"If I could guarantee convincing her to fight for the good guys, she'd win over killing the Slaughterhouse Nine for sure. But starting with attempting to convince her instead of taking the opportunity to get Jack Slash and Nice Guy off of the playing field, forever? Yeah, no. Besides, I don't think I can kill the Siberian. In an ideal world I would kill everyone but her and then convince her to work for me. ... Or convince them all. Except Jack Slash. He can just die."

"I mean, yes, ideal world was what I was thinking of, leave only the Siberian."

"Basically. But there's no guarantee she won't go berserk upon all of her teammates dying horribly by implosion, so."

"Then do it only after you're sure you can contain her."

"... I do not want to leave Jack alive, at all. The longer that man stays alive, the more he can do to cause chaos in the world, the more he can potentially traumatize people into becoming members of the Slaughterhouse Nine, the longer a group of crazy murderers stays together instead of disintegrating. He really, really needs to die."

"...yeah, okay, fair point."

Wry smile. "And between an ultra-powerful parahuman going berserk, completely unwilling to help against Endbringers, and a rotting corpse... Well. I like my resources actually usable instead of theoretical."

They nod.

"But I'm in no hurry to fight the Slaughterhouse Nine. Nice guy and the Siberian might be able to kill me."

Shudder. "Nice Guy's terrifying. Not that the Siberian isn't, but you know, she's a known known, Nice Guy's an unknown known."

"Quite. The thing I'm concerned about with Nice Guy is something involving convincing me to kill myself. If he were to just try and slit my throat he'd get exactly nowhere, but if he got creative... It would not be pretty."

"Creativity in general is dangerous. So glad it's not common."

"Ha. I think it could stand to be more common in the good guys."

"How many good guys would become bad guys if they were creative enough, though?"

"I don't think creativity has much to do with morals. They might see some opportunities outside of the law where they didn't before, but the same can be said of creative villains realizing they can make a fortune if they go rogue instead."

"I'm not so sure. Especially where parahumans are concerned."

"I guess. There really needs to be better outlets for traumatized parahumans. The Protectorate doesn't cut it."

"It definitely does not. I'd say it's counterproductive, except maybe not."

"It's better than nothing? But yeah."

"Got any plans for that, since your power doesn't depend on what people think of you?"

"Take over Africa, first. Make a big deal out of it being a place that's good for sending villains that aren't nasty enough for the Birdcage, and I make sure they're treated well. Throw money at things to create a parahuman support network of some kind that doesn't go, 'And oh by the way join the Wards right now.'"

"And the money comes from where?"

"Oh, I'm almost certified to do work with my powers. I'll make an impressive amount of money. Most of it's going to be ripped to shreds with Africa, but I'll keep some left over."

"Oh, you managing NEPEA-1 alright?"

"Mhm. First thing I asked for was a lawyer. ... Second thing I asked for. First was coffee."