The Second Archon War: 172 (Patreon)

Comedia Glacialis 23: Enter the Hero

It had been years since David visited Brockton Bay. He’d been there for the funeral of Daniel Hebert, of course, but after that…he’d not had a need to go to the city. Nothing of interest really happened in Brockton. It was a decently sized New England city, with a thriving port that wasn’t as large as Boston’s to the south or New York to the north, but still prosperous. There weren’t any major gangs or incidents to speak of, not with Legend as the leader of the local Protectorate. 

“Sir, do you think this is a good idea?” Exalt asked quietly. “Legend is…well. You’re not on good terms with him.”

David turned to his second-in-command after Dispatch had been killed in the war. “Keith is a good man. Better than me. He’ll listen. He took his son to see Kusanali, when Junior triggered. He’ll understand.”

“Yes, sir, but…well. I almost reported you, and I’ve known you for years,” Exalt said with a shake of his head. He was an aerokinetic, with powers that were at once more narrow and more powerful than your average Anemo Vision holder. His offensive abilities were far greater, able to summon windstorms that could match Ziz or Venti, albeit only for a brief duration. But controlling wind was all he could do: he had no healing, construct, or elemental reactions he could spread. Currently, the two of them were hovering over Brockton. Both of them were out of uniform. It felt…wrong…to continue to wear the Protectorate’s emblems. 

“But you knew Marisa. And you know that whatever else I may be, I never once put anything above saving the world,” David said firmly. “Except, perhaps, at times, my own ego. But this isn’t about that. And you know it.”

“I…yes sir, it’s just…are we really going to…to Her?” Exalt asked, his voice breaking slightly. “She killed so many of our friends.”

“You can choose to go elsewhere. But I’m going to the Tsaritsa. She’s the only path to victory I see. The only one who stood up to Scion and fought him until she was nearly dead. That’s what this war was about, I think. Convincing the other Archons to fight him. Trying to wake humanity up. But you can go to Nahida, Venti, or even the Shogun. Just be prepared to fight the Abyss.”

Exalt nodded slowly. “If the President really is delving into hell for power, and locked Grenadine up for telling the truth…then I’m with you, sir. I don’t like having to serve the Tsaritsa, but dammit, this can’t all have been for nothing. Maybe we can find a way to pull Alexandria down, and save this country.”

“I hope so. But I’m more worried about saving humanity first,” David said, and put a hand on Exalt’s shoulder. “Get to BIRDCAGE. I’ll be there shortly. Either Keith comes, or he doesn’t. But he’s the last one.”

There hadn’t been many that David trusted enough to talk to. He was such an idiot. So few friends. So few people who he could rely on. He’d tried to do it all himself. Stupid. So damn stupid, and selfish. Well. No more. 

He wasn’t going to be the Savior. That was up to the Archons. He just had to help them in any way he could. 

David dove through the air, arriving at the house in the Brockton Suburbs with little fanfare. It was a picturesque, stereotypical home. Two stories, painted a light tan, with a dark brown tiled roof. Small front garden with flowers in bloom, a backyard with a shed, an above ground pool, a large tree with a tireswing, and two cars sitting in the driveway, garage full of useless crap. 

David knocked on the door, and Arthur opened it. 

“Oh! Eidolon, is Keith expecting you?” the bespectacled man asked, smiling uncertainly at Eidolon. He wasn’t in a turtleneck for once, instead having on an unbuttoned hawaiian shirt and swim trunks with sandals. 

“No,” David said, and stepped inside. “Is Keith-”

There was a pounding of feet, and a galloping herd of soaking wet children appeared, followed by two excitedly barking dogs. 

“GENERAL EIDOLON!” a very enthusiastic girl of about 10 shouted, her brown eyes bright behind glasses. Her damp hair was loose about her shoulders, and a dim Electro Vision dangled from a chain attached to her bathing suit. 

David sucked in a breath. Taylor Hebert. Well. This was unexpected. 

“Kids, get back out here! Why are you in the house all wet?!” Keith shouted from the back door. He spied David, and blinked in surprise. “Oh, uh hey there. We’re having a pool party, uh, is this urgent?”

“Terribly. Give me a second, though,” Eidolon said,and knelt down in front of Taylor. She studied him curiously, and he held out a hand to her. “I never gave my condolences properly at your father’s funeral, Taylor. I’m sorry. I should have done that.”

“That’s OK, you were busy,” Taylor said, frowning slightly at the hand. “Are you here for the pool party? You don’t have any kids.”

“I…do, actually,” David said, his voice full of pain. He dropped his hand. He'd lost that right.

The blonde girl gasped. “Really!? Are the rumors you got Miss Militia pregnant true then!?”

Keith sucked in an audible breath, and David closed his eyes. He let the tears flow freely. There was no point in hiding them now. “Yes. But we lost the child.”

To his shock, he felt dripping arms wrap themselves around his neck. When he opened his eyes, he found the blonde girl hugging him tightly. “It’s OK,” she told him fiercely. “You’re loved, and valued. We would miss you, David, if anything were to ever happen to you. If you ever need someone to talk to, or you feel like hurting yourself, or someone else…please. Call us. I’ll give you a card. There’s always someone there, to listen and talk. Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. And if you say my name on the wind, most of the time, I can hear you. At least if you’re in the Brockton Metro area.”

“Um, everyone? The burgers are- Oh! General Eidolon sir!” a young woman’s voice said. She had grey hair of all things, but she looked like she was still a teenager. Marisa’s age, or a bit younger. 

“I want you kids to listen to me,” Eidolon said, looking around at them. “You’re all in the Wards, right?” 

They nodded, even Taylor, though Eidolon had it on good authority she wasn’t. His eyes roamed over them. The blonde had to be Sarah Livsey, the brown haired girl with the two dogs Rachel Baker, Taylor with her father’s Vision, and Junior, the only parahuman of the four. 

“Dark times are coming,” David said. “Evil has been unleashed. Sin. It’s my fault, partly. I’m here to talk to Legend about it. No matter what happens, no matter what you hear about me… I want you to understand something: Everything I do, and have done, has been to save humanity. You know the King of Demons, Scion, wants to destroy the world, right?”

The kids all nodded soberly, with Keith coming into the house in his swim trunks, looking disturbed, but not saying anything yet. Arthur looked horrified, and the grey-haired teen had come in, folding her hands and quietly standing and listening attentively. David didn’t know her, but she seemed a sober and serious young woman. 

“Well. There’s something worse. Something you’ll hear about soon. It’s going to eat and fester at the heart of America. I…I am going to try to rip it out. Possibly with Legend. It’s why I’m here. If I fail…then it’s up to you. Don’t let the light in this country go out. Don’t let us fall to evil. Fight for what you know to be right. Trust in the Archons. I was…wrong. So wrong to resist them as long as I did. I thought I was going to be the hero…turns out, I was the villain. But that’s got to change.”

“Uh, sir? This is starting to sound like a villain speech,” Junior said uncertainly.

David laughed bitterly. “Here’s a secret for you: My children? The Endbringers.”

There were horrified gasps, but David just shook his head. “Unintentional. Unprotected sex, you might say. You’re about old enough to learn about that, but I’ll leave it to your parents. No, my real crime was pride: I was so proud, I thought I had to be the one to save the world. Well, I wasn’t, and I’m not. But I’m going to go help the ones who can. Keith? Let’s step outside. We need to talk.”

“Kids, you stay inside with Arthur and Noelle,” Keith said, stepping towards the front door.

“But we’re capes too!” Sarah protested. “We can-”

“Stay. Inside,” Keith growled, shoving David out the door and then slamming it behind them. He pointed up, and they both floated into the air.

“What the fuck, David?!” Keith snarled when they were about 30 feet up. 

David shook his head. “Sorry. Shouldn’t have mentioned sex.”

“Or that you spawned the Endbringers! That’s, that’s insane to tell a bunch of 10-year-olds! They haven’t even started 5th grade yet! Wards or not, and Taylor and Noelle aren’t even that, no matter what Taylor says, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Keith. We unleashed the Abyss,” David interrupted. 

Keith paused. “I’m sorry?”

“Us, we unleashed-” David paused. The air was glowing slightly green. A faint smile crossed his lips. “What a little tattletale. One moment.” He put up a barrier that blocked out the air, sealing out the snooping Anemo energy. “Cauldron, Keith. We unleashed the Abyss. It’s the exotic energy in Project Fulcrum, if you’ve heard about that. We created the orcs, skaven, and churls. We unleashed them. We killed thousands, Keith. Killed, and worse. Their souls have been devoured and eternally damned. Sent straight to hell. That’s Rebecca and Fatoumata’s new weapon. Energy, straight from hell.”

“Holy fuck. That’s…that’s just the plot of Doom,” Keith breathed, his eyes wide with horror. 

“I…uh, sure. I’m not much of one for video games, but yes. But Rebecca thinks it's our silver bullet. That we can tap into the power of hell, and use it to kill Scion and the Archons.”

“Is she insane?!” Keith demanded, scrubbing at his still thick hair. Lucky bastard. “That will destroy us even if it does kill Scion! And kill the Archons!? This is too far! The Tsaritsa is a problem, yes, but they’re our best hope! Not, whatever madness this is!” 

“I agree,” David said with a nod.

Keith did a double take. “Are you…are you serious? You? You’ve always had a chip on your shoulder about the Archons! Even moreso, now! Shit, David, we’ve spent the last year fighting the Tsaritsa with everything we have! This is my first week back from the front since December!”

“And I was wrong. Wrong about everything. I saw the Abyss. Fought it. Led a squad into it. There…I don’t know how many of us there were. They’ve been devoured. Erased. We can’t even remember them. Except Marisa Romero.”

Keith looked confused at the name, so David clarified, “Grenadine.” 

“Oh, her? Rebecca told me she suggested you shack up with her once and laughed about it, but she’s what, 18?”

“Nineteen, now. Half my age. At the time, she was 17, and I found it as repulsive as you do. But she’s been BIRDCAGED.”

“What, why? She didn’t get mastered by the Tsaritsa, did she?” Keith asked, horrified at the thought.

“No. She went with me and fought alongside the Shogunate against the Abyss.”

“Oh, well, I’m not a fan of Raiden or her brood, but she’s not a monster like-”

“Alexandria locked her up because Grenadine found out about the Abyss, that we caused it, and was going to tell everyone. She didn’t break faith. She didn’t desert. She found out we had unleashed hell, and tried to stop it. So they BIRDCAGE’d her.”

“Oh gods, David, that’s…horrific. We have to go to Alexandria, right now, and put a stop to this!” Keith said firmly. “I’ll get changed and-”

“Won’t work. Wyatt’s been killed and replaced, or corrupted by the Abyss. He’s been whispering in her ear, and I think she’s been using Abyssal energy as well. She’s turned too. Same with Albedo, Honey, Dr. Mother…all of Cauldron, essentially. It’s too late.”

“So, what you told the kids…” Keith shook his head, horrified. “Barbados protect us. We…we’re the bad guys now, David.”

“Which is why I’m deserting. I came here today to tell you. Offer you a chance to come with me. If there are capes you can trust, we bring them too. And we fight on the side that will stand against the Abyss and Scion.”

“Fuck, David! Traitors!? We can’t do that! We can’t turn our back on America! What about Arthur, or Junior!? Fuck, what about Taylor, Sarah, Rachel, Noelle!? I can’t just- I have responsibilities here! Even if they’re going to take my country, I have to stay and fight!” Keith protested. 

“For the gods’ sake, man, are you not listening!? America might be lost to the Abyss already! Take those you can gather in the next hour, and get the fuck to Russia!” David snarled.

Keith froze, and met David’s eyes, his mouth open slightly. “Oh. Shit. You-”

Then he fired at David, with everything he had. Lasers coming from every inch of his body. 

David had half expected this. He was almost grateful to Sarah for giving him an excuse to form the bubble around them. He’d have come up with one. As it was, he’d carefully filtered through powers until he’d gotten the exact counters to what Legend could do. 

The bubble filled with darkness that absorbed the lasers. Then, David crystalized the shadows with his Geo Delusion, trapping Keith in crystal. He let the bubble break, and his old friend fall. He’d be fine: the crystal would keep him trapped for hours unless someone came along and broke it, but that wasn’t the problem. 

Two giant lightning-fueled hounds leapt up and snapped at David, while Junior fired lasers, his Shard Axiom buzzing about him in a frantic whirl.

David encased the dogs, Rachel, and Junior in crystal. He did the same to Arthur, and Noelle and Taylor when they charged him with naked steel. Then he grabbed Sarah from when she’d been hiding.

“You blocked the phones!” she accused him before he encased her in crystal as well. 

“I did,” he told her. “Thank you.”

“Traitor!” she gasped, then was locked in crystal herself. 

“You’re just the first to call me that. You won’t be the last,” he told her frozen body. Then he hid all of them in the basement. 

“No turning back now,” David told himself, but that had been true for some time now. 

“Door me. BIRDCAGE,” David said, and stepped through the last door he’d ever summon. 

The Blacksight Isolation for Removing Destabilizing Capes from All Global Events, usually simply called BIRDCAGE, was located in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area in Western Montana. It was one of the most remote and rugged areas of the United States, with no roads, mining, logging, or even overhead plane flights these days. Even in the middle of summer, when daytime temperatures could exceed 80 degrees, there could be ice and snow when the overnight lows plummeted to below freezing, especially at higher elevations. 

There, Hero and other Protectorate Tinkers had hollowed out a mountain, and under tons of rock and ice, had built a prison designed to hold the most dangerous of capes. There were no roads to the BIRDCAGE, and no doors into the prison. Nor were there more than a few staff on-site at the observation chamber, located above the central airshaft that provided the prison with fresh air once a week. 

The entire prison was suspended in midair in pitch darkness, hung by chains that were reinforced a hundred ways. The prison itself was a massive complex, and nearly entirely automated. The air inside was processed by scrubbers, and only changed out once a week. Water was mostly recycled, and only changed out monthly. Food was grown by automated facilities, and while some might have expected bland nutrition paste, it was actually formulated to be quite tasty and palatable, as well as filling. 

So long as the prisoners behaved. Well-behaved prisoners who caused no problems enjoyed good dining and were given access to entertainment systems carefully controlled by Hero’s drones. That even included pornographic materials, usually highly sought after by prisoners, and carefully controlled dosages of certain recreational drugs, mostly marijuana and barbiturates, as this was also calculated to keep the population placid.

Prisoners were housed in individual cells, with the cells being more comfortable and spacious based on how well-behaved the prisoners were. There were central areas where prisoners could gather and participate in physical exercise or social games, but those were heavily monitored by deputized prisoners and more drones. Prisoners who started fights, engaged in ‘socially inappropriate behavior,’ or caused damage to the prison’s systems could find themselves in a very uncomfortable solitary confinement cube with no creature comforts. 

On the other hand, those who followed the rules, engaged in ‘socially positive behavior’, and helped maintain non-critical prison systems were provided with meals that wouldn’t be out of place at a decent cafeteria, plus all the books, TV, and video games they wanted, and even some recreational drugs. The prison would even allow “conjugal visits” between prisoners who were in good standing. 

There was only one way out of the BIRDCAGE: to be selected for the Case 53 program. Prisoners who were considered to be low profile and with useful powers would find themselves “volunteered” for the program. In which case, they were drugged to be insensate, dragged through a doorway, and given to the Slug to reprogram. 

High-profile capes who had committed crimes too grievous or with powers too dangerous for reprogramming were kept alive mostly so their powers could be studied. On August 11th, 2005, the total population of BIRDCAGE was only 158 prisoners, from a previous high of 532. The Abyss had been hungry.

At the time, there were six personnel on duty at BIRDCAGE: five extremely bored PRT troopers, and Arbiter. Arbiter, real name Kim Mecham, was permanently on BIRDCAGE duty, as her Thinker ability allowed her to evaluate threats on a color level. This was helpful in assessing if prisoners were going to cause issues if she watched the camera feeds, and especially in gauging if a breakout was going to occur. 

It also meant that she was well aware of the Case 53 program, which she found both vile and disgusting. She had registered complaints about the Case 53 program and its violations of human rights through mindwiping and experimentation, but she’d never been able to convince her old friends Wyatt or Rebecca from the Los Angeles Protectorate of how horrific it was. She was always told it was “necessary.” 

It also meant she’d been kept out of the war, instead assigned to near permanent duty as the warden of what she considered to be one of the worst human rights violations in history. Previously a teetotaler, she’d taken up heavy drinking, even while on duty. She was currently sipping straight vodka from a flask. Who cared? Nothing ever happened. Her PRT team was similarly in poor order: one man was smoking a blunt made from stolen prison supplies, another was playing video games instead of watching his screen, a third was napping, and the last two were having sex in the break room. 

“Will you two keep it down?” Kim snarled, disgusted by the grunting and loud wet slapping sounds. 

“Sorry, ma’am!” the woman called, and there was the sound of a door shutting. 

“Christ,” Kim grumbled. She was in an especially foul mood today, her eyes fixed on the screen of the newest prisoner: a young woman, who sat staring at the wall and sitting on her cot. Kim knew her: Grenadine. Also known as First Lieutenant Marisa Romero. Story was, she’d betrayed the Protectorate and gone over to the Shogun. Kim smelled bullshit. Marisa hadn’t been the kind to turn traitor, and something fucky had happened in Japan. It sounded like a Case 53 gone wrong to Kim. 

Kim knew the signs of a Case 53. She’d seen enough of them. That wasn’t Marisa anymore. That was an empty shell of a human being. Prisoner 0693. She didn’t have an official name, just a number. She ate, went out to the yard to exercise, and spoke only when spoken too. A few of the other prisoners had made passes at 0693, but she hadn’t responded. No one had pressed anything: the consequences for rape or sexual assault were severe, and enforcing them was one of the few pleasures Kim had left. 

“Fuck,” Kim swore, and took another swig of vodka. This was a cover up. Nothing more. How the fuck was this necessary? And she was complicit. 

Not for the first time, Kim considered suicide. What was left for her? To watch more of her friends turn into political prisoners and get locked away? To sit on her useless ass while others fought and died for the nation? To send more prisoners to be mind-wiped into drones like Marisa, then reprogrammed into PATRIOTS who would loyally follow Alexandria’s fascist regime? 

Just fucking do it, you coward. You’ve got access to enough heroine that it would be fucking awesome to die. Give yourself double the lethal dose, and then this will all be someone else’s problem. Or will you wait for them to do to you what they did to Marisa, or worse?

Then a door opened in midair, and General Eidolon stepped through. He was out of uniform, so he wasn’t immediately recognized by the troopers, but Kim knew his face. That, and the ominous red aura around him that told her he was an extreme threat to her. 

Pasting a sneer on her face, she got to her feet and flung off as insolent a salute as she could, still sipping at her vodka. “Good of you to join us, sir. Here to pick out a few more pigs for the slaughter, or just to check on your former soldier? She doesn’t even remember her own family, let alone you, so you can rest easy knowing she’ll never tell whatever fucked up thing you did in Russia.”

Eidolon regarded her, his nose wrinkling. “You’re drunk, Arbiter. You’re supposed to be on duty.”

“Oh, who the fuck cares!?” Kim snarled, making a sweeping gesture with her free hand, the other clutching her precious booze. “Look at it! Nothing EVER happens. Sandberg is stoned out of his fucking gourd, Lee is asleep, Johnson is playing fucking Donkey Kong or some shit, and Rodriguez and Morris are banging in the back! So who the fuck cares if I’m drunk! What are you going to do, relieve me of duty? Fucking DO IT. Or better yet, execute me, or lock me up with all the assholes in the prison! I’ve done worse than Marisa, or should I just call her 0693 now!?”

The troopers had noticed Eidolon now and were scrambling to come to attention, Johnson kicking Lee awake and Sandberg desperately trying to hide his blunt. 

Eidolon glanced around, then encased each of the troopers in solid amber. He walked over to the breakroom, where there was a shout and a scream, and then a thud as Rodriguez and Morris were turned to crystal as well.

Kim felt her legs giving way and started blubbering as the tread of Eidolon’s boots came back, her vodka spilling onto the metal floor. “Just fucking kill me! I used to be a hero! Now look at me! We’re the bad guys now, you understand!? We’re the fucking evil monsters brainwashing people and locking up people to use as human experiments! We’re not BIRDCAGE, we’re Unit 731!” 

“You’re right. We are the bad guys. Which is why I’m  breaking into the BIRDCAGE, taking willing prisoners, and defecting to Russia. You can either come with me, or you can stay and help Alexandria turn this entire nation into Case 53s.”

Kim blinked, confused, her vision blurry. She tried to look into Eidolon’s face. Why…why was he green now? He should be red… “I…sir?”

“Sorry. I don’t have a good healing power I can grab. So I’m going to have to use this.” Eidolon grabbed Kim’s head in both hands, and his Geo Delusion glowed with amber light, as Kim began to scream in pain. It felt like her blood was turning to rock inside of her. Then it was over, and she was clearheaded. For the first time in…how long? She could think. And she could see a way out that didn't involve an overdose of heroin.

Groaning, she clutched at her head, then slowly got to her feet. Who’d pissed her pants? Oh. Right. She’d done that. “I…sir…did you mean…?”

“I did,” Eidolon said. “Open the air vents. I’ve got a team waiting outside. Exalt, Cache, and Mayday. Not many I trusted. But I’m extending the offer to you. You don’t have to go serve the Tsaritsa. But I am offering you an escape. A chance to be better. And to fight against this madness.”

On wobbly legs, Kim went over and did as Eidolon had ordered, plus a little more. “I…I’m disabling all the alarms, and looping the camera feeds. I…I do that some times, when I know I’m going to black out, or…nevermind. I’m also pulling the assembly bell, so the prisoners will group up for you. You…you’ll really take me away?”

“All the way to Russia,” Eidolon promised. 

Kim considered that. “You know what? I think I’d rather serve the Tsaritsa than Alexandria. If the Ice Bitch can love even me…I’ll do whatever she wants.”

“Then come with me,” Eidolon said, and turned away, striding to the door, and throwing it open. Kim swallowed as three more capes entered. 

“Kim will be joining us,” Eidolon said, and the other three nodded gravely. None of them were in uniform, and Kim suddenly felt out of place. She flushed and looked down at her uniform, which was wrinkled and stained. She really had let herself go. She used to take such pride in her costume.

“I…should I get changed?” she asked plaintively. 

“No time. Come on. Into the air shaft. Darius, Evan, you stay here and monitor the situation,” Eidolon ordered. 

“Sir,” they both agreed, and took up positions. Kim followed Eidolon and Exalt into the shaft, feeling at once nervous and excited. She was doing it. She was going to break free. 

“Call me Jeremy,” Exalt told her as they looked down the dark shaft. “We’re not going by our Protectorate identities anymore. We’re leaving it all behind.”

“I…I’m Kim, then,” she said. “Careful. It’s more than a mile down.”

“We’ll be fine. I’ve studied the blueprints. I can break in, though it will probably set off all the alarms,” Eidolon, no, David, said. “Come on.”

They dove into the shaft, with Exalt sculpting the air and speeding their descent, while Kim created a forcefield around herself to give a little light. It was still a long way down, with Kim’s heart in her stomach. How would the prisoners react? 

They landed on the exterior of the prison, and multiple defense drones activated as Kim’s vision lit up red from the threats. David simply erased them, however, then used his Geo Delusion to drill into the prison. It took painfully long minutes, but the BIRDCAGE had been initially constructed when Elemental energy was rare, and while it was durable, it wasn’t invulnerable. 

The cage was opened, and David dropped in first, followed by Kim and Exalt. 

They found themselves in the cafeteria, where the 158 prisoners were assembled. Kim looked around at them, sweating, as David’s own gaze roamed over them. These were some of the most dangerous and deranged people on the planet. 

“Marisa?” David said, looking around, expression pained. “Where are you? I’ve come for you. I told you I would.”

“Who the fuck is this?” Cinderhands growled, flames coating his fists. Prisoner 0242. He was a serial firebug who had targeted apartments with plenty of people inside. “This a breakout?”

“That’s the fucking Warden! What’s Arbiter doing here,” another prisoner snarled. 

Kim flinched, but David didn’t blink, his eyes roaming the crowd until he found Prisoner 0693. “Marisa!” 

But 0693 didn’t respond. Kim swallowed, and touched Eidolon on the arm. “Sir…she…she was Slugged. That…that isn’t Grenadine anymore. That’s just…a shell with her powers.”

“Hold on a moment. You’re Eidolon,” Marquis drawled. Prisoner 0339. Biomanipulation of bone. A major crimelord in Brockton Bay, who had left a trail of bodies in his ruthless takeover of multiple gangs. He was standing beside 0693, with a hand on her shoulder. For her part, 0693 had a vacant expression, and didn’t seem to register what was going on. “What do you want with 0693?”

“Her name is Marisa,” David growled, stepping up to Marquis and slapping his hand away. “And I am no longer Eidolon.”

“Well well, so the great hero turned villain, did he? Well, if you need a subordinate, I suppose I will volunteer, so long as you promise to get me out of here before they do the same thing to me they did to this poor child,” Marquis said with a dark chuckle. 

“Hey, yeah, get us all out of here!” another prisoner said eagerly, and Kim flinched. That was Monokeros, 0170 a serial killer with a dangerous master power.

“Marisa, come here,” Eidolon said gently, pulling 0693 to him. She came without resistance, a bit of drool leaking from her mouth. She stood quietly at his side, and Eidolon looked at the increasingly restless prisoners. “I was Eidolon. No longer. I’ve been a monster for years, and we don’t have time to get into my sins. But Cauldron, the Protectorate, and even the United States has crossed a line that I cannot countenance. So I am defecting to the Tsaritsa.”

That brought a sudden hush. Even here, in the BIRDCAGE, they knew of the Tsaritsa. The entire prison had very nearly been crushed by the earthquakes she’d summoned, and more than a few prisoners had ended up here when they’d attempted to evade the Protectorate’s draft on villains. 

“Are you fucking insane?” someone called, but Marquis just laughed, and stepped forward. 

“Well, it’s the Slug, or the Tsaritsa, eh? I’ll take my risks with the Cryo Archon. I’m your man, Eidolon, or whatever you call yourself now.”

“Kim?” David asked, and she started. She looked Marquis up and down. He wasn’t green, but he wasn’t red either. 

“He’s safeish. Won’t immediately backstab us, at least,” she said.

“You’re in,” Eidolon said.

Several other prisoners clamored to be allowed to join, then a voice cut through it all.

You seek the Queen of Ice and Darkness? Then you shall guide me to her, for I have long desired to join her court. 

There was a hush as a young woman dressed in shadows and a prison smock that seemed to glow stepped forward, attended by a trio of spectral forms. Kim realized she was holding her breath, and forced herself to inhale. Glaistig Uaine. Prisoner 0071. One of the originals this place had been built for. The most powerful and dangerous Parahuman in the prison. 

Eidolon met the Fairy Queen’s eyes. She appeared to be a middle schooler, despite her actual age being closer to thirty. Her green eyes glowed with an inner light, and her expression was serene. Out of everyone here, she could probably fight Eidolon, and win. Even if the entire prison turned against her, which was unlikely. Glaistig Uaine had been a model prisoner, enjoying all the creature comforts she desired, though all she’d wanted were fairy tales, fine foods, and Celtic folk music. 

“Kim?”

Kim swallowed. “She…she’s a Trump. I can’t read her. At all.”

Eidolon nodded thoughtfully. “Will you swear to follow the Tsaritsa?” 

I will meet her, and determine who is the true queen of the Fae Courts. Either she will kneel to me, or I to her. Either way, my tale and hers must intertwine. 

“I…will…go…as…well. Archons…seek…to…preserve…humanity. This is…my goal…also…” 

The crowd parted again as Marionette, though he went by Sphere now, swayed forward. Prisoner 0419  was also a model prisoner, though like Glaistig, Kim couldn’t get a read on him because of his sealed suit, and Eidolon didn’t ask. 

“I’ll be glad to have you, Dr. Gramme. My daughter tells me you are yourself again,” David said. 

Daughter? Since when had he had one of those?

Just then, the speakers crackled to life. “Sir, we need to get out of here. We just fought off a PRT response team, and more will be on the way,” Mayday’s voice said over the PA system. 

“Nine’s about as many as I can easily lift long distance,” Exalt said with a shrug.

There was a bellow of rage, and several prisoners tried to attack, but the Fairy Queen and Eidolon swept them aside. They were not gentle, and several bodies were left behind, their shades collected by Glaistig Uaine.

“Let’s move,” Eidolon ordered, and Exalt lifted Kim, Marquis, Sphere, and the Fairy Queen into the air, while Eidolon carried Marisa, who didn’t seem to care one way or another. They were up the shaft in moments, and then, into the skies. “North!” Eidolon ordered. “Over the Arctic! As much speed as we can!” 

The trip was a blur for Kim. She had to use her shield to ward off several attacks by the Protectorate as they flew over Canada, but once they reached the Arctic Circle, a blizzard blew up around them, shrouding them and preventing further teams from attacking. Disturbingly, there was a bubble of calm where Eidolon’s refugees flew, and icy birds and flying reindeer made of snow danced around them, escorting them through the sky. 

“She knows we’re coming,” Kim whispered, shuddering in horror. She had committed to this, but still. This was the White Witch. The Tsaritsa. A villain who made every cape in the BIRDCAGE look a saint, as well as a harmless child. No matter what the Fairy Queen thought, Kim had no doubt who would be kneeling in the end. 

She certainly would be on her knees. And begging for love, and forgiveness, for all the myriad sins she had committed. 

Anatoly was uncertain why all the Harbingers had been called to Moscow. It was the middle of the peace conference in Geneva, but the Tsaritsa, Anastasia, Kollei, and Yeleniza had suddenly returned without warning. Now the Tsaritsa sat upon her throne, a look of smug satisfaction on her face as she lounged like a cat who had got the bird.

“See to it that a grand banquet and ball are laid out this night,” the Tsaritsa drawled, and servants scurried off to see to her commands. It was madness. It was nearly midnight, but if the Tsaritsa commanded a party, a party there would be. 

“Do you know what this is about?” Anatoly whispered in Anastasia’s ear. He caught her scent and had to control himself. He wanted her so, so badly. Whenever he fucked Elena, he imagined it was his sister under him. How he wanted her. The bitch. He would break her, someday. Or kill her. 

“Something about the American prison, the BIRDCAGE,” she whispered back, her hand stroking Anatoly’s arm. She gave him a wicked grin, and he growled in frustration. “Perhaps we could discuss it in my chambers this evening?”

“Why you-”

Anatoly cut off as the Tsaritsa suddenly sat up, composing her face to icy calm. All the Harbingers came to attention as well, even that child Riley in her oversized greatcoat. Kollei was standing at her mother’s right hand, while Ivan was on her left. Anatoly was in the shadows of the left with Anastasia, while Yelaniza and Riley were in favor on the right. It galled him, but so things went. 

An officer hurried in and bowed. “Your Benevolence, a party of Americans has arrived! They are led by Eidolon! He…he claims to have an invitation from you. We have him under guard, but-”

The Tsaritsa interrupted with an imperious gesture. BRING MY HERO TO ME, AND HIS ATTENDANTS. LONG HAVE I AWAITED HIS COMING. 

A group of nine Parahumans entered, though one was accompanied by two shades, and Anatoly’s eyes narrowed. That was the one they called the Fairy Queen. So there had been a prison break.

At the head of the Americans was Eidolon, though he was in civilian clothes, and helping along a young woman with a vacant look in her eyes. Who was that? His lover? Anatoly was only academically interested, and he gripped his icy blades under his coat. One false move, and he would kill them all. 

Before anyone could speak, Eidolon fell to his knees, gently pulling down his companion beside him. The rest of the Americans hastily mimicked him, save one. 

The Fairy Queen continued to walk forward, an expression of curiosity on her face, accompanied by the ghosts of her bound parahumans. She came all the way to the foot of the dias, looking up and meeting the Tsaritsa’s gaze. For her part, the Tsaritsa looked faintly amused. 

At last, the Fairy Queen spoke first. You are the Queen of Cold and Darkness. The one they call the Tsaritsa.

AND YOU, CIARA DUNN, ARE A CHILD PLAYING AT BEING A NECROMANCER. ARROGANT, AREN’T YOU? 

They call me the Fairy Queen. But I see now that you are the true Queen of the Fae. You have taken the place of the Thinker Queen’s court. You are the Icy Administrator. Slowly, the Fairy Queen curtsied. Not to her knees like the others, but a show of respect to one who was above you, but only just. 

I AM NOT.  The howling gale that suddenly filled the room ruffled Anatoly’s greatcoat, but he was used to such displays, and didn’t lose his feet. Ciara, however, let out a cry and fell to her hands and knees as the floor below her turned slick and icy, her two shades vanishing. The Tsaritsa was on her feet, and it was not a mortal disguise she wore any longer. Anatoly went to one knee, bowing his head in unison with the other Harbingers, save Kollei, who had cast off her own mortality, her face glowing with green light even as her mother’s shone with an icy blue. 

“You, you are the one the Avatar has- AH!” Ciara cried out in pain, her forehead cracking to the ground as she shivered and trembled. The rest of the Americans were flat on their faces in awe, save for Eidolon, who continued to kneel, head bowed. 

I WILL SLAY YOUR AVATAR, AND HIS CORPSE WILL BE USED TO DECORATE MY CRYPT. HE IS A FALSE GOD, WHO VIEWS HUMANITY AS CHATTLE AND KINE. SLAVES AND ANIMALS TO BE USED FOR HIS GRIM HARVEST. DO YOU SERVE HIM, CIARA DUNN, OR WILL YOU SERVE ME? 

Ciara began to weep. “M-my faeries, what happened to my faeries?!” 

YOU HAVE BUT THE FRAGMENT OF A DEMON, CHILD. I CAN GIVE YOU SO MUCH MORE. YOU THINK YOURSELF ONE OF THE FAE? I CAN MAKE YOU ONE. NO LONGER WILL YOUR LIFE BE AN ILLUSION. YOUR DELUSION SHALL BECOME REALITY, AND YOU SHALL TAKE YOUR SEAT AT MY LEFT HAND, AS THE FOURTH OF MY HARBINGERS. 

That made Anatoly’s blood boil. Would his rank drop again? But he was not so foolish as to protest now. Knives in the dark later were much more effective. 

“I…I accept, my queen! My god! I will serve you, and you alone! I swear on my power, my soul, and my name, Ciara Dunn, Glaistig Uaine!” 

The gale suddenly faded, and Ciara was picked up by a spray of snow. She blinked, then looked down at herself. She was a child no longer, but a woman in her late 20s or early 30s. Her dress was no longer a prisoner's smock, but a sparkling midnight gown of daring cut. A faerie mask covered her face, and a cape like dark gossamer wings trailed behind her. 

The Tsaritsa held up a greatcoat, identical in style to that of what the other Harbingers wore. Come. And take your place. My Faerie Godmother. 

Slowly, Ciara climbed the steps, then knelt before the Tsaritsa, who placed the mantle on her shoulders. Thank you, Lord Dantilion. I shall weave your tale, give fear into your foes, and delight into your subjects. 

Then Ciara stood, and took her place to Kollei’s right, Riley and Yeleniza stepping aside to make room for her. 

ALAN GRAMME. ARISE. 

The puppet thing that had once been a member of the Slaughter House Nine slowly drew itself to its feet, then shambled forward. “You…seek…to…preserve…humanity.”

MORE THAN THAT. I SEEK FOR MY CHILDREN TO THRIVE. YOU SEEK THE SAME.

The puppet’s head bobbed up and down. “I…would…build…a world…that could…shelter…all…mankind…”

THEN YOUR HEART IS FULL OF LOVE. I WILL CUT YOUR STRINGS, AND GIVE YOU MY OWN. IT IS AT MY DIRECTION YOU PERFORM FROM NOW ON.

Ice wrapped Manequinn, and there was a shattering sound. When it parted, not a puppet, but a man stood before the Tsaritsa. He was dressed in a long black crimson-lined cloak, a bright red satin waistcoat, black trousers, and shining black shoes with silver buckles. He wore a Nutcracker mask, and he had a silver-headed cane and a black top hat in his hands. 

YOU SHALL BE MY TOYMAKER. TAKE YOUR PLACE AS THE SEVENTH OF MY HARBINGERS. 

Riley hurried down the stairs, even as Alan was still looking at his fleshy hands in astonishment. He looked up just in time for Pater to throw herself into his arms, laughing and crying at the same time. 

“We can be a family again! A real one! We can work together, Alan! We can save the world, away from Jack, away from everyone who hated us! The Tsaritsas loves us! Loves you! You can make good things again!” 

“I…Bonesaw?” Alan said, and Riley shook her head fiercely. 

“No. I’m Pater now. Or Riley. But never, ever, Bonesaw.”

“I…I understand.” Alan was guided up the stairs by a grinning Riley, to kneel and receive his own coat. He went to stand with Riley, still holding her hand and looking a bit dazed. 

Apparently, the fool had never seen a god at work before. 

At last, the Tsaritsa turned to Eidolon. She smiled, and extended a hand, her godly visage falling away. “My Hero. At last, you come to me willingly. Arise. It is time for you to take your place.”

Slowly, Eidolon got to his feet, but he lifted up Marisa as well. “I have a price.”

“Oh?” the Tsaritsa was grinning now, and took one step down the stairs. “And what is that?”

“This…this is Marisa Romero. She…she was one of my soldiers. I led her against the Abyss. She wasn’t tainted but…” Eidolon’s voice broke, and tears trickled down his cheeks. “But for her loyalty, she was betrayed. Broken. They took her mind. For daring to speak the truth. For this…”

“For this, I betray all.”

DONE AND DONE. A blue light flashed, and the girl at Eidolon’s side shuddered and fainted, the American traitor barely catching her in time. He peered into her face anxiously, and she stirred.

“I…where am I? Madam President! She was- Sir? What’s going on?”

“Oh, Marisa,” Eidolon gasped, and hugged her tightly. “I am so, so sorry.”

“Sir! They betrayed us!” Marisa suddenly wailed, pushing him away. “They tried to brainwash me! I, it was like I died! I don’t, how did I come back? They took everything, all my memories, my-”

“Memories are stored in the soul. Not the flesh. The Leylines converge here, and brought your lost thoughts to me. There will be holes. Gaps. But I have filled what I can,” the Tsarista said, smiling down at Marisa. 

The girl let out a gasp, and turned to Eidolon. “Why is she here?! Where are we, what is-”

“I betrayed them, Marisa,” Eidolon said, his tone exhausted and weary. “You were the last straw. I wish I could say it was the Abyss. I wish I could say it was my own sins. But no. When I learned what Alexandria had done to you…I knew. I had to bring you home. I’m sorry. I don’t think you can ever return to America. But if you can’t serve under the Tsaritsa-”

“Will you? Are you…are you going to serve…her…sir?” Marisa asked, her voice trembling.

In response, David let go of Marisa, then stepped forward and knelt before the Tsaritsa. “Fine. I won’t be your hero. I’m the Traitor. The Villain. The Rat. You can make me a harbinger, or a janitor, or whatever you have to do. But I’m going to tear down Cauldron. Not just to pay for my sins. But because it’s what has to happen.”

“Do not lie to me, Hero. You want revenge. A noble and just motivation for a Hero,” the Tsaritsa chuckled. Then, she laid a greatcoat over Eidolon’s shoulders. “Feel the cold anger within you. You will need it. So you say you are not a Hero? Very well. I will make of you a Dragon instead. It will not be an easy path. First, I will strip you of all power. Then, when we have the base material, shall you become what you must.”

“Whatever it takes. I don’t need to be the hero. I just need to do what needs to be done,” Eidolon swore.

“Then arise. Hero. Rat King. The world will revile you. But I will always Love you.” The Tsaritsa drew Eidolon up, and kissed him tenderly on his brow. “These others I give to you as yours. They are mine now, as you are. Lead them well.”

“We seek only to save our country from the Abyss,” one of the American capes said, looking up from where he still knelt. 

“That, I cannot promise. But when the time comes, the Hero must go to the Lord of War, and fight at her beck and call. So it was with my Captain. So it shall be with you. A debt owed, and a debt repaid.”

The Tsaritsa sat upon her throne, and Eidolon made his way to the very end of the line.

No. Not there. You are Third, my Hero. Take your rightful place at my daughter’s side.

Anatoly seethed, but he still held his peace. Even when Anastasia giggled at him. At least he was above her. 

Now. You are eight. One has departed. Two more yet shall join your ranks, the Tsaritsa declared. She smiled, a cold, wintery smile. Now, let us face the rest of my trial. Let the world judge me, hate me, scorn me. So long as in the end, there is a world to hate me, I have succeeded. Now, my Harbingers: Go forth, and let the world know my Love. 

A rich joke, Anatoly thought. We don’t spread love, but fear and hate. Well. At least it’s profitable. 

After posing for various photos, the Harbingers scattered. Anatoly avoided Eidolon, and went back to his business, which was making black market deals and smuggling weapons to various pro-Tsaritsa factions around the world. Even at the mandatory banquet to celebrate the new Harbingers, he found power brokers and gun runners, and let them think they sweet-talked him into selling them a few elemental weapons or Delusions. Fools. He spread chaos and collected wealth, just as the Tsaritsa wanted. 

Elena wasn’t at the party, Anatoly kept her at his estate, far away, where she could never betray him. She’d had their son, and he’d get another brat in her to secure the bloodline at some point. She was just a beautiful doll he owned, and his son a future investment. Love? What a joke.

He thought he left the party cloaked in shadows and unobserved, but Anastasia was waiting for him, fanning herself and smiling. 

Come to my room. You know you wish to, dearest brother. 

He shuddered at the command in her voice, and at the desire he felt. He wanted to do just that. To mount her, and make her his again. To own her. But he knew what would happen.

Why, so you can break me like you did Thoma? Fuck you.

He shoved past her, but her arm darted out and grabbed his. He snarled and went for his knife, but her lips locked to his. He froze, then gasped when she bit his lip and drew away, licking blood from her mouth. 

There. You have that to remember me by. You’ll come one day. You’ll kneel before me, and be mine, brother. You’ll be my puppet. Just like I was your doll.

Whore. Bitch, Anatoly snarled. He whirled back and went to the party. He’d pick out some pretty thing and make her his. He had to vent the frustration somehow. 

The pretty American girl who had come with Eidolon caught his eye, and Anatoly began to stalk towards her. Not Marisa, Anatoly wouldn’t start by stealing Eidolon’s own bedmate, but the drunk who used to be the warden of the BIRDCAGE. He would start by breaking her.

Unfortunately, she took one look at Anatoly and fled to Eidolon, who was standing and brooding, surrounded by his Americans. He stepped up to Anatoly, and nodded to him. “You were right.”

“I always am,” Anatoly said, though he had no idea what Eidolon was talking about. 

“I was a fool,” Eidolon continued, which was true enough. “But no more. We’ll be working together now. I’d hate to sour that by having to beat you bloody.”

Anatoly bared his teeth and laughed. “The Tsaritsa took your delusion, and she’s taking your powers, Rat. What makes you think you can beat me?” 

“She hasn’t taken them yet. Stay the fuck away from my people.” Then Eidolon turned and stalked away, his turncoats trailing after him.

Anatoly laughed, and let them go. Soon enough. He wouldn’t be Fifth forever. Someday, he’d stand at the Tsaritsa’s side. She’d give him Anastasia. She’d give him everything he ever wanted. He just had to steal it first.