Butchered Tech Ch. 2.2 (Unedited)

Butchered Tech

By: Bubbajack

Co-authors/Editors: Icysnowsage, First Hassan

Special consultant: Heliosion

Special thanks go out to my Super Patrons: Apostle_of_Darkness, Ben wanless, CrazymanDK, Jac, and Jareth Norris.

Ch.2-2: Divergent.

Kayden heard her doorbell ring and having just put Aster down for a nap, rushed to answer it. Looking through the peephole, she was surprised to see Taylor Hebert of all people standing outside of her apartment. ‘I gave her my office number, how did she find out where I live?’ She wondered, suspicion rising as she warrily opened the door, a smile plastered on her face. “Taylor, honey, this is an unexpected surprise! Keep it down okay, I just put Aster down for her nap.” She stage-whispered.

“Of course Miss Russel,” Taylor replied, before she asked, “May I come in? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about,”

Kayden nodded, “Of course,” she stepped aside and let the girl into her apartment. Taylor looked around. There was a nice leather couch with a TV to her right that had several game systems hooked up to it, and a kitchen covered by a half counter topped in white marble, cabinets above it along with shiny new appliances to her right. Straight ahead was a hallway that led to one of four rooms. One likely belonged to her infant daughter Aster the other to her adopted step-son Theo, a third was her room and a fourth was most likely a bathroom. The walls were painted a nice warm peach color, the place seemed warm and inviting.

“Go have a seat and I’ll bring you something,” Kayden called from the kitchen.

“Alright,” Taylor replied, undoing her coat and claiming a seat on the far end of the couch. Kayden came back in short order carrying a couple glasses of milk and two slices of apple pie on a tray.

“Do you even like apple pie? I guess I should’ve asked,” Kayden mused.

Taylor nodded, “I do, but I haven’t had it in awhile,” she replied as she accepted the plate putting the glass on the coffee table in front of the couch.

Sitting opposite of her Kayden asked, “So what brings you over Taylor? Was my assistant so rude you had to look up my address online?”

“No, I actually haven’t called about the job yet, though I probably should,” She said more to herself than her host. ‘If everything turns out well here, I might just do that,’ Taylor thought to herself as she took a bite of pie. It was good, but not as good as he mothers home recipe she made every Fourth of July she decided.

Kayden smiled at her reassuringly, “Are you going to call about the job? I’m actually really eager to work with you. Greg practically sings your praises, you know?”

Taylor smiled back doing her best to get her thoughts in order. She didn’t know how she should feel towards Kayden Russel. Angry, furious, sad, contempt, curious? Greg confessed to her yet he was already in a physical relationship with someone like Kayden. She was so confused. ‘Why am I even here, for revenge, confirmation, resolution? I mean, I know I don’t want to give up on Greg but how can I compete with her?’ Taylor wondered.

“Taylor, honey, is something wrong, you seem… off.” Kayden noted.

Setting her pie aside, Taylor fixed the older woman with her full attention and asked bluntly, “How long exactly Miss Russel, have you been sleeping with my boyfriend?”

To her credit, Kayden didn’t break out into sudden denial. She just blinked, calmly set her own dessert aside and said, “Since before he confessed to you. To be entirely frank Taylor I had to convince him to ask you out.”

“Wow, so I’m that undesirable? Thanks for confirming the fact!” Taylor snapped. “But why would Greg want me anyway, he already has you, and some other girl lined up for tomorrow!”

“Taylor, Taylor calm down. That’s not what I meant at all,” Kayden said. She empathized with the girl she truly did. There was nothing worse than feeling like you were coming in second or third place to someone else. She’d felt that way the entire time she was married to Max. Whether it was the memory of Heith, or how he doted on Fenja and Menja she didn’t feel like she could compare, it led to the collapse of their marriage.

“Then explain exactly what you meant! I have had it with being jerked around, put down, and treated like crap, and I am not going to take it anymore!” Taylor shot back, raising her voice to the point of yelling near the end.

Kayden tried to shush her for Aster’s sake, but it was fruitless. She briefly heard her child cry only for it to be cut off. She narrowed her eyes at the girl, suspicion flaring in them. “Taylor, did you just do something to my daughter?”

“I’m just keeping her preoccupied is all, it's nothing dangerous,” The girl replied, her voice unusually calm all of the sudden, “You were going to explain something very important right now weren’t you?”

“What,” Kayden asked, her voice frigid, “Did you do to my daughter?”

“Go look if you’d like,” Taylor replied, “It’s not harmful,” Her gaze flicked to Theo’s room, “Him though, I’m having a bit of a harder time with,”

Taking a breath, Kayden got up not taking her eyes off of her guest, Kayden backed towards the hallway. The first thing she did was check up on Aster. Pushing the door open, she was greeted by all manner of butterflies flying around the room keeping the infants attention. Aster giggled and coo’d as she watched the insects fly on the walls, laughing happily as a monarch butterfly landed on her nose before flying away as she tried to grab it. Letting out a sigh of relief, Kayden went and opened up Theo’s door.

If Aster’s room was a dreamscape, then Theo’s room was a nightmare. Every manner of creepy crawly was swarming over the boy nonstop. Spiders, cockroaches, flies, worms, moths, crickets, mosquitoes and even snails were crawling all over her adoptive son. He was staring at her with abject horror in his eyes silently pleading with her to help him with his gaze, terror rendering him paralyzed.

Theo glanced behind her, clearly inquiring after his little sister. Even in such a state, Theo’s first concern was Aster. Kayden found it truly admirable in a way. “Just stay calm Theo. Aster is fine. I have a… guest right now, and I don’t think she wants you interrupting our meeting. I’ll see if I can’t get her to get rid of her swarm. If I do, stay put, understand?” Theo jerkily nodded, too afraid to open his mouth lest the bugs swarm into it and down his throat.

Making her way back to the living room, Kayden demanded, “You can call the swarm off Theo, he won’t be bothering us… and I suppose I should thank you, for entertaining Aster.”

“It’s done, they're dispersing,” Taylor said after a moment. “And your welcome,” Looking Kayden in the eye, she continued, “You were saying?”

“I admit, I pushed Greg to confess to you, but that’s because well… we may live in a broadminded society but a young man hooking up with an older woman is still very much frowned upon,” Kayden explained.

“I heard him tell a friend of mine as much, but I wanted to hear it from you, what else is there though, there has to be more to it right?” Taylor pressed.

“Taylor honey, Greg’s self esteem is in the toilet,” Kayden admitted, “He doesn’t feel he deserves you, not after something happened to you that he could’ve stopped but didn’t. It haunts him.”

The brunette nodded, “That checks out too then,” Taylor then asked, “So where does that leave us? Are you his girlfriend and I a mistress or what?”

“Oh no, sweetie, I’m under no delusions here,” Kayden said shaking her head, “You are most certainly the girlfriend here,” She pointed at herself, “Me? I guess I’m Gregs sugar mama at the moment,”

“Because you caused him to Trigger when he saved your life, right?” Taylor asked.

“He told you?” She was surprised, she didn’t expect him to tell her that.

Taylor shook her head, “No, but I have my ways of spying on people,” she replied as a small swarm of flies circled around her head before they nested in her dark locks.

“I see,” Kayden replied, “So where does this leave us?”

Taylor pursed the lips of her wide mouth. “I guess I don’t really mind if you and Greg… you know, continue your physical relationship. I just wanted you to know, that I know. That I am in charge of this… whatever it is.” She glared at the older woman through her glasses as if daring her to contradict her.

“I think the proper term is polycule or polyamory, but the popular term is harem,” Kayden offered.

Taylor nodded, “Poly whatever then,”

“You go right ahead with being in charge sweetie, between running a business, and being a single mother of two, I don’t have time to manage Greg’s love life on top of everything else.”

Taylor suddenly deflated in relief. “Oh thank goodness, I thought I was going to have to fight you or something. I know I can’t even hold a candle to you in looks or anything, but I know I can take you in a fight. That doesn’t mean I want to hurt you though. You’ve been nothing but kind to me after all.”

Deciding now was not the best time to reveal she was also a Cape, and a Breaker at that, Kayden gingerly sat down next to the girl and said, “Come on now Taylor, you're not ugly or anything. You're a teenage girl. All girls your age feel awkward. Trust me, when I was your age I didn’t feel confident in my body either,” She motioned to the video game console. “In fact, I spent a lot of time playing games, a hobby I’m getting back into in my free time.”

“Oh,” Taylor said, surprised by the revelation that someone her age was a gamer, “I thought those might’ve been Theo’s.”

Kayden let out a little laugh, “Afraid not, though I do let him use them as long as he gets his homework done first, and doesn’t delete my save files,” Taylor laughed a bit, and Kayden decided to ask something that had been on her mind, “Taylor hon, have you talk to you mom and dad about the job offer?”

She grimaced, “My dad and I have been… distant since my mother died in a car crash three years ago now,” But she quickly amended, “It’s been getting better recently though!”

“Greg?” Kayden guessed.

“Greg,” Taylor admitted, “And again, I’m sorry for coming over here like this, and seemingly threatening your kids but hearing it second hand from Greg is one thing. I need to have you confirm it,”

She patted Taylors hand, “I understand,” Her grip briefly became vise-like, “If you ever threaten my children again however, no amount of bugs will keep you safe from me, do you understand me young lady?”

Taylor nodded, contritely, “Yes Kayden, again, I’m sorry.”

Kayden let go of her wrist and she couldn’t help but feel for the girl regardless of how this meeting started out, ‘I see so much of myself in her,’ she thought, ‘Got her powers young, is confused lost alone, I had my parents as a teen and she doesn’t even have her mother! Of all the times for someone to lose a mother it had to be in her teens, when they are needed most,’ Not that she blamed the woman of course, people died and it couldn’t be helped. But Taylor had no one to help her with her developing body at this age, the hormones and emotions, boys, and all other manner of things girls go through. Her father had been, until recently, absent emotionally. Even if he wasn’t, he could likely only do so much, being a man and all. So Kayden decided to offer the girl an olive branch of sorts, “Taylor, would you like to ask me any questions a girl would normally ask her mother at your age?”

“I-I mean uhm, that’s nice of you Kayden but I don’t know if I can do that,” Taylor mumbled out.

She nodded, “That’s fine, the offer is open in case you want to use it,”

Suddenly the front door to the apartment was kicked in and two masked men entered, guns drawn. One was wearing an old olive drab military helmet, lensed gasmask, and kevlar body armor under a leather duster jacket, with charcoal washed jeans and combat boots completing the look. He had a tinker pistol in one hand as he entered the apartment and was aiming around only to lower the weapon and go, “Oh, well… this is unexpected.”

“What is it kid? They kill each other?” An older gruffer voice asked before another person dressed in a dark suit with gloves on and a metal mask fit with iron teeth

“Greg, put that gun down before you hurt someone,” Kayden sighed.

Taylor looked back and forth between Kayden and the gasmask wearing cape. “Greg?” She asked after a moment.

“Hey Taylor,” He waved, “Is that apple pie?” he asked, his voice distorted by some kind of modulator.

“Why don’t you two sit down and I’ll fetch you a plate,” Kayden said after a moment.

Taking a seat on the couch nearest Taylor, Greg sat, glancing over he glanced over and saw her glaring at him with her arms crossed, her finger tapping on her arm. “Well,” she said after a moment, “I’m waiting for you to explain this,”

‘When did she get all confident?’ Greg wondered as he accepted a slice of pie from Kayden, ‘It’s kinda hot,’ Slowly chewing a bite of pie as he thought over his answer he finally said, “I thought you’d gone full yandere, so I came here to stop you along with my partner Baba Yaga,”

“You were going to shoot me with a tinkertech laser?” Taylor asked.

“It has a stun function, you know?” He defended, “I wasn’t gonna kill you Tay,”

Glowering, Taylor said, “It better have a stun function buster,” A pause before, “So Tinker huh?”

“Yep… Master?” He asked. “Bug manipulation? I figured it out at Fugly Bobs,” He answered the unasked question easily.

“Yep,” Taylor said at last. Before she glanced at the older man who was fixing the door using some kind of blue bubble that seemed to reverse the flow of time. “Time manipulation? Just who is this guy?”

“A friend of mine,” Greg replied hastily.

“Names John, I’m Gregs neighbor,” John said, taking his mask off after the door was fixed. “You nearly made him shit himself little lady,”

“Sorry sir,” Taylor replied.

“Don’t be, it was hilarious,” he said, smiling just a little bit.

“Screw you John,” Greg said before he took another bite of pie.

“All these women and your lusting after me too kid?” John joked, “Sorry but I’m not interested in you like that, even if you are pansexual,”

“Even if I was, and I’m not, I don’t mix my business and personal lives,” Greg replied.

John accepted a drink and slice of America on a plate as he did his best Dr. Evil impression as he responded dubiously, “Right,”

(...)

Once the desert was finished Greg had no real way of stalling any longer. He cleared his throat, “So… where do you want me to start?” He asked Taylor point blank.

Fixing her glasses, Taylor replied, “How about the fact that you worked for a year to replace my mother’s flute, Greg?”

“Ah… crap,” He said, “How’d you find out about that?” Before she could answer he asked, “I didn’t leave the receipt in the bag did I? Could’a sworn I took that out,”

“You didn’t,” Taylor assured him, “No I made up with the rest of Emma’s family and her dad let me know how much you must’ve worked to get it… Have you had a crush on me for a long time Greg?”

“Well duh,” He replied, “I didn’t just wake up one day and think, hey I think I’ll replace a family heirloom of this random girl just for the hell of it,” His response earned him a slap on the arm. “I am being abused!”

“Your being reprimanded for being an idiot,” John corrected him, “There’s a difference,”

Taylor nodded, “Exactly, thank you sir,”

John grunted noncommittally before he raised the mug Kayden had given him earlier. “More coffee?” He asked hopefully.

“You did a good job on that door,” Kayden replied, as she poured his cup she muttered, “You think it’ll work out between those two?”

John glanced at them, they were talking in hushed tones themselves, but their body language wasn’t hostile, just guarded. “They’ll be fine,” he said after a moment.

‘Guys help!’ Greg begged. ‘I have no idea what I’m doing!’

“Clearly,” Vader commented, “I was raised as a slave… by a single mother… and I have more aptitude with women… than you do padawan,”

‘Less snarking, more helping!’ Greg shot back.

“Look partner,” Dell began, “All ya gotta do is be honest wit her, that’s all she really wants,”

“Ignore him, he don't know shite about wimmenfolk mate,” Flynt butted in, “Lie, lie like your life depends on it, cause it does. Women don’t want the truth! In fact it's the last thing they want. You tell a woman the truth and you may as well cut your balls off and hand them to her,” He advised, “The moment you act vulnerable around a woman, they’ll smell weakness like a skag will fresh meat. This. Is. Why. We. Lie!”

‘Ladies?’ Greg asked hoping they’d be more helpful than everyone else thus far.

Yahana piped up, “Honesty is nice but women want a man to be their rock. Dependable, reliable, and all that jazz. So be honest yes, but not so honest that you seem like a wimp,”

“I dunno it always felt like a team effort between me and Garus,”

‘Doc, translation?’ He asked.

He heard Dr. Halsey sigh before she explained, “What they are all trying to say, Greggory dear, is that you can be honest with Taylor, but you need to let her know you are still dependable and can be relied on to be there for her like you have been doing. You’ve done excellent by her so far by the way. So just keep doing what you're doing dear,”

‘Oh, well I can do that. Thanks Halsey,’ He thought relieved, ‘Why does it always take an AI expert for any of you to make a lick of sense?’ He asked no one in particular.

“Greg,” Taylor asked, getting his attention, “Is everything okay? You spaced out for a second there,”

“You were talking to your tenants weren’t you Greg?” Kayden asked.

“Tenants?” Taylor asked.

Greg sighed, “Yeah, my power is kinda… basically Butcherlite?” Seeing Taylor sit ramrod straight as she stared at him with wide eyes and mouth agape, he quickly explained, “I’m not being driven crazy or anything but I’ve got other people, inventors, scientists, and Tinkers in here.” He tapped his head for emphasis. “They’re the ones with all the schematics and knowhow, I just do the manual labor, at least that’s what it feels like a lot of the time,”

“You sell yourself too short,” Vader chastised, “You are skilled in your own right, or nothing we tried to teach you would stick regardless.”

“He’s right dear,” Dr. Halsey added, “You have a natural knack for instruction,’

“So I’m a good little drone who can follow orders yippie…” Greg drawled.

“Did they just say something… no wait, who is in your head? That’s much more important.” Taylor decided.

Greg tried to play it off, “No one major, just Jack Ryan, Dell Conagher, Zane Flynt, Commander Janet Shepard, Belisarius Cawl, Courier Six, Dr. Catherine Hasley, and Darth Vader.”

“Darth Vader… the Sith Lord?”

‘Ah crap, she noticed,’ He thought. ‘Now what?’

“He’s an amazing Tinker!” She continued, before she shyly asked, “Does he know how to make a certain astromech droid?”

“I could recreate R2D2 physically, but perfectly replicating his personality matrix would be the hard part,” Vader commented, “It’s not like with C3P0 whom I built from scratch,”

Relaying as much to her, Taylor frowned, “That sucks, I mean C3P0 is nice but R2 had heart. Of course the fact he could make a droid that understands more than three hundred languages at the age of nine with limited resources is impressive,”

“Thank you,”

“He says he’s flattered to meet a fan,” Greg replied.

“Don’t make me come out there,” Vader threatened, “I’ll do to you what I do to all those that displease me,”

‘How many of them said “harder daddy” before they died with an erection?’ Greg asked.

“More than I would like honestly. There some things even the darkside shivers at,” spoke Vader

“That is wrong on so many levels compadre,” Dell said gagging a little after he spoke.

“Greg,” Taylor called, “You were out of it again… what were they saying?”

“Vader threatened me, I asked him how many people died of auto-erotic asphyxiation, he said way more than he would’ve liked, and we agreed it was pretty fucked up,” He summerized for her.

“Greg, stop taunting the master lightsaber duelist and prolific jedi killer,” Taylor demanded.

“Yes dear… hardly been in a relationship a day and already won’t let me do anything fun,” He said with an overly dramatic sigh.

“Ah! That reminds me!” Taylor said, “Yes,”

“Yes?” Greg parroted questioningly,

Taylor nodded, “Yes, I will be your girlfriend, officially I mean.”

“Oh… OH Wow, that’s… that’s great!” Greg said, beaming from ear to ear before he hugged her. “I promise, I’m gonna be the best boyfriend I can be Tay,”

Gingerly wrapping her arms around him, Taylor never thought she’d be asked to go out with anyone, or that agreeing would make them so happy, but seeing Greg's face light up like that, all she could think was, ‘Worth it!’ It also went a long way to make her feeling special and wanted as well. “I think your doing a great job so far Greg… but we do need to discuss some things first,”

“Lisa?” He guessed sitting back down.

“Lisa, yes,” Taylor nodded. “Who is she, how did you meet, what’s she like, and does she know about me and Kayden?”

“She’s some girl I met out on the Docks one night when I went clam fishing… It's a long story, but the cliff notes version is, "I broke a priceless heirloom of my moms to make these bad boys,” He pulled out a blaster and flipped it into its lightsaber configuration before igniting it with a snap-hiss.

“You made an actual lightsaber… Can I hold it?”

“Why does everyone wanna hold my saber? I mean, I get it, it's big and thick, but why do all the women wanna hold it for themselves?”

“Greg!” Taylor said, flushing, before she looked at Kayden and asked, “Is he lying?”

Smirking like the cat that got the cream, Kayden replied, “Ask yourself Taylor, do you really want me to spoil the surprise for you?”

“No,” She said after a moment of indecision.

“Glad I’m not you kid,” John said into the silence, “All this talk and stuff isn’t my thing,”

“I know you're a man of action John, you're probably bored to tears right now,” Greg said apologetically.

“No,” He denied, “Watching you fumble around like this is like watching the soaps with Hellen,”

Glaring at him, he deadpanned, “Gee thanks buddy, so glad I can keep you entertained,”

“Keep it up kid and I just might hide cameras everywhere and Trueman Show your ass. This is comedy gold,”

“This. This is my intergenerational friend? Why, world?” Greg asked no one in particular as he stared at the ceiling.

“Because someone competent that isn’t a robot needs to watch your back?” John replied.

“You're already making war droids?! So cool!” Taylor said.

“Tay, you wanted to know about Lisa, remember?” Her blonde beau reminded her.

She nodded, “Right, so you met her on the pier… when?”

“Well I was just coming out of the Bay in swim trunks…” Greg began when Taylor cut him off by yelling.

“You Baywatched her?!”

Greg blinked, “How do you know about Baywatch?”

“David Hasslehoff was a celebrity crush of my mom’s so I saw Baywatch plenty growing up and… yeah,” Taylor admitted, before shaking her head, “God no wonder she wanted your number, you probably came out of the Bay soaking wet and glistening didn’t you?” She accused him.

“I’m sorry that water is wet?” Greg said confused at just what exactly he was apologizing for.

‘Boy’s,’ She thought, ‘They just don’t get it,’  shaking her head and causing her ebony locks to flail about, she continued, “So what’s she like?”

“Lisa… from what little she’s told me she’s bibliophile, lives in an apartment with some roommates and has a job that doesn’t let her get out all that much. This was going to be our first date and we were going to meet up at a cafe and talk about books and stuff,” Greg replied, before laying all his cards on the table, “Look, do you just wanna meet her and just vet her yourself? I don’t mind,”

Taylor paused, “I… might,” She said at last.

“Cool glad we cleared that up,” Greg said, “Any other questions or concerns that need to be handled at present?”

“I’d like to put forward a motion for a superhero team up,” Taylor said, going with his official meeting jive he had going on.

“Motion seconded,” He agreed, “All opposed?” He looked at John and Kayden who said nothing, “Motion passes,” John cleared his throat. “The representative from the USSR has the floor,”

John punched him in the arm on his way passed, “From Russia with love, asshole,” He said before he continued, “If we’re gonna do this, we’ll do it right. Do you know how to fight at all?” Seeing the girl shake her head, “Exercise routine?”

“I’ve been going for morning runs everyday for the past month, sir.”

“Something at least,” He muttered before he motioned for her to stand and he held out a palm. “Hit me, hard as you can, it doesn’t matter how, just do it,”

Taylor took a boxer stance she saw on tv and threw a jab as hard as she could making sure to put her weight into the punch.

“Not bad, you have potential at least,” John said at last. “Meet me at the brick warehouse near the Dock Workers Union later, I’ll get you started on the basics while I show the kid some advanced moves,”

“Wait, you bought out the old warehouse? My dad’s been moaping for days that someone bought it out from under them… and then today he said a Tinker sold them some easy to maintain tech… Greg, did you?”

“Guilty as charged?” He admitted, he let out a squawk as Taylor all but threw herself at him and smothered him as she tried to crush the air out of his lungs as she pelted his face with kisses.

“You amazing glorious stupid genius hunk of a man!” She said between pecks. “Do you have  any idea what it was like to see my dad smiling ear to ear when he came home today and took me to buy a cellphone of all things?!” She kissed him again, this time lightly on the lips as she continued, “I haven’t seen him that happy since mom passed, he had light in his eyes again,” Another kiss, “Are you my own personal guardian angel or something?”

“No, just… I’m just trying to help?” He replied surprised at her sudden display of affection. He didn’t expect Taylor to be like this, not that he was complaining or anything. “Down girl, before Kayden feels the need to spray you with a hose,”

Taylor leapt back like Greg had spontaneously caught fire. Her cheeks blazing crimson, she ‘meeped’, and said, “S-Sorry Kayden I-I… Sorry!”

The older woman just laughed, “Taylor if you hadn’t done that after everything this boy has done for you, I’d think something is seriously wrong with you,” She continued, “I guess I’d be down for this team up thing too provided I can find a sitter for Aster.”

Taylor blinked, “Wait, you're a Cape too?”

In response Kayden shifted into her Breaker state and back again.

Taylor paled, “I threatened a living laser woman with bugs… bugs…”

“If it makes you feel any better, you did a good job of scaring the shit out of Theo I think,” Kayden supplied, “But yes your power while versatile isn’t very effective on me,”

“Thanks mom!” Theo called from his room.

“Oh shoot he heard me,'' Kayden said embarrassed.

“Tell that creepy bug girl that I’m pretty sure I’m traumatized now thanks to her… and tell your boy toy he has an odd taste in friends!”

“Come tell me yourself!” Greg yelled back, before adding, “Now Theo I may not be your father, but as your new step-daddy I would like a certain degree of… Oh God, I can’t do it!” Greg said before he burst out laughing.

The slightly pudgy blonde boy came out into the foyer, “My sister could’ve gotten hurt you ass!”

“Taylor?” Greg questioned.

“I made sure to send only butterflies into her room to keep her amused,” She replied.

“And him?” Greg questioned.

Looking away the entomomancer admitted, “Him I sent everything else I’d picked up on my way over here,” Taylor  continued by saying, “There was… a lot.”

Theo deadpanned, “I will likely never look at even an ant the same way again… and I blame you,”

“Sorry, I just didn’t want you coming out here and interrupting our talk,” Taylor replied contritely with genuine remorse.

“Stupid headache,” Theo grumbled as he went into the kitchen.

“Are you okay Sport?” Greg called.

“Will you stop it with the stepdad routine, it’s creepy!” Theo called back. “And I’m fine, I just freaked out so much about the bugs it made my head hurt.” He reached for the cupboard where the medicine was kept, only for a small nimbus of light, like that of a firefly, to pop out from the tip of his finger. When it touched the wood cabinet, it exploded leaving a scorch mark like it had been touched by a lighter.

“Theo… did you…?” Kayden questioned.

“Holy shit… the kid’s a literal firefly!” Greg said.

Taylor covered her mouth in shock. She had just caused someone else to Trigger. That meant she was no better than the Trio… she felt the urge to vomit up her half-eaten apple pie.

“Stop!” Greg said forcefully, taking her face and making her focus on him, “You did not do this out of malicious intent, Taylor. You are not a monster. You didn’t have any of your bugs bite him did you? Did you? He said again when she didn’t answer. When she shook her head, Greg continued, “You didn’t do it on purpose, you were just trying to keep the kid confined to his room, you are nothing like the Trio, okay?”

“You sure?” She asked in a quiet voice, as she held her knees and rocked in place, even as she kept her gaze fixed on his.

“Yeah of course I’m sure,” Greg assured her, “Do you think I could fall in love with someone who was even remotely like the Trio?” He took a knee in front of her and placed a hand on her arm. “You, Taylor Anne Hebert aren’t evil. Utilitarian? Maybe but not evil,”

“How do you figure I’m Utilitarian?” She asked.

He smiled, “Sorry, can't give away all my secrets yet. You’ll just have to trust me on this one,” He then stood and offered her his hand, “Now whaddaya say we get outta here? I think we’ve done enough chatting for now, and we could both use some fresh air,”

Taylor put her hand in his, hoping it would be alright like he said. But, he hadn’t been wrong yet, so why doubt her guardian angel now? “Okay,” she agreed. Taylor turned to Kayden and Theo, “I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused today,” Focusing on Theo she said, “I won’t blame you, if you want to hate me,”

“I don’t hate you just…” He shivered, rubbing his arms, “Keep your bugs to yourself from now on alright?”

“Right,” she agreed, “I guess I’ll see you later John?”

“If you want kid,” the mercenary replied, “Take a day or two if you need, there’s no rush,”

“Right,” she said again, as she was led out of the Russel residence by her boyfriend in a half-daze.

“Think she’ll be alright?” Kayden asked. After the pair were gone.

“I think so,” John agreed, “The real question is, what’re we gonna do about you?” He said looking at Theo who had just taken a hard gulp as the man fixed his gaze on him.

Humming in thought, Kayden finally asked, “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to teach a couple more would you, John?”

‘What did that blonde asshole get me roped into?’ Theo asked himself.

(...)

Greg felt a sense of joy and excitement in his chest. HE GOT A GIRLFRIEND!

It was the girl he was crushing on too! Now he just needed to make sure that the minefield called his life doesn’t explode on him.

“Well can’t be any worse than Spy. He has quite the long list of paramores and kids. If he can do it so can you kid so chin up,” encouraged Dell as he popped a cold one and watched his newest sitcom called Greg.

“I gotta hear some of these war stories of yours man. Sounds hilarious ,” joked Flynt.

“Wait till I tell you about the baboon heart surgery. Now that was hilarious!” laughed Dell.

The other mentors in the didn’t voice it but they too were interested in how a Baboon heart surgery would have gone.

Ignoring the chatter in his head, Greg fixed his eyes forward at their destination. A cozy little cafe and bookstore called Morella, named after one of Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories. It was a strange store. As odd as its proprietor Eddie.

“Don’t freak out when you meet Eddie, okay?” Greg whispered to Taylor as he entered through the front door to find the place dimly lit by reading lamps, various nooks and couches were spread about and people were sitting around drinking various things while reading some book or another.

As the approached a bar up front, a hologram that looked remarkably like Edgar Allan Poe sprang to life behind the bar. “Ah, Mister Veder back again I see,” The hologram looked at Taylor, “And with a lady friend no less, I see.”

The boy greeted the construct, “Hey Eddie, how’s business been?”

“Well thank you for asking,” Eddie replied in a dry tone, “And yourself? I suppose you’ve been keeping busy since I haven’t seen you around lately Mister Veder,”

Greg wiggled his hand in front of him, “A little bit here and there,” He continued, “I’d like to rent a private room for three under my name. I might be waiting for a third person, one Lisa Wilborn? Tall blonde, green eyes freckles seen her around here?”

The hologram’s eyes gleamed knowingly, “Ah yes, quite the esoteric that one, reading everything from nonfiction to blueprints on city buildings. She is already here, I shall notify her that you are requesting her presence in the Nevermore Suite,”

Greg went bug-eyed, “I dunno if I can afford the Nevermore Suite big guy,”

“It is on the house, as they say,” Eddie replied with a wave of a fake hand, “You helped me when I needed it, I am merely returning the favor,” he said as a raven headed key popped up from a compartment in the bar.

Picking up the key Greg said, “Thanks man,”

“Not at all,” He replied before shooing him off. “And you’d better clean up after yourselves… you humans get your bodily fluids… everywhere when you get excited. Eugh!”

Making his way towards a staircase on the second floor, Taylor asked, “How is an AI running a bookstore, and how do you know him? He says he owes you?”

“It’s a long story,” Greg said, “And I’ve got a feeling Lisa would want to know it too so would you mind if I waited till we meet up?”

Taylor nodded, “Okay,” She was anxious to meet Lisa. His description of her made her sound conventionally pretty, but if Kayden couldn’t lure him away from her, then she didn’t really have much to worry about now did she? She knew it was the depression talking but she couldn’t just make it go away like snapping her fingers. ‘But I have Greg, that’s something,’

They arrived at a door with a sculpted raven, its wings outstretched over the door. Puting the key in the lock, Greg turned the key and the eyes of the raven lit up crimson, before they scanned the boy. And the keyhole flipped in revealing a fingerprint scanner. Placing his thumb, the raven's briefly eyes flashed green before the door unlocked with an audible click.

Pushing the door open, Greg motioned to her, “Shall we?”

She walked into the room, followed by Greg, and for a moment they couldn’t see anything, then the lights came on seemingly via movement sensors, revealing the room in all its splendor. Wooden floors were lit by lamps, showing the back wall consisted of shelves stacked with books, in front of which was a soft cream colored couch, to the left was a high window with a window seat, and on the right was a stone fireplace surrounded by a trio of overstuffed  armchairs.

Taylor spun on her heel talking the whole room in, that’s how she noticed the artwork on the wall they entered. On the left was a portrait of Edgar Allan Poe, above the door was a picture of a raven, and to the right was another portrait of HP Lovecraft though he had tentacles shooting out of the left side of his face. “He sure likes his horror novelists doesn’t he?”

Greg grinned ruefully, “That’s my fault actually. The first books I told him about were Nevermore and Shadow over Innsmouth and he’s been a fan of those two ever since,”

“Did I hear you properly Greg? Did you say you introduced Eddie to horror novels?”

Greg’s head snapped to the entrance to the room, he knew that voice even though he’d only heard it once.

Lisa had arrived.

(...)

Sarah didn’t know what she was expecting, setting up the date at Montella’s but she hadn’t expected Greg to rent out the Nevermore Suite. More than that, she hadn’t expected him to bring a friend. Her power started feeding her information the moment she laid eyes on her from her ability to cold read.

‘Girl is emotionally fragile, has poor, almost non-existent self-esteem. The Abomination is a Living Emotional Crutch… Similarities to Reggie Livsley are uncanny,’

‘Shut up or I’ll force you to read Greg again!’ she snarled at her power.

“Gods… please no…!” It begged.

‘Then shut up!’ She snapped at her power, ‘The girl was unexpected but fine, what else can you tell me?’

‘…’ The power was silent,

‘Well?’ she asked after a moment.

“You told me to shut up?”

‘Do you want me to drive you insane? If not, then do your job!’ Sarah growled at her petulant power.

“She’s possessive of Greg, but not so possessive she wants to keep him for herself. Is here to vet you for some… polycule.”

Sarah blinked, she didn’t expect that, but you know what? It sounded crazy, unconventional and a bit fun. She glanced down at her outfit, She was wearing a black shawl over a simple little spaghetti strap black dress, mary janes and black opera gloves. Rebbeca tried to get her to show off more skin but that just wasn’t her. She may have run away from home but she still dressed conservatively. Her hair was tied into a short braid and she looked good if she did say so herself.

“You look great Lisa… I feel completely underdressed.” Greg complimented. Having worn a red bomber jacket over a charcoal shirt, dark jeans and red and black sneakers.

“You, how do you think I feel?” The other girl muttered,” she was wearing jeans and a black sweater that she seemed to be trying to hide in.

“You both look nice,” Sarah complimented, before she held out a hand to the girl. “Lisa Wilborn and you are?”

“Taylor, Taylor Hebert,” she said, shaking her hand.

“Her father runs the DWA, and she is possibly being bullied.” Her power supplied.

Sarah filed the DWA bit away for later, and then motioned to the couch, “Shall we sit down?”

“Sure,” Greg said before asking, “Do you want me to order drinks?”

Sarah smiled at Greg, “You're going all out to impress me aren’t you Greg? Is that how you caught Taylor’s eye too?”

Greg blinked, “That obvious huh?”

She gave him a vulpine grin, “In a woman's intuition kinda way,” She winked at Taylor, “So how's my audition going so far Emperor Palpatine? Do I get to join the darkside?”

“Maybe,” Taylor said after a moment,

“Maybe’s not a no,” She sang happily as she took a menu off the table in front of the couch. “Ooh I want a peach mango smoothie, please and thank you.”

“Peach tea please,”

“Since I’m sensing a theme here, I’m getting a thing of peach cobbler ala mode to share and I think I’ll try that peach mango smoothie too since it wasn’t on the menu last time I was here,” Greg decided.

“Sounds good… so Greg how do you know Eddie?” Taylor asked, “You said you’d explain once Lisa got here, and now she’s here.”

“Well it's not a long story or anything, I bought some stuff online that was fished up from Newfoundland after it sank. One of which was a waterlogged computer and some other junk. Figured if worse comes to worse I can sell it for scrap if I can’t fix it. Well, I manage to get the computer working and lo and behold what do I find on it but Eddie. I guess there was an AI Tinker in Newfoundland before it got sunk and I got his computer. Eddie was his latest creation, with a simple yet dangerous purpose. Gather information.”

Both girls gulped, knowing how information was power in the world. The names of Capes identities, powers and how they worked. ICBM launch codes, all of that could be considered information to be gathered. Lisa stopped herself from salivating at the prospect and asked the obvious question, “So how did he go from being stuck in a computer to managing a bookstore?”

“Well, that’s where this gets really interesting. See, I didn’t really know what to do with Eddie, but I felt if I handed him over to the Protectorate, they’d scrap him. So I decided a life in semi anonymity would be better for him. But in order to do that I’d need the help of a non-Protectorate affiliated Tinker, and there’s only one in town.”

“Leet? You went to Uber and Leet?” Lisa asked putting the pieces together quicker than Taylor did.

Greg shrugged as he placed their orders with a pad provided. “It worked, and amazingly nothing Leet built for Eddie has malfunctioned… at least to the point of blowing up,” Greg amended upon seeing the girl's dubious looks.

“So whose idea was the book store owner?” Taylor asked. She had some knowledge of books, her mother having been a college english teacher, it came with her profession.

“Mine, I wanted him to remain innocuous you know, and since people get most of their info off the internet these days…” He finished by trailing off.

“Not many would visit a bookstore which lets him fulfill his primary purpose of collecting information, but also be semi-hidden.” Lisa agreed, “Clever,” She carried on asking, “Does he have any restrictions on information he can’t access?”

“Well, he didn’t when I met him, but he and I agreed to put one in place, and before you ask no Lisa, I’m not telling you the override code. Not that you’d be able to guess it anyway,”

She cocked an eyebrow as she grinned, “Is that a challenge Greg?”

Her fellow blonde shook his head, “No, it's just something so stupidly obscure, no one would think its the code,”

Lisa stared at him for a moment before she replied, “Your serious,”

“Yep,”

Sarah pursed her lips. “Don’t be surprised if I figure it out Greg, I’m good a deductive reasoning,”

“We’ll see,”

The pad on the table beeped, “Ah our food is ready, I’ll go get it and be right back,” Greg excused himself, but not before saying, “Try not to kill each other while I’m gone please?”

After he’d left, Lisa turned to Taylor and asked, “In all seriousness, how am I doing so far?”

“I think your nice,” Taylor admitted after a moment. “In your own way,”

“I like you too Tay! Can I call you Tay?”

“Umm, Sure?” The brunette agreed with only minor hesitation. “But do you mind if I ask what it was about Greg you like so much anyway? Was it just love at first sight since he Baywatched you or…?”

Sarah considered lying, it had almost become as innate as breathing to her but she didn’t want to do that. Not with Taylor whose situation reminded her painfully of Reggie’s and not to Greg either. She rather found them both to be pleasant company. So she decided to be honest. “You know what a Thinker is, right Taylor?” The girl stiffened but nodded, and she continued, “I unfortunately am one of those. But my power? To put it gently, suck balls. It tells me all kinds of things about people… to the point that it makes having a relationship impossible… Or, that was the case, until I met Greg.”

“Your power doesn’t work on him,” She realized. “That’s why you tried so hard to get his number,”

Lisa hissed through her teeth, “Oof, did I come on that strong? I hope he doesn’t think I’m weird or desperate, or easy. All three would be-” She gave herself a shake, “Anyway yes, Greg is pretty much the only man I’ve found that I can date Taylor. So polycule, harem, fuck buddy BDSM playmate, whatever this is, sign me the fuck up… please?” There was a hint of desperation in that final word.

Taylor took a breath, she didn’t hate Lisa, but she also didn’t know her enough to trust her with Greg… yet that desperate plea. ‘Can I really just ignore someone when they're begging like that? When I’ve begged like that and no one (but Greg) has helped me?’ She came to a decision, “I’ll give you a chance, but… don’t hurt him, he’s… we’re both…”

“A lot more fragile than you look?” Lisa gently supplied putting a comforting hand on her arm. “I know, Thinker, remember?”

“Yeah,” Taylor finished with a sigh, just as the door opened and Greg poked his head in.

“Well this is good, you haven’t painted the room in each others blood, that would be the worst option,” He said opening the door fully and coming inside holding a tray that had two smoothies a tea kettle, cup, and a still steaming bowl full of peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream slowly melting on top.

Grinning vulpinely, Lisa asked, “What would be the best option Greg?”

“The two of you naked, sweaty, and on top of each other begging me to join you,” Greg said straight faced, a slight daze in his eyes.

“Greg!” Taylor chastised flushing as Lisa just cackled.

“Maybe after we get to know each other a little better, right Tay?” She said, giving the other girl a wink.

“Lisa?!” Taylor said her neck almost snapping her head turned to the other girl so quickly.

“So, who's on top in this little fantasy of yours?” Lisa asked as she took her smoothie and portion of cobbler.

“Taylor, because you look comfy mainly.”

The brunette shook her head, “You're both terrible,” As she poured her tea, she snuck a couple of glances at the other girl’s figure. She did look comfy she supposed, more so than herself. Shaking away the thought, she added, “Terrible influences,”

(...)

After they had eaten, Taylor went out of her way to steer the conversation well away from Greg’s sexual fantasies by asking, “So Lisa, what kind of books do you like to read?”

“Murder mysteries mostly, I find myself getting enamored with the plot of the villain and more often than not, empathizing with the victims. Since usually, they didn’t do anything wrong and are just victims of circumstance.” She looked Greg directly in the eye as she said this.

“Oh yeah?” He replied, “What about the Count of Monte Cristo?”

“I do love that book, it's about a man overcoming his own problems after all,” Lisa commented. “Though sometimes all some of us can do is wait and hope,”

“Is that right?” Greg askes, “Well a favorite of mine is Moby Dick. Melville wrote a good book that went underappreciated when he was alive, but even I admit, the ending with Ishmel dying was a bit much.”

Lisa nodded, “Yeah it was but it felt… appropriate I suppose.”

Taylor frowned; this didn’t feel right. The books they were talking about, it felt wrong. But she put her finger on why exactly. ‘If mom was here, she’d know right away,’ she thought.

“What about you Taylor?” Greg asked, “What’re your favorite books?”

“Alice in Wonderland, and the Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm I suppose.”

“You like it twisted and dark huh? You don’t seem like the type to me, no offense meant,” Lisa commented.

Taylor shook her head, “None taken and no, the point of Fairy Tales was to teach kids life lessons in an understandable manner. While I adore Disney's animated tales, they took the fear out of them. Which, I believe, was the whole point in the first place? Like, take the Little Mermaid for example. She commits suicide by turning into sea foam, the moral of the story is to be thankful for what you have. None of that comes across in the Disney adaptation though.”

“The Little Mermaid has multiple interpretations but I see what you mean,” Greg agreed before he looked at his watch. Noticing the time he said, “It’s starting to get late and it's a school night, we should probably end things here,”

Lisa grinned but it was warm and not at all mocking, “Well, look at you being all responsible. Careful Greg, lots of women find that to be… irresistible in a man,” She said while giving him a hungry look.

“Why do you always attract the crazy ones Greg?” Taylor asked him, making Lisa laugh.

“I dunno Taylor, why do I?” He rebutted while looking right at her.

“Taylor Hebert may exhibit Yandere-like tendencies if pushed too far,” Lisa’s power informed her.

‘Good to know I’ve got a protective new BFF,’ She thought as she offered the blonde a hand, “Greg its been a great evening I hope we can do it again sometime soon?”

He nodded and kissed the back of her palm. “Pleasure is all mine, It’s not often I get to talk with a fellow intellectual… barring Taylor of course,”

“Nice save,” Both girls said at the same time.

“Thank you, thank you,” he replied, giving a foppish bow. “Now you’ve got my number Lisa, but I work at Fitzy’s Music and More three days a week in the afternoon. I’ll be there tomorrow, Monday, and Wednesday if you ever wanna come in and talk shop alright?”

She nodded smiling, “Right, I might just do that Greg, pleasure to meet you too Taylor. Think I can get your number so we can hang out sometime? You know, go shopping or something?”

“Uh sure, hang on a sec. I just got this thing yesterday, so I’m still trying to figure everything out,” Taylor replied, pulling out a simple old model smartphone in a black rubber protective case.

“May I?” Lisa asked, holding a hand out for the phone. Handing it over Taylor watched the blonde do a lot of… something, before putting her number in and handing it back. “There you go, I got rid of all the annoying background software they installed, set up an encryption for your calls, blacklisted you to all known telemarketers… oh and if you search the web on this thing It’ll use DuckDuckGo because Bing and other search engines sell your search history and sign you up to a bunch of crappy email services.”

“Wow… thanks Lisa,” Taylor said, impressed.

“Care to do that for me too?” Greg asked, holding his phone out.

Giving him a mock glare, Lisa said, “Your lucky your cute Greg,”

(...)

The V12 engine roared in the back of the glycerine fuel injected lift-kit enhanced Jeep, which was painted rouge red with pink flames, a grenade launcher swiveling aimlessly in the back. It rolled down a street of seemingly abandoned buildings yet had the driver bothered to peer left or right at all at the boarded up windows she might’ve noticed eyes peering out of the shadows the boards created.

Moxie noticed none of this however. Her aim was the bar at this dead section of Brockton Bay. It was nondescript, painted a dull gray, with the rust from the bars on the windows staining the paint. ‘This place is supposed to help my sister somehow?’ She thought dubiously. She put her behemoth of a car in park and reached in the glove compartment, pulling out a couple of golden coins that a mysterious man had given her. She looked at her sister. Sherril had been pretty, beautiful once, but years of hard drug use had taken away her looks. Now her face was sunken, eyes bloodshot, and her teeth, those she still had anyway, were black. Putting a hand on her sister's shoulder she said “Ready for this sis?”

“Mffph Moo!” Sherril was none too happy after going a couple of days without a hit and tried to escape… violently. Moxie had responded by binding her with a straightjacket made of seatbelts and a gag of Ellie’s underwear… washed thankfully. Placing the coins safely in her bra, Moxie unhooked her sister's seatbelt and dragged her out of the souped up Jeep and towards the entrance of the dingy looking dive bar, as she kicked all the way. Thankfully, she was unable to scream as she dragged her through the doors.

The place was just as dreary inside as outside. Bland green tablecloths and drapes covered the windows, and the rough wooden floor was stained the same color as the bar she was headed towards. Pulling her sister up to the bartender who was watching her all while cleaning a glass, Moxie reached into her bra and flicked the golden coin onto the counter top saying, “I was told you could help me if I gave you this?”

The Bartender silently stared at the coin as it lay flat on the bar top for a moment before he reached below it and came back up with two  sleek Ipads. Pressing one towards her she saw a chat screen was up and he was typing away while smiling, “Welcome to Somer’s Rock, what can I do for you today, valued customer?”

“My sister,” Moxie grabbed Sherril as she tried to bolt. “Needs to detox from some bad drugs. Can you help her?”

She noticed the man intently watching her lips as she spoke, before he typed, “Yes we can do that. Please follow me,” He turned and took a couple steps to the side before pulling open a hatch he was standing on and motioned for her to follow him behind the bar.

Doing so with some trepidation, Moxie found the passageway lit by lights tacked to the walls leading down the stairs.

The pad dinged causing her to glance at it. “Please wait and my brother Bruno shall come fetch your sister presently,”

Large footfalls coming up the steps could be heard and a rather large man with a square jaw an a bent nose came up the steps.

“Bruno I presume?” Moxie asked.

He nodded and without saying a word, picked her sister up in a bridal carry and proceeded to walk downstairs with moxie herself taking the tablet and following in his wake.

The area beneath the pub was a vast cavern network. One that might’ve been smugglers' tunnels at one point but that had been converted into an underground… shopping mall? People were moving from cave to cave, crude signs were in place like “Tailors”, “Fireworks”, “Post”, “Winery” and such. Moxie kept behind Bruno as he took her sister to the “Winery” only it wasn’t any winery she’d ever seen. It was full of all manner of venomous animals and poisonous plants. A little old asian lady sat on a stool behind a counter gently stroking the head of a giant boa constrictor that was languishing across her countertop.

She signed in American Sign Language even as she spoke, “Bruno, what this, why you bring me seatbelt mummy?” She watched his hands for an answer, then blinked, “You want cure for meth addiction? What I look like, miracle worker? I poisoner! I a sinner, I no saint!”

Bruno just gave her a deadpan look, and after a moment, she caved. Holding her hands up defensively, she said, “Fine, fine, fine. I may know ancient chinese remedy…” Pointing a finger at him, she said, “No promise it works! You no blame me if it don’t you hear?!” To which Bruno nodded. “Good good, now you leave girl on cot in back. You come get her after I brew and administer medicine,” She then shood Bruno and Moxie out of her shop after the silent giant did as he was told. “Good, now out! Out both of you! This hard enough as is without audience! I call you when she detoxed… or dead, whichever come first!”

“Uh granny, what’re the chances of that second one?” Moxie asked in her southern drawl.

“Eh, never had to make this before so don’t know if work. Flip coin?” She said as she shooed Moxie away as she began collecting ingredients, as well as putting a cast iron cauldron on to boil.

“What?! Now hold on a minute here-!” She didn’t get to finish as Bruno was ‘gently’ forcing her out of the shop. No matter how hard she tried, the silent giant just persistently pushed her back until they were both outside and headed toward the stairs. “Ah swear ta God big guy, if ma’ sister dies!” Moxie threatened, only for the pad to ding.

“Trust Madam Wu. She used to be a doctor… and she’s never let a patient die on her yet,”

Moxie sighed, “Okay, okay. Just… look after her for me, will ya big guy?” She said pressing the other coin that man gave her into his palm and looking up into his eyes.

Bruno nodded, and moxie looked down when her pad dinged, “You can count on me ma’am.”

“Good!” She smacked him on the arm playfully, “Now get me back upstairs, this has been stressful and a gal could use a drink. I’ll buy you one too. You’ve earned it sugga.” She said, elbowing him playfully.

“Yes, right this way,” Bruno replied via text, feeling like he might’ve made a new friend today.

(...)

Coil felt the urge to wrap his hands around his Tattletale’s throat. She had disobeyed him and thrown all his plans into disarray! Now he would have to wait who knows how long before he could possibly have another chance to get his hands on his precious precog. He took a breath. ‘No it's fine,’ he thought to himself, ‘There is a new unknown variable here in the Bay. A Tinker selling manitable tinkertech to the DWU. He needs to be investigated, his speciality sussed out, and if useful enough turned to my side.’ He decided. “First I’ll get the Protectorate involved to keep him distracted while my Tattletale does her usual snooping, then once his abilities are determined, I’ll decide what to do with him.” He nodded, this was the best course of action. He then frowned. He didn’t feel like letting his Tattletale go unpunished. Perhaps a tipoff to the ABB about a possible location of the Undersiders was warranted. “After all, one must face the consequences for one’s actions, isn’t that right my little Tattletale?” He thought as he dialed the number of one of the many ABB mooks he knew. Knowing the news would make it to Lung eventually.

(...)

Word Count: 10,264   Number of Pages: 24   Date Completed: 5/24/2023

(...)

AN: Hello all and welcome to Chapter Two Arc Two of Butchered Tech. This is the setup for canon going tits up for lack of a better term. Things they’ll be a changing starting next chapter, and in big ways too. Now, for the angel and devil on my respective shoulders, here are Snowy and First Hassan.

Snowy:

Hassan.

In closing thanks for reading everyone and till next time, this has been an Inkblot Bros Production, Peace!