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♦Topic: Biotinker attack!
In: Boards ► North America ►Breaking News!
Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Posted on March 20, 2011;
Alright folks, you know the drill. Everyone knows what's happened, but I talked to my sources in the BBPD and PRT to see if I could get some details. Here's what we know so far;
There was a Biotinker attack downtown in the Bay. If you don't know about it, consider yourself lucky, and consider going outside more because it's a pretty big event that's made international news.
It's being dubbed a 'Zombie Apoclypse' already, but when the shoe fits.
From what I've gathered from my sources, there is no suspect so far. But here are some of the in house reports to go along with what happened.
Zombies appear to reflect their fictional counterparts. Enhanced strength and speed, with a video showing a zombie nearly ripping part of a car door off. Enhanced durability, they were able to get up from getting knocked out by something that would send a person to a hospital. Likewise, Included is a video of Miss Militia cracking one across the head with a metal baton and it gets right back up.
And most important, and I can't stress the important part here, they're apparently able to turn others into zombies. It doesn't seem like it's a bite = zombie scenario, but some of the people they killed got up after a few minutes and started attacking people as well.
[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]
Edit: New cape seen here [Link]. Tentatively called Radiant Knight. Appears to be a woman without a mask, is it a new member of New Wave?
Edit: Tin_Mother (Admin): We are aware of the new cape revealing their face, as it appears to be a conscious decision on her part, we are tentatively allowing pictures and videos that show it. However, further speculation on her identity will not be allowed until we know for sure their face reveals aligns with their desires. Please respect their privacy.
Edit: New Cape (Radiant Knight), going to town on more Zombies [Link] [Link]. Looks to be heroically inclined, kind of the picture of a knight in shining armor. Also, guys yeah, we get it, she's beautiful, wowzer, hubba hubba, etc etc. Stop posting about her looks and other disgusting stuff, you're going to get the thread locked.
Edit: Tin_Mother (Admin): Locking the thread until further notice.
(Showing page 5 of 158)
►Brocktonite58
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Jesus this is horrible, I made the mistake of clicking on one of the links, that is a lot of dead bodies.
►BurgerWithoutMeat
Replied On March 20, 2011:
I can't believe I'm saying this, but thank god for Nazis being armed to the teeth to fight the literal zombie hoard.
►Miss_Sunshine (Veteran Member)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
How did this even happen!? How did a Zombie Apocalypse just spring up in broad daylight and catch everyone offguard? The PRT really messed up here! There needs to be someone held accountable!
► CapeWatcher92
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Is anyone else noticing how FAST the new knight cape is?? Is she a brute, a mover, what? Also, god damn, that's super model levels x10, does she have some sort of power that makes her irresponsibly beautiful?
► DragonSlayer69
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Is it just me or does Radiant Knight's spear BLAST energy?? That's not medieval anything. That's like Tinker-tech or something! Or maybe it's a Dauntless like power!?
We NEED classifications ASAP.
► Stray_Thoughts
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Fun fact: Nilbog's constructs could replicate after death. NOT SAYING this is Nilbog 2.0, but. You know. Patterns.
(Please don't ban me I'm just observing.)
► NewWaveTruther
Replied On March 20, 2011:
She's 100% a New Wave cousin. I will die on this hill.
► Point_Me_@_The_Sky (Verified Cape) (Glory Girl)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
@Stray_Thoughts
Sorry to spoil your fun, but she's not with us. First time seeing her, but if she's rocking that kind of image without a mask, I'm sure we'd be happy to have her!
P.S. Shout out to everyone involved that helped contain this mess. Everyone's talking about the Capes, but I saw a bunch of PRT Agents doing just as much work.
► Parahuman_Theorist
Replied On March 20, 2011:
@point_me_@_the_sky
Why weren't you out there helping!? Do you have any idea how many people died!? My cousin is in the hospital because he got run over by a car that was being chased by those things!!
Edit: Tin_Mother (Admin): This is a warning, don't attack others, you have no idea what was going on.
► Point_Me_@_The_Sky (Verified Cape) (Glory Girl)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
@ Parahuman_Theorist
Hey, don't blame me, I was in class, and school went on lockdown. By the time I heard what happened, it had already been settled. Besides, my mom wouldn't have let me get involved anyways.
► PRT_Agent07 (Verified PRT)
Replied on March 20, 2011:
Just to add clarification as well. The attack has been designated an S-Class threat, meaning that Wards, and by extension, Glory Girl, would not have been deployed unless there was an immediate life threatening reason.
Please do not attack the underaged Heroes for not being sent after literal flesh eating zombies.
► Sk8rBoi
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Dude I saw this armor lady cut one of the zombies IN HALF in like one swipe. That wasn't a taser baton or whatever. That was straight up anime. New Tinker maybe? Power Army maybe intead of a Brute rating?
► ArmoredHotTake
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Honestly the weirdest part isn't the zombies. The weirdest part is Armsmaster NOT being the first one to show up. Where was he?? Dude LIVES for this shit.
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(Showing page 85 of 158)
► CivvieWitness
Replied On March 20, 2011:
I was three blocks from the cordon. They had us shelter in a Starbucks with the shutters down. We could STILL hear them hitting the security doors. That sound is staying with me forever.
► Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Update: My PRT source clarified something. The zombies WERE contagious, but needed a lot of tissue damage before "conversion" triggered. No "one bite = doomed." Still bad. Also, Radiant Knight reportedly cooperated with PRT on-site but avoided identification. I'll update if I hear more. Adding an edit to the original post too.
► BrocktonBayMom
Replied On March 20, 2011:
My kids are terrified. School's cancelled tomorrow, thank god. Someone PLEASE tell me this was a one-time thing and we aren't about to get Ellisburg 2.0.
► EmpireAreGayNazis
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Am I actually reading posts thanking the Empire for shooting zombies? They didn't do it to help the city. They did it because anything that moves and isn't white scares them. Let's not rewrite history.
► TinFoilParahuman (Verified Cape)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Not a coincidence zombies appear THE SAME DAY a new cape with a SPEAR AND ARMOR shows up.
Someone is running a tabletop RPG campaign IRL.
P.S. I'm actually a Thinker, tried to gleam some information from 20 sided dice, and I'm getting a headache trying to parse her. Probably some kind of anti thinker powers?
► ShakerShook
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Anyone notice Radiant Knight didn't hesitate? You even see Miss Militia hesitate a bunch of times before she started popping the zombies in the head, with guns. Yet, this new Cape runs out there and tears them apart without a single flicker of emotion on her face.
Is that some kind of power or is she a psychopath?
With the kind of power she has, I really hope she joined the Protectorate so that they can atleast watch her closely.
► ScienceSideOfPHO
Replied On March 20, 2011:
If the "zombies" stayed ambulatory after head trauma, then the Tinker must have used a decentralized neural control system. Possibly a mycelium network or [Removed by Moderator].
Edit: Tin_Mother (Admin): Science is all and good, but you veered way off into gruesome descriptions. I get that this thread is in reaction to a scene that wouldn't be out of place in a Zombie Movie, but please keep it under a certain level for people that are not comfortable hearing this sort of thing.
► Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
New mini-update:
People in PRT brass are pissed. Like, "shouting in hallways" pissed. Whatever the internal response is, it's chaotic. Also, rumor says Radiant Knight left the scene before identification.
Not hostile, just… gone.
More info soon.
► ThisIsFine.gif
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Let me get this straight, Brockton Bay.
You guys have:
Nazis.
A plethora of Drug Dealers with powers.
A literal Rage Dragon that kidnaps women off the street that people like to pretend doesn't exist until he burns parts of the city down.
And now, fucking Zombies running around.
How do you all still exist?
► BrocktonBoy27
Replied On March 20, 2011:
@ThisIsFine.Gif
Spite, mostly.
► HeroAccountabilityNow
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Why is everyone SIMPING over Radiant Knight?
She showed up, killed a bunch of things without hesitation, and ran off before giving ANY kind of debrief.
That's not heroic.
That's unaccountable.
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 … 83, 84, 85 … 156, 157, 158
@***@
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♦Topic: A Wizard in the Bay?
In: Boards ► North America ►Breaking News!
Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Posted on March 20, 2011;
Two posts in one day guys, buckle up, because this one is a doozy.
Everyone knows what happened earlier in the city. At this point, there are probably a million threads about it, with new being made every minute. And of course, half of them getting locked for a certain reason.
But I just clarified some things with my contacts in the BBPD and PRT. I think everyone's seen the videos so far, so I won't be providing links, you guys can find them basically everywhere. But just for context sake, I'll start from the beginning.
Roughly the same time as the attack down town happened, someone also attacked Winslow. From my contacts, they're working under the assumption that it's the same person responsible for the attack downtown.
According to the videos and reports, the unknown person Mastered the staff of the school and called everyone to meet in the cafeteria where they locked in the vast majority of the students.
He then proceeded to kill the Principal in front of everyone and essentially give his evil monologue.
Shadowstalker appeared to attack the villain, but…well, let's just say that ended badly. Reports say that she was hurt, badly, and unmasked infront of everyone.
Edit: Tin_Mother (Admin): Putting the warning inserted right here for everyone. Do not! I repeat, do not! Discuss Shadowstalker's identity. Anyone revealing it, even if she were outed publicly, will receive an immediate ban. Revealing a Ward's identity publicly is a Federal Crime! You have all been warned.
The Villain then killed a few more people, but not before basically declaring he was going to use Shadowstalker as 'research material'.
That's when we had another 'hero' step up to the plate.
And from there, that's where things get….weird.
Through the rabbit hole we go, Alice.
Looks like Brockton Bay has the first Wizard?
(Showing page 43 of 10,657)
► TinFoilParahuman
Replied On March 20, 2011:
A WIZARD.
AN ACTUAL WIZARD.
Everyone laughed when the government said "magic is real." WHO'S LAUGHING NOW??
Also, what the hell was that TIME SLOWING THING he did? My uncle triggered and all he got was the ability to heat up spoons.
► CapeMoralityDebater
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Putting aside the memes, can we acknowledge the ethical nightmare here?
Kid: uses lethal force instantly ,shows zero hesitation stabbing someone through the skull, BLOODCASTS something(?) that looks like it hurt him, summons a woman who calls him MASTER
WTF?
► GiveMeMagicToo (Veteran Member)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Not even joking — if magic is real and learnable, how do I sign up?
I'm 24, unemployed, and have the reflexes of a potato.
But if "stab your hand, draw a circle, and chant something" gives you superpowers, LET'S GOOOOOOO.
Edit: Jesus Christ, yes this username is over a year old, I'm not just memeing.
► ParanoiaPam
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Nobody is talking about this and I don't know why:
HE CLAIMED THE CITY.
Not joking.
He literally said "this is MY city" and then "Second Owner"? Whatever that means, but it sounds fucking weird. That's not normal teenage behavior. That's warlord talk.
We already have Lung. We don't need Wizard-Lung.
► WeirdWaypoint
Replied On March 20, 2011:
SERIOUS QUESTION:
Why wasn't there an emergency broadcast that a supervillain was controlling a school??
Why did one random kid have to fight this thing ALONE?
PRT messed up so badly it's unreal.
► DustQueen (Verified Cape)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
It's fucking insane that people are shitting on Shadowstalker. She went in ALONE because that's what heroes do.
You're all just jealous of her.
► EveryoneElseButMe
Replied On March 20, 2011:
@DustQueen
Bro she tried to assassinate him without backup and got bodied in 3 seconds.
Sit down.
► Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Mini-update:
My PRT contact says they're scrambling because:
They don't know how to classify a "wizard"
They don't know if his abilities fall under PHO rules. There's too much gray here and it's making a lot of people uncomfortable.
They don't know how many others like him exist in the area.
They SURE AS HELL don't know what a "Dead Apostle" is.
The Church isn't cooperating.
► ConspiracyCrow
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Wait wait WAIT—
If the Church was already here…
And they had capes…
And they had someone who the kid clearly knew…
Does that mean the Church is running a SECRET MAGIC DIVISION??
How long has this existed??
How many are there??
WHY ARE THEY IN BROCKTON BAY??
► CapeWatcher404
Replied On March 20, 2011:
"Second Owner."
That phrase is sticking with me.
Not "my turf."
Not "my city" metaphorically.
Owner. Like it's a legal designation.
Is this something in wizard law??
Capes have jurisdictional codes, but nothing like OWNERSHIP.
What does that even mean?
► RealTalk_RTT
Replied On March 20, 2011
@CapeWatcher404
If we're going by a strict definition, a second owner is someone who buys or inherits an item after the original owner. So, contextually speaking, I think he's saying he owns the city as like the second authority? Like, maybe he's the Wizard owner and owns the Magic stuff in the city?
I don't know, I'm grasping here.
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 … 41, 42, 43 … 10,655, 10,656, 10,657
(Showing Page: 583 of 10,657)
► TheologyNerd
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Hey guys, I'm a little late, but I was analyzing what the kid did in the cafeteria with his Bible Quoting.
And by that, I mean I was eating cereal while zooming in on a few blurry videos I saw.
Anyways, I'm fairly confident he was depicting the Archangels? He used their symbols and drew them in blood which is…..well, weird and gives me the heeby jeebies.
But yeah, that's what I got. Combined with his Chanting which comes from the Bible, the verse is about 'Cleansing', and considering what happened to the dude…..
That's my addition, Cereal Theologies out.
► WTFIsMyLife
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Can we talk about how the kid didn't even FLINCH when that thing punched a hole through his leg??
Teenagers are supposed to cry when they stub their toes, not go anime protagonist mode.
Something is WRONG with this boy.
► ClockblockMeDaddy
Replied On March 20, 2011:
The most terrifying part?
He and the Church chick argued like coworkers having a bad day.
No shock. No confusion. No "who are you?"
Just
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU WERE HERE?!" like she forgot to CC him on an email chain.
There is a WHOLE hidden world behind this.
► ShadowStalkerDefenseForce
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Can we PLEASE stop dragging Shadowstalker?
She tried. She failed. But she STILL TRIED.
If anything, blame the PRT for not having a protocol for literal evil immortal masters.
► ShadowStalkerCriticsClub
Replied On March 20, 2011:
@ShadowStalkerDefenseForce
She attacked a literal unknown with no backup and no intel.
She didn't TRY.
She SUICIDED.
If you want to be Batman, you need at least three functioning brain cells.
► WhyDoesBrocktonBayExist
Replied On March 20, 2011:
So far Brockton Bay has:
• A crime rate worse than Gotham
• Lung
• Empire 88
• Merchants
• ABB
• Now fucking ZOMBIES
• A teen WIZARD who claims he owns the city
• The Catholic Church running black ops on school campuses
• And a knight woman with a spear that launches laser beams
The city needs to be evacuated into the ocean.
► WizKidFanclub
Replied On March 20, 2011:
I know he stabbed his hand and bled everywhere and summoned a lightning knight to kill the regenerating master monster, and he may have tried to dismember a corpse….
BUT HE ALSO SAID "PLEASE STAY INSIDE, IT WILL BE SAFER FOR YOU."
So I'm declaring it:
Wizard Boy = Hero.
► ScienceOrBust (Veteran Member)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Magic isn't real.
It's not a thing.
The "circle" he drew? Probably a neuro-interface trigger.
The "prayer"? Probably a vocal activation phrase.
The "holy fire"? We've seen Tinkers do similar stuff with micro-lasers and aerosolized chemicals.
This was either:
A) a disguised Tinker
B) a Shaker with a thematic gimmick
C) a Stranger with mass-hallucination capability
Magic… does not exist.
► Mangled_Cat
Replied On March 20, 2011:
I'm a Martial Artist. Not like, some weeabo anime protagonist wannabe. I've always liked martial arts since I was little. Started with Karate, picked up some boxing, Taekwondo, etc etc. I'm bringing this up, because I was watching the kid's form and it's good.
Like, really good. Like, trained for years level of good and has experience against actual people, not just fighting in a ring or something. Either he's fought like this before, or he has a teacher that kicks his ass like it's a real fight every time they spar.
Do all Wizards know Martial arts?
In a world of Capes flying around shooting lasers, I thought it was just a hobby that took a back seat. But seeing how he could apparently move at super high speeds and punch through walls….maybe not? Is that like a spell or something, did he cast Bear Strength on himself and go ham on that guy?
► PRT_Intern_Probably (Verified PRT Employee)
Replied On March 20, 2011:
As someone who may or may not work for the PRT, let me just say:
If magic were real, we'd all know about it.
We screen for EVERYTHING — parahuman abilities, edge-case behaviors, exotic triggers, new categories.
"Magic" is not a thing.
What you saw was a parahuman.
► XxVoid_CowboyxX (Banned)Replied on March 20, 2011:
[Deleted]
Edit: Tin_Mother (Admin): Void, please, please, do not give your personal information out in a thread like this. This is a highly volatile situation and claiming any connection to the person in question could easily put you in danger, especially if you out yourself. I'm giving you a one week ban for your own protection.
► Internet_Penguin (Banned)Replied on March 20, 2011:
[Deleted]
Edit: Tin_Mother (Admin): I just told Void not to out himself, and you go and out him right away again after I deleted his post? Take a one week ban and if I see you do it again later, it will be a permanent ban.
► L33tNotL33t
Replied On March 20, 2011:
Tinkers have literally made:
• Ice cannons
• Hard-light constructs
• Forcefields
• Gravity distortion bubbles
• Radioactive super-lasers
But SURE, the kid drew a circle and suddenly we're in Lord of the Rings.
Guys… come on.
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► Vista (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)
Replied on March 20, 2011
Guys stop pinging me or the others. We're not allowed to comment on anything yet, we have meetings all day for a debrief.
Edit: Tin_Mother (Admin): I will be adding a sticky of this to the top of the thread. People who ping any of the Wards in the thread, you will get a temporary day ban starting from now on.
► Mouse_Protector (Verified Cape) Replied On March 20, 2011:
Jumping in for a sec between patrols:
Please don't go stabbing your hands and drawing blood circles. Even if it did work (it won't), you'd be giving first responders aneurysms.
If the Church really is running around with secret capes, I want their PR team. Do you know how many forms I have to fill out just to cross a state line?
"Second Owner" sounds… ominous. If I run into him, I am absolutely asking if there's a "Tenant Association of Brockton Bay Wizards" I can send a strongly worded letter to.
On a more serious note:
Kids fought. People died. Everyone is scared. Try to keep that in mind when you're theorycrafting.
► LazyLiabilityLawyer (Verified Lawyer) Replied On March 20, 2011:
To answer a question from the previous page;
From a pure legal standpoint (and yes, I'm actually a lawyer):
If magic is inborn and uncontrollable → it's closer to parahuman powers
If it's taught, structured, and reproducible → it's closer to martial arts + Tinkertech
In the second case:
There is a VERY strong argument that governments have a right (maybe even obligation) to regulate who is allowed to use "combat-grade rituals" in public.
There is ALSO a very strong civil rights argument that, once established as real, magical instruction cannot be restricted solely to members of a particular religious group or private organization.
So yes, the second someone writes "magic is real and this is how it works" on official letterhead, expect a decade of court battles.
And given this is Brockton Bay, it'll probably start with someone trying to open a "Wizard Dojo" in the Boardwalk.
►Moon_Is_Haunted Replied On March 20, 2011:
No jokes, no memes: if this kid walks into a PRT building, they're going to try to flip him.
If I were in charge I'd:
Offer him protectionOffer him a consultant positionThen pressure him to turn over whatever he knows about "spells," "casting," and "Dead Apostles."
But here's the thing: if this gets buried under NDAs and black budgets, the rest of us are screwed. We're already living with powers we don't understand. Now we're adding a second system we're also not allowed to know anything about?
I'm not saying dump a spellbook on PHO, but there needs to be some transparency or this explodes later.
► ChurchWatchdog Replied On March 20, 2011:
Call me paranoid, but I'm reading this as:
Church knows about "Dead Apostles" (their terminology)Church has fighters specialized to deal with themThe wizard knew one of them personally and was pissed he wasn't told about the threat
That implies:
There's an existing ecosystem of magic usersThey have factions (Church vs whatever he is)Brockton Bay is now a hot zone in a shadow war we didn't know existed
And we're just… supposed to pretend this is a "local incident"?
► SecularStateSandwich Replied On March 20, 2011:
I cannot get over the Church angle.
We have a few things already
Agents in clerical outfitsA superhuman nun-type dropping off a roof like gravity doesn't applySomeone using codes high enough to override a PRT DirectorThen they waltz in, take over, and we're told "no comment"
Why does the Vatican get to send powered agents into an American city, seize a crime scene, and walk away with the evidence?
InternationalLawLurker Replied On March 20, 2011:
@SecularStateSandwich
There are precedents (sort of). We already have:
UN-level agreements about S-class eventsCape "loaner" programs, like Legend appearing outside his region
But none of that covers:A non-state actor (The Church)Exercising direct operational authority over a US agencyIn a non-S-class, localized event
If what Bagrat's source says is true and the order came from "Deputy Director's office" then someone either:
a) forged priority codes
b) handed them out like candy
Either way, that's a scandal brewing.
► LockHimUpNow Replied On March 20, 2011:
Just gonna say it:
If the videos are accurate, he used lethal force multiple times. Performed some kind of illegal evidence destruction (ordering the knight to "clean up"). Threatened Church reps with death .Claimed territorial ownership of the city (!!!)
If that was a cape, they'd already be tagged as: Probable Rogue at BEST, Tinker/Master with serious oversight needed, or Potential Villain
Magic or not, why isn't he in custody? "Mysterious wizard boy" isn't an exemption from the law.
►PewPew57 Replied On March 20, 2011:
Everyone making these huge bullet points comments. Shit, I'm just here wanting to know if I can be a wizard too. It's not fair that some people can apparently hoard it? Is it Harry Potter, am I a muggle and they have this whole secret society that thinks they're better than us?
Shit is unfair.
► RNJeebus Replied On March 20, 2011:
We're all focusing on how "cool" the spells look and ignoring some major red flags.
He's self-harming (hand stabbing, blood sigils, whatever the fuck it is he was do ing).The power obviously hurts him (nosebleeds, shaking, borderline collapse). He escalated STRAIGHT to lethal on a guy trapped in a cafeteria with kids.
If a parahuman did this, we'd be talking aboutossible Master/Stranger influence and a Psychological evaluation on whether they're safe to be in public. Instead, everyone's like "haha wizard go brrr."
► SlushieGod Replied On March 20, 2011:
First Congressman giving a speech on what happened. Apparently, he's going to push for some legislation on 'wizard's. Can't wait to see how spectacularly this fucks up.
[Link] [Link]
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 … 955, 956, 957 … 10,655, 10,656, 10,657
@***@
A/N
First interlude for the story.
Did a PRT debrief where they went over everything systematically, with a healthy dose of skepticism ont he whole magical thing. I didn't want everyone to just 'believe it' outright even if it's an acknowledged thing.
And I added a bit of a PHO after to see various points that randoms are talking about. A few capes chiming in, but it's earlier in the whole thread, so I didn't want it to be flooded with canon characters because that felt weird? Next time I do an interlude like this, it'll be more canon characters. For the most part, many canon characters just don't know what to say and so early, it's a wait and see approach.
If you want to read 1 chapter ahead or 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 under the same name
If I never left my house, I think there's not much anyone could do about it.
I could have Lancer sneak out for groceries when we run out.
My family's home defenses were very strong. Strong enough that even if they tried to bomb my house, it would stand up to ballistic missiles. Even if an Endbringer decided to fuck me in particular, it would take a lot of effort to push through.
Stay in my house; never leave.
I have everything I would ever need, right?
I'm a Magus; that means I can just keep my head down and do nothing but study my craft for decades without complaint.
Yes, that's what I'll lie to myself about.
"Master, you look worried."
"I'm fine." I immediately replied to Lancer without thinking.
"Master." She stepped in front of me. "I am aware when you are not speaking the truth." She said in her normal monotone voice.
Right.
"I'm coping." I corrected it. "I'm not used to confiding in other people."
She accepted my words.
I know she didn't like lies; it was a peeve for her, bordering annoyance, I think. I wasn't entirely sure I could read that right, and maybe I was making some guesses.
I swallowed, feeling my foot tapping on the ground as I sat and stared out into the depths of my family library.
There was something comforting about being in here.
I felt protected.
It was normally an oddly soothing feeling to be surrounded by the legacy of my family. But right now, I could feel the anxiety making my heart beat wildly.
Was there anything here I could use? I don't think my family ever took into consideration if we were entirely revealed to the world.
Fuck, it's my fault.
Technology advanced way too quickly, and it was all but impossible for the Mages Association to keep up. What were they supposed to do when, in a matter of seconds, millions of people all saw me fighting a Dead Apostle?
You can't just burn down a town and claim it was a natural disaster to cover up this mess.
It was bound to happen eventually, but I'm the one getting fucked.
The entire world now knew I was a 'wizard.' They saw me casting spells, very blatantly. I can't say I would have done things differently; I was put between a rock and a hard place.
From many of the comments I read, there were a significant number of people who didn't believe it was magic, which is good. Can I maybe inflame those comments? I know there are companies you can pay that make bots to spam messages through the internet and push an agenda.
But public perception had been pushed to recognize me as a 'wizard.'
The News just went wild with the story. Even if I wasn't, even if I was a Parahuman, it looked very believable with ample evidence to back it up. They wouldn't pass up the opportunity to tout the idea of me being a wizard for views and attention.
It's literally their job to make headlines.
And if they keep saying it long enough, everyone is going to believe them despite what I do.
Should I pack up and disappear? It would be difficult and annoying to move, but…I may not have a choice.
"Master, your heart rate is elevated, and you appear in a state of distress." Lancer stated. "I understand that this situation is causing you stress. Is there anything I can do to assist you?"
Concerned.
She was concerned; I could feel that despite her lack of emotional response on her face.
That did make me calm down a little bit. "Just you being here is the most reassuring thing for me, Artoria." I used her real name again, and I think she was happy to hear it once more.
She smiled.
If I didn't have her at my side, I would be panicking far more than I am now.
And all of that wasn't even considering the response from the Mages Association.
I had to be very careful from here on out. Technically, I did nothing wrong; I didn't break any laws. And with the actions of the Church, I do have some leeway to blame them for the situation.
But then again, the 'rules' only matter when you have the strength and authority for them to be acknowledged.
The rules are for the elite, to keep the fragile peace amongst the various factions within the Clock Tower.
The Rules don't care about a random Magus on the other side of the country.
If the higher-ups don't like what happened, then the rules don't matter.
Contrary to what a lot of people in my past life liked to throw around, the Mages Association wasn't going to slap me with a 'Sealing Designation.' They would just simply order my execution and send out Enforcers and freelancers to handle it.
However, my family is old.
My family is known.
We don't spend much time over at the Clock Tower, but we aren't a small family that can be ignored.
I had some breathing room.
And I had Lancer.
That was my biggest reassurance.
I briefly considered something else my father once told me. When he handed over the Crest, he told me that the Family had a final trump card to use in case the Family was ever threatened with extermination.
I don't know what it is; he didn't know what it was either. He said it was something the family had acquired many centuries ago and kept under lock and key.
My father's only warning was to not even open the box unless I was absolutely sure. That simply opening the box would invite enough trouble that unless the family was close to extermination, it wouldn't be worth it.
Magi and their fucking cryptic hints.
Unfortunately, I don't think I'm at that point yet. I can't really just lie to myself and say "fuck it" and hope something good comes out of it.
There was another thought…would it be possible for me to summon another Servant?
I'm…skeptical, but in theory, it should be plausible?
Hell, the fragments of the Grail inside of me are doing a significant portion of the heavy lifting when it comes to supporting Lancer as is. I think that means it should be able to support another if I had a good measure of it.
But regardless, I need help.
Lancer is phenomenal; she can handle almost every big threat in the world. But in the case of someone powerful coming along, what's stopping a second from popping up and assassinating me while Lancer is preoccupied?
I need to increase my circle.
But there were immediate concerns now.
I stood up. "Alright, enough wallowing in self-pity. It's time to get to work."
"Do you have a plan, Master?" Lancer asked. "This is a precarious situation."
Even she understood how fucked I was right now with my identity being so blatantly thrown out into the public view. Not only that, but now I'm in the crosshairs of the local authorities, and while that's not danger in the most primitive definition of the word, it's certainly a bad spot to be in.
"I do." I told her. "I'm going to do what every proper American politician does."
Deny everything even in the face of overwhelming evidence and never admit to the facts.
I am Frederick Fucking Verde, head of the Verde family.
I'm not going to let some idiots in spandex try to run over me. The PRT should be the absolute least of my concerns, and I will take care of that solidly for now.
My only regret is that I should have waited before fully healing myself.
I didn't care about the expensive materials I used from the reserves in my family to bring myself back up to full health, but I wish I had waited now until after the meeting.
There was one good thing that came from this, however.
I can finally dress properly.
[Line Break]
My uncle hummed to himself casually as we drove down the street.
He had his driver parked far enough away that no one connected the car to my home. And having more than one escape exit is just common sense.
The news crew that was still camped out in front of my house was none the wiser.
"Perhaps it may be wise to fill me in on your plan? As long as it's something you are comfortable sharing." My uncle spoke up as we approached the PRT headquarters in the city. "Other than the obvious, of course."
Uncle was good at that.
'I didn't hear anything; I don't ask any questions.'
It was one of the reasons he was trusted by my family so much. He knew exactly how much he should ask about or poke into without crossing the line.
The line that he also didn't want to cross.
"You simply asked me if it would be a good idea to get a head start on the PRT meeting. It would be to our benefit if we dropped in earlier than expected without warning. He added. "I have to say, the bandages are a nice touch."
I touched the bandage I had wrapped around my head and felt across my body. Most of them were hidden by my clothes, barely poking out I places. I didn't need them, but it would help my image if I put my bandages back on.
He knew I fixed myself up already, and they weren't actually needed.
"I have a plan, but for it to work, we need to not give them time to prepare themselves." I told him. "And sorry for not explaining this right away; my mind isn't exactly in the best spot at the moment."
I didn't think it would be overly detrimental though. Most of everything comes from me, I just need him there to cover me in spots that I miss.
His expression softened. "I think you're doing a very good job of handling the pressure right now. You're not even eighteen yet, Frederick; you're allowed to feel overwhelmed."
[He speaks the truth, master.] Lancer agreed through our mental link, and it felt oddly reassuring.
"Tell me of your plan." He leaned back, crossing his legs before hitting a button that made sure the conversation couldn't be heard outside of the car's back seats as a window emerged to separate the two sides of the car.
"It's unlikely that there will be a lawyer present, right?"
He nodded. "Their legal team doesn't usually show their faces outside of actual legal matters. They're still a law enforcement agency; it would look very bad if they had to stand in front of a judge and say that they used a lawyer to threaten a suspect into compliance during interrogation. More so for a jury."
Even if it's not an interrogation, I suppose it would be the same.
Good, that's about what I thought. "Most likely it will be the Director and Armsmaster."
"I'm up to date on the ENE Protector's employees. Armsmaster is the current Protectorate Leader under Emily Piggot, who is the PRT ENE Director. There is a very high chance that those two will both be present during your 'statement.'" He once more nodded along.
"Armsmaster has a built-in lie detector in his helmet." I said pointedly. "Tinkertech, if I'm not mistaken."
I remembered that bit from my past.
My uncle's expression immediately. "You don't say?" It was like his mood immediately shifted. "That definitely changes things. If you want, I could make a very big mess of that. I could get any kind of statement or threats thrown away immediately by using that as a reason in the event that they don't disclose it."
"Is it illegal?" I asked curiously. "While it's most likely Tinkertech, it doesn't actually 'affect' the person it's being used on."
"Frederick, Frederick, Frederick." He chuckled, shaking his head. "The laws around parahuman powers and utilizing them on civilians are a broken, exploitable mess, barely held together by duct tape and bribes. In my objective opinion, as your legal counsel, I would encourage you to not say anything about knowing it and let them dig a very large hole for them to jump into so you can sue them for significant amounts of money. But that's not what you want, is it?"
I knew that Parahuman laws were a huge farce, but the way he worded it, frankly, it just made me annoyed at how stupid it all sounded.
"I don't need money." I told him.
"Of course." He just smiled, not even showing a hint of displeasure. "What's your plan then?"
"I'm going to…be truthful so they have no way to bother me legally. On record, undeniable."
Uncle's lips curled up in amusement. "Interesting."
"I can't claim to know how everything is going to go down, so I need you to cover my gaps."
"I believe the kids these days say 'Bet.'"
I snorted, barely holding in a laugh, but that's exactly the reaction he was trying to get out of me.
"Do you need any time to prepare?"
"I was already prepared to burst through the doors at PRT and start a legal shouting match the moment I stepped off the plane." He told me. "Don't worry, Frederick, I'm more than prepared to handle a few government dunces."
"Thanks, Uncle." I made sure to say it, and he smiled.
I know he was being more forward about it for the sake of my peace of mind. I recall in the past him saying how disjointed the government's gears are, but when they finally align, they grind down anything in their path.
It helped.
I didn't want to say it out loud, but I was nervous and stressed. I didn't fear the PRT, but I didn't want to be on the receiving end of their deciding I'm a criminal either.
Could Lancer handle pretty much any cape they threw at me? Most certainly, but I didn't want to go to war with the United States Government. That would be utterly foolish and defeat the entire purpose of my family doing what they've done here for the past how-many generations.
So, I had to play the game a certain way. At the very least, I needed the PRT off my back long enough to handle every other organization that will be chomping at me very soon.
I pushed those thoughts away, and looked out the window, trying to calm myself down.
There was thankfully very little traffic.
Probably after the whole fiasco, people were staying indoors, anticipating the next shoe dropping.
It made driving down to the PRT headquarters rather easy.
I made sure my clothing looked good.
I was basically wearing what I wore when I went hunting at night. I even had a proper pair of gloves and shoes on, not the cheap kind that only lasted a few uses against the Dead Apostle.
And it made me feel a bit more confident.
I didn't anticipate danger, but it would be foolish of me to not plan for it anyways.
I couldn't very well bring in blatant weapons, but gloves and shoes were something that no one could really argue against, even if they saw me 'use' them in the fight.
The sling my left arm was in made it a little annoying, but I could easily bite back that feeling for the sake of my goals. If I end up getting dragged to court, my statement will have been recorded, and I'll look very pitiful after playing the role of a 'hero', and it would do good for my image in front of a judge or jury.
That's why Uncle said that the Bandages were a nice touch.
The car pulled up to the main entrance, and I got out with Uncle, and we brazenly walked right up to the front door.
They occasionally have public tours for PR reasons, letting anyone who signs up have a guided look at the insides and even sometimes meet the Wards. But at this moment, there wasn't anyone coming or going from the main entrance.
At this point in time, the vast majority of PRT agents were most certainly patrolling the city, if nothing else, then ease the tension right now.
I was highly skeptical that any gangs would act out for the time being. They should all be more than aware of how dangerous things were not many days ago.
And I heard that Legend had briefly come to check in.
Mostly to fly around and warn all the villains to play nice while they get everything back under control.
From what I read online, he had already gone back to New York. He couldn't stay long because he had his own villains that he had to keep in check.
If he left New York for too long, then the criminals there would act out intentionally.
Oddly, the days following such a big event were perhaps the safest for the city.
Uncle Richard gestured to the driver, and he drove off somewhere out of sight.
I pulled my mask on tightly as we walked into the building. Couldn't show my nervousness, or my stress. Couldn't show any weakness, it was a lesson taught by my family.
He stepped ahead, even grabbing the door for me, playing the role of my support as I walked inside.
The entrance—the reception area—was almost what you would expect from a police station.
The woman sitting at the desk was behind bulletproof glass. And I wouldn't be surprised if she had a gun under the desk for emergencies.
There was no one else inside thankfully. Perhaps that was to be expected; this was most certainly not a police station. There weren't going to be random people coming in to report crimes or be waiting in the reception area without a good reason.
The woman barely acknowledged us; clearly her head was somewhere else.
"Reason for visitation?" She asked not looking up from some paperwork.
Uncle Richard stepped up. "We're here to give a statement." He said casually.
"Name."
"Frederick Verde."
That's when she paused and really looked up. First at Uncle Richard, then at me, and her eyes dilated very briefly in recognition.
To her credit, she didn't freak out.
She was well trained, it seemed.
"One moment, please." She practically shoved everything else to the side. "Please take a seat."
Good, they were clearly not expecting me.
"Of course. But please pass on a message that our time is valuable, and we will wait only so long."
I sat down in one of the barely adequate mass-produced chairs. I always wondered if they intentionally use these types of chairs just so people wouldn't wait inside for long periods.
"Want to bet on how long it takes?" He asked, whispering as he leaned in.
"Terms?"
"Hmm, your father had a bottle of scotch I'd been eyeing."
"Deal." I wasn't that much of a drinker. "Ten minutes."
He smiled. "Three Minutes."
I raised an eyebrow before taking my phone out and setting a timer.
He clearly knew something I didn't. That's probably the confidence of experience talking there.
"You said that you looked into everything alright, yes?"
"More or less." He confirmed.
"How much do you know about Director Piggot?"
"The better question is, what don't I know?" He responded. "I haven't ignored the situation in the city here. I do keep up with things, like when the local PRT gains a new director. I've known about Director Piggot from the moment she took over the position. Just as I do for the New York division."
And that's why Uncle Richard is one of the most expensive lawyers in the country.
He was going to be painting a target on himself after this. Anyone and everyone is going to know he's my lawyer, and they're going to dig into how I acquired his services. More than likely, they'll find the connection with my family and him.
I know that Dad gave him some stuff to keep for protection, but I should give him some more.
One of the side doors opened.
And surprise, surprise, it was Armsmaster.
"Mr. Verde." He called out. "Please follow me."
I used my 'good arm' to take out my phone.
3 minutes, 16 seconds.
Uncle Richard just had the smuggest look I've ever seen.
Well played.
[Line Break]
There were no words of fanfare or greeting beyond him calling my name.
Armsmaster was silent the entire way.
He led us straight to the director's office, the name tag on the door giving it away.
He opened the door and gestured for us to go inside, following right behind us.
It was my first time seeing the director in real life.
"Good evening, Director Piggot. My name is Richard Bellamy, of Bellamy and Associates; I will be acting as Mr. Verde's legal counsel."
There was a slight flash of recognition in her eyes. I'll need to ask him about that later, it wasn't common for a PRT Director to know a lawyer by name like that, especially one from out of town.
I vaguely recall him mentioning that he had sued the New York PRT in the past, did it have something to do with that?
"And for what reason would Mr. Verde require legal counsel for simply giving a statement?" Director Piggott. "Some may find it a strange addition to a simple statement."
"No stranger than being called in to give a statement to both the PRT ENE Director and local Protectorate Team leader." He responded with a polite smile. "Considering that any PRT agent is more than capable of taking a statement."
Director Pigot seemed to be displeased with that answer, but she didn't have a proper retort to it.
This was anything but a normal situation, as he so blatantly pointed out.
"You're a long way from New York." Piggot's nostrils flared slightly. "Are you allowed to practice law down here, Mr. Bellamy?"
"Why, of course, Director." Uncle Richard took it in stride. "I keep my law license up to date in this fine state, and you're more than welcome to check."
"How convenient."
"Convenient? Director, I have a law firm that I own in the city; it's a matter of professional acumen."
She didn't know that, I could tell. It's not like she keeps up with all the best lawyers around, but apparently, Uncle Richard's name is recognizable enough to her.
"It's normal procedure to alert the PRT ahead of time when coming in to provide a statement." She shifted gears, knowing she wasn't getting anywhere there.
"My, I was not aware a simple statement required such fanfare in Brockton Bay. I'll keep that in mind in the future, Director." He continued with his polite smile. "Well, we're here now; let us get this over with, shall we?"
She was trying to find a leg to stand on, but Uncle Richard kept pushing her over.
"Armsmaster will be present and utilizing his Tinker Tech headgear to record this meeting." Director Piggot stated very clearly.
This was the best-case scenario.
I intentionally wanted to come without warning because I wanted Director Piggot to have Armsmaster in the room. If she wasn't prepared, if she was being forced from a time perspective, she would want him here.
I had some contingencies in case things didn't turn out well, but now there was no need to worry about them.
"For the record, please state your full name." Armsmaster looked at me.
"Frederick Allard Verde." I said expressionlessly.
"Thank you." He returned with a monotone voice. "Now, please answer the following questions truthfully to the best of your ability."
"Proceed." I told him to carry on.
"What is your relationship with the woman known as 'Lancer'?"
"Don't answer that." Uncle Richard cut in.
"It is a pertinent question."
"It's an irrelevant question. He is here to give his statement on the matter regarding the attack on Winslow High School, not to be interrogated. His personal relationships are to remain personal."
Well, it wasn't quite accurate to say it's an irrelevant question, but I wasn't going to step on Uncle Richard's toes; he clearly knew what he was doing.
But he was right; this wasn't an interrogation. They were still using the pretense of giving a statement, which made it somewhat less forceful in supposed questioning. If they turned it into a proper interrogation, then the rules changed, and they would most likely get even less out of me.
Was he just seeing how far they would push and was testing them?
Hmm.
Armsmaster glanced at the Director, and he continued. "In that case, do you know where 'Lancer' currently is located so we can ask for a statement from her?"
"I don't know where 'Lancer' is." I said with complete honesty.
Because I didn't know where she was currently astralized at. She was hanging around somewhere, but the exact location was unknown to me.
Thus, I was telling the truth.
I wasn't sure what mechanism Armsmaster's Lie Detector was using to glean its information, but I knew it couldn't be anything invasive; otherwise, even Piggot wouldn't allow it to happen.
"The villain who attacked Winslow—we would like to know any information you may have about him." Armsmaster carried on the obviously rehearsed questions.
"What makes you think my client knows any information you don't know?" Uncle stepped in.
"How would we know if there was something we didn't know if we didn't ask the question?" Piggot cut in.
It was fine. "I can describe his features if you want. I can estimate his height, his weight, or other things along those lines." I played dumb.
Piggot frowned. "We don't need his physical features described; we have plenty of video."
"In that case, I have nothing to add if you don't require me to elaborate on his physical characteristics." I leaned back.
Well, if they didn't want me to reveal his physical characteristics, such as his vampirism, then who am I to complain?
Again, Piggot shared a quick look with Armsmaster, and he very subtly shook his head, which seemed to confuse her. In hindsight, when they review the video, I think they'll realize how particular I was being about the wording.
But for now, in the moment, it probably just passed over them.
"Fine. Then what about his powers?" Piggot asked pointedly.
"From what I was able to gather from watching the videos provided, he appeared to have the ability to manipulate his flesh and showed regenerative abilities. However, beyond that, there is not anything else for me to add to the statement that was not already covered." I answered honestly once more.
This was very clearly not the answer they were expecting.
But I have answered truthfully thus far.
"Is there anything else, or are we finished?" Uncle spoke up again. He was urging them on because he didn't want to give them a moment to collect their thoughts.
"No." Piggot's lips thinned. "We are not done. Armsmaster, continue."
I suppose it wouldn't be that easy.
"Are you a 'wizard'?" Armsmaster just ignored any sense of delicacy with his absolutely blunt question.
"What does that even mean? Define what you mean by "wizard." Uncle Richard demanded.
Armsmaster looked to Piggot.
"Someone who can use 'magic.'" Pigot added.
It was honestly rather comical to hear her say something like that so seriously. I could feel her annoyance at having to ask that question. Even the words coming out of her mouth sounded rather forced.
'Can you use magic', coming from a Government employee, a law enforcement employee at that.
"I am not a wizard." I said carefully.
Once more, it was just a tiny flicker, but Armsmaster seemed confused by my words.
Piggot's expression changed from one of mild annoyance to a very obvious variation of it now. "Can you use magic!?" She demanded right after.
"No, I cannot use magic."
I am a magus; I practice Magecraft.
The director's squeezed her hands together. A small reaction, but it showed how her anger was bubbling up. "Are you a Parahuman?"
"No, I am not a Parahuman."
She looked at Armsmaster, and from what I could gather, he confirmed that I have yet to say a lie.
I am now, on record, and confirmed by a Tinker Tech device created by Armsmaster, that I am neither a 'wizard' nor a parahuman, nor can I use 'magic.'
I could bet this was throwing her for a major loop.
"Then how were you able to fight that villain who attacked your school?" Piggot's tone carried a slight hiss to it.
I shrugged.
"Answer the question." She scowled.
"Moderate your tone, Director." Uncle Richard's polite smile swiftly changed. "We are here as a courtesy. If you continue to be belligerent, then our meeting will end here."
Oh, she was mad as her gaze snapped to him. "There are allegations of Master powers being used on the woman known as 'Lancer'."
Oh, she did call me Master out in public, didn't she?
That made me internally cringe at what might be jumping around online now.
"I am neither a Parahuman, nor do I even know where the woman known as 'Lancer' is." I reiterated.
"Director Piggot, my client has stated he is not a Parahuman, thus does not have the ability to 'master' an individual, as per your vernacular. If it would satisfy your wonderful organization, my client is willing to do a Brain Scan to show he has no Corona Pollentia." Uncle Richard followed up immediately.
She let out a snort. "So much for your supposed 'religious objections' to modern medicine?"
Uncle Richard just smiled. "A simple scan of his Brain doesn't constitute medical intervention per his beliefs."
You could see her lips twitch in irritation.
"Explain the presence of the people who appeared after the fight ended, the ones you acknowledged from the 'Church.'" Piggot shifted quickly knowing that line of questioning was a dead end.
"I'm not a practicing Catholic; what do you expect me to tell you about the Church?" I returned.
"You're avoiding the question." Piggot's tone changed again, as if she now found a new avenue of attack. "You're here as a 'courtesy,' but I can very well submit an arrest warrant considering your blatant lawbreaking in destroying evidence."
"Did that happen?" I played dumb.
"Mr. Bellamy." Piggot's nostrils flared. "Perhaps you should explain to your client that it's wiser to be forthcoming; otherwise, we will no longer be asking nicely."
"I believe there to be some misunderstanding. You see, I suffered from some head trauma, as you perhaps already know. And just as well, I have recently lost some of my memories." I didn't allow my mask to slip as I said this.
"Mr. Verde, are you claiming to have memory loss?" Armsmaster asked.
"I believe that is the correct term. Yes, I do have some manner of memory loss." I nodded.
Once more, they went silent.
Armsmaster's shoulders lowered, and his body language screamed incredulousness mixed with confusion.
I technically wasn't lying.
I did lose memories, just memories of my previous life. I never said when the memory loss happened or that it was connected to the attack.
"If you suffered such severe injuries, then why didn't you seek medical aid?" Piggot pivoted quickly. She showed her experience when, even if she was confused and thrown off track, she still found a way back.
"My client does not believe in modern medicine due to religious reasons." Uncle Richard stated just as he did before.
"The question was for your client." Piggot scoffed. "Mr. Verde, answer the question."
"My religious beliefs are none of your concern, and I direct you to my attorney for an answer." I gave a non-answer that wouldn't get me called a liar.
Piggot knew it too.
However, she smiled slightly. "Then you would have no problem being seen by Panacea, right?"
Ah.
That's a good move.
However,
"I don't trust Parahuman powers." That was most definitely the truth. "And in which case, I do believe, if I'm not mistaken, Panacea has publicly acknowledged that she cannot heal brains."
Which means she can't heal memory loss. Though, technically, Panacea could, but she didn't know that.
"That's correct." She acknowledged. "But she is able to look and see if there is damage, or lack thereof. And if a simple Brain Scan doesn't contradict your religious beliefs, then having Panacea look would be the same, wouldn't it?"
"My client has already expressed his dislike for Parahumans' power, Director. Please respect his decision."
"Let's see if a judge will respect his decision. I think I can manage to convince one of the Judges around for a warrant to force a medical examination." Piggot leaned back, looking smug.
She was trying to call my bluff on the memory loss or poke at it to see if it was 'true.' Doubly, to get me under the 'view' of Panacea to see if there's anything special about me. It would be hitting multiple birds with one stone.
To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure if Panacea could 'see' anything she wasn't supposed to. How did Magic Circuits interact with her Parahuman powers? They didn't show up on medical scans, but Parahumans were not logical in that regard.
"By all means, Director. I will gladly stand in front of a judge and argue against it. Because if even the PRT ENE Director refuses to receive parahuman healing from Panacea, despite her illustrious reputation, then what reasoning could you have to demand so from my client as well?" Uncle Richard met her gaze firmly.
Panacea, the best healer in the world. With a touch, she can practically heal any ailment.
Yet, the director here has been suffering from physical disability and has been on dialysis for years without ever receiving healing from an asset that's quite literally next door.
Oh, she definitely didn't like that.
I could see it in her eyes; she was pissed that her own disabilities were thrown in her face and at the double standard she was trying to force on me.
Yeah, she can 'technically' arrest me for destroying evidence, but the majority of that was on Lancer.
Not only that, it was right after I 'saved' a school full of children.
Overall, it would be very difficult to genuinely press me with a crime here. And it was a very shitty hill to try and die on.
The thing is, I know she would have normally, but she didn't expect me to show up with a competent lawyer.
From the moment we stepped into her office, she was already on the back foot.
"Is that all, Director? Or do you have any more questions you want to ask?" Uncle Richard asked with that polite smile returned. Though at this point, it felt rather mocking.
"No." She said through gritted teeth. "You may leave."
"Come along, Frederick." Uncle Richard stood up, guiding me out of the office. "And Director Piggot, please have a wonderful day." He said as we left the office.
[Line Break]
A/N
Frederick speaks the truth, technically. Now, with the PRT off his back for the time being, it's now best to deal with the Church.
Basically, after Frederick successfully defended his 'memory loss,' there wasn't much more they could reasonably ask him in his statement, considering it was more an impromptu interrogation and they don't actually need a 'statement' in a more general sense.