The Power Manipulator - Worm SI OC

Emily Piggot

Emily wasn't new to overtime. In her years as Director of PRT ENE, she'd long accepted it as a fact of life—nights spent in the office had become routine. So much so that she often found herself crashing in the adjacent bedroom meant for her "convenience." A convenience that, more often than not, meant sleeping on a goddamned bunk bed.

Last night, however, she'd managed to pack up early enough to sleep in her own bed. It wasn't exactly a luxury, given her late hours, but it was an improvement. So when her private phone rang at 6:13 AM, jolting her from much-needed sleep, her anger surged.

She swore under her breath, already fantasizing about the head of whoever dared to disturb her at this hour without a damn good reason.

"What?!" she snapped into the phone, dispensing with the usual courtesy she reserved for her agents and colleagues. If someone had the nerve to wake her up, they didn't deserve it.

"Um..." The voice on the other end faltered, clearly thrown by her seething tone. Good. "Ma'am, this is Captain Smith from the fifth squad."

Emily gave him just a few seconds to explain himself before she tore into him. "Speak," she spat, her voice dripping with impatience.

"Ma'am, we've received reports of a large gathering of Empire members. It looks like they're planning an open protest, parade, or possibly something more aggressive. We're mobilizing our forces and might need to call for reinforcements."

"...What?" Her tone shifted to deadpan, her mind racing to process the situation. Her simmering anger flared into a full-blown inferno.

This damned city…

"Ma'am, I said they're—"

"I heard you the first time," she cut him off, already moving to get dressed. "I'm coming to the office. Send a van to pick me up. Now!"

"Yes, ma—"

"And call every single field operative we have. Heroes or Agents, I don't care. I want everyone reporting for duty ASAP!"

She hung up before the Captain could respond, slamming the phone down with a growl. "THIS DAMNED GOD-FORSAKEN CITY!" she snarled, clutching her side as a familiar pain flared up—a reminder of the ever-present scars from that monster.

One day. Couldn't this city go without descending into chaos for just one. Fucking. Day?

She cursed herself for foolishly hoping that last night's quiet would continue. This was a sign, a cruel joke from the universe, reminding her that nothing good could come from Brockton Bay.

Dragging herself toward the bathroom, she muttered curses under her breath, her hatred simmering. In moments like this, she loathed her job, her life, and the capes responsible for 90% of the city's suffering—including her own.

But despite the resentment, she knew she was the only one who could handle this mess. And handle it she would, no matter what it took. Today, she wanted Kaiser's head on a pike. That racist, bigoted bastard needed to suffer tenfold for the misery he inflicted on this city—and on her.

She could only imagine what idiocy was running through his and his lieutenants' heads to stir up this kind of trouble so early in the morning. Whatever it was, she'd be ready to crush it. Maybe this time Costa-Brown would get her head out of her ass and deem the situation dire enough to send Alexandria or one of the other Triumvirates as reinforcement. She'd naturally give it her best attempt but she had little hope of succeeding to open that blind and stubborn woman's eyes.

-x-

Max Anders (Kaiser)

Max Anders sat in his personal office, in a hidden and protected location, fully immersed in his Cape persona. The room was filled with nearly every Cape in the Empire Eighty-Eight, alongside the top non-cape lieutenants—those high enough in the ranks to merit inclusion in this urgent meeting. The Empire, a vast and intricate organization, required more than just superpowers to function smoothly, and the severity of the situation warranted everyone's presence.

Full-attendance meetings were not unheard of in the Empire, especially when addressing critical matters of organizational goals and security. However, such meetings rarely occurred at 6 a.m., and the atmosphere in the room reflected just how dire the circumstances were. Tension hung thickly in the air as fury simmered in the eyes of everyone present, though no one dared speak.

The source of their collective rage was clear. Four of the Empire's most powerful Capes were seated before him, their expressions varying from barely concealed anger to unusual nervousness. Max wouldn't admit it aloud, given his position and reputation, but he sympathized with the latter. The incident had left him, and likely many others in the Empire, unnerved.

"We have to do something. We can't let this slide, M—Kaiser!" Hookwolf—Brad—growled, his fists clenched and his face a mask of fury. Max ignored the near-slip. "Some bastard took away our powers! How can we let this go?! No, this means WAR!"

Hookwolf was immediately backed by Krieg, Cricket, and Stormtiger, all of whom had also lost their powers the previous night. This was the reason for the meeting: four of the Empire's strongest Capes had, overnight, been rendered powerless. It was a crippling blow, and the gravity of the situation was not lost on Kaiser.

He understood the severity of the issue. However, he also knew that lashing out blindly would only backfire. It would expose their weakness and invite retaliation from other gangs and the Protectorate. Once again, he mentally cursed the turn of events. Whoever did this had made themselves the Empire's enemy number one, but as of now, they had no leads.

"Can you not feel your powers at all?" Kaiser asked, trying to buy time as he considered their options.

"No, damn it! I told you, it's like… it's like I'm back to being a normie!" Brad snapped. Kaiser chose to overlook the disrespect for the moment.

"I can't either! This is fucking ridiculous!" Stormtiger added, his voice rising. "Why aren't we doing anything?! As Hookwolf said, this is an act of fucking war! We need to put the bastard who did this six feet under—after we get our powers back!"

"Damn right!" Cricket chimed in.

"This also breaks the Unwritten Rules. Whoever did this, clearly attacked on our civilian identities, so we'd be fully justified in retaliating!" Krieg finally spoke, his voice seething with anger, though Kaiser detected a hint of nervousness in his posture.

The nervousness was palpable among the four depowered Capes, and Kaiser understood why. Losing one's powers was the worst nightmare for a parahuman. He couldn't imagine leading the Empire if he lost his ability to sprout blades. Charm and oratory skills only went so far. Without his powers, he would be dethroned within days, most likely by Hookwolf.

Kaiser regarded Hookwolf imperiously. His call for an all-out war was a desperate attempt to regain control now that he had been cornered and stripped of his power. But Kaiser knew that doing nothing was not an option. The majority of those present agreed that the Empire needed to retaliate.

The question was: who would they target? Who was responsible for this?

"Indeed," Kaiser finally spoke, after some contemplation. "This slight cannot be ignored. Someone has dared to attack the Empire in a vile and cowardly way. They've broken the vaunted Unwritten Rules to do so." The irony was not lost on him. The Empire paid lip service to those rules at best, but they would exploit them if it served their purpose.

"As such, I declare that we call for a truce with the other, lesser gangs," Kaiser continued, noting Hookwolf's seething expression. "As much as it galls me, we need to present a united front against this coward who dares to strip us of our rightful power. Even those incompetent, brutish members of the other gangs will understand how dangerous this situation is. We'll use this alliance to corner the rat and force them to return what they've taken. Then, we will make them pay for their audacity."

Kaiser didn't know if the power loss was permanent or reversible, but he couldn't show doubt—not to these Capes, who were already rattled by recent events. They'd undoubtedly lash out and cause chaos.

Just like Hookwolf was about to.

"Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?! THIS is your solution?!" Hookwolf exploded. "Join hands with those filthy chinks and Merchant scum?! Fucking ridiculous! We don't need anyone else. The Empire alone can handle this! Just say the word, and we'll comb the city, street by street, and find that motherfucker. I'll break them personally and get our damn powers back!" Brad turned to the others, trying to rally them. "What do you say? Isn't this a better plan? We don't need to bend over to those lesser scum just to handle a fucking power-stealing rat!"

Hookwolf lacked Kaiser's charisma, too used to relying on brute strength and fear, but his speech struck a chord. Normally, Kaiser would have prevailed, but this time Hookwolf had supporters.

"Fucking right! I stand with him! We're more than enough to deal with this." Stormtiger was quick to back Hookwolf, as he usually did. Cricket voiced her agreement as well.

Kaiser turned to Krieg. His lieutenant was usually more pragmatic, but this time, he too sided with Hookwolf. The loss of his powers had clearly clouded his judgment. It was a disappointing, if not entirely unexpected, development.

Kaiser's gaze swept the room, taking in the faces of those who sided with Hookwolf. He knew the Empire could not afford internal division, but he also knew when to pick his battles.

"Since some of you have a different plan," Kaiser's voice cut through the rising tension like a blade, "we will hold a vote." He paused, letting his words settle. "Those in favor of a united front with the other gangs, raise your hands."

A few hands went up—mostly from higher-ranking non-cape members and a few capes who understood the bigger picture. The rest remained still, their loyalty clearly with Hookwolf's aggressive approach.

Kaiser continued, undeterred. "Those in favor of Hookwolf's plan to act alone, raise your hands."

Hookwolf's hand shot up, followed by Stormtiger, Cricket, Krieg, and several others. The room's tension thickened as it became clear where the majority stood.

Kaiser's jaw tightened. He had anticipated resistance, but seeing so many of his own siding against him was a bitter pill to swallow. Still, he could not afford to show weakness.

"Very well," he said, lowering his hand and speaking with cold authority. "It seems the majority has spoken."

Hookwolf grinned, a vicious, almost feral expression. "Damn right we have," he growled. "We'll find this bastard ourselves. No need to involve those other weaklings."

Kaiser's expression remained unreadable. "Understand this, Hookwolf. If your plan fails, it will not just be your reputation on the line—it will be the entire Empire's. You will take full responsibility for the consequences."

Hookwolf's grin faltered slightly, but his bravado held. "I'll get our powers back. Count on it."

Kaiser nodded curtly, though inside, his mind was already calculating. He knew the risks of letting Hookwolf and the others lead this charge. If they failed, it could cripple the Empire's strength and make them vulnerable. But for now, he would let them have their way while he kept a watchful eye on the situation.

"Then this meeting is adjourned," Kaiser said, turning away from the group. "We will reconvene once you have something concrete to report. Victor, stay here. Others, dismissed."

The room slowly emptied, the capes and lieutenants filing out with a mixture of anger, frustration, and uncertainty. Hookwolf lingered for a moment, shooting Kaiser a defiant glare before leaving with the others.

Kaiser remained in his office, his mind racing with possibilities.

"Victor, call back Night and Fog from their operation. We need them here now that we're short on 4 of our most effective fighters."

"Understood, I'll call them immediately." Victor nodded, then added. "What about Purity?"

"… I'll call Kayden myself. She's been given her freedom so far but right now we need to present a united force against our foes. She's our strongest Blaster. And I do need to check up on her and Aster." Victor nodded and Kaiser dismissed him too.

He knew he needed to prepare for whatever came next. If Hookwolf's plan succeeded, the Empire would be stronger than ever. But if it failed…

He sighed, feeling the weight of leadership pressing down on him. The game had changed, and the stakes were higher than ever. The Empire could not afford to make a wrong move.

Kaiser glanced out the window at the early morning light filtering through the curtains. There was much to do and little time to waste. The Empire's future hung in the balance, and he needed to ensure that, no matter what happened, they would come out on top.

For now, he would let Hookwolf and the others chase their revenge. But Kaiser would be ready, with plans of his own, for the moment they inevitably stumbled. And when they did, he would ensure that the Empire not only survived but thrived in the chaos to come.

The next move was clear. Kaiser would discreetly gather intelligence, possibly reaching out to Coil or other unsavory contacts, to uncover the identity of this new threat. Was the Empire the only group attacked last night, or had other gangs been hit as well? He needed to know. Meanwhile, he would quietly fortify the Empire's defenses, both in personnel and alliances, to prepare for the potential fallout.

As he began drafting orders and messages, a cold, calculating smile touched his lips. Let them believe they had won this round. Kaiser knew the Empire's true strength lay in strategy and patience. And when the time was right, he would strike back with a vengeance that would remind everyone why he held the crown in Brockton Bay.

The Empire's future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: whoever dared to challenge them would soon learn the price of their audacity. Kaiser would make sure of it.

-x-

Alice Takahashi (Bakuda)

Bakuda walked briskly towards her lab, her mind churning with thoughts. Last night had brought a significant shift. Lung had called her at an ungodly hour, demanding her immediate presence.

Bakuda was furious at his arrogance and disregard, but she had no choice but to comply. The notion of lobbing one of her exotic bombs at the insufferable Rage Lizard did cross her mind. However, she knew better than to invite the wrath of Oni Lee, the mindless psychopath who served as Lung's enforcer. Designing grenades specifically for Oni Lee had been her first task under Lung's reign, and the thought of facing him in retaliation with her own creations was more than enough to curb her impulse for now.

The resentment still burned within her. She, Alice Takahashi, Bakuda, the most brilliant tinker in the world, was subjected to the whims of a mere Brute. It was a constant source of frustration for her. For now, she was biding her time, devising a solution for the Teleporting Murderer. If she couldn't control him, she would eliminate him. She had a few exotic bombs in the works that would catch even him off guard.

On a similar note, her plan to use bombs as implants to conscript civilians was also progressing, but Lung's recent urgency was troubling. His demand for expedited progress on her plan was very suspicious. Initially, Lung had failed to grasp the brilliance of her proposal to insert bombs in civilians' skulls, ensuring their loyalty. Now, however, he had changed his tune, requesting that she accelerate her work on the implants.

The entire situation reeked of something more significant. Bakuda, ever astute, recognized that Lung's behavior was out of the ordinary. The Rage Dragon had been unusually passive during their interaction, refraining from using his powers to incinerate her when she talked back, as he typically would. Oni Lee had also remained notably absent, not appearing behind her back with a knife on her throat to discipline her for her defiance.

Theories raced through her mind. Could Lung have lost his powers? The thought was quickly dismissed—Lung was not the type to surrender without a fight. If someone had managed to strip him of his abilities, it would have been a grand battle, not a quiet transition. Then what? What had curved the Rage Dragon's attitude overnight?

Regardless of the underlying issue, Bakuda was determined to continue her work. With Lung recognizing the value of her plan—regardless of how he came to that realization—she would have access to all the resources she required. The potential targets and supplies were within reach, and her vision for the city's future was becoming clearer.

As she reached her lab, a malicious grin spread across her face. She could already envision the chaos she could unleash with an abundance of resources. The city wouldn't know what hit it. Her rise to power and prominence was imminent, and if she managed to slip in a few bombs designed to take out Lung and Oni Lee, well, no one in this gang was clever enough to decipher her true intentions anyway.

With renewed determination, she stepped into her lab, ready to create the next generation of devastating weapons. The city's fate was in her hands, and she was ready to seize control.

-x-