically super-insects – are growing organic capsules for new clones and bodies, through monitors and touchscreen input – I'm working with Tomoko, we're still trying to bring Big A out of stasis in relatively living form, and also Amy-me together with Glory Girl and Laser Show just entered the base territory. By the way... maybe show the girls torn Alexandria? As a so-called pedagogical effect. Casually during a base tour open the door and go "Oops! Here we have Big A torn in half, but don't pay attention, she asked for it!" Though no, bad idea, Vicky would immediately go ballistic, I don't know about Chris, but Vicky definitely. Not for nothing she's called Alexandria Junior. Idiotic nickname, they're not alike at all. Glory Girl is a bright and positive girl with a perky, slightly upturned nose and soft facial features, while Alexandria is like a statue carved from granite – majestic and formidable. And torn in half, yes. Could Lisa be right and I'm a necrophile? Well... or do I enjoy tormenting enemies after death in such a sophisticated way? No, definitely not. I know myself, I don't judge myself, if I wanted to piss on enemies' graves and gutturally laugh, pouring wine into cups from their skulls – I'd do just that. If you want to, why not allow yourself a small weakness? From Alexandria's skull, by the way – a good cup would come out, unbreakable, and on her body you could copulate with naked Nazi twins and...
"Bitch! Fifth!" I growl, catching myself in this thought. "Get out of my head!"
"With all my desire, Big T – no way," my teacher and senior comrade, who's not really a teacher or senior comrade, mentally shrugs. How does he manage this?!
"Stop immediately! If I catch you putting your thoughts in my head again – I swear I'll drive you into a cockroach for the rest of your days!"
"You're dramatizing, Big T. After all, you can afford both a wine cup from Alexandria's skull and sex with Fenja and Menja right on her corpse – you can afford everything. And... who said those were my thoughts?"
"Fifth! I can tell my thoughts from yours somehow! To hell with Big A's skull, but Fenja and Menja are your fetishes, two blonde twins. Will you say no?"
"I'll say yes," Fifth replies. "Alright, alright. No harm in trying. Maybe you'd like it... come on – try a couple times. Fenja and Menja are on your short leash now, even if they don't know it... let's invite them to the base in the evening, eh? Supposedly for negotiations. We'll lay Alexandria on a mattress..."
"That's it, you've pushed it," I decisively shove him into the sickest cockroach, which worker ants immediately carry away. Deeper. And bury.
"Lisa," I turn to her. "Continue. And please, stop needling me, I'm not in the mood right now."
"Ah..." she draws out, looking at me. "The Butcher got to you again? Persistent guy. Heh. Well fine, I'll get to the point. Basically our task is to intercept the Slaughterhouse on the approaches to the city. Thank God they can't teleport, so wherever we stop them – that's where it'll begin. And... keep in mind, we probably can't do it quietly. Amputation is Jack's favorite girl, so... we'll have to act harshly."
"Understood," I say, while my insects take control not only of all city entrances, but roads – up to a hundred miles from the city. We'll need to establish checkpoints and check everyone – both at city entrance and at a distance of at least fifty miles from the city, preferably a hundred. Many directions and roads, people might not be enough, but insects definitely will be.
"Crawler is a huge creature, right?" I ask Tattletale and she nods. So they're not traveling in a car, but in a van... no, even a van and trailer, a truck with a trailer. Crawler in a container. All trucks within reach of my repeaters will be checked. And... Dinah Alcott! Our Prophet Twelve. We have three questions for her, paid for by Lisa... yes, we won't be able to find out where the Slaughterhouse is now, but we can narrow down attack directions...
"Lisa!" I say. "We need to contact Dinah, because the number of directions..."
"Already done," she nods. "Southwest. They'll come from the southwest. I narrowed down the directions... these three roads remain."
"Tsk. Show-off. And why the hell don't you give me a ready plan if you know everything?"
"Then you'll completely relax and get used to relying on me in everything, Boss. And when I'm not around – you'll be lost," she sighs. "Can't let your brains go soft."
"Don't dare talk like that. You'll always be around. If necessary – I'll tie you by the leg to a radiator."
"I see. Well... next to Alexandria's corpse they already violated me, I think I'm no longer surprised by the depth of my fall and the degree of your perverted, sick fantasy, Boss Pervert."
"I'm sure there's no such title. You just made it all up."
"Not at all, Boss Pervert."
"Lisa!"
"Tomoko's bombs are ready. Your suits and clones too. Weapons cleaned and oiled. I'll be in contact with you the whole time. Time – approximately eight hours until arrival. Place..." her finger pokes the map, describes a small circle. "Right here. You'll need all your powers, Boss. The strike must be harsh and unexpected. Crushing. I'd suggest using the Travelers and Grue with Bitch, but you'll refuse anyway, right?"
"Hm. Alright. A good employee knows what the boss thinks, a better one anticipates his intentions... the best one forms them? What are your predictions for the clash?"
"Beware of Jack, he's the most unpredictable. Shatterbird, Burnscar and Mannequin aren't worth a pinky on your finger. On any of your bodies. Siberian... I don't know what to do with her. If you connect me to the battle through a module for observation through your eyes – maybe I'll think of something. For now the recommendation is to avoid direct combat. Your task isn't to kill everyone, but to kidnap Amputation... though leaving survivors behind is dangerous. In any case, I recommend immediately eliminating everyone you can. Only Jack and Siberian can cause you problems. Amputation... for you is also nothing scary. But if you give her time and information about you and your body – then she can definitely do what Panacea couldn't achieve – she can keep you in controlled coma and even separate your abilities from yourself. Good thing this body of yours will go into battle with the Slaughterhouse... I recommend hiding the real body, Amy's body, at the base. Like Coil did – in an armored bunker. Though that didn't save the bastard..."
"Alright. I have eight more hours. Can you hold back the hotheads from New York for that time? So they don't hit us with a vacuum bomb or send Eidolon?"
"Relax, Tay-Tay, I can string along the United States Government together with PRT and Protectorate for another good week," Tattletale waves her hand. "I can even invent a legend about 'Alexandria flying away into the distance,' though it won't last long. They have their own ThinkTank, remember? They're still sitting on their asses precisely because the Thinkers tell them she's still alive. And that there's a probability we'll return her. But as soon as that probability disappears... I don't think Eidolon will come. He'll choose a power that puts you in stasis from a distance, that's all. And government troops will enter the city the next day. And they'll take you to an institute in a capsule – to conduct experiments."
"What a creepy guy," I say. "That's pure cheating, having the ability to realize and choose any power."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look at yourself, OP Queen-Administrator. You're quite on the same level, only he's scissors and you're paper. This is the Major League, Taylor, as I told you. Remember, I once suggested you drop everything and run somewhere to the wilderness, keep bees and sell honey? Remember?"
"I remember." Indeed, there was such a thing. That day Lisa succumbed to nostalgia and fear of the scale of what was happening... though I didn't believe she was suggesting it seriously. Lisa "Tattletale" Wilbourn and quiet life in the wilderness? Yeah, right. She'd howl from boredom on the second day... what beekeeping. First she'd howl, then I'd howl too, because Lisa usually takes out her boredom and frustration on those around her...
"So," she continues. "Haven't regretted it yet? No? Well, everything's still ahead, Taylor, everything's still ahead..."
"Stop prophesying like the Norns, Lisa. Fate isn't predetermined. We make it ourselves. With our own hands. Better help me organize quick delivery of equipment and insects to the meeting place. We don't have much time, need trucks, and it's a two-hour drive there... and two back. Two trips maximum... so we need many trucks. Insects can be transferred by air, but they'll get tired. And I need them fresh. And where to get so many trucks? Ask the mayor? Half the transport in the city doesn't work, flooded after Leviathan's Attack, and the rest are busy delivering food and clearing streets. Ours too... we'll have to take our three trucks off the streets..."
"Honestly, I'm curious," Tattletale tilts her head. "Where does such rigid thinking come from? It's a simple problem. Given – move a bunch of equipment and five containers of insects a hundred twenty miles southwest of the city. Is that really a difficult task?"
"Lisa..." I frown. "You're an airy creature, but I remind you that right now even just leaving the city is a problem. Rubble, destroyed buildings, abandoned cars... and movement speed is barely ten miles per hour. We'll be leaving the city for forty minutes... no – definitely an hour! While we gather everything... while we leave. An hour to exit the city, two hours to travel the road... and I only have three trucks. We'll have to leave three containers, take equipment and the remaining two. Choose better insects..."
"Now if you had two air transports... one such strong air transport that could quickly transfer everything from place to place..."
"What?"
"You know, if we're dreaming – such air transport that would have tits. And would respond to 'Vicky, damn it!'"
"Lisa!!"
"What Lisa? We have Glory Girl and Laser Show walking around the base, why are they twiddling their thumbs? We should use them, why let good things go to waste? Both are healthy mares, Glory Girl can carry two containers at once, let her work for society's benefit for once, for variety. They fly faster than trucks anyway... we'll pay them for transport, so be it... though actually after that night... hey! Not a fly!" She clamps her mouth with her palms. "They taste disgusting!"
"So that's your solution to the logistics problem? Make Glory Girl carry my stuff?"
"Got a girlfriend – be so kind as to carry her briefcase. Always like that in school," Tattletale mutters, not removing her palms from her mouth. "Relationships are obligations. Love is helping your girlfriend defeat the Slaughterhouse Nine and drag five containers to the ambush site... and equipment."
"Well... alright. I'll ask her," I say. "Really, I seem to have no other choice, and the only ones who can help are those two."
"By the way, Taylor – about using this pair... akhgh! Ptui! A fly again! Disgusting!"