"Idiot," Fifth's voice sounds, soft, almost unctuous, slithering like a snake into my mind. "And what did you achieve with that? Why act like that? You knew it was a trap..."
"Open containers C-15 and C-10!" I say, giving the command. Near the highway, where the Slaughterhouse Nine's van is burning, pyrotechnic charges thunder, shooting off container lids, and two me-Taylors soar into the air, ready for battle. Dragonfly wings behind their backs buzz with bass tones, my bodies are at peak combat readiness.
Me-Taylor rushes to the explosion site, the second me-Taylor soars into the air and controls the situation from above.
"Lisa!" me-Amy says into the microphone. "Where did you go?! What's wrong with you?"
"I... don't understand," Tattletale's voice sounds. "How did he manage to deceive me? Why didn't I realize it was a trap?"
"Is it all a trap? Crawler and Hatchet Face looked completely real and had abilities..."
"No. Crawler, Hatchet Face, Burnscar, Shatterbird, Mannequin, Cherish - they're dead. Two-thirds of the Nine's roster is destroyed. But Jack himself, the Siberian and Bonesaw somehow got away." Tattletale's voice sounds somehow detached, and I suddenly understand what's wrong with her. I gave her the ability to enhance herself and now she's shamelessly burning through her resource, she barely has strength to speak. She'll burn herself out, I think, I need to tell her to stop, not to expend herself... there will inevitably be a backlash later.
"Jack, the Siberian and Bonesaw are already in the city," Tattletale says, and I fall silent. Now is not the time to conserve resources. If they're already in the city...
"And most likely they've been here for some time. He deliberately leaked information so I would find their convoy. He came to Brockton Bay with one goal. To recruit you," Tattletale says. "You need to urgently rehide your original body. Amy's body. And... I've already given the order to transport your father to a secret shelter."
"Good," me-Amy replies. I stand up and put on tactical armor. My original body, Amy Dallon's body, is currently located deep underground in the most protected place on the base, but even that might not be enough. Despite the desire permeating my entire body to personally engage in battle, I understand I shouldn't do it. I have more than three hundred me-Taylor bodies throughout the city in sealed containers, all enhanced based on the first one's pattern, each equipped with dragonfly wings for flight and grown directly in armor, each has a built-in poisoned dart thrower, Liquid Panacea generator, plus each possesses all the abilities of Butcher Fifteen... plus Panacea's abilities. I sincerely believed this would be more than enough - three hundred me-Taylors throughout this city, the original first Taylor body in a capsule with organic gel, from which I take DNA samples. For me to sacrifice one body... it's not even like sacrificing a pinky finger. It's like cutting off a lock of hair. Sad, but... there are more. Many more. My name is Legion.
Me-Amy walks down the underground corridor. There's one place where no one will find me... and everything is ready. On the landing pad, a helicopter spins its rotors. I'm disgusted by the thought that I'm running from a fight, but... it's more like hiding my weak, vulnerable spot. Me-Taylor will fight in all my bodies. Me-Amy will remain safe.
The first combat encounter... despite everything, the score is six-to-one. I lost one clone body, destroyed six members of the Slaughterhouse Nine. Well, no one promised it would be easy, and Fifth is just tormenting me, trying to shake my psyche and bring discord to my emotional state... he enjoys tormenting me. Besides... this is how he plans to eventually seize control.
"It's not so bad," I tell him. "Six-to-one. No one has ever managed such a thing before. And there are almost no losses. One me-Taylor body... it's a shame, but I have more. There are only nine members of the Nine, and I have three hundred forty-four me-Taylors."
"I don't understand why the hell you went for the girl," he asks. "You knew it was a trap..."
"I'm not going to justify myself to you," I reply. Mentally I check my logic - maybe Jack mastered me? At that moment I didn't even think, I grabbed the girl's hand when I saw pain and despair in her eyes. What was I risking? One of three hundred forty-five bodies? What did I gain? Knowledge of how Bonesaw works at the body level. She's not a bioconstructor, she's more of a miracle surgeon. How was that girl still alive with practically no internal organs? And most importantly - apparently Bonesaw has a deep understanding of exactly how her ability works on the human organism... which I don't have. I definitely need her. The only thing left is to get her.
"That body of mine was just one of many," I tell Fifth. "I needed to learn exactly how Bonesaw's power and ability work, and I learned. Moreover... did you see the explosion radius? Me-Taylor could only have escaped by teleportation... so what? I wouldn't have learned how Bonesaw's power works, wouldn't have learned about her methods and capabilities. That girl... she was almost completely modified! And all surgically. If I hadn't seen it myself, I never would have believed it."
"Yeah, sure. And the fact that you grabbed her hand saying 'I can't pass by!' - what was that? Admit it, Taylor, you're just a fool."
"The bottom line after that action is I learned a lot about Bonesaw and Jack. I might not have learned it. Information rules the world and gives me the opportunity to prepare for the next fight. The more I know about Jack and Bonesaw, the better. But... you're right. I wouldn't have passed by even if it had been my only body. Even if I risked dying permanently. You can't understand, Fifth. You only think about yourself, but I... at that moment I didn't even think. I just saw her eyes, understand? Saw how much pain and loneliness she was in... I couldn't have done otherwise."
"Good thing you have hundreds more such bodies, but what if you didn't?!"
"Is it really that hard for you to understand?" me-Amy says, quickening my pace. Throughout the city, insects rise into the air searching for Jack and his companions. So far - nothing.
"Thousands of children are constantly dying in the world. Right this second. Why aren't you saving them all?! And you wouldn't have changed anything anyway!"
"That's true. They're dying. And I sleep peacefully. But... it's one thing when it's abstract knowledge and completely different when you're looking directly into her eyes. The only thing I could give that child was touch. If I'd had one more second... I would have managed to defuse the bomb, just deliver a Zero Time bomb there and freeze her stomach... but I didn't make it. I had a chance! I did! And I was obligated to try. Don't you understand? Well, go to hell then, Fifth. That means you'll never understand me. You know, being a hero is generally stupid and illogical. Risking yourself for others. Depriving yourself of benefit. Trying... for what? Here's a person dying trying to save others - what a stupid act, right? I don't think Roger Young made a stupid and unreasonable act back then, staying for certain death. He tried to save his comrades and succeeded. I didn't. This time I lost. But I tried, so stop getting on my nerves, Fifth."
"That's exactly why I was never a Hero."
"That's exactly why you can't understand me, Fifth. And honestly - I didn't even think. Didn't make a decision, I didn't hesitate for a fraction of a second. You're right about that, now I'm just justifying my actions. 'I have three hundred bodies, one more or less.' That's not true. Even if I had only this one body - I would have acted the same way. And I would repeat it any day of the week."
"You're a fool, Taylor."
"Hmm. And you're in a fool's head. Accept it already, old grump. I understand you got scared for your hide, but you're a Butcher... immortal."
"It was just illogical!"
"People are generally illogical creatures. And I'm especially so." I exit the elevator doors and head for the exit. Somewhere in the city, container lids shoot off and another me-Taylor body soars into the air, very close to our house. My operators in dark tactical armor run out of the house, followed by my dad. Me-Taylor lands on the ground next to him and flips up the visor of my armor mask.
"Taylor!" he says and looks me over from head to toe. "Wings? Quite unexpected. What's happening anyway?"
"Dad, you need to get out of here urgently," I say. "Follow Dmitri and his guys, they'll bring you to the shelter."
"Ah..." he draws out. "So we're 'going to the mattresses'? Like Don Corleone?"
"Something like that," I say and grab his hand. "Let's go."
"And you're coming with me?" he's surprised. "I thought you'd be busy commanding your troops and handling the crisis."
"So you'd also refuse to go to the shelter?" Me-Taylor narrows an eye. "No way. Let others handle that. I have people I can leave in command..."
"I'll never believe it," he says, getting in the car. Me-Taylor sits next to him, the armored bulk of the vehicle tears off, pressing us into our seat backs with acceleration.
"Well, okay," me-Taylor shrugs. "This is one of the artificial clone bodies, dad. The real me is at the base now, but I'll definitely leave it soon to manage the process from a protected place. I promise I won't risk unnecessarily."
"You have multiple bodies?! More details from this point on, young lady!"
"Uh... well, it just sort of happened..."
Me-Amy at this moment exits onto the helicopter pad and squints from the bright sun. Somewhere in my city right now are Jack, the Siberian and Bonesaw. And Tattletale says there's a non-zero probability they've been here for some time. That means they know how to avoid my insects' attention... I haven't noticed any unusual activity. Conclusion... I need to look for places where there should be insects but aren't... white spots on the map. For example, right now in the Ship Graveyard area there are suspiciously few insects... though maybe that's a consequence of my conflict with Alexandria, when Armsmaster sprayed something very nasty in the air, insects are still dying there. I direct modified "Stings" there - they can "hold their breath" and even go without oxygen for extended periods, burning internal oxidizer reserves.
Also - basements. Several suspicious basements, ants are hurrying there... I should have modified rats, but I already have a bunch of projects hanging, when can I get everything done?
I search the city for places where there should be insects but aren't. For example - a penthouse in one of the buildings, luxurious apartments... they were. While there was electricity and water, it was a very prestigious place... and there definitely should have been insects inside. But there aren't any! I gather cockroaches from the lower floors and direct them upward. I also direct "Valkyries" to the penthouse. There's also a suspiciously empty house in the suburbs... ah yes, it's covered with a bright tarp cover with "pest control, deratization" inscription, company logo and phone number. Is there still someone in Brockton Bay doing this? Or were these tarp covers on houses installed before the Endbringer attack and just left? Need to check. I notice there are about two dozen such houses with tarp tents over them. Suspicious. Did everyone in Brockton Bay suddenly start clearing their houses of insects and rats?
"Lisa?" I call. "Are you there? There are quite a lot of houses covered with tarp tents. Supposedly pest control. Not a single insect inside. There are suspiciously many of them."
"That's normal," Lisa's tired voice sounds. "In Brockton Bay even before Leviathan's attack there was just some kind of boom in this market. From the moment a cape who controls insects appeared in the city... you know what phobias people developed against this background? Especially after the release of the fanfic 'Big Sister is Watching You' about you and the Girl Scout summer camp. So this is still not much, two dozen houses. These are the ones that left their tents over houses after the Endbringer attack, cars were flooded, activity ceased, and there's no way or possibility to remove equipment yet. Taylor! You're on the helicopter pad now, right?"
"Yes."
"That's suspicious."
"What do you mean?"
"Wait. Stop... so..." I hear her breathing. "The lower levels of our base are the most protected. At a moment when Jack and the Siberian are lurking somewhere in the city - especially the Siberian, the thought of leaving the shelter and moving in relatively unprotected air transport... understand?"
"Can Jack implant thoughts at a distance? And... as far as I know, neither the Siberian nor Jack with Bonesaw can fly. How can they shoot down a helicopter?"
"I don't know. His power and abilities are a white spot for me. In any case, I suggest you return Amy's body to the shelter. And continue searching for the Nine's remnants in the city, awaken more of your me-Taylors. It's too late now to hide the fact that you have more than one body. Too bad, I thought it would be an ace up the sleeve longer."
"When else to use aces if not now..."
"Agreed. Your insects still haven't found them, which means they can camouflage and not betray their presence in any way, but even so - they must have a shelter, a place where they can do their business... Bonesaw needs equipment and a place to perform operations. I don't know about the Siberian, but I assume she can take normal appearance... say, get dressed and hide her black and white stripes, and Jack doesn't differ from ordinary people at all. But they need a place for Bonesaw's operating room! So..."
"It's a place where there are no insects but should be. Yes. I'm checking all such places," I say.
"What if it's a place where there are no insects and shouldn't be?" Lisa wonders.
"What places are like that? Insects are everywhere," I reply. "In every building there are insects, in fields, forests, basements and attics, in buildings of any type and class, in cars, even on animals, on rats and cats with dogs... and on some people."
"If you hadn't shut down the 'Beacon' program back then, now we'd know exactly how many visitors are in the city and who they are. Then through simple elimination we'd find this trio. However..." Lisa thinks. "There are places where there are no insects. None at all. And no one is surprised there aren't any there. These are freezer chambers of refrigerators, for example. Insects don't like cold..."
"The refrigeration plant!" bursts out of me. Exactly, the place where the bodies of capes who died in the Battle with Leviathan are still stored! The same one from which, according to Director Piggot, a huge amount of ice cream was thrown out... the whole city was without electricity, but PRT generators worked day and night to provide the Refrigeration Plant with energy. Because otherwise the bodies would start decomposing... it was supposed that there would be a farewell ceremony soon, but first Alexandria happened, then the Slaughterhouse Nine.
"If working with bodies inside refrigeration chambers, then your insects won't notice anything," Tattletale says. "They took advantage of the chaos after the Battle."
"The Refrigeration Plant. That's district... yeah, C-5, E-4." I give the command and somewhere in the city pyrotechnic charges fire, shooting off camouflaged container lids, and four me-Taylors shoot into the air from them. Two in the northeast, one in the south and one from the west side. The Refrigeration Plant is surrounded from all sides. From all neighboring districts, a black mass of insects rushes toward my me-Taylors, a reserve squad of "Valkyries" bursts upward from containers at the base. I note that I'm running out of Zero Time warheads, I'll need to use them carefully... Tomoko is certainly very productive, but she's not made of iron! No one can replicate her work with bombs, and I only have one of her... should I write her a bonus?
At this time, me-Taylor with serial number 146 hovers in the air, examining the bulk of the Refrigeration Plant. It was from here that I once transported the bodies of Manpower and Shielder with Glory Girl and Tattletale. Neil and Eric Pelham. And I transported my own corpse from here too. On the Plant itself there are sufficient insects, they don't notice anything suspicious, but... inside the refrigeration chambers I have no eyes. With a wave of my hand I send "Valkyries" forward, the walls of industrial refrigerators are thick but made of soft metal, the powerful mandibles of modified dragonflies can handle it. Gnaw a hole, make sure everything's okay...
What's this? My insects are starting to die! Spray! Some chemical in the air! I switch the helmet to autonomous mode and put my "Medics" and "Stings" on the same. Now they don't breathe and... still fall down and die! Tactical instinct makes me dart to the side, and I barely manage to dodge. A car flies past me! Below, in the parking lot near the Refrigeration Plant stands a naked woman whose body is decorated with black and white tiger stripes, she stands and looks directly at me without blinking. For a split second we measure each other with our gazes, but then she takes a smooth step to the side and... easily picks up another car and immediately launches it at me! I fold my wings and fall down, dodging the projectile. Around me - not a single insect!
"Lisa! The Siberian is at the Plant! They poisoned my Swarm with something!"
"Got it! Opening all containers in C-5, C-6, C-8 and E-3!" Pops of pyrotechnic charges and new me-Taylors burst from the confines of containers and bank, heading for the Plant's parking lot.
Me-Taylor 146 falls onto the parking lot, I hit the black-and-white woman with a pain impulse of maximum intensity! I cause festering wounds on her! I throw blood blades and bounce to the side, taking flight again! Chunks of concrete fly at me, which she tore from the parking lot surface, as if making snowballs - easily and casually.
"Brrrrrrrrrt!" A burst from a heavy machine gun, behind whose control handles stands me-Taylor 76, flashes and roar of shots! The parking lot surface around the Siberian seems to boil and disappears in raised dust, smoke and sparks from ricochets!
"Brrrrrrrrrrt!" The machine gun continues spitting despite its red-hot barrel. Me-Taylor 216 draws the "Jackal" from its holster, the only pistol in the world that fires ammunition with Zero Time effect. A prototype, yes... made by Tomoko as a single copy, but now is not the time to economize...
"Brrt..." the machine gun finally falls silent and through the settling dust I see a female figure still standing with her head raised. For a second it even becomes unsettling - from her purposefulness and invulnerability, from inhuman calm.
"Take this!" Me-Taylor 216 raises my hand with the "Jackal." The roar of a shot! I'm confident that no one in the world can withstand Zero Time. Tomoko "Bakuda" Hideoshi is damn overpowered. Even an Endbringer felt bad from her bombs, what's the Siberian to them?! I pull the trigger again. And again. And again. I can't miss - Quarrel's ability, Butcher Fourteen, my bullets always hit the target! And if a bullet with workshop product number twenty-one from Tomoko's hits the target...
Roar of a shot! And another! Finally the "Jackal" stops with the bolt pulled back to the extreme position. Out of ammunition. Huge, thick "cigars" of 12.7 caliber... "fifty action express." Eight rounds in the magazine, but no more is needed... no one can withstand eight Zero Time bubbles, anyone would be torn to pieces and...
From the settling dust cloud steps forward an unharmed Siberian. She looks directly into my eyes.
"Damn..." I say, throwing the now useless pistol aside. "Lisa! Any ideas?! Please!"