“I’m afraid I don’t know standard treatment for bites of that kind,” Coil said.

Brooks stepped out of the crowd of nearby soldiers.  “Sir?”

Oh hey, it’s Brooks!

I suppose it makes sense that he would be familiar with that kind of thing, as a military medic.

“Brooks.”

“I’m familiar with the treatment for the more dangerous spider bites,” he looked at me, “It’s a protein-based venom?”

So the jerk is useful sometimes.  I hadn’t liked Brooks since Lisa had introduced me to him, but I could respect someone who knew his job.  “Yeah.”

Yeah, he’s not a great guy, but he at least seems to know his stuff.

“Seems I can leave it to you, then,” Coil said.  Brooks nodded.  Coil added, “Failing everything else, it might serve as incentive to cooperate.”

Hm, yes. “Hey, if you don’t cooperate, we won’t treat your rotting flesh.”

“Or cause to get desperate,” Tattletale said.  “She might do something stupid if she thinks she’ll die or suffer lifelong effects if she doesn’t get back to Bonesaw.”

Good point.

Regent sounded remarkably calm given the situation.

“She’s my sister.  If anyone has a right to get sentimental, it’s me, and I’m saying it’s okay to off her,” he finished.

That really does say a lot. If there’s anyone here who’s gonna know what she’s like, it’s Regent.

“I-”  Ballistic broke off.

I shifted my attention to the Nine.  Jack, Siberian and Bonesaw were moving past the yellow lines.  And Cherish… Cherish was turning to look in Grue and Ballistic’s direction.

“Are you gonna off me or not?”

I could see her almost bounce in place as she got her feet under her and started sprinting, her mouth opening.

Oh, so she really did only just notice?

Or did she only just realize she was the first target?

It’s entirely possible that Ballistic’s sentimentality is the whole reason she just noticed him.

“Cover blown!” I shouted into the walkie-talkie.  Taking my finger off the button, I called out,  “Trickster, Sundancer!”

It’s go time!

“Who?” Trickster asked.

“Sadie.  From seventh grade.”

Wildbow continues to heavily imply that the Travelers go way back.

But yeah, sounds like it’s genuinely just a case of similar appearances.

“Nope,” Trickster replied.  “Not in the slightest.  Your head’s fucking with you.  Get the job done.”

I suppose that’s also possible.

“But-”

Trickster’s voice was as hard as I’d ever heard it.  “Now.  Remember the deal we made.  Our promise to each other and to Noelle.  Don’t fuck this up.”

I would love to know what that promise was and how it plays into this situation. Alas, that is probably a matter for another day.

Ballistic hesitated.  Through the scope of my binoculars, I could see him holding the foot-ball sized warhead in his hands.  “She’s a human being, someone with feelings, and tastes and-”

That she is.

She’s also a fucked up mass-murderer.

Regent was the one who cut him off this time, “And she’s someone that has forced parents to mutilate and kill their kids and she made them enjoy it.  Then she left them to live with the aftermath.”

Fucking hell, Cherish.

If you want a full redemption you’ve got so much to atone for.

That’s not really how Worm tends to go, though. Her self-interested betrayal may prove critical to beating the Nine, but she’s probably not heading for a redemption.

He’s supposed to handle Cherish.  I glanced at the Nine.  No sign of anything from her.

Ah, fuck, that’s pretty critical, at least as far as Taylor knows.

She was standing apart from the rest of the group, her arms folded.

“You gonna smite the others yet or what?”

“She looks like someone I used to know,” Ballistic said, as if that was some kind of answer.

Oh, huh.

I wonder if he actually did know her specifically at some point. The Travelers used to be nomadic, so it’s entirely possible that he’s met Cherie Vasil before she came to Brockton Bay.

A quick sweep verified that the area around ‘Dolltown’ was largely empty of people.  The flooding was bad here, and only Parian’s place was really on high enough ground to be free of it.  Just to make sure, I asked, “Tattletale?  How many bystanders?”

Free of the flooding? That can’t be right…

“Going by the video feed?  Guessing there’s between eight and twenty people in the buildings around you.”

Not that many, really.

“Then I’m set,” I replied.  I strapped the ‘seatbelt’ chain around my waist and hips and reconnected the carabiner.  Other voices echoed mine, confirming they were ready.

So is the idea here to blow up parts of the buildings in order to trap the Nine between or underneath the rubble?

Halfway across the roof, Sundancer began forming her miniature sun.  I checked on the others with my binoculars.  Trickster and Regent were crouched at the corner of one building, and Genesis was dissolving.  Good.

Oh, I guess she’s got another form in mind for the actual battle. The doggo-like one was just better for transportation.

Doesn’t it take a couple minutes for her to show up again, though?

Grue and Ballistic were arguing.  I was pretty sure.

That’s probably not good.

I could see Grue grabbing Ballistic’s shoulder with one hand and pointing at the Nine with the other.

“What’s going on, Grue?” I asked.

“He’s chickening out.”

Ahhh. Bit more reluctant when it comes down to it, huh?

Watch as Sundancer is the exact opposite. 😛

I used the binoculars and found the area in question.  Yellow spray paint, rain coats and scarves had been used to form a line across a street.

You take what you’ve got.

Grue didn’t respond, but that could easily be because he was focusing on riding.  Just in case, I asked, “You have eyes on him, Trickster?”

Oh boy, let’s hope so.

“Yeah.  Grue and Ballistic are heading up to a spot where they can see everyone.  No danger.”

Good.

No danger.  It was a loaded statement.  Burnscar wasn’t here, but Tattletale was ninety percent certain that the pyrokinetic teleporter was off tracking down one of the ‘hero’ candidates or Hookwolf to give them their tests.

Hey, you’re in no position to nitpick about how the whole situation is danger, miss “I’m in no imminent danger except for the two psychopaths who totally want to kill me”. 😛

Also, good to have some word on where Burnscar is, just to have that established. It’s entirely possible she’ll come back, but I don’t think she really needs to, narratively. Especially since we have all the intended targets – members of the Nine who haven’t had their turn yet – here.

“Moving up,” Grue reported.  “You guys maintain visual.”

Jack was still attacking everyone he spotted.  How many lives would be lost in the meantime?  Worse, would Cherish notice our presence, or would Jack look for civilians and spot one of us on a rooftop blocks away?

More reasons to attack right now.

Also I’m pretty sure Cherish knows you’re here by now. She can sense people all over town, as far as we know, maybe even further, even if she can’t manipulate them until they’re up close, and here you’ve got 7-8 (I don’t know if she can sense Genesis’ forms) noteworthy people continually following and surrounding her and her team? Yeah, she’s probably well aware that the team is about to be attacked and is keeping her mouth shut in hopes that it’ll turn out in her favor.

Going into this with the element of surprise was almost too much to hope for.

Imp may have been able to secure that for you a bit, at least. Then again, I think even if Imp hadn’t showed up, Cherish might still keep shut about the pursuers.

I put my walkie-talkie down, but I kept my eyes on Cherish.  She hadn’t spoken, and there was no change in her posture.

She might be trying her best to limit her body language too.

“Grue,” Trickster said, “Get in position fast.  I see the area where Parian marked off her territory.  If they’re going to stop, they’re going to stop here.”

Makes sense. It would be a good position for the battle to be in, too, since it’s not actually in the territory (meaning hopefully less collateral damage), but close enough that Parian might show up and help out.

“Parian’s territory,” Ballistic said.  “She controls these giant stuffed animals.  Cordoned off an area in my district before I made my claim.  I haven’t gotten around to dealing with her yet, with the Nine and all.”

Maybe if they’re lucky, they could get some backup from her.

Also apparently Dolltown is enveloped in Ballistic’s district, which means I was wrong about where Ballistic’s district actually is. Fair enough.

But yeah, Ballistic, I think you should just let her be.

Maybe Skitter could relate to Parian a bit. I mean, they’ve both been focused on defending the people of their territories, even employing similar intruder warning tactics.

“They’re probably trying to bait the heroes out,” Tattletale said, “Killing in the streets, then attacking one of the safe territories that aren’t controlled by us.”

Makes sense.

“ETA for them getting to their destination?” I asked.

“One minute,” Tattletale spoke.

Well, that’s unfortunate. I guess it’s time to attack, then!