“It’s not that simple.”

“By killing them, you’re saving dozens, even hundreds of people,” I said.

Thousands, potentially.

Hm, that reminds me. If Jack Slash dies, then there won’t be an incentive for Theo to follow through on the deal he struck with Jack, because Jack won’t be around to commit those thousand murders in Theo’s name if Theo were to fail. In other words, even if that deal was going to speed up the future threat like I suspect (the threat may have to do with Theo’s power – it may be later without the deal because Theo might have his trigger event later), Jack still needs to survive.

But then why wouldn’t him dying after leaving Brockton Bay have the same effect as dying before making that deal? Maybe it’d be too late by then, Theo having had his trigger event already?

Silence hung in the air for a few long seconds.

“Yeah,” Ballistic said.  “If it’s monsters like that?  I think I could.”

Sundancer hesitated.  She hugged her arms against her body, lips pursed.

It’s kind of interesting how this works. Like, this natural hesitation to take a life that most people have in them. I absolutely don’t think I could do it – I literally wouldn’t hurt a fly – but at the same time the logical, detached side of me is going “these guys deserve no hesitation, killing them would be a clear benefit to the world”.

By the way, neither of these two would make particularly pretty corpses out of their enemies.

“Mars,” Trickster said, his voice quiet, “You’ve killed before.”

Mars is a neat nickname. It kind of fits with her cape name, considering Mars is a planet, one of the bodies that dance around the sun.

Also, Trickster, might that not be why she’s hesitating?

“Accidentally.”

Exactly.

I thought back to her hesitation to use her power, back when we’d fought Oni Lee and Lung together.

Yeah, I remember she talked about her power causing a lot of collateral damage and being hard not to kill with.

“These guys aren’t bystanders, they’re not people,” Ballistic said.  “They don’t even resemble people.  They’re freaks, monsters.  The worst this planet has to offer.”

On one hand, he ain’t wrong.

On another, he ain’t right. We have seen humanizing traits from a few of the Nine. Mainly Burnscar and Cherish, some from Bonesaw, even a smidgen from Shatterbird. They are people. Extremely fucked up people who should die before they spread more death and suffering, but people.

Grue shook his head a little, as if in response to some thought that crossed his mind. 

What’s in your head? Imp? Is she there and only you’re aware that she’s there and talking to you?

“You will have my assistance,” Coil said, “Jack Slash needs to die, and you’ll have access to all of my resources should you move forward.”

Excellent.

“Alright.  Thanks.  Bitch is on board, I think?”

Bitch nodded.

“Everyone needs to be willing to do this if we’re going to move forward.  I’m not just talking about attacking these guys.  Sundancer, Ballistic, you guys have been holding back for a long time.  I know it’s asking a hell of a lot, but… are you guys prepared to kill?”

Are you?

…yes, I think she is, actually, with these fuckers as the targets. Although we’ll won’t really find out until she gets (what she thinks is) the chance.

At least we know Imp is prepared to kill.

“That’s not a very flattering comparison.”  Grue folded his arms.

True.

Seriously, Taylor, where are you going with this?

“No.  But I think it’s on target, and I don’t think it’s a total coincidence that they wound up considering two members of our group for the Nine, Cherish’s motivations aside.  So let’s avoid playing things like Jack wants us to, let’s not do things the way better heroes have tried and failed.  We play this like they play this.

Ahh, that’s where. “Let’s be more similar than they expect.”

Unpredictable, calculated recklessness, we don’t get caught up in a fight, and we think through every part of the plan.”

That is a pretty solid strategy in general, too.

I’ve previously compared Taylor to the leader of an army, the tactitian calling the shots. I was talking mainly about her use of the bugs and clever strategies in fights, but she can absolutely use the same qualities to lead the Undertravelers to victory.

“Skitter wants to attack the Nine, remove a tester before they get their turn.”

Who’s talking? Coil?

Trickster whistled.  “Risky.”

“Look at it this way,” I said.  “Um.  How many police forces and superteams have tried to beat the Nine?  How many divisions of the Protectorate or alliances of cape teams have tried to beat them?”

Taylor, this is a bad opening when trying to convince people that you can beat them.

I mean, I think I see where you’re going with this, in that the police forces and teams have fought them directly and made themselves easy prey to the Nine’s specialty, crowd control. But still, if you’re trying to boost morale for your idea, maybe consider not starting with “how many people have tried and failed to do what I’m suggesting”.

“Lots,” Trickster said.

“Too many to count.  The Nine play things like my team does on good days.  They pick their fights, avoiding confrontations or disappearing when they aren’t certain they can win.  

Oni Lee really would’ve been a good fit.

When they do fight, they hit where it hurts.  We do that.  Look at what Regent did to Shadow Stalker, what I did to Lung on both occasions.  And they terrorize their victims.  We do the same thing, unintentionally or not.  Grue is scary with the darkness, Bitch’s dogs make people shit themselves.  Me?  Everyone’s at least a little creeped out by bugs.

Especially Clockblocker.

I like how she’s calling a bit of attention to the whole “common fears” theme of the Undersiders.

Tattletale and Regent are unnerving in a whole different way.  The Nine are us on steroids.”

I suppose they are!

Hey, Taylor, remember that whole thing we talked about earlier about how similarity doesn’t automatically mean friendship? I know we were talking about individuals, but I still think this counts as an example of my point.

Incidentally, between Taylor talking about how she and Bitch were similar, thinking about the similarities between the Travelers in terms of power level and view of the team, and this, I think we’ve found the red thread of the chapter. Similarities.

Another pair of things that would be similar: The shogi plan and the plan used in Parasite.

The others made their way upstairs, followed by Bitch.  They gathered around my room, all standing.  I moved to stand, myself, but Trickster gestured for me to stay seated.

She’s the host, she gets to be the one who sits and looks like she’s in charge.

“You okay?” Regent asked.

“Alive.  Hurts like hell.”

Through my swarm-sense, I felt a truck park outside.  Grue let himself in through the front door.

Hey.

Before long, all were present.  Grue dialed Tattletale and put the phone on speaker.

Oh, good.

When I said she’d be good to have here, it wasn’t just because I like her. It was also that her power is immensely valuable for planning what Taylor is suggesting.

“Yo,” her voice came through.  “Me and Coil here.”

Coil I’m less thrilled about, but hey, I suppose it only makes sense that he’d be involved too.

So, how about Imp, is she here?

Back when I’d first talked with Sundancer, I could remember asking her about her experience with the Travelers.  What was it she’d said?  Intense, violent, lonely.  Lonely despite the fact that they were constantly in each other’s company.

The Travelers are a group of people who have gone through a lot together for a long time.

But I’m not sure they’re friends.

I couldn’t exactly remember what Sundancer’s explanation for that loneliness had been.  It had been vague, hadn’t it?

Yeah, pretty sure. Vague is kind of the operative word with respect to the Travelers’ backstory and internal dynamics so far.

Seeing Genesis’s expression, I suspected Sundancer wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

Seems so.

How had they come together?  If I ran with the theory that Genesis somehow had her trigger event at four and was more powerful as a result, did that mean the other powerful members of the group had done something similar?  If so, how were they connected?

Yes, that is a good question.

I think Taylor bringing this up is a good sign we’ll be learning more about it in not too long.

Or was I thinking along the wrong lines?

Taylor, this kind of theorizing is my job. I know I’m not that great at it, but still. 😛

I do feel like this line is going to act as a lingering hook that I may have found the answer to before the question was posed. Maybe. Like I said, I’m not that great at this, but I do like my theory. But yeah, I guess what I’m saying is that this line makes me feel slightly more confident that yes, Taylor is thinking along the wrong lines.

My bugs counted the people who’d exited the car and were heading through the storm drain.  A group.

Better hope it’s the right group.

“The others are coming in.  Your team and Regent.”

She smiled a little, but it was almost a sad expression.  Resigned.

Hm… alright? That’s certainly a reaction.

Also, sounds like Tattle’s staying back. That’s a shame, she’d be good to have here.

I felt my face heat up, and quickly turned my attention to the fabric of my old costume.  I used the roaches to arrange a patchwork on the floor, using the tattered scraps.  My spiders crawled from the terrariums to begin connecting the pieces.  It didn’t have to be pretty.

Practicality and function first. Classic Taylor.

“Really.  Ask.”

“Were you disabled because of your power?  A side effect, or something that happened in costume?”

I’m guessing no. I think it’s more likely it had to do with her trigger event, or that the trigger event had to do with a preexisting disability.

She shook her head.  “I’ve been in a chair since I was four.  No, if anything, it’s the other way around.”

Other way around?  My first thought was trigger event.  The second was, maybe that idea about people being stronger if they get their powers at a younger age is true after all.

Signs point to yes. Vista is quite powerful, Dinah is quite powerful, Bonesaw can seemingly bring the dead back to life (sort of), and now this?

There’s also another possibility: Cauldron. Perhaps Cauldron contacted a parent who was seeing her disability and seeking a way to help her, for example.

As I mentally categorized my musings, I felt them connect with a bunch of other thoughts.  Of the six Travelers, three were among the more powerful capes in Brockton Bay that I’d met.  In terms of sheer destructive effect, Sundancer and Ballistic were top-notch.  Genesis was top of the line in sheer utility and versatility, a combatant that could endlessly return to the battlefield with whatever form she wanted, provided that her real body was left unmolested.  Topping it off, Noelle was apparently
so powerful she had to be kept in quarantine.  Trickster was impressive, if not quite in the same class as his teammates, and I had no idea what Oliver was all about, since he didn’t have powers, as far as I knew.

If you’re going on the offensive, you’ve got good company.

I have previously theorized about the Travelers in general having Cauldron powers, and considering the sort of sheer effect and versatility we know they can provide thanks to Shatterbird, the overall power levels of the team being like this actually supports that idea.

Oh, and on top of the Travelers’ abilities being among the most powerful, you also have the highest-rated Master in town on your side. Well, the highest-rated resident Master – Cherish is probably higher-rated, if she’s rated at all, considering how effective her power is. And hey, depending on how thoroughly she intends to betray the Nine, you might have her on your side too.