Beta Read By: Axiomat

-Shadow Stalker-

"Why the hell are you lot here?" She groaned in a mix of frustration and annoyance. Her day, like many others, had been a clusterfuck of a mess and running into her team was the last thing she needed.

"Why are you?" Came the back talk from the brat in green, her visor glinting even in the poor lighting.

Never had Shadow Stalker been this tempted to shoot a 12-year-old girl. Logically, this was no different from their usual squabbles, but the stress was taking its toll. She breathed; deeply and slowly. It was not the time to start a fight, nor was she free to do so.

"None of your business," she said instead.

"Ditto."

Shadow Stalker nearly pulled the trigger. Only the thought of the consequences stopped her. But while Vista was being difficult, there was only one reason she and the rest of the Wards were here inside an Endbringer shelter instead of being on their way to Boston.

"What the hell do you think you can do against Leviathan?"

"If, Leviathan gets here, we die," Clockblocker answered with uncharacteristic gravity. "But if we do nothing, every civilian in this shelter dies regardless."

Nodding, Gallant continued. "Shelters in Brockton Bay can withstand flooding, but the problem is oxygen. We'll run out in minutes the moment the city is underwater, but Kid Win thinks he can build something to remedy that."

"Kid Win? Kid fucking Win?" She asked in disbelief, briefly wondering if the crashing of the waves had impaired her hearing. "The guy that has dyslexia for numbers and the attention span of a flea? That's who you're betting your fucking lives on?"

Despite how others saw her, she could respect the will to act in the face of adversity. But there was a difference between courage and utter stupidity. This was deeply in the latter.

"I heard that possible death by drowning does wonders for motivation," Clockblocker drawled with a chuckle.

"Do you have a better idea? Instead of complaining, why don't you go make yourself useful!" Vista scowled.

"Ladies!" Gallant interrupted. "Please focus. Vista and Clockblocker can buy time in cases of emergency, and your phasing power can seal leaks and reinforce weakened areas. We all need to work together to survive."

"Let's say that I'm willing to play construction worker. That still takes us back to problem uno. Whether Kid Win can actually build something worth a damn. You lot can bet your lives on him, but there's no way I'm doing the same with my sister."

Just the thought of her family struck anger into her mind deeper than a bullet. The PRT had offered private shelter to the Wards' families with their upper-ranking members during the initial phase of the Endbringer attack. All of whom had evacuated once the defense had collapsed.

But that dumb bitch who called herself a mother had refused to have anything to do with her eldest daughter and had gone to the public Endbringer shelter with her youngest.

Shadow Stalker could care less what happened to that drug-laden piece of shit that had more cocaine in her veins than blood, but there was no way she would allow her sister to die here.

"What exactly are you planning?" Vista asked, her voice softening slightly. "You can't be thinking of trying your luck outside!"

"That is exactly what I am going to do."

"How could you! You're supposed to be a hero, but you're just going to run and leave these people to die?"

Gallant nodded as he stepped forward, standing next to Vista's side, backing her both physically and verbally. "She's right. We need your help, Stalker. It could be the difference between life and death for these people."

Shadow Stalker glared, her gloved fist clenching in anger at the insinuation. "I do not fucking run! Why should I care about weaklings who do nothing but wait to be rescued? They should try their luck outside rather waiting for someone like Kid Win to save them. At least some will survive that way."

"Stalker!" Gallant exclaimed, sounding horrified. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that if they don't even try to save themselves, why should we?"

Breaking open the truth of the world to these numbskulls would have landed her in far greater trouble than it was worth, not to mention it would have been a pointless endeavor. But right now? When she was uncertain if she would survive past the night? She simply did not care.

"What of your sister?" Clockblocker countered. "By your own words, she's a weakling waiting for Kid Win to save her."

"She's four, you jackass."

As usual, the resident joker missed the point. It was not strength that differentiated prey and predator but their will.

The will to fight.

Prey would do nothing even if they had strength, allowing themselves to be stepped on and trampled upon.

Predators would punch if they lost their legs, kick if they lost their arms, and bite if they lost both, even when fully understanding the futility of their actions.

Only the people willing to resist this world's stains were survivors. Only they deserved salvation. Not the ones who cowered despite having the means to contest, waiting for others to win their battles for them. Those who refused to fight deserved to suffer.

"There are plenty of kids underneath us that are even younger. Shadow Stalker… Sophia… Even if you don't care about the… weaklings… do it for the ones who are too young to defend themselves," Gallant pleaded.

"Why should I, Dean? Why the hell should I risk my and my sister's lives for strangers when the so-called heroes won't do the same? The entire Protectorate and the PRT fucking ran and left us all to die!"

"Because it would be the right thing to do," Gallant responded resolutely.

"All right, you've convinced me."

"Seriously?" Clockblocked asked doubtfully.

"No, you asswipe!" Stalker sneered before turning to Gallant. "Save your little hero speech for the Triumvirate. Oh wait, you can't. They left with the rest. Shove over."

She had allowed these morons to waste too much of her time when she was already short on it. Pushing her team aside, Stalker proceeded to do what she had come here for.

"Shadow Stalker, wait!" Gallant shouted, grabbing her shoulder from the back.

Before the heroic wannabe got nailed in his nose, she was interrupted by a voice whinier than Vista's

"Oops. Think we interrupted a family squabble?" Chuckled a girl in an obnoxiously purple suit.

"Ah fuck this…." Groaned a man with a skull mask.

"Grue!" She shouted, glaring at the man before doing the same to the rest of his trash team. "What the hell are your Undersiders doing here?"

She would have been glad to have found him if this was any other day. But she had more important things to do than put some third-rate villain in his place.

The Wards tensed, no doubt remembering the confrontation at the bank.

"Seriously Stalker…" Tattletale moaned. "Pick a better time for your hate boner. Besides, we brought you all a gift wrapped in an American flag."

"Miss Militia!" Vista squealed, running to embrace the eldest heroine who had emerged from behind Skitter.

"Vista!" The woman took the twelve-year-old in a motherly embrace. "I'm glad all of you are all right!"

Shadow Stalker snorted in disgust.

"As are we. What of the rest?" Gallant asked with hesitation.

The happiness in Miss Militia's eyes turned grim.

"Triumph and Velocity were killed. Dauntless, Assault, and Battery were heavily wounded. Armsmaster stayed behind as the rear guard, but I do not know what happened to him. I was preparing to retreat until I ran into the Undersiders. They told me that you guys would be here." She said with both approval and worry.

"And truth behold, here they are!" Tattletale flamboyantly shouted, shaking her hands in an exaggerated wave as her voice bounced off from the metallic walls as an echo.

"Where is Hellhound? Regent? Are they safe?" Gallant asked

"They left," Skitter responded, succinctly. But despite the brevity of her speech, the bitterness was clear in her voice.

"That doesn't explain why your team is here. Regardless of your crimes, your team aided the defense against Leviathan. The PRT should have helped you withdraw."

"I could say the same about you," Skitter snapped back.

Gallant shook his head. "We're heroes."

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"That didn't stop the Protectorate from abandoning this city."

"That's not fair, and you know it," Miss Militia protested. "Brockton Bay's heroes were butchered today. I don't know if any of my colleagues are even alive, and I was only spared because I was stationed in the rear."

"Fair enough," Tattletale shrugged, smirking. "We may be dastardly villains, but we also have people we care about. Which is why I am here to save you all from your stupid plan."

"Stupid? You don't even know our plan!" Vista shouted angrily.

"Let me guess, seal the shelter and have Kid Win tinker a device that converts CO2 to Oxygen while having Shadow Stalker phase objects into any breaches. How am I doing so far?"

"… It's a good plan."

Tattletale rolled her eyes. "Yea, if this place was the size of your house. This is an Endbringer shelter that can house thousands. You'll be overwhelmed if you try to react to every problem as they come."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Gallant asked, not from anger but concern.

"Thankfully, yours truly can tell you exactly what to move and block before this city drowns."

"Except I won't be here," Shadow Stalker mentioned, her arms crossed under her chest.

"Unless you intend to swim to Boston with your little sister in tow, you will be," Tattletale said.

"Is that a threat?"

"Leviathan will destroy the city's reservoir in 6 minutes, and the entire city will be underwater in 14. You will be fish food unless you can reach the outskirts within that limit."

"You're lying."

Tattletale snorted. "Want to bet on that? With your sister's life?"

"I'll be doing the same if I stay here regardless."

"True, but a 60% chance of death is better than 99%."

"It'll be 100% if Leviathan comes," Shadow Stalker reminded.

"He won't," the thinker promised. "He's going straight for the reservoir."

Shadow Stalker hesitated. It wasn't like she was fond of her chances outside but putting her life in the hands of others, especially someone as unreliable as Kid Win, sickened her.

She would have stormed out ages ago if she were alone, but she had a responsibility more important than her ego.

She sighed; the decision made. "Fine. But if something happens, I swear to the golden idiot I will fucking kill you."

"You'll probably have to get in line, but I get your point. But if everyone does exactly as I say, we should all be fine. For now, you should-."

A deafening crash of an impact striking metal reverberated painfully through the room. The vibrations from the collision were enough to knock a few off their feet.

"What the hell was that?" Clockblocker asked, dread coloring his voice.

He was never the brightest nor the most sensitive, but Shadow Stalker was confident that even he already knew the answer.

Talons pierced through the ceiling wall like a knife through butter before clenching into a fist. With a heave of force, the walls above were torn open, revealing the unwelcome visitor.

At this moment, Shadow Stalker noted two things.

First, Leviathan looked like he had lost a fight with a lawnmower.

Second, and more importantly, they were all about to die.

The room sprang into action.

With a flash of green light, a hand-held cannon formed in Miss Militia's hand.

Clockblocker raised his hands; as if there was something he could do

Space extended between both parties, futilely seeking to delay the inevitable.

Clouds of darkness and bugs filled the air, one silent and the other singing but both equally pointless.

Shadow Stalker loaded her crossbow as she phased into a shadow.

Leviathan leaped, aiming for them all.

She would never admit it. But at this moment, she was terrified.

Shadow Stalker knew that she was dead. They all were dead. Everyone in this room knew it.

But she refused to die without a fight.

She raised her crossbow, bolt loaded and its tip aiming at the bleeding mess above.

Her index finger pressed against the trigger as Leviathan, a bullet in all but name, swung his talons and was struck in the face by a textbook-perfect flying kick. The kind that was only seen in movies due to their impracticality.

Despite being ambushed and missing more flesh than it currently had, Leviathan twisted with surprising grace and agility, landing on the metal wall with his feet and using it as a launching board to propel himself at the second intruder.

Unfazed by the flying Endbringer, the red-haired woman raised a single finger.

"Bang."

With a thunderous boom, Leviathan… disappeared? Shadow Stalker blinked, disbelieving what had transpired.

"What the fuck?"

For the first time in her life, and hopefully the last, she agreed with Clockblocker.

What the fuck?

Their rescuer turned, facing the group of heroes and misfits.

"Is everyone okay?" She asked, concern plastered upon her visage. The woman stood beneath the sprawling light that shined down upon her like a spotlight, giving her an otherworldly look.

At this moment, Sophia could only think of two things.

First, that was fucking metal.

Second, and more importantly… Damn, she was hot.

-Tattletale-

Is a woman

What the fuck?

She tried once more, albeit with greater effort.

A woman with light-red hair, yellow ringed eyes. 173 cm in height, 23 years of age.

Tattletale blinked, dumbfounded. Okay, this is getting ridiculous.

Brushing away the signs of a coming migraine, she carefully eyed the latest addition to their party. The Undersider's resident thinker scrutinized every detail, whether it was the wrinkles in her suspiciously immaculate suit, the twitch in her brows, the pace of her breathing, and all the way down to her gait. Individually, these pieces of information meant nothing. When put together as a whole, however… they still meant nothing.

But her power fed off these worthless pieces of information to exponentiate into something valuable.

Name is Makima. Unconcerned about her identity. Wandering why you are staring at her. Noticed that you are in pain and concerned for your health. Wishes to protect the residents of this city and everyone present.

Better. But not what she had hoped to learn, although it was reassuring that someone who could throw down with an Endbringer wasn't planning on throwing down with them.

Fuck… She cursed as she grimaced at the thinker headache. While she had been using her power left and right, it was still far too early for the pain to be this bad.

Does she have some anti-thinker field like Eidolon and the Endbringers?

No… It wasn't that Makima was immune to thinker powers; she just had resistance. Trying to get even a bit of information from her was like slogging through a mud field on your hands. She was hesitant to dig further, but an Endbringer had nearly eviscerated them a minute ago. She needed every bit of information she could get.

Taking a deep breath, Tattletale gritted her teeth and met the amber-ringed eyes that were now curiously staring back at her own.

Fought Leviathan, gaining familiarity with his patterns. Capable of generating a telekinetic force capable of hurting Leviathan. Is a brute. Weaker than Leviathan. Faster than Leviathan. Experienced in combat. Capable of regeneration. Confident she could neutralize Leviathan permanently.

Her eyes widened. Trepidation forgotten, she recklessly plunged deeper into the ice-cold field of mud.

Is not of this world, she is not hu-

Pain exploded across her head, starting from the temporals and radiating both ways to the occipital and frontal. Before she knew it, the soles of her feet were no longer flat on the ground.

She was falling.

From the corner of her eyes, she saw Grue and Skitter reach out to halt her fall, but they were too slow. Tattletale tried to catch herself, but it was like the pain had disconnected her brain from the rest of her body.

But before her brain could spill from her skull, a soft pair of hands caught her behind the back. Warmth radiated from the palms and soothed the chill deeply embedded within her bones as gently as the early summer's kiss.

"Are you okay?" Makima asked, her brows scrunched in motherly worry.

Tattletale groaned as her team parroted the same question. Never had she regretted a decision so quickly. Trembling hands reached into her pocket, grabbing far too many painkillers before popping them into her mouth and swallowing. It was far more than she should have taken but overdosing was sadly not even in her top five probable causes of mortality for the day.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, more bravado than truth as she tried to recollect what she had learned. But to her dismay, she found that no memories prior to the pain remained.

Fuck, all that trouble and nothing to show for it.

"I'm not sure what happened, but don't push yourself too far," Makima warned, but not unkindly.

"Yeah… I noticed."

"Tattletale…" Grue warned, unkindly with an edge in his voice.

She sighed. "Thank you for your help."

"It was no problem," Makima replied. "Is anyone else hurt?"

The Wards looked around, uncertain of what to do until Gallant took the lead.

"Everyone is safe ma'am."

"Yeah, talk about the last-minute save!" Clockblocker exclaimed once the ice was broken.

Vista sighed. "Not really. The ceiling is torn; I don't know if we can fix it before the city floods."

"Eh, it was a shit plan anyways," Shadow Stalker piped.

The youngest Ward angrily turned, lips moving to form a rebuttal before a slight cough silenced it.

"Why don't you explain from the beginning?" Makima asked.

"Is there a point? Do we even have the time for one?" Shadow Stalker replied.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. But I find that many solutions are found in the process of explaining, even when simply repeating known information. As for Leviathan, he will be preoccupied with two of his associates."

Okay… That last part left more questions than it answered. Lesson learned and slightly wiser, Tattletale dipped her toes in the mud rather than plunging in headfirst while Vista proceeded to oblige.

Sent Leviathan in the direction of Eidolon and Alexandria. Can see from any distance as long as her sight is unobstructed. Senses are far greater than normal.

Not that; she said she could kill Leviathan. How?

Cannot kill Leviathan. Durability is too great to inflict lethal damage.

Tattletale groaned in both pain and annoyance. Now her power was playing games and flip-flopping. If it wasn't going to help her, she might as well shut it off before she ended up on the ground again.

"That is an impressive plan. I'm amazed that you were able to come up with it in an emergency," Makima praised.

"Not that it'll matter… The plan's fried," Vista.

"That's too early to say, isn't it?" Said Makima shaking her head. "A good leader can handle changing circumstances; that is why I am certain you can as well."

Tattletale didn't need powers to see that Vista was blushing under her visor at the praise.

"However, while I hate to put your efforts to waste, your plan may not be necessary. I will drive off Leviathan."

"How?!" Clockblocker exclaimed. "By yourself?"

"If need be, yes."

"That's way too dangerous ma'am," Gallant protested. "I don't mean to doubt your abilities, but even the Triumvirate can't do that. Leviathan looked hurt but fighting him alone is still suicide."

"Perhaps. But if I do nothing, hundreds of thousands will die. If it means saving the city and its residents, I cannot justify sitting on the sideline and doing nothing if there is even the slightest chance I could make a difference."

The lines were corny and sounded like they were copied from a movie. Tattletale had heard similar lines spouted by the Protectorate and its heroes and she didn't need to be a thinker to know that most of it was bullshit.

But for some reason, she believed her. Maybe it was her tone, or perhaps it was the sincerity in her eyes or even the aura of confidence she exuded with every motion. Tattletale could see that the room was rapidly being swayed.

"You're certain?" Skitter asked, her voice trembling with… hope? "You're sure you can save Brockton Bay?"

"I will," Makima said with reassuring confidence. "Everyone dies, but no one else will die today. No matter what. That, I promise."

"Why… Why would you? All the other heroes ran," Skitter spat out bitterly. "I saw you destroy those waves. You could make the Triumvirate the Quadrivariate again. Brockton Bay was dying long before today, and it's not even an important city. You're not from here, so why would you risk your life to help a place like this?"

Makima paused, her hand partly palming her chin as she pondered before answering. "As you said, I am not from here, nor do I have any personal connection to Brockton Bay. I do not know this city or its value on the global stage. But young lady… I am not here to save the city, just the people. The world may put arbitrary values on individuals, deeming some more deserving than the rest or putting down another as insignificant and to be ignored. But people are people, and humans are humans. They are not products to be exchanged, nor can life have a price. No matter what others say, every individual is worth fighting for."

Skitter did not respond, nor did Makima press her for one.

"I promised to fight for this city, alone if I have to. I am embarrassed to ask this of you all, but could you grant me your aid?"

"Aid? We would love to, but none here would last very long against Leviathan," Clockblocker answered nervously.

"Nor would I put any of you in harm's way. One of my abilities is sharing powers between myself and another. I'm not certain of the details, but would you be willing?"

Jaws dropped, both literally and metaphorically. That was some Eidolon-level Trump bullshit right there.

"That sounds amazing. But no one in my team has any powers that will be useful against Leviathan." Grue admitted.

"Perhaps, but you will be receiving part of my powers as well. Even if your powers aren't useful in the coming fight, I will be content that your team now has a better chance at survival," Makima replied before pausing for a second. "By the way, where does your gas come from? Is it internally generated?"

"Uh… What?"

Tattletale laughed. "She's asking if you fart it out."

"What!" Grue repeated, although in a far different tone.

"Not exactly what I meant… But do you?" Makima asked.

"No! Gods no!" Grue denied indignantly.

"Ugh… Gross man. Didn't you cover all of us with that at the bank?" Clockblocker snickered in amusement, adding fuel to the fire. "Although I guess I should have seen that coming. With all that black leather, you were bound to have some weird fetish."

The leader of the Undersiders glared but a skull mask had little means in conveying his ire. "While I do not know where my Darkness is generated from, it is most certainly not from…."

"Your anus?" Tattletale piped helpfully but received little gratitude.

"I see," Makima muttered. "Moving on, any volunteers?"

Rather than the eager agreement from the youths, a mature voice that was usually warm resounded coldly from the rear.

"No."

The room turned to face the American flag-clad heroine who had not spoken a word till now.

"Miss Militia?" Vista asked, confused at the denial.

"I'm sorry, but we will have to refuse," Miss Militia resolutely declared, tension bleeding into her voice.

The wards erupted in protest.

In the commotion, Tattletale frowned, activating her power on the sole Protectorate hero present.

Deeply discomforted by Makima. Distrusting of Makima. Possesses eidetic memory. Cannot be mastered.

Her eyes widened. Were they being mastered?

Not mastered. No mind has been tampered with.

No mind control… Then was Miss Militia just being paranoid? She couldn't blame her. Power-granting abilities often had strings attached. Caution was necessary, although this was a time when they needed to take risks.

But fortunately for her, she could mitigate the latter without comprising the former. Taking a deep breath in and a deep breath out, Tattletale concentrated on Makima.

Trust her.

… What?

Trust her.

What the hell was going on? This wasn't how her power worked!

Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her. Trust her.

Hell no.

"Fucking pussies," Shadow Stalker scoffed as she walked to Makima.

"Stalker, what are you doing?" Miss Militia questioned, warningly.

"I don't need your permission to do what is necessary."

"Were you not listening to what I just said?!"

"Spare me your fucking lecture. I know the risks, but the plan is a bust, and we will all die if she doesn't drive off Leviathan. Weren't you the one who said we should protect the prey?"

"Shadow Stal-"

"Sophia Hess?" Skitter interrupted, anger and disbelief resonating with the beating of a million wings.

Stalker spun around.

"Hebert?" She asked, in equal shock.

Words were thrown, and insults were traded as the rest tried to stop the two. But Tattletale did not bother to listen and could only glance warily at the red-haired woman. But no matter how hard she scrutinized, Makima was still as kind and awe-inspiring as before.

"Could you two please be quiet?"

Noise collapsed into silence. The voice was as gentle and cordial as ever. But something about it chilled her to the bone.

"Since you are their acting guardian, I will respect your decision Miss Militia." Said Makima before turning to the Undersiders. "What of you three?"

"Sorry, but we will have to refuse as well. None of our powers will help out all that much, and it wouldn't be right to take advantage of your generosity. Plus, with me around, everyone's safety is practically guaranteed." Tattletale boasted, cutting off Grue and Skitter before they could say anything.

She wished she felt as confident as she sounded.

"I see. That is a shame. But regardless of your decision, I will carry out my promise. I wish you all the best of luck." Makima smiled reassuringly.

It was the same warm smile. Nothing had changed.

But all Tattletale could feel was fear.

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