I was interrupted from my thoughts.  A man shouted, and I saw the crowd backing away.

Ah, shit. Heroes, Merchants, desperate person who didn’t get a box?

Either way, this sounds like trouble.

It was one of the men who’d had a weapon.  He’d drawn and swung a crude knife to ward people off and grinned maniacally at the reaction he was getting.

Of course one of these guys ended up causing trouble. No real surprise there.

The scruff of beard on his chin was white, but it seemed rather premature given his apparent age.  He was shirtless, with a long sleeve shirt tied around his waist, and scratches crisscrossing his upper body.  His buddies stood back, smirking and grinning.

Huh, interesting design.

At least it’s not Jack Slash, unless he’s got a pretty good disguise.

It was a bad judgement call to pull this right in front of me, but I supposed people were at a point where they weren’t at their most rational.  That, or he was high on something.  I could see him as a member of the Merchants, either way.

Yeeah. To all of that.

There wasn’t enough in the way of supplies.  I could see the atmosphere shift slightly as people realized it.  

Welp.

Might end up with more trouble to intervene in here.

There were too many people present versus the amount of boxes Coil had provided me, even with one box serving a whole family.

Shame, really.

I knew Coil had more – his underground base had stored ridiculous amounts, so he had access to a supplier, or he was the supplier.

Well, he did supply them to you. Not quite what you mean, though, I know.

I began formulating a plan, figuring out how I’d get boxes to those who were walking away from here empty-handed.

Good luck with that. How do you intend to identify who those were, for one thing?

Seeing the first family leaving with their supplies, others grew brave enough to venture forward.

Exactly. No one wanted to be first.

In moments, there was a crush of bodies.

Woah, woah, calm down please! Try not to trample anyone.

I stepped onto the back of the truck as the boxes disappeared from beneath me, and I watched the crowd for any violence or fighting.  One altercation began as two men both grabbed the same box.

Uh-oh.

Before their violent tugging match got them or someone else hurt, I sent a buzzing flurry of bugs in between them.  They dropped the box and backed off, staring at me.

Yeaah, it’s probably disconcerting to have the bug villain queen of your area (hm, we need a name for it… Skitterville?) break up your fight like that.

When I didn’t move to stop them or do anything further, they each returned to the pile to scrounge up different boxes, leaving the other on its side in the water.

Seems reasonable.

I looked over the crowd.  I could see people getting restless.  At least they weren’t lynching me.

It’s always nice when people don’t lynch you.

“Thank you for listening.  These supplies are yours to take.  One to each family or group, up to two if your family is large enough.”

My monologue finished, I waited.  Nobody ventured forward.  Had I done too effective a job at intimidating them?

I guess it’s part that, and part that none of them want to be the first to accept a gift from a villain, the first to accept that villain’s claim of your area.

I was just starting to wonder what I’d do if nobody moved, when the first man stepped forward, followed immediately by his wife and a pair of kids.

There we go.

The wife had a very red nose and circles under her eyes that made me think she had a bad cold.  The parents didn’t make eye contact with me as they accepted the box that one of Coil’s workers lifted down to hand to them.

Desperation is one of the strongest motivators there is to accepting any help you can get.

The children hid behind their mother.  There was no gratitude, nor any thanks given, as the father turned to carry the box of food and necessities back to wherever he was taking shelter.

They clearly don’t like this, but they know they need the resources whether they like it or not.

“Each box contains enough basic food rations for four people.  They also have first aid supplies and water filters.  These supplies will keep you going until we can start fixing things and making more basic conveniences available.”

Nice.

“If you want more?  Work for me.  This work does not have to be criminal, for I need people to pass on messages, to act as spokespersons for these neighborhoods, and to clean up or rebuild.

That seems reasonable! And hey, Coil did say she could hire whoever she wanted.

For anyone who does assist me, them and their families will have access to some of those foods you miss, to showers and electricity, and generous payment.  You and your loved ones will be dry, clean, and you will have fresh clothes.”

What is this word you’re using, “dry”?

“To everyone else!  If you assist any of these groups, give them food, shelter, or business?  If you sell drugs, steal or prey on people in this area, you lose my goodwill.  You will receive no more supplies, and you will earn my attention, with eyes on you for every waking hour.  That’s strike one.  If I catch you doing it again?  I treat you as one of the enemy.”

Niiice. Big Skitter is watching you.

I let my words hang in the air for effect, and to give my audience time to consider what I was saying.  I glanced at Battery.  She wasn’t moving to stop me… interesting.

Out of all the things a villain could say while staking claim to a territory, these are some of the most heroic ones. She probably recognizes that Skitter taking over this area might actually be a good thing.

It’s not sure that the rest of the PRT will agree, but we’ll have to cover that bridge with bugs when we get to it.

“I am not the ABB, I am not the Merchants, the Empire or the Chosen!  I am acting in your interests!”

Let’s hope they actually believe that.

Our group had discussed this, after talking to Coil the other night, and we’d hammered out more details yesterday, passing on the details to the Travelers.  Our methods would vary wildly, but we were all making our bids for territory this morning.

Ah, cool, got it coordinated and everything.

I decided not to mention that.  Let the others arrive at that conclusion themselves.

Wait, mention what, that you were all making your bids for territory this morning? That you’re working for the public’s interests?

“I demand no money from you, I do not intend to interfere in your lives unless you interfere in mine!  I do not want to take or destroy what you have!”

I pointed at the crates that were beneath my feet.  I lowered my voice.  “These supplies are yours, a gift from me to you.  And there will be more, delivered regularly for as long as I am here.  My abilities will mean there will be no buzzing or biting flies harassing you, no cockroaches crawling over you as you sleep.  I am offering you protection, security, and reprieve, for as long as you are my subjects!  All I require is that you obey my rules, so hear me!”

This really sounds like a good deal for the public so far. Depends a lot on what the rules she requires them to follow are, of course.

Also, it’s a lot like any non-villainous social contract. It feels more like she’s taking over governance of the area than anything else.

“No gangs will operate here.  Merchants?  Chosen?  I know some of you are in this crowd.  Consider this my declaration of war.  I will not permit you to sell drugs, to hurt my people or steal from them, or to seek shelter in my territory!”

Niice.

I raised my hand, and the swarm gathered coalesced into a tight mass above me, a vaguely spherical shape, six feet in diameter.

Uh?

“My bugs can devour a cow to the bone in one and a half minutes.”  I had no idea if that was true.  It sounded good.  “I have a million eyes to watch you with.  Go elsewhere.”

You make a compelling argument.

I swallowed.  I had to be confident.  I lowered my volume a step, relying on my swarm to convey my words for me.  It wasn’t perfect, there were parts of speech they weren’t good at making, but it worked well enough that I kept at it.

Whether they’re perfect speakers or not, it’s really damn cool.

“I am laying claim to this area!  From this moment, I rule this territory!”

Nice work.

Now how does the crowd feel about that? 

People could have booed or jeered.  I’d been almost convinced they would.  Instead, I heard a murmur running through the crowd.  Battery hadn’t budged, but I saw her pressing her fingers to her ear, and her lips were moving.

I guess they’re too intimidated to show their opinion much to the villain laying claim to their neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Battery’s doing her job and reporting what’s happening. If more Protectorate members show up to help detain Skitter here, that could be a problem.

She didn’t turn her head away from me, and I could imagine her staring at me.

Yeah, probably. I’d want to do the same in her place.