witch's cape, not hat

[characterquarry]

Grendyne groans and starts pulling on her boots when the alarm goes off. Again. She quick-marches to the broom hangar, sits on her machine and is handed a plethora of loaded weapons by attentive corporals.

"Two flyers in one day? They're getting way too common."

"It's worse," the commander informs them, "South Karlsland got hit with three at once. We're taking Lytee's express and sleeping there. You can sit out if you absolutely need to, but Freya's still recovering so we could use you as a comms relay."

"No, I'll come. I just reserve the right to complain about it."

The 42nd United Forces Witch Wing takes off and assembles into a perfect synchronized formation as Lytee charges her teleport power.



...This is not South Karlsland wilderness.

[note: halfway through this thread I created a unique account for Grendyne. Do not be alarmed by the change in account. -Rockeye]

Comments

[characterquarry]

"Breakfast first." Breakfast is had, and she follows to their car afterward.

Along the way, "Say, you probably don't have Steelwings, but they kinda-sorta operate on mechanical principles. Any old broom will do for flying, but Steelwings make us faster and more maneuverable, and they're better for endurance too. Do you think someone could make me a better one?"

[wormcan]

"Almost surely. We've got aerodynamics down to a science, and that's not even counting the people whose superpowers are to be good at building things. It'd take a bit of time, though."

[characterquarry]

"Of course. It's an exciting idea, though. Almost more exciting than a futuristic gun. My top speed on a plain old stick is about as fast as a galloping horse, but on the steelwing I can go fast enough I have to toughen myself against the wind. I wonder how much better it can get."

[wormcan]

"If we get Tinkers involved, it depends how well you can harden yourself against the wind."

They arrive at the range, and start testing modern weaponry. It's really Grendyne's abilities with it that are being tested, of course, but that's to be expected since she's joining a paramilitary organization.

[characterquarry]

Well, she hasn't actually trained in long range marksmanship because 'long range rifles' are not a thing where she's from, and she explains as much. She can hit targets at a hundred hundred yards with her bow, but does not prove to be an instant prodigy with rifles.

She's very good with pistols and shotguns, though, and running around or being suddenly presented with targets in unexpected directions or 'hostages' that she mustn't hit (as in the close-quarters-combat testing range) doesn't trip her up.

She's really thrilled about the capabilities of modern firearms. It might be a bit disconcerting to see a teenage girl giggling over guns.

[wormcan]

Not a bit. It's a teenaged girl who is also an ally, this is a plus.

[characterquarry]

After spending most of the morning on guns of various sorts, she finds the guy who seems to be most in charge and informs him, "I worked out the math using restaurant prices as a comparison point, and I want either twelve thousand dollars a month, or three thousand per month plus bigger combat bonuses. If you're going to give me room and board and food, we can knock a couple thousand off that."

[wormcan]

Coil himself has yet to appear. The person she found is Minor, the team captain.

"We could probably hire a team of capes for that. Lucky for you the boss is rich. We'll go with the second one."

[characterquarry]

It's a bit strange that Coil is nowhere to be found. Officers are usually inconveniently in the way.

"Part of why I want so much is how my powers will dry up to the point of near-uselessness in about fifteen years. I've got to save up while I can. Will there be a contract?"

[wormcan]

He nods. "How long do you want it to be for?"

[characterquarry]

"Let's say a year, with a voluntary exit clause at the end of the first month if either side wants it. Just in case Coil finds me less useful than he expected, or I get a better offer."

[wormcan]

When you're a mercenary working for a supervillain who may or may not be a cape, contracts tend not to see the inside of a courtroom. But Minor himself has one, it's just professionalism after all, and his can be adapted easily enough. He agrees.

[characterquarry]

Having a contract seems to soothe the by-the-book sensibilities that the Witch Wings beat into her.

After a few minutes of discussion and editing ("It's really quite convenient both worlds have English...") a contract is signed.

[wormcan]

When Grendyne and the team eventually leave for lunch, they pass a man who smells like teleportation.

[characterquarry]

Tele-whispered into Minor's ear with some urgency, "I smell a cape. Teleporter and something I'm trying to identify. The Far East-looking man who just passed us. Duplication, maybe."

And she starts to channel mana, ready to pop shields in any direction. Just in case.

[wormcan]

Minor whispers back, "Oni Lee. Line of sight teleportation, clones stay behind for a few seconds. Very dangerous."

"If we're lucky, he'll lead us to Lung's base. We follow him, far enough back he can't see us. Means we can't see him, but also means he can't kill us in seconds. Grendyne, we're relying on your nose for this.
And do not use his power, not outside an emergency. Speculation is that being a copy of a copy of a copy added up to serious brain damage eventually, best avoid that."

[characterquarry]

"I suspect if I tried to use his power I wouldn't leave duplicates. But I won't try it outside of an emergency, affirmative. I can track him actively, though not indefinitely. Should be enough."

And she keeps walking to the next street corner before crossing and going back the other way at a bit of a faster pace. After a couple dozen blocks. "Okay, he teleported a few times then stopped moving."

[wormcan]

"Can you give us a direction, from enough different points to triangulate later? Goal is to find out where without ever being in line of sight."

[characterquarry]

"I can try. I don't think I can get directions down better than about fifteen degrees of arc." She points, though, and keeps walking, pointing again every time the direction has noticeably changed.

When she gets within a couple blocks of the place, "Wait... Another cape is with him. Can't pick out details this far out. Something aggressive, whatever it is."

[wormcan]

"If it's with Oni Lee, it's probably Lung. Starts out strong, gets stronger as he fights. No known upper limit, he's gone toe to toe with Endbringers. Also regenerates and turns into a dragon.
We don't want to fight him. Better stay farther out, triangulating will take longer but it'll be safer."

[characterquarry]

"Yeah, stronger as he keeps fighting sounds right. Alright, staying far away it is."

Triangulating them into a single block-sized area will take about an hour of walking at this pace.

[wormcan]

For something as important as the location of the ABB's remaining capes, they can spare an hour. But part way through, the capes change position and start moving. Toward them.

[characterquarry]

She doesn't actually detect them moving right away. Scent is imprecise like that. But soon, "Trouble. They're moving again. They'll be on top of us in less than a minute. Didn't catch it 'till just now 'cause they're heading straight towards us."

[wormcan]

"One minute and we're fighting Lung. Him and Lee fight to kill.

When they come, everyone fire on Lung simultaneously. Shortest time between shots we can manage. Hopefully it'll keep him down long enough for us to get away.
Lee will get here first...I'll be bait. Hit him as soon as he appears. Tranq shots only, he'll be right on top of me. Got to be quick enough he doesn't teleport again."

The squad take positions.

[characterquarry]

"Do I use my powers to blast Lung or hold them in reserve?"