“Sadly, no.  And he raises an interesting idea.”

“He’s going to run the second he gets a chance.”

Seems likely, yeah.

“There are options.  Tracking devices, or perhaps Myrddin can put some countermeasure in place.”

Why would Myrddin be the one to do it?

“I’m down for any of that stuff,” Madcap said, casting a sidelong glance at Battery.  He grinned, “But I want some concessions.”

Isn’t not going to the Birdcage enough?

“Concessions?  You asshole.  You should be glad that we’re even entertaining this asinine idea.”

“I think you’ll find them pretty reasonable,” Madcap said, more to Legend than Battery.

What is it he has in mind?

“Let’s hear it.”

“I think this would work best if I took on a new identity.  New costume.  My powers are versatile enough that I doubt anyone’s going to draw a connection.  It also means I don’t have any enemies or any paranoid customers from my shady past coming after me.”

Wouldn’t be the first time someone’s done that. He’s right, that seems reasonable enough.

“You’ve spent nearly six years perverting the course of justice for others,” she replied.

True.

“And now I can make amends!” They had removed his mask, but his real smile was almost more mocking than the one that had been styled into the mask.

I guess his costume was appropriate.

“You spent the last five and a half years getting people out of the Birdcage, claiming to be against it and everything it stood for, but now you’re willing to work to put people in there?”

Yeeah. I did say “if he can be trusted”, and I don’t really think he can.

“Maybe you’ve changed me.  Your good looks, your winning personality, and your diehard persistence in the face of so many defeats at my hand.”

Now that’s just taunting her.

Battery looked at Legend, “Don’t suppose we can gag him?”

Heh.

“Finally,” she said.

■

“I really don’t want to go to the Birdcage,” Madcap said.  He was covered in containment foam from shoulder to toe.

I love the irony of this. His entire career is based on others not wanting to go there.

“You’ve committed somewhere in the neighborhood of a hundred felonies,” Legend answered him.  “I don’t think you have many options.”

Yeeah.

It’s worth noting that at the present day, he’s either not in the Birdcage yet, or he got there before Interlude 6.

“Felonies, sure, but I haven’t killed anyone, and that’s got to be worth something.  Now, this is just a suggestion, but what if I switched sides?”

I suppose that did work for Shadow Stalker.

“Get real,” Battery replied.

“I’m serious, puppy.  You guys need more bodies on the field, I don’t want to go to the Birdcage, it’s win-win.  I’m strong.”

He has a point, as long as he can be trusted, though if it happens, Battery’s certainly not going to like it. Her entire reason for being a cape was to make Madcap and the people he freed face justice.

He turned on the spot, reaching out to block her strike or grab her.

But she didn’t give him the opportunity to do either.  Instead, she spent the rest of her accumulated power in a single burst, pulling at the metal of a nearby chair.  It fell over, sliding into Madcap’s path.  The metal legs caught on his own legs, one sliding just beneath his descending foot.  He stumbled.

Nice!

He exerted his power, causing the chair to crumple and explode before he stumbled any further and fell.

It’s very unclear to me what exactly Madcap’s power does.

She heard a brief chuckle from the man as he turned to make his escape.

Legend had taken advantage of that momentary delay to get in position.  He caught the villain with a laser blast.

Teamwork!

Madcap tumbled, got his feet under him and darted for cover.  A laser blast turned the corner to follow and smash the villain into the ground.  

Man, I love Legend’s power.

Legend shot him again while he was down, and the man was unconscious.

“Good job, Battery.”

…

Ohhhh.

Well I guess I fuckin’ got my wish! 😀

Took me long enough to catch on to that, but hey. I ain’t complaining.

Legend spoke with a smile.  “Finally, huh?”

VICTORY

So I guess this too is in the past, with Battery moving to Brockton Bay later.

“Battery!” Legend called out, “Stop him!”

Wait.

Why are Battery and Legend both here – and apparently Assault too, judging by my accident earlier? Where is here? Is Madcap so much of a priority that they called in capes from multiple local teams, including one of the Triumvirate?

She held on, concentrating.  She let a deep breath pass through her lips.

Sticking one foot out in front of him, Madcap changed directions, heading straight through the wall.  Plaster exploded around him.

Hey, Madcap, did you hear about this cool new invention the tinkers made? It’s called a “door”.

She released her power, and for just seconds, she was strong, she was almost invincible, and above all else, she was fast.  She ran forward, plunging through two walls in her pursuit.  Emerging from the second wall, she came within a few feet of Madcap.

Hey, Jamie, did you hear about this cool new inv

Calm.  She had to be calm, concentrate.  Even as she flew through the air, she let her power build up inside her, then released it.  With the half second of effect it gave her, she contorted herself to touch the wall with one foot, then lightly kicked it to turn herself toward the ground.

Ahh, so it operates in bursts, just like when she fell off the chair – each time she uses it she gets an effectively extended time within half a second or so, which amounts to increased movement speed and expanded perception of time. Whether it’s that or time actually extends from her perspective is just about impossible to tell.

She landed in a crouch, sliding from the inertia, and began charging up for another go.

How long does it take to charge? Seems like a few seconds at most.

Legend’s lasers tore into the spot where Madcap had been a half second ago.  The villain sprinted toward Jamie, moving faster with each step.

These powers are really quite well suited for a nemesis relationship. That’s probably not a coincidence.

She opened her eyes to see two villains, a male and a female standing nearby, with Madcap standing between her and them..

“She looks like a right morsel,” the man commented.

I hope he means that metaphorically.

“Not saying she doesn’t,” Madcap said, “But hands off.  You paid me to free you, and I can’t do that if you’re fucking around.”

That’s fair.

“Spoilsport,” the woman said, teasing.  “Come on.”

Then they were gone, and Jamie let her head rest on the pavement.

■

Better luck next time.

“My power didn’t work.  I was strong, and then I wasn’t.”

I assume this is still Jamie?

Did she think her power was plain super strength?

“There are going to be nuances,” the Doctor said.  “We could help you investigate the intricacies of your ability.  But that would cost you.”

Of course it would.

“Everything costs something, here.”

“I have another idea in mind.”

“Another idea?”

“Consider this your first favor to us.  Cauldron would be much obliged if you could join the ranks of the Wards, and then graduate to the Protectorate as soon as possible.”

Ooh, a bit of undercover work?

I guess this would be the NYC Wards and Protectorate, not Brockton Bay, so it’d take a while for Jamie to become relevant again, if she does.