Nursing a headache, I took a sip from a glass of water as I sat in one of the meeting rooms, the dialysis machine in the corner slowly churning away. Dryly I gestured for Armsmaster to start on his debriefing. Stepping forward, he began.
"I was on my 4 pm patrol through downtown. I then received a call claiming Lung was involved in a fight with another parahuman. However, by the time I arrived, Lung was on the ground unconscious, and I saw another figure sneaking away. I determined at the time that making sure Lung was subdued took higher precedent over making contact with a new parahuman. Lung has yet to wake up from whatever knocked him unconscious; I do know, however, that it is not a toxin or a physical effect keeping Lung under."
While it was good that Lung was off the streets, it also meant that the ABB would lash out while the Empire would strike into ABB territory and raise terror.
It was never a good time; however, especially now, it was an issue with the Cornell Bomber loose and traveling south towards Brockton Bay. What she wouldn't give for a Thinker on-site, it would solve plenty of her problems.
"Ok, I want everybody on high alert and patrolling in groups of two no matter what. The Wards will also need to be accompanied by at least one senior Protectorerte member" Nods and sounds of agreement followed Piggot's statement as the parahumans filed out, Armsmater staying behind.
"Armsmaster, you claimed that after going over the footage surrounding the parahuman, he gave off an energy that has been seen at other conflicts."
"Yes, working with Dragon, I could trace the parahuman's involvement to two primary locations with a third that will be investigated later."
"I see, and where do these trails lead?"
"The first led to an apartment; however, it is a cash apartment. The residence is owned by a young caucasian man with brown hair and blue who had accorded to the agents that asked around the apartment complex after the woman who was mind-controlled into killing a man, that he had quote-unquote the best dam voice I have ever heard."
At that statement, Piggot frowned and started to tap her fingers on the desk before rolling her wrist at Armsmaster for her to continue.
"The second location has much less energy; however, it is where over twenty members of the new gang calling themself the Mercehnts were arrested. The men had just been on a raid on an Empire storehouse and appeared to have passed out where they stood.
When questioned, they all claimed that they had been partying before they suddenly and rapidly fell asleep. The bigger issue is that all of them claimed to be working for two capes calling themself Skidmark and Squealer and while there was a tank that fits with what a tinker could build, both Skidmark and Squealer seemed to disappear after the Merchants fell asleep."
Piggot's frown deepened at that, and she sourly spoke
"Are you saying that we have some sort of parahuman kidnapper?"
With a short nod, Armsmaster responded.
"That is indeed what I am claiming; the last piece of evidence is that the Think Tank responded yes to whether or not Lung was going to attempt to recruit the Cornell Bomber, and the figure escaping had a figure that matches the rough height of the figure of the Bomber."
"That means if this cape is a Master, as what would be evidenced by what happened to Lung, he could be trying to recruit a parahuman army. Rate him Master 4 and see if you can't track him down; bring an entire squad and ask that he come in for questioning.
Hearing a ping on her phone, she pulled the notification and froze as the article title jumped out at her. Empire 88 and Protectorate Identities Revealed. Quickly scrolling through the article proved it was true. Snapping out to Armsmaster and pressing on the button that would link her to the rest of the building.
"I need all hands on deck! The Empire will be rampaging. I repeat, I need all hands on deck!" Armsmaster nodded and quickly walked out as Piggot started up her computer to run damage control.