"About three quarters of the city did that, the rest are people who can't afford to move or have other reasons for staying. There's hope things will be repaired in another couple of months, and the Undersiders are optimistic that they can reduce gang violence below pre-Leviathan numbers even after that happens."

"...with creative definitions of gang violence, or even without that?"

"Without that. Mostly because the other gangs barely exist anymore."

"I guess the state monopoly on violence emerged once and can emerge again. Now with added bullet ants."

"There will still be a hero team, and the police and PRT, but they aren't doing so hot and the hope - on both sides I think - is that they'll collaborate on major threats and avoid outright fighting each other unnecessarily."

"Not doing so hot how?"

"Well, I just defected. And uh, Lorica and another Ward - Gallant - both died, and the three members of the Brockton Bay Protectorate including the leader. Two other capes have transferred over - both to the Wards - and I think there will be an additional Protectorate cape as well - but the numbers still come out lower."

"Gallant's a funny name, like that old cartoon - what was their power?"

"Emotional detection and blasts which impacted the targets emotions in addition to packing a fair punch. He really wasn't supposed to be in direct combat but he was helping evacuate civilians from a damaged shelter when Leviathan showed up there and he stood in the way."

"...I... guess... that if all you have is a hammer you might as well use it to detect people via their emotions through rubble."

"I think most of the utility came from him being a familiar and trusted face to the civilians sheltering there."

"Wow, no accounting for taste."

"Lorica had a power that blocked him from reading her, which unnerved him but I think she was pretty happy about,"

"No shit."

"Most people don't mind that much, but reasonable to differ on this."

"Do most people not mind or do they just sort of figure it would be pointless to mind."

"I guess I personally don't mind and - I don't know. He was one of the more popular Wards?"

"Well, how often did he go around affecting people's emotions, would it be enough to see statistically?"

"Not at all - the emotional blasts were only used to disorient people in combat."

"Well, I guess I'm just weird then."

"Mhm. Maybe we should find a subject that isn't about my dead teammates so much?"

"- right. Sorry. Uh. More War and Peace?"

Sure! At this rate they'll make it through the book in .... well, still quiet a while, but they're making progress.

A Rete drone pauses in the window to make sure they're interruptible, and then Transit's in the room with them.

He's got his helmet on so he's neither obviously her dad nor obviously not her dad. "- eep!"