*000000*

"I'm back in the fight," Eki informed us. "Thanks for the save, Horus."

"Time delay of seventeen point three seconds," Aceso spoke. "That's how long it takes to recover."

"Still gotta recharge the shields on the suit," Eki answered, diving back behind my shield for cover from the constant stream of crystal arrows. She looked her armor over, and I gave it a glance as well. There were several areas where the camouflage layer had been cut by the arrows. "Good thing this armor is so durable. Thanks." She patted Clarice on the head. "Guess I owe you. Again."

"That's what family's for, right?" Aceso replied.

"This guy with the arrows has a shield I can't get through," Khepri said through the suits. "You'll have to go after him personally. Also, Animos is falling. Injuries are fine, but we really don't want to kill anyone during this. We're already going to be scary enough that some groups might get the bright idea to team up and come after us. Sure, we have contingencies for that, but it's not something we want to actually happen if we can avoid it.

"I'll clear out the building he's in," Eki stated, looking in the direction that Khepri was pointing her. I flew up toward one of the nearby rooftops, to get a better angle and view. More bolts collided with my armor uselessly. Missy stepped again, and vanished with Aceso. The tracking system put them a couple blocks away.

"Found their reinforcements," Missy said over the com. Four seconds later she spoke again. "Disabled their reinforcements. We're gonna need at least one more bus to haul these losers away. One's getting back up, regen. Aceso has enga- Aceso is purs-. Nevermind, the new parahuman in custody. Brute, mover, seems to be a really fast regenerator. Like faster than Lung."

Those girls, I smiled. So very glad they're on my side.

Animos collided hard with my ramp- he was a brute, after all, and while I was pretty effective even powerless thanks to the suit, I didn't want to be forced to fight like that.

He rolled for a bit before managing to find an angle to slide. I didn't allow it to be completely frictionless this time, so he slid up, and back down, without nearly the speeds that I had put Missy through after we first met. He ground to a halt, eventually.

"Animos is down," I stated for the team. "Human state, now. Broken leg, don't like the look of his ribs, and he's unconscious. He'll survive, but that's about all he'll be able to do for a while."

An explosion burst from the side of the building Eki was in. "This guy's a pain in the ass," she muttered. "It's like trying to fight an even more dick version of Shatterbird. He can use his forcefield to fly."

"Fall back," Minerva ordered. "Unless he engages you, let him run."

"You have a backup plan?" Eki asked.

"A couple," she confirmed. "One of our more fun secret weapons."

----

I paused, a moment of silence for the dead. In that minute, I felt the pulses of emotion off of Taylor. As I had started this speech, live, the operation had started. The thrill of victory, and occasional bursts of disgust and concern radiated off my partner. Her emotions sang. This is her element, where she was happiest.

I wasn't the same. I loved the conflicts, my Passenger guaranteed that I would. Still, mine was not a power for the front line. I was a builder, and the more I built the more my Passenger rewarded me. More skill, more control, more confidence. Everything I had been lacking. My General was on the front lines, where she belonged. I was here, where I belonged, making everything possible.

Time to continue the speech. "It has been confirmed that the explosion was not the result of the Simurgh self destructing, as was originally believed, but instead a tinker weapon she built and deployed." A partial lie, I knew. True enough to pass any lie detection, however. "If there is a victory in this, it's knowing that her brothers can be eliminated without risking the death of much of the rest of the world. Pantheon will be there to ensure that destruction." I gave a minor pause. Judging by Taylor's emotional undercurrent, she was pleased on her end. Good.

"But today is not about that mission," I conditioned, switching tones. "Today is about the cowardly actions taken by others in the wake of New Delhi. The world has lost many of its heroes. Not simply those who called themselves heroes and worked with the Protectorate, or those in independent teams like Pantheon. There are those who call themselves villains, and those who wish to avoid using their powers entirely. They who did not call themselves heroes, yet still had the courage to stand and fight against the enemy of all humanity. Let no one say their sacrifices were any less dear."

"To those who see the this tragedy as a weakness to exploit," I continued, letting my own disgust seep into my voice. The feelings that Valefor and the Slaughterhouse Nine evoked in me. "To the pathetic cowards who look upon the death of almost a billion people and consider it an opportunity," I spit the word. "Pantheon issues this warning: we consider any attempt to use New Delhi for personal gain to be a direct violation of the Endbringer truce. We will act accordingly."

"Chicago has been invaded by such scum," I continued. "Jackals looking to prey upon the suffering of others. We are moving to remove them from the city, even as I give this speech. Within the hour, they shall be disabled and in custody. Along with a number of other criminal elements. The city of Chicago is now clean." I said that with full confidence, knowing that Taylor was still entirely pleased on her end.

I let that concept sink in for a second, and even a few of the men watching this announcement murmured their surprise.

"In order to keep it that way, we have brought to this city the first of our M6 defender models. Our upgrade to the M4s deployed in Brockton Bay. Powerful enough to legitimately fight most capes. Versatile enough to ensure they can respond to almost any threat. Brockton Bay's PRT Director Calvert, and Police Commissioner Micheals have both provided volunteers to train the police and PRT of Chicago in the use of this equipment."

"I will be handing over the stage to Director Hearthrow, to explain the PRT's plans with this equipment."

He approached me and accepted the microphone as I stepped back. "First, I would like to thank both Pantheon and Director Calvert for their joint efforts-"

CertaintySuperioritySuccess. I smiled broadly as I tuned out Director's speech. What he said didn't matter compared to the emotions from my General. My Partner. We won. No sense of muted disappointment, except maybe the part of Taylor that had hoped it would be more of a challenge. It took only a few minutes. The other gangs, the ones that were relatively benign, received their warnings and their bruises. The ones we truly cared about had been shattered.

The Adepts were the one gang we left essentially untouched. They had traits distinguishing them from the others: they sent people to New Delhi, and they did not kill. To them, we made a different sort of offer. Pantheon was expanding, as was the Protectorate and the Guild. If they wanted, as individuals or as an organization, they could get out of crime now and we would do everything in our power to ensure they had a chance to be heroes.

When we moved on Los Angeles, and Miami, and Houston, and Vegas in the coming weeks, we would do the same thing. We weren't stopping until we had undone the damage caused by the Simurgh. The message would be sent. The old ways are no longer an option.

===================

A/N- Man, this was a *fun* chapter for me.

Also- the Author's Notes Drinking Game is to take a sip every time I say "foreshadowing". More than a sip, and you will die.

There's a LOT of foreshadowing in this chapter.Amelia, Ch 130- Lisa

I arrived promptly five minutes before my scheduled meeting. Same secretary as before, I noted. Smarter than average. College educated. Ambitious. Driven. No desire to seek out a more prestigious career. Six figure salary. I was actually surprised. Knowing that Accord knew how to take care of his people was valuable for the future.

I gazed out the window at the skyline. Excellent view, I noted. Accord has same view in office. Recent renovations of certain buildings. Symmetrical pattern. I blinked. Accord purchased several city blocks in order to sculpt this view of his. Why hadn't I noticed these details before?

I turned my power inward. Focused on Accord, jealousy toward other, more successful thinker. Distracted from other useful details by focusing power on finding methods to safely goad Accord without risk. Inferiority complex-

I cut the feed and suppressed the desire to sigh. Fucking Rapture. After learning she could do such a thing, I had to try it for myself. I didn't need my power to tell me why yet again. It was the competition. She'd gone somewhere I'd never before dared, and I just couldn't live with that thought.

All those zen monks could go fuck themselves: self awareness sucks and murders the very concept of fun. The one saving grace is how much stronger it made my power, if indirectly. Not wasting my efforts on infantile contests of will freed up a truly depressing amount of power to direct at other, more valuable, concerns. Still not enough to save Taylor from that what that empathic bond is going to do.

"Accord is ready for you," the secretary informed me.

"Thank you," I replied as I walked in. The office was an impeccable as before. In fact, I was fairly certain that everything in it, including Accord himself, was in exactly the same place as before, down to the centimeter. My power noted the symmetry in the patterns. It was, in its own way, flawless. I hated it instinctively. There is no mystery here, no imagination or possibility.

"A pleasure to see you again, Accord," I said as he stood.

"You as well, Minerva," he acknowledged. "I admit I'm once again somewhat surprised by your request for an audience. As well as your apparent promotion."

Promotion? Oh, right, I acted like nothing more than an errand girl last time. "My bosses seem to like my work," I almost shrugged. Habit from last time to be unnecessarily annoying, quit it. "I'm now head of their thinker department."

He nodded, just barely enough for my thinker perceptions to note. "They certainly have proven an ability to harness their employees talents to the fullest," he stated.

"Yes," I agreed. Approves of efficiency. Approves of order. Amoral, does not view 'good' and 'evil' as things. Replaced by concept of 'order' and 'chaos'. Views chaos as morally repugnant. "As much as I'm sure they love knowing you appreciate their efforts, we should get to business. Pantheon is currently, and I do apologize for the pun, branching out."

"As in Chicago?" he asked. Has spies, knows our plans, not internal, through the PRT, knows I'll realize this.

I nodded. "Yes," I agreed. I suppressed the desire to claim I knew the whole time. It's something I would have done, before. Fucking Rapture. "I admit... I am a little caught off guard that you knew. We weren't planning to act until tomorrow."

"Do you blame me for spying upon you?" he asked. Testing resolve and pragmatism. Is willing to make amends if it upsets me, or Pantheon.

"Not at all," I responded. "If anything, it's flattering. And it says good things of your intelligence and the strength of your information network." All true, except perhaps for being flattered by it.

He nodded. Considers test to be passed successfully.

"It actually makes me feel a lot better about my task here. I've come here to propose a... merger, of sorts, between our organizations," I informed him.

"I see," he nodded. Surprised by idea. Had desired an official alliance, had not expected such an aggressive offer. "I will make no promises, but I am interested in hearing your ideas. What you believe our respective functions would be in this arrangement."

I nodded, and carefully formulated how to present the pitch. It would be best, for a man like Accord, to start by explaining why we entertaining such a seemingly rash maneuver. "First," I started. "We have been watching you as well, as I'm sure you're aware. As I said in our last meeting, we are all very impressed with your work in Boston. You have never participated in the drug markets, or any of the other... messy... crimes. Your goals are the same as our goals."

He nodded. He was more at ease, now, knowing we had given this real consideration. The praise didn't hurt, either. "The truth is, Accord, you have strengths that we do not. We can provide resources and play politics with the best of them. However, we are facing new challenges now. After New Delhi. I would be lying if I claimed we were fully prepared for the aftermath of that."

"No one can truly prepare for the chaos that the Endbringers represent," Accord offered. Trying to offer condolences, is sincere. Huh, I thought. Did not expect that.

I nodded. "Of course," I agreed. "The Protectorate has been broken, and with it the order and stability they represent." I could imagine him frowning beneath his stern mask. He had no doubt already considered what the loss of so many heroes meant.

"Pantheon is moving to... hold things together. By replacing the Protectorate entirely if we must. Or, far more preferably, acting more as the Guild. Moving into destabilized areas and enforcing order," I explained. "We will be recruiting in large numbers, or forcing recruits to the Protectorate simply by making crime difficult and unprofitable. Those remaining criminal organizations will be unable to present themselves as a significant threat."

"And that would include my own less than legal operations?"

"Well, in your case, I believe we can offer legal choices that are far more profitable," I smiled. "As I am sure you are already aware, Pantheon and its allies currently own well over thirty percent of the city of Brockton Bay. Several billion dollars in net worth, and increasing rapidly in value as order is restored." I left out 'plus whatever a planet costs' in my calculations, of course. It was a question we might have to pose to Marketing, some day.

"Yes," he agreed. "I have been made aware. I admit to purchasing a reasonable amount of property, myself, after meeting with you last time."

I nodded. Also a known fact. "We could do the same in Chicago and other cities as well. To say nothing of the profits we can make in other areas, plus leveraging the sheer political influence we have thanks to our relationship with the PRT and police forces."

"You're saying you're willing to share that power with me?" he asked.

"Quite a bit more than that," I responded. "I'm saying we're putting you in charge of it. You are a force for order in the world, but you have trouble with people and are better working from behind the scenes. Pantheon also desires order, and I believe we have achieved that in our own way, but we are better at working with people and confronting the less civilized threats in a more direct fashion."

"A succinct way of putting it," Accord agreed.

"What we propose is an obvious division of responsibilities. Pantheon will continue operating the way it currently does," I continued. "We'll expand our presence into Boston, complete with our Yggdrasil and a minor base of operations if possible, where we can supply you and yours with our equipment. We will drive out all threats, break the drug and prostitution markets as we have in Brockton Bay. You will also continue as always, managing... our joint economic resources, including the significant wealth we have control over from Coil's organization. How to best distribute aid to areas that need it for maximum results. Allowing us to be both effective and profitable."

No surprise, level of disappointment. Knew Coil. Working relationship. Saw him as a friend. Fuck. Why didn't we think to ask Coil about Accord? "We will, of course, put you in contact with the man we have controlling those resources. Another of our silent partners, recruited much like you're being recruited. You and he will likely be working together regularly. I believe you know him already, although he goes by another name now."

Got the hint, is relieved despite not knowing why he was upset. I didn't let my smile show. Accord isn't one of the thinkers who looks inward.

He was probably doing the calculations in his head. Simply clearing Boston of the Teeth alone would be worth potentially hundreds of millions to him in the long run. The 'insider trading' arrangement we offered for future real estate and other development projects would be hard to calculate, though with his power he likely already had. More than all of that: an opportunity to use his power to its fullest extent. He'd be managing the economies of several cities, while we handled the politics so he didn't have to.

"And all this costs me is the criminal side of my organization?" Accord asked.

"For the most part," I informed him. Won't like next part, needs a way to view it as beneficial enough to be worth the trouble. Best to divorce him from the problem entirely so he knows he'll never have to concern himself with it.

"You will have to accept some... inefficiencies... when it comes to dealing with troublemakers. In essence: you won't. Pantheon will handle disruptions and determine punishment itself, possibly in ways you would find less than satisfactory. Our leaders believe in offering second chances to almost everyone. This does, sadly, mean that some people will disappoint us by taking advantage of their generosity," I stated. He of course agreed with that assessment. Now to show him the upside of the endeavor. "However, I really cannot complain. After all, without that policy I would not have this incredible opportunity, and there would still be three Endbringers."

"You bring up an excellent point," Accord sighed. "As messy as it may be, I admit I cannot dispute the results. That is acceptable, as is your offer of a merger."

I set my briefcase on the desk. "These are a list of our assets and arrangements. As well as various estimates of our organization's production capacity. If necessary, we can leverage influence with the PRT, the Guild, Alexandria, and almost any police or political force within the cities we approach. We also have the support of Dinah Alcott, but we are using her for... other projects, also detailed in the notes presented here."

He nodded. "Understood. When do you believe you'll be ready to implement my projects?"

"Our operations for the next two days will be tied up in the planning and execution of our project in Chicago. After that, Houston is our next target."

"Why Houston?"

"The Fallen have managed to earn the... personal... attention of our leadership," I responded. Worried, sees this as a vendetta of revenge instead of pragmatism. "In addition, this cements a stronger relationship with Haven and cripples or eliminates one of the more destructive forces still remaining in the country. Given their... attitude toward the Endbringers and our past history, the conflict is inevitable. If we don't go after them, then they'll eventually take the fight to us. It's better to strike now, while we have the opportunity and before they have prepared themselves.."

He nodded again, relieved by my logical reasons. "It will be a week, then, before you're ready?"

"Likely only four days," I answered. "Let us say a week, however. Time enough to recover any resources spent on our objectives. I will, of course, be available to discuss our plans and needs at any time."

"I will familiarize myself within two days and make contact," Accord stated.

"I look forward to a long and stable relationship," I smiled. "Thank you. I shall see myself out, if that is all."

"It is," he agreed.

===============

A/N- And they didn't even have to brainslug him.

Last edited: Mar 31, 2015

Like Quote ReplyReport

Like Reactions:TheBigMole, Surtur, Darth Bayes and 115 others

TanaNari

Jan 10, 2015

Reader mode

Add bookmark

Threadmarks

Threadmarks Amelia, Ch 131

Threadmarks

TanaNari

TanaNari

Verified Dick

Jan 10, 2015

Add bookmark

#152

Amelia, Ch 131

Chicago had proven insanely successful, I considered as we went to our next destination. Director Calvert had his career made for him, now. Brockton Bay's PRT was being remodeled into something closer to 'elite training facility'. The PRT was already recruiting primarily from the same pool of candidates as the military's special forces branches, and now they had an elite even amongst the elite. He had other directors courting him to determine where the next waves of troops would come from, and where they would go. The establishment of M6s across the country.

We had a contract, of sorts, now. Calvert's new PRT would lead the charge in parahuman encounters, providing the front line cannon fodder in the form of easily replaceable M6s, and then backed up by parahuman firepower. It was a system that didn't even need a Protectorate, really.

Speaking of which, Brockton Bay no longer had a Protectorate. Battery and Assault were gone. Miss Militia, Triumph, Clockblocker, and Kid Win were the remainder of the team, and all of them but Miss Militia were looking at moving, probably to Boston. They'd likely be moved again within a year. We were hoping to convince them to switch sides, but it was... well, New Delhi. For us to recruit official members of the Protectorate under these circumstances was not acceptable.

Besides, our model had changed. We were no longer a cape group, we were setting ourselves up to be above and beyond that. By the end of the month, we would be part of an alliance of teams. Accord and his Ambassadors would be one, possibly the Guild as another. The Adepts and Haven would likely be in as well. More of a federation of groups than a single organization. Other independent hero groups and any number of rogues would no doubt start joining as well, if only because we provided a nearly obligation free membership that came with incredibly powerful defense from the PRT's strong arm tactics.

We were, of course, traveling through our own planet. One of those "secrets" we wanted to reveal semi accidentally, much like Taylor's identity and Clarice's supposed family history. Most of us just made the trip home, but Taylor and I had to drop off the prisoners. We'd have to be batshit insane to actually keep them anywhere near Chicago. So we were taking them to one of Dragon's facilities. Somewhere in Vermont. Under a lake. That meant Missy was with us. And where she went, of course Riley followed, and Theo. All on the next generation of flying horses.

No flying horses for Taylor and I, though I finally had a flight system. We rode on the front of the prison transport. A sort of walking cage, it did resemble a stagecoach, or probably closer to a covered wagon with countless centipede like legs instead of wheels. In the back was twelve parahumans, all considered the most dangerous of the bunch. Ordinary criminal assholes were, of course, going to ordinary prison.

I snuggled against Taylor. "So, is this our equivalent of a pumpkin carriage?" she asked.

"Guess that makes you Cinderella," I agreed, laughing.

"You're the one in a dress," she pointed out.

"Toga," I corrected. "And I made the carriage, so clearly I'm the fairy godmother. Besides, you're the one wearing high heels."

"Okay, you win," she sighed. "Also, I'm telling Sarah you called her an evil step mother. Then I'm telling Crystal."

"You wouldn't dare!" I exclaimed.

"You can't stop me," she teased.

"I can turn you into a slug," I told her. "We'll see who you can tell what, then." I stuck my tongue out at her.

"Still have my swarm," she dismissed. "Plus, you like my legs waaay too much for that." To emphasize her point, she stretched back and brought her right leg up. Then she ran her hand along from her knee to her hip.

"Uh..." I mumbled dumbly. ConfidentPleasedSecure. "You. I hate you sometimes."

She pulled me into a hug, resting her head on mine. It was nice, even with the armor in the way. "No you don't," she whispered to me.

I squeezed her tight. "No, I don't. But I might still club you with a fire extinguisher."

"Best first date I've ever been on," Taylor joked back.

"Same for me," I laughed. "You should meet some of the dumbasses I kept getting set up on blind dates with."

"Y'know, I had to bribe Lisa to keep quiet about our second date," she chucked, then she added huskily. "You remember, the one where I woke up handcuffed in bed."

I blushed at that. Or the way she said it and the images it provoked, at least. AmusedPleased. "Sorry about that, by the way. I was a total bitch."

"There is absolutely no need to apologize," she insisted. ComfortGratitude. "You saved my life. Or at least saved me from being crippled and in pain for the rest of it. You're my hero. Don't you dare forget that." I smiled, feeding the warmth of our link.

Vista, still on Calysta, appeared beside us. "Hey, you two," she said. "In case you've forgotten, there are impressionable children here. You can talk about beds and handcuffs when we get home."

SurpriseEmbarrassment. I covered my face. Or the armor over my face, at least. The planet was still not really comfortable for people to be outside unprotected.

"Why would anyone want to use handcuffs?" Riley asked. "There are so many better restraining devices."

Theo choked and started coughing. UneaseShock. And with that, what was left of the mood was broken.

"We're here," Missy informed us. "Have been for, like, two minutes."

The kids got off their horses, leaving them behind as they took position on top of our transport. I fused their armors to the biomass, allowing us all to be considered a single lifeform for the purposes of the teleporter. Then I pressed the button for our 'shunt' technology, and the world changed. Or, the world stayed the same and we left it for a new one.

There was no flash, no warning, simply the change of a scene. A flat plane of biomass replaced with uneven greenery of trees and life. A sun that was both brighter and smaller than the one of our world. Atmospheric illusion, apparently. When we were done terraforming, our own planet's skies would look much the same. Except the birds. Chances were that we'd never introduce a natural biosphere on our world.

Thirty PRT soldiers were there, alongside another six others in armor suits. I recognized Dragon and Defiant, but not the other four which flanked them. They all had a distinctly draconic appearance to them, and were almost identical to each other. When did Dragon start recruiting soldiers? I wondered. WaryCurious.

"Good to see you again, Pantheon," Dragon started. "I take it there weren't any difficulties."

"Nothing important," Taylor answered, buying a bit of time while I adjusted to being nearly blind again. Going from continent level awareness to almost nothing was disconcerting. "Transporting a lot of people can take a while."

She nodded. We were presenting our dimensional shunt as a form of teleporter tech. Not completely untrue, of course, but there were obvious flaws in that as a cover story. Flaws we knew they'd pick up on. Better for them to focus on that than details such as Riley's actual identity. Even if it was now the least well kept secret in the world. Worst case scenario, we'd tell the world the truth. Without her help, we would not have been able to kill an Endbringer. It wasn't the most elegant of choices, but it was there if we needed it.

"I see," Dragon nodded. Defiant, meanwhile, had gone to the back of our transport. I sent the first pulse, that separated our suits from the thing, so everyone could climb off. Then the second command, that caused the walls of the prison containment to open and fold down to the ground like ramps. The prisoners blinked as they slowly started to wake up. We didn't have containment foam, after all, so we theoretically used a sleep gas. Or just my power ensuring they didn't wake up.

They were gathered up by the PRT soldiers, with Defiant supervising.

"So, I see you're expanding," Taylor said, nodding toward the armored men.

"Yes," Dragon confirmed. "Recent events have... raised a number of concerns. We've also recently recruited a new tinker that has greatly simplified mass production of tinker tech."

ShockRealizationAwe. I nodded. "That... that is impressive," I stated.

"Not quite a match for Pantheon's production ability," Dragon admitted. "If we're being honest, I only have permission to field a force like this because of you."

"You mean because people want someone out there that can kill us if we get too troublesome," Taylor concluded.

Dragon didn't respond. In truth, she didn't have to. It was the only possible conclusion.

"We've been meaning to discuss something, actually," I stated. "We're creating a sort of alliance of non-government cape groups. We'd like to invite the Guild to be members. The perks are pretty straightforward: shared tinker knowledge, backup when it's needed. Pantheon's role is... mainly support. Our bioarmor suits are the main appeal, we offer them to any of our affiliates, although I can see where the Guild might not feel the need."

She regarded us. "I will have to discuss this with the others," she stated. "It's not my place to make those decisions."

"We also offer individual memberships," Taylor added. "There are a number of capes that have joined while still continuing to work for the Protectorate. Sure, they probably murdered their careers in the process, but you don't need to feel pressure to choose between the Guild or Pantheon."

She looked toward Defiant. "That could work," she agreed. "I do need to consider the... political repercussions, however."

AnnoyanceDisappointment. "I understand," I said. God damn politics. "We'll keep in touch."

She nodded. By now, the prisoners had been taken out of our transport and moved to theirs for whatever it was they did with prisoners. Processing? Is that what they called it? Either way, they'd be locked up in the bottom of a lake, in case anyone decided to try to escape. Only those members of truly horrific groups like the Teeth, and a handful of the other nastier gangs were here. Some were birdcage bound, others weren't but should have been. Almost twenty other capes remained in PRT custody in Chicago. The ones that there was no doubt the PRT would try to gang-press into the Protectorate or Wards.

It felt bizarre, considering our original plans to functionally break the Protectorate and PRT in half, that we were doing this.

After only a few minutes, we shunted back over to our personal dimension, and went home. With less than a third of the number of people, and a shorter trip in general, we were home in only a couple more minutes. I allowed the transport to melt back into the Yggdrasil mass before we stepped through the portal. Our suits, and the pegasus... pegasuses? Pegasi? Whatever, we all were clean of radiation.

Taylor followed me as we went to what I had started to think of as our bedroom. She still had her own, of course. But she only ever used it to change. We stripped out of our armors and left them to be healed by the Yggdrasil. I spent my time looking at her legs as she stretched and plopped down in bed.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked, smiling.

I smiled back. We both knew the answer, so I summed it up with a single word. "Handcuffs."

She blushed. PleasedAmused.

We just sat there for a minute while I was strongly considering kissing her a second time, just to see if it would work better when spontaneous. And then a man appeared out of nowhere in our bedroom.