13.x (Interlude; Piggot)

Worm, Arc 13.x (Interlude; Piggot) Summary

Director Emily Piggot surveyed her office, a chaotic landscape of paperwork. Stacks of reports, forms, and handwritten notes covered every surface, a tangible representation of the overwhelming responsibilities she faced. The shift from typed forms to messy handwriting mirrored the breakdown of order in Brockton Bay, a city fractured by parahuman conflict. The PRT, responsible for handling parahuman cases, was inundated with work. Every minor incident, every potential parahuman involvement, landed on her desk, a consequence of the city’s escalating crisis.

The ABB bombings, Leviathan, Shatterbird, and the rise of territories had shattered any illusion of normalcy. Civilians now lived with a constant undercurrent of fear, forced to navigate a world where parahumans held increasing power. The weight of the nation was on Piggot’s shoulders. People watched, hoping Brockton Bay wouldn’t become another lost cause, another Endbringer victim. They were counting on her.

Kid Win delivered a laptop, a small reprieve from the paper war. Communications were almost restored, granting access to the central database, a crucial tool in this battle won with preparation and information. She delved into the files on the Slaughterhouse Nine, her current priority. Videos and reports detailed their brutal history, including a harrowing early encounter with Siberian that had cost Hero his life. The footage, a testament to Siberian’s savagery, haunted her.

Legend, a veteran hero, interrupted her grim research, a letter in hand. They discussed the risks of having parahuman children, a reality he faced as an adoptive father. The conversation shifted to a note delivered to the PRT, hinting at Burnscar’s death and Bonesaw’s temporary incapacitation. Skitter was involved, no doubt. While it was a blow to the Nine, it shifted the balance of power, moving up their deadline.

A meeting with the Protectorate and Wards followed. The priorities were clear: take down the Nine, regain control of the city, and don’t die. The Nine’s challenge had reached a critical point, with twelve days left before their threatened “penalty,” likely a biological weapon. Piggot outlined the plan, a risky high-stakes attack. The Wards, except for Chariot and Kid Win, volunteered to participate.

The other factions were also discussed. The Undersiders, led by the enigmatic Tattletale, held the advantage of information, likely using some form of clairvoyance. They had captured Cherish and Shatterbird, adding to their arsenal. Coil, with his vast resources and precognitive asset, remained a wildcard. Hookwolf’s growing army of Nazi parahumans posed a significant threat, absorbing the remnants of the Merchants.

Armsmaster’s escape from Dragon’s custody added another layer of complexity. Was he truly so resourceful, or had Dragon aided him? The possibility of Dragon turning against them was a chilling thought, given their reliance on her technology.

The plan involved using incendiary explosives to target the Nine, delivered by a stealth bomber. Clockblocker would provide defense, using his time-stopping power on his costume. Vista would manipulate space to control the Nine’s movements. Flechette would attempt to pierce Siberian’s invulnerability. The capes would wear fire-resistant suits, masked to hide their identities from Jack.

Legend expressed reservations, but Piggot was resolute. She had a follow-up measure, using Bakuda’s confiscated bombs, some of which could bypass the Manton effect. It was a violation of the unspoken rules between capes, a risky move. But it was a world gone mad. Did she have to join the madmen to make a difference? Legend was against it, but Piggot had made up her mind. She would be the one to push the button. She wasn’t a cape, after all.