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Tree branch: check. Assorted lightweight seed-bearing fruits and nuts: check. Other seeds: check. Water bottle, for when she has to veer away from the river: check.
Better not linger in her starting place too much longer. Yellow's faster than her and may have already come home to a wreck. Thorn might have a habit of checking up on the place, even, just in case. She's invisible, inaudible, unsmellable - that won't help if he sends someone thorough. Or comes in person.
She sets out.
She's been flying for about thirty minutes after her shopping trip when she falls through a tear and squeaks inaudibly and lands in the middle of -
imeanforever
imeanforever
"I don't know if fairy orders have ever been tested versus Master capes. And no fairy has ever died - some have been damaged well beyond what a mortal could even contemplate surviving. We just don't die. Riskier is that I'll forget the names, but I won't forget any reasonable number inside a human lifetime and if my memory's not permanent enough, a food vassalization would be. Still, if you're this concerned about what unexpected powers could do to your containment measures I don't understand why you don't just execute supervillains instead. There is some tradeoff being made between risk and mercy, if a clumsy one."
wormcan
"My concern is knowing what the limits are. I have enough common sense not to say that any chance at all is too much.
How about this: we'll test orders against as many types of Masters as we can find on short notice. If the orders show no sign of breaking, any cape you capture who would otherwise be likely to go to the Birdcage gets ordered not to use their powers. Or some similar set of orders to make them as close to normal as possible, for those with powers that make that unfeasible. We spread word that we are working with a cape who can remove powers, to make it less traceable back to you," if Promise accepts this intermediary might need an increased security clearance, "and we can discuss which particular threats to move against."
How about this: we'll test orders against as many types of Masters as we can find on short notice. If the orders show no sign of breaking, any cape you capture who would otherwise be likely to go to the Birdcage gets ordered not to use their powers. Or some similar set of orders to make them as close to normal as possible, for those with powers that make that unfeasible. We spread word that we are working with a cape who can remove powers, to make it less traceable back to you," if Promise accepts this intermediary might need an increased security clearance, "and we can discuss which particular threats to move against."
wormcan
"Good. Now, more urgent things. Their teammate provided a distraction, and did it by bombing the entire city. The bombs are still going off. Order Oni Lee to say where she is, and we might be able to stop her. Definitely if you get her name, and there are lives on the line."
imeanforever
"And if I get her she's mine and not the Birdcage's, free and clear, or do I have to find somewhere to stash her once I've got her if I don't want to hand her over?"
wormcan
"I can't justify not arresting her after this. And I don't have time to debate while people are dying. I can promise I'll do everything in my power to get her sent to an ordinary prison if that's what it takes to convince you, and that I am likely to succeed. That's the most I can offer."
wormcan
"We arrest her anyway, because she's only one cape and the current barrier is not knowing where she is, and we may or may not be able to make her remotely stop the attack. If you refuse to cooperate at all, we find her later or not at all. The bombing continues until the Tinker who specializes in bombs runs out of bombs."
imeanforever
"I will get her if I can, but you cannot indefinitely compel my assistance by having emergencies. I think emergencies are very common around here."
wormcan
"If this were a normal emergency, I wouldn't have had to promise to try to keep a known terrorist out of the Birdcage.
Just get the location, and we'll send as many capes as possible to back you up."
Just get the location, and we'll send as many capes as possible to back you up."
imeanforever
"If I get her name I don't think I'll need backup."
And Promise goes back to her vassals.
"Do not use your powers." (Both.) "Do not fight in such a way as to activate them." (Lung.) "Do not give me any names of any person I do not expressly request unless you know the name of a person who is about to directly attack me, in which case tell me their name immediately. Do not lie to me. With these exceptions, you may act freely. Tell me Bakuda's name and location." (Both.)
And Promise goes back to her vassals.
"Do not use your powers." (Both.) "Do not fight in such a way as to activate them." (Lung.) "Do not give me any names of any person I do not expressly request unless you know the name of a person who is about to directly attack me, in which case tell me their name immediately. Do not lie to me. With these exceptions, you may act freely. Tell me Bakuda's name and location." (Both.)
wormcan
She gets a name from both, and a location from Oni Lee. (Lung having been absent from the planning phase of the plot to break him out.)
She is apparently headed for a storage facility in the Trainyard. The words might not mean much, but she gets more informative directions as well. No PRT agents happen to be in hearing range at the time, so if she strongly prefers a lack of support she has the option of not mentioning her destination.
She is apparently headed for a storage facility in the Trainyard. The words might not mean much, but she gets more informative directions as well. No PRT agents happen to be in hearing range at the time, so if she strongly prefers a lack of support she has the option of not mentioning her destination.
imeanforever
With the informative directions... it won't take her long to fly there.
"If I'm not back in half an hour, tell the first PRT agent or Protectorate cape to ask where Bakuda is."
And now... she thinks she remembers where the exit is.
"If I'm not back in half an hour, tell the first PRT agent or Protectorate cape to ask where Bakuda is."
And now... she thinks she remembers where the exit is.
wormcan
On the way, she'll see explosions. They're not continuous, just one every so often at irregular intervals, but that adds up to a lot of them. When she gets closer, there are signs of several smaller ones. There was some kind of a fight here.
imeanforever
Promise keeps plenty of altitude. And sorceries on her undetectabilities. She could still be collateral damage if her new vassal doesn't know she's there or isn't personally controlling all of this, but being obvious before she has control of the situation seems the worse mistake.
Does that person belong to the name she has? How about that one?
Does that person belong to the name she has? How about that one?
wormcan
Eventually she finds the right person. It's a woman in a gas mask. She's waving a dangerous-looking weapon and laughing, despite bleeding heavily from one foot. The last remnants of a crowd are running from her.
Two unexpected capes are nearby, presumably also villains.
Two unexpected capes are nearby, presumably also villains.
imeanforever
Extra capes. Great.
Promise flies lower. The laughter's loud enough that it's possible the other two capes won't even hear her say -
"Stop."
Promise flies lower. The laughter's loud enough that it's possible the other two capes won't even hear her say -
"Stop."
wormcan
The laughter stops. As does the weapon-waving, it's actually much sillier-looking than any self-respecting criminal mastermind would want to appear, but this one didn't have much choice.
The other two notice, of course. "Bakuda?" No answer.
The other two notice, of course. "Bakuda?" No answer.
wormcan
Nothing happens. One of the other two jumps up and waves a hand in front of Bakuda's nonresponsive face, but hasn't heard Promise yet.
imeanforever
They seem to be waiting on Bakuda; she must be in charge. But they'll hear Promise talking. She's surprised they haven't yet. Promise doesn't know what their powers are, either...
Okay, now something that was already pretty damaged is sorcerously on fire. Loudly enough that Promise can murmur - "Tell them to go investigate that."
Okay, now something that was already pretty damaged is sorcerously on fire. Loudly enough that Promise can murmur - "Tell them to go investigate that."
wormcan
She gets to breathe to do it. She spits out the words one at a time. "You. Should. Check. Out. That. Fire. Over. There."
This is weird, but weird isn't that far out of the ordinary for her. They take it at face value and leave, glancing back every so often.
This is weird, but weird isn't that far out of the ordinary for her. They take it at face value and leave, glancing back every so often.
imeanforever
"Stand normally. Quickly, honestly answer my questions. If you do nothing, will anything explode in the next five minutes?"