"I've had what you might call a change of heart."

"Why?"

"Time alone to sit and think. Gain some perspective."

Hum.

"That's not something for me to evaluate, not on my own."

"Of course not."

"Though perhaps I can suggest you not try to take me into custody."

"Wasn't planning on deciding that either."

"Delegated all your authority to the other two in your little club, hm?"

"No."

"I don't think we need to take you in, and I agree with you that it'd be a bad idea to try."

"Good."

"Do you plan to break American law again?"

She tilts her head, considering.

"No."

"The Protectorate has... Procedures in place for handling this sort of thing, though usually at a slightly less dramatic scale."

"For rebranding villains?"

"Sometimes. For restorative justice in general, let's say."

"What do they involve?"

She hums and explains a few, in overview -

Skywalker doesn't have a kill order or anything, but Legend seems to find it important to detail how these processes work with villains with a kill order, or who can claim coercion, or whose powers interfere with their judgment, for some reason definitely not related to who was or wasn't mysteriously absent from this scene.

(It very much sounds like the Protectorate usually isn't quite this open about all their options. Legend, though, clearly favors not threatening Skywalker into any further community service.)

Smart of her. (And a touch too perceptive for Skywalker's liking.)

(Perhaps the lasers aren't the only reason she's head of what's generally considered the toughest branch of the Protectorate to work in.)

She's willing to answer further questions too, of course, and - well, they can pretty easily fill their time with this until Legend's more cautious backup arrives.

Might as well see who the rest are.

She'll probably be displeased that Eidolon is among them!

But they apparently don't actually normally have him do much in the way of diplomacy, so he just hovers awkwardly and grouchily. Legend takes point on just about all of the paperwork, which is, as promised, very tedious.

A set of paperwork somebody who theoretically may or may not have a kill order they want lifted should submit, and written instructions, ends up in the stack of materials at one point. Mysterious how that got there.

Legend seems very interested in keeping Skywalker not their enemy, and, somewhat mildly, says that New York City is always recruiting if Skywalker gets an urge to join the Protectorate, as a member or affiliate. (She's very not pushy about that, though - she does want to set up at least check ins for Skywalker to answer questions, even just 'where do we put this money,' and she's also very open about wanting Skywalker at future Endbringer fights if that's at all doable.)

(Skywalker's also going to need to make a decision, preferably very soon, about whether she wants her name and/ or image associated with the deaths of the Slaughterhouse Nine. This isn't exactly news that'll stay under wraps longer than a few hours.)

Yes. Let it be Skywalker's first recognized appearance.

That'll simplify things.

She does, also, warn Skywalker that (very obviously) she'll draw attention - negative attention should mostly be from the more insane villains (or anyone international who decides to get concerned about the US maybe having yet more powerful capes), but some might be mixed if anyone digs up her past as the Keres.

If they want to try anything, that's on them.

The Protectorate would appreciate it if Skywalker stays within the bounds of lawful self defense, going forward.

Skywalker is sure they would.