#chapter 15.6

When you put it like that...

“Saying you’d be selling your soul is a bit overdramatic,” I said.

“I’m an artist, I’m dramatic by nature.”

Hah!

“Then let me make an emotional appeal.  Come to my territory.  Let me show you what I’m doing there, and what I want to help you do for your people.”

Flechette’s ears: “Come into my t r a p .”

“You’ll just take the advantage of the situation to escape,” Flechette said.

Perhaps she might. What’s it to you?

“I don’t really think you can keep me,” I said, sounding calmer than I felt.

“We’ll see,” she responded.

I sent a command to Atlas.

Oh hell yes.

Either Atlas comes storming in, knocking Flechette over before she can pick up her jaw and make good on her threat regarding “if I see a single bug”, or Taylor’s signalling Ballistic. This ought to get wild in a few seconds, either way.

“Easiest option is that I send a message to Ballistic.  I really don’t want to do that, because it’s going to get people hurt or killed.”

Right. So you just went for the other option, eh?

Or did she get really creative with what she’s making Atlas do?

“His files say he doesn’t kill,” she responded.

On purpose.

“With his power?  It’s easy to accidentally go too far.  Combine that with the sheer danger your own power presents?  It’s like playing tag with guns.  Not saying I don’t respect your power, with the damage you did to Leviathan, but he can escalate harder and faster than you.  If you two get in a shootout, someone’s going to get hurt.”

Again. Why did Flechette not know these things? I could understand her not believing them, but she should be aware of them, and the narration is implying that Taylor thinks otherwise.

I just wasn’t sure if that was for my sake or if it was for hers.  The money I’d handed away would hurt, too, but it felt necessary.

I think it was more for your sake. The common view on heroes and villains hurts you, personally offends you, so you do what you can to change it, even if only in one person.

I needed medical attention, and I felt like I had to check on my territory after I’d seen Parian’s.  I climbed onto Atlas.  His flight would be smoother and less jarring than walking.

Sounds like she’s going to her territory (in part) to get the medical attention. Shame, honestly. John Cleese is a fun character, even if he might be annoyed at her coming to him with such a relatively minor injury. Or maybe he’d be annoyed at her for not coming.

I heard another crash as Ballistic continued tearing through Dolltown.  I could have notified him that Parian was gone, but… no.

Nah, let him have his fun and discover that for himself.

Maybe this wanton destruction would give him a chance to vent and find release over whatever it was that was haunting him.

I’d have to get in touch with Trickster and Genesis to arrange our visit with the Mayor for tonight.  I’d have to deal with the threat on my life, whatever form it took.

Ah, yeah, that should be fun.

For me. Not so much for you.

I didn’t feel afraid.  Anxious?  Yes.  But not terrified, not quivering or panicking.  I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.  Grue had lamented my lack of survival instincts, not so long ago.  Had recent events worn them down even further?

Hrm.

I don’t like that either.

I shook my head.  I’d have time for introspection later.  For now, I had to plan.

Flechette looked like she’d been slapped.  I stopped Atlas where he was, poised a few feet behind Parian.  I folded his scythe-like claws down and out of the way.

A six-foot flying beetle is sneaking up on her.

I do love that Taylor makes even Atlas lower his weapons.

Anyway, I get the sense that Parian is sick of all the fighting and is going to do an excellent job mediating here.

“Skitter… if we let you go, do you promise not to attack or interfere under any circumstance?”

If I let you go, I will never know, what my life would be, holding you close to me... Oh, sorry, don’t mind me, just flashing back to my entire life and one of my favorite songs growing up.

“Parian?”  Flechette asked.  She sounded almost hurt.

Yeah, I can understand that. Her almost-girlfriend is pretty much saying she’ll hear the enemy out and consider joining them.

“It depends, are you going to go confront Ballistic?”

“Honestly?  Yes.  You said he’d keep coming until he took us out.”

“Well then,” Flechette said.  She adjusted her grip on the spike of metal that she held between her fingers.  A dart.  She poked it through the armor of my wrist.  When I tried to move my arm, it was fixed to the ground.  “I guess I’ll come back for you later, after Ballistic’s left.”

...do you really think that’ll work? You know Taylor can signal Ballistic to come and help free her.

“Undo it, release me,” I said, pulling harder.

“No.  And stop struggling.  Unless you can tear that costume, you’re not going to pull free.  It’s bonded.”

To both the costume and the floor?

“You’re making a mistake,” I growled.  “I’m only trying to help.”

“And I’m doing my job.  I get that maybe your intentions are good, but I’m obligated to take you in, especially now that I’ve heard your confession of intent to seize the city.”

Dammit, Taylor. I told you to be careful when you said that.

“How many wrongs have been done by people who were ‘just following orders’?” I asked.

I directed Atlas in through an open window.  Every set of eyes was on Flechette and I, which made it easy for him to slip into the room.

...are you telling me.

That a six-and-a-half-foot beetle.

Flew in through the window.

And nobody noticed.

My bugs had identified tripwires Parian had set, and navigating Atlas around them wasn’t too hard.

Pfft, nice work.

Here are all the comments that mentioned the Norwegian in 15.5, both before & after it was changed.

Nice, thanks! :D

“I brought him in here as insurance,” I said.  “I was thinking about taking Parian hostage if you went ahead with my arrest, but she started being reasonable and I told him to back down.”

Nice.

“What is he?”

“Panacea made him for me, for fighting the Nine.  Just a big beetle with sharp claws.”

“That’s what you were using to fly around, when we were fighting the Nine?”

I take it she didn’t get a good look at him back then, or just heard about Taylor flying from the records. She did know about Taylor taking Victoria out of the battle.

I nodded.

“Creepy.”

“Look,” I said, seeing a chance to regain control of the conversation.  “I’ll extend my offer a third time.  Join us, Parian.  We’re not as scary or as bad as we look at first glance.  You’ll see that if you check out my territory.  I’m not threatening you or extorting this out of you.  You can say no-”

There are two ways this can go: Either Flechette cuts her off, or Parian does. I’m going with Flechette with some protests with dwindling confidence.

“Because I have a weapon at your throat,” Flechette said.

Heh.

“Because it’s her call,” I said, my voice firm.  “Because I really do think she’ll be safer overall.”

“From those people who ‘aren’t as scary or bad at first glance’,” Flechette said.

Right.

“From all the other capes and unpowered individuals who would prey on her and her people.”

“I can’t,” Parian said.  “No.  I have to turn down your offer.”