The boardwalk was a little louder than I remembered.

  Not in the way it usually was with the cheap tourists, and loud young music bleeding from cheap speakers, the creak of wood under too many feet tend to disarm you like a visit to Thailand, the land of smiles they say. Brock Bay isn’t exactly that Chaotic, but it’s close. A little less sharper if you ask me..Some chatter and voices carried with purpose elsewhere but here? It’s all muted for some reason.. Footsteps had rhythm to their steps but the boardwalk sound had changed for some reason. Call it a professional observation, I usually tend to sense these sort of things.

  Danny pulled the truck into a paid lot and killed the engine. The ocean air rolled in immediately, salty and cold enough to bite through a jacket but there isn’t any crowd here, Well, it is the weekdays even if today is Friday. I never wander around at night in civilian, so I don't know the night life portion of Brockton Bay, I’ts only the afternoon but even for a Friday, the streets seems a little bit packed like it’s the weekends.

  Taylor climbed out first, stretching stiffly even when the ride wasn’t that far. Kid needs her exercise, girl is tall but she’s hunching low like she doesn’t have a backbone, while Sophia hopped down after her, scanning the area out of habit, standing up straight with the correct standing posture, strong with her muscles showing a little even under that big jersey she’s wearing.

  I noticed the same thing she noticed too as her stare turned into a glare into something uncomfortable. Something changed alright here in the Boardwalk. She wasn’t the only one who noticed. Danny too.

  Man with the body of someone who frequents the gym enough to lift weights and had the right body to show for it, Guys in professional Uniform, not things, more like hired security standing around at key locations and spots for tourist. Boardwalk Enforcers were everywhere, the name fits doesn’t it?

  “The fuck are those guys? Never seen them before here” Sophia surveyed the area as she turn her gaze towards the Arcade.

  Two thugs wearing the same uniform near the arcade entrance seems to be arguing over drinks and snacks. One of them was leaning against a light pole, arms folded, eyes moving constantly while chatting with his partner, their the other one wore sunglases, I could tell they noticed as as they seem to observe everyone who came to the boardwalk

  . Another pair of Enforcer near the souvenir shops, jackets unzipped just enough to show badges and sidearms. Not sure who they trying to emulate. Makes you wonder if they are hired security or Law enforcement. What kind of law enforcement guards a tourist spot? The tourism police?

  “Feels busy today,” Danny said, locking the truck eyes stuck on me as if he’s saying he hasn’t forgotten the conversation we talked earlier regardless of what is happening around here.

  “Mm,” I replied noncommittally, my eyes still observing to see how many Enforcers are around.

  Taylor followed my gaze. “Is that… normal?”

  “Fuck No Hebert, Get a clue, It’s like you never been to the boardwalk before.” Sophia said under her breath. “Not like this, this is new. I was here yesterday and this never happened before.”

  Danny turned to Sophia with a disapproving look, “Young lady, that is no way to talk to my daughter, or anyone for that matter.”

  Sophia just turned away, didn’t wanna get a lectured and glared at me, I just gave her my two thoughts “Pretty sure I told you the same thing but you ignored it anyway”

  Sophia started seething and growl at me “Shut up Noodlebrain, eat a dick, are we eating or not?” I just shake my head at this girl, Makes you wonder what’s her coping mechanism to revert to swearing so readily. Sigh…

  The things I do for them, and they wouldn’t even know. Danny gave me a pity stare and seems to understand. I just shrug it off as we both said “Teenagers” at least we’re in sync in this. Dear lord, goddess…Jesus Ilama up in space, Yes you Arceus, I’ll take anyone. If anyone is listening, Please let my darling little Schneider grow up to be a cordial, polite young lady. It’s all I ask, pretty please…Amen.

  We started walking of course, Danny said he frequented this area recently now that he has some disposable income. I paid the man very well to keep things running smoothly of course since we somewhat bought the place. The planks beneath our feet were freshly replaced in places lighter wood, new bolts. Someone had been investing here. Hard to tell if it was civic pride or fear. The good ol boardwalk getting new paint and new goons.

  This has Mayor Christner all over this, well, it’s just a speculation. Who else has the power to move the police around? Or create a pseudo badge group like Mall Cops. or Tourist Cops. The government of course.

  Either way-

  The restaurant Danny had picked out sat where a clothing store used to be, I remembered that much. I bought the two dollar T shirt from the stall opposite of that store because they were selling 500 dollar hats. Too pricey. It’s no wonder they fold.

  The old sign was gone, replaced with a clean, minimalist logo I didn’t recognize. Large windows, bright interior, modern lighting. Too nice for how quickly it had gone up, kinda looks like a diner.

  A soft opening then since Danny did say he’s been coming here just recently, maybe? Probably wanted to boost the economy around here as much as he can even if the place is a tourist hotspot .Not much tourist honestly, although I think I might be wrong since there are a lot of people around here, Lots of tourist, just not many lunch goers around this part..As we approached, an Enforcer glanced our way He tapped his earpiece once, subtle, I wonder what’s he’s saying about us. I doubt there’s any cape involvement in this.

  I slowed half a step, letting Danny and the girls move ahead while I peered over the Enforcer, seems like trouble is brewing elsewhere.

  “Jason?” Danny asked.

  “Just looking,” I said.

  The pattern clicked together in my head. With the Merchant remnants pushed out and my current involvement in things,. New development money flowing in some of it mine, some of it not. That always drew attention. And attention drew uniforms, Mayor must be desperate to boost the economy on his own grounds, since i’ve been attracting the undesirables to congregate to Tarsonis. It’s only going to get bigger since I’ve set my eyes on more real estate to take over with Monica’s help.

  The boardwalk wasn’t being protected by these Enforcers though, It was being claimed by the Mayor forcefully. Perhaps, on the outer outlook, might seem like he’s pushing for civilian and tourism safety but I’m thinking they might take a play out of China’s playbook. Press ganging tourist to spend more, or Japans Kabukicho’s yakuza with trap businesses, ready to scam foreigners for thousands of dollar in service charges. Hope nothing like that happens here.

  Inside the restaurant, things felt calmer, The kind of calm you engineered with good good old american values, smell of pancakes in the afternoon with coffee and bacon under cheap décor. This is the part of America I love, the smell of bacon is the smell of freedom. I took a seat where I could see the windows and the door without making it obvious.

  Taylor slid into the booth across from me. Sophia took the outside seat, back to the wall with her Predatory eyes, even she could feel that something doesn’t seem right around here, smart girl.

  “What can I get cha Honey, oh it’s you again.Thank you for coming again with friends this time” The waitress smiled at Danny and he smiled back

  “Much obliged, my daughter and her friend. And this here is my boss”

  The waiter raised her eyebrows after looking at me, already started with her profiling “A little young to be a boss ain’t he?”

  Danny just laugh it off and said “He pays me, So it is what it is, ain’t that right Jason? You’re treating boss”

  That’s my cue. I took out my card and gave it to her like a proper chinese young master in a wuxia novel, full of arrogance, and …cannon fodder energy. That’s how you do it right? Fuck. I don't have a beard to stroke with…oh wait, I’m a young master. I’m not supposed to have a beard, thats a SIFU’s job. Shit. I’m bad at being asian.. Fuck this shit. I tihnk my pantomiming is scaring her.

  I turn to her and said “ I no Engerish..Me no engerish, ”

  Sophia spat out sliver and sputtered, yeah yeah..enjoy it you little brat. Make fun of the awkward Chinese introvert who just wants to holed up in his Command Centre and turtle to victory. Circumstances kept egging me to have a social life. Taylor brain went exe.mode for a moment as she just stared at me with her deadpanned look. Getting stared by the Escalation Queen is unnerving, jeez.

  “J-jason, what the hell are you doing?” Danny’s getting embarrassed, ahh I shouldn’t tease the man so much, he comes here often doesn’t he? The food might be good. alright jokes over. “ I shook my head and ordered “ You got anything meat? Got any burgers?”

  The waitress was taken aback a little and just realize it was a ll a joke and went back to her professional smile. Not bad miss waitress not bad, 10/10 no drama.

  As menus were handed out, They seem to have Chili ooh, State Chili Champion in Oklahoma in 2008? Not bad, I’ll try the Chili then. “I’m getting the Chili with cheeze and a burger and coke, thanks”

  I caught movement outside again, two Enforcers stopping to talk to a man in a hoodie, steering him gently but firmly away from the crowd. Danny noticed it too, finally. His brow furrowed. “Huh. That’s new.”

  “Yeah,” I said quietly. “They’re tightening the net.”

  Taylor hesitated. “So what’s really going on around the Boardwalk then?”

  I considered the question. “Depends on who’s holding the leash,” I said. “And why I suppose.”

  Sophia glanced toward the window, then back at Taylor. “At least it means fewer idiots trying stuff.”

  “For now maybe.Situation can change rather rapidly if things go wrong” I replied.

  The boardwalk had always been Brockton Bay’s pressure valve crime, money, people, all flowing through it whether the city wanted them to or not. When security increased this fast, it meant someone important was nervous, Like a certain Mayor worried about next year election.

  The number of Enforcers on patrol told me the city knew it too even if they didn’t understand why yet. Outside, near the souvenir shop across the walkway, a man was on his knees. And here’s the first example of justice being serve.

  Whether people take it well to the justice impose is a different matter entirely. He couldn’t have been older than twenty. Skinny. Desperate-looking as any thief goes. I assume he stole something since One of the enforcer seems to be holding a bag of money, One shoe missing so there was probably an altercation already or shoes came off because he panicked.

  A cheap bag spilled open beside him with one of those more expansive trinkets sold in the souvenir shop, could probably sell the metal and gold for some cash with the right connections, pawn it off maybe,, trinkets rolling across the boards in a messy clank as they all dropped to the ground, the rest seems to be tourist trash stuff, plastic, not very valuable.

  Four Boardwalk Enforcers stood over him. One of them kicked the bag aside laughing at the guy as another guy grabbed the kid’s arm and started beating him down in public. A public beating, a badge doing it in public, no cameras. One of the tourist tried to film it, but it was immediately taken by the Enforcer and smashed. Another argument over another tourist, they stayed away, didnt wanna get involved. Probably locals. Didn’t bother to film it and went on with their business.

  They didn’t even pretend to arrest him. The Enforcer twisted the arm sharply, clean and practiced. There was a wet, ugly sound that carried through the glass despite the distance.

  The scream followed half a second later, probably broke his arm.Inside the restaurant, someone gasped.People started talking already, Someone else turned away and decided to leave the restaurant without paying while the Waitress try to catch up

  “Sir, wait! You haven’t pay your bill yet!”

  This is already turning into something bad, Sophia was already halfway out of the restaurant trying to intervene. It’s good seeing her being altruistic, without her shard egging her, she’s able to be reasonable and even change. In the end, it really was shard influence that makes them choose the worst situation possible.

  “Hey” she snarled, chair scraping back violently. Danny caught her arm. Hard. “Sophia. No. Don’t do it kid.”

  “They just broke his arm,” she hissed, eyes burning. “They can’t fucking do that! There’s rules for that shit! Get off me!” She tries to shake Danny off but was surprised at how strong he is. Never stare a scrawny man straight in the eye, despite being so scrawny, the man works at the dock. Dude has a sleeper built under all that coat and jeans. The man is strong.

  “I know,” Danny said, voice low but iron-solid. “I know. But not like this, calm down.”

  I was on my feet too, one hand braced on the table, eyes never leaving the scene outside. Observing the way they deal with people, the ecosystem of the Boardwalk, and how it changed in a single day. I could simply intervene, but if I do, will there be some sort of government sanctioned pushback? Is it even worth it for me to intervene no?

  Of course not. And thus, I remain patient and watch. I’ll record it. Tapped the side of my ear for the visor to activate as and covered my eyes looking like an ordinary visor using the recording function.

  The Enforcers weren’t done obviously.

  One of them leaned down, said something I couldn’t hear, then shoved the kid flat onto the boards with a boot to the chest. Another turned outward, scanning the crowd not for police, not for witnesses but for anyone trying to challenge the status quo.

  Taylor stood up.

  She just… stood. Her face was pale, eyes locked on the scene outside, hands trembling slightly at her sides.

  “Taylor,” Danny said, sharper now. “Don’t.”

  She didn’t answer and simply rush out…

  Ah…

  I forgot that part of her name, Queen of…

  She’s fucking escalating isn’t she?

  Aww shit,

  Here we go again.

  Instead, she reached down, picked up an unopened can of soda from the edge of the tablesomeone else’s order, forgotten in the tension and walked toward the door. I realized what she was going to do half a second too late.

  “Taylor!” Danny shouted out but it was to late,

  She threw it.

  The can hit the Enforcer who’d broken the arm square in the side of the head with a hollow crack. Soda exploded outward, fizz and aluminum scattering across the boards.

  Everything stopped.Every Enforcer turned at once to Taylor, already their angers flaringThe crowd froze and watch as the Enforcers ire turned towards a young girl. Taylor stood there, breathing hard, shoulders squared, fear and fury warring openly on her face.

  Sophia swore under her breath half shock, half something that looked dangerously close to smugness but also..her teeth gritting as she grind it “Fucking Hebert, This is just like yesterday, That idiot!”

  Danny went very, very still, still in shock that her daughter, her little own. Taytay just did that, Poor Danny, seems like you need a sit down and have a really long talk with her one of these days. Sigh…

  Seriously, is everyone around me having some sort of parent child issue unresolved or something? I swear..my life is turning into a daycare episode, where I go around fixing people’s kids and relationships. What the hell?

  I stepped forward, placing myself just slightly in front of Taylor without touching her, Ugh..the things I do to ensure these people live another day, then they go and pull of shit like this. Endbringers will not be the death of me, it will be stuff like this.

  The Enforcers started moving toward the restaurant. “Who threw that?” One of the guys ask. The one that was hit by the can pointed towards Taylor “It’s that scrawny girl, the tall one.”

  Hands drifting toward batons. Huh..batons. Cute. I felt the hum of my shield generator kick up under my skin, instinctive, restrained. I didn’t activate it of course, not like I want to, I’m in my civilian identity.

  This was a line-crossing moment, depending on how it goes, I’ll just have to beat them in my public persona. Probably Noodle Boy is gonna make an appearance again. They didn’t even wait and started swinging, I block it with my left arm, didn’t hurt as much, manage to dissipate enough power before a full swing as Taylor winches down in a huddle and I go in for an elbow to the face stunning him for a moment and took him down with a hard takedown.

  “Taylor! Get away from my daughter!” Danny came to my side and threw a haymaker to the face of another oncoming Enforcer after witnessing me taking down one of his people but instead get a full haymaker to the face. I could even hear the nose cracked and crunched a little, Danny did a TKO. The power of dad is overwhelming.

  , I grinned as he took that enforcer down in a single punch “Damn Danny, when did you learn how to brawl? Let me guess, bar fights?”

  He was in the zone, covering her daughter and turn to me “ Damn it Jason, this isn’t what I had in mind when we came to the boardwalk, Who the fuck let these goons operate in public like this!”

  I just shrugged my arm, that hurt alot tank blocking like that without the shield, These guys hit hard. I didn't have my armor at all, and wasn't prepared to brawl in public.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  And judging by the way nearby Enforcers were suddenly converging, radios alive with murmured codes, this was about to escalate fast whether the city was ready for it or not. The tension didn’t follow us out of the restaurant.

  “Disperse, we got the perp. No need to escalate things” One of the more level headed Enforcers said. Seems like someone didn’t do a background check on these guys when hiring. Or perhaps money is tight and only goons get hired or something. Chalk it up to bad investment Mayor.

  The Enforcers who were suddenly very interested in paperwork and crowd control instead of broken arms and started dispersing, they cuffed the kid and brought him away. Perhaps they do have powers? Shit. We could have gone to jail for that, resisting arrest.

  Someone higher up had clearly decided that turning a public beating into a spectacle wasn’t worth the risk not with witnesses filming, not with a teenager throwing cans and not backing down. I got it on film anyway, ready to post it on PHO.

  Danny walked Taylor away first, arm around her shoulders, murmuring something low and urgent. She kept glancing back, jaw set, adrenaline still burning through her. Sophia was livid. She was already planning a revenge and I had to stop that train of thought so I bonked her in the head

  “Ouch! What the hell?!”

  I just stared at her “ Stop that, it won’t do you any good to hunt them down later, Nobody got hurt, only them.”

  Sophia didn’t wanna listen of course “But they tried to hurt us, nobody mess around when I’m around… you can’t stop me Jason. I’ll do it behind your back”

  I sighed, lord give me strength to bonk her in the head.

  “ I have a better target, How would you like to find the real reason behind the Boardwalk and nail the mastermind?” gotta use the good ol bait to fish a teenager. Saying no is never the answer. Might as well just bring her along for the ride.

  Sophia lingered and thought to herself for a moment “Really?”

  “Yep..”

  “Fine, Raincheck then.. I gotta patrol for today”

  Patrol? Oh…right. She doesn’t know it yet? Haven’t I told her yet? She had already pulled her hood partway up even when she’s wearing a friggin Jersey, fingers worrying at the edge of her jacket like she was about to slip into a familiar rhythm. Right, Wards doing the patrol thing, it’s part of her job thing, well. Not anymore. Not since Blackwell pulled that shit earlier.

  . The thing she’d done for so long was muscle memory at this point, Wasn’t necessary anymore. Too bad, I think she kinda enjoyed it too even if she didn’t wanna admit it.

  “I need to head back,” she said, more to herself than to me. “I’m late already.”

  “You don’t need to.” I replied.

  She paused, turned to look at me. “What?”

  “After what happened earlier,” I said evenly, “after Blackwell pulled that shit? PRT doesn’t own your time like that anymore. At least not today. Contract is null and voided. I’m bring you back into my team.”

  Her brow furrowed. I could see the gears turning, confusion edging into something sharper. “So what, I just… don’t patrol?”

  I shrugged. “You could, you just don't need to report with the PRT anymore..”

  She stared at me for a long moment, then exhaled, slow and frustrated. “This feels wrong, just leave? Won’t this bite me in the ass or something?”

  “That’s on me, you don't have to worry about it. I thought you would be happier than this, didn’t you complain that everyone’s cramping your style or something? How the Wards are friggin lame?” I said. “Freedom usually does that to you once you've gotten it again, at first. Get used to it.”

  She snorted quietly, then glanced back toward the boardwalk, toward where the Enforcers still lingered. “So what are you doing?”

  “Checking on something especially after what’s going on here” I answered. “And I could use someone who knows the streets.”

  Sophia’s smile was thin and predatory. “Say less.”

  “Before that, say goodbye to your friend first, and apologize to Danny for being rude “

  Sophia glared at me again “Fuck no! She’s not my friend, just a fucking prey..even today she..fucking does nothing”

  I bonked her again, this time with a flick to the forehead” Fuck it! Quit that fuckface! What’s wrong with you?! Stop hitting me!”

  “You’re such a tsundere about things, jeez. Fine whatever. You’re not friends bla bla bla…keep telling yourself that. What’s that cartoon I’ve been thinking about? Ah yes. Prey are friend not food, you’re just a Tsundere Shark being shy about trying to befriend the fish”

  “One of these days Jason…I’ll put a bullet to your face”

  She would, wouldn't she? Brr..scary.

  “Come on Sophia, girl up and do the right thing, I’ll wait. Don’t take too long.”

  “Fine! Then we’re fucking off from here!”

  She grumbled but listen to me anyway.Such a tsundere that one. Now that I think about it, she kinda acts like a typical black cat. Black cats are the tsundere archetypes ..either that or orange. nah..Orange are worse.Chaos incarnate with their one track mind. Like Jinho…

  Fucking Jinho. I almost forgot about that guy…sigh.

  I stayed a few steps back and pretended to be very interested in the ocean.It was obvious this was one of those moments you don’t interrupt unless you want both parties to hate you forever. Danny seemed to understand that instinctively he hovered near me and gave me a headsup, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on a ferry like it held the secrets of the universe.

  “What’s she trying to do?” Danny asked curiously.

  I just stared and said “Just watch. I wish we had popcorn here.”

  Sophia and Taylor stood facing each other near the edge of the boardwalk, the noise of the crowd filling the space between their silences. Sophia had her arms crossed coping, more like bracing herself.She really hates admitting shit doesn’t she?

  Taylor rocked slightly on her heels, backpack strap clenched in one hand like an anchor.

  “So,”Sophia said, after a beat. “I guess… see you around Hebert”

  Taylor nodded once. “Yeah, bye.”

  That should’ve been the end of it. It wasn’t. “You don’t have to be like that with me.” Taylor added, a little sharper than she probably meant.

  Sophia’s jaw tightened. “Like what Hebert?”

  “Like I’m some stranger you just ran into, Yesterday, well…after yesterday.I have a lot to think about.”

  Sophia exhaled through her nose. “ Fuck it Hebert, What the hell do you want from me, we aren’t friends. I already got your apology. I’m only here because a certain Unc, over there kept egging me on to play nice and shit!” as she turned around and glared at me showing me the middle finger.

  Taylor didn't seem to mind and kept watching the waves,“You kind of are.” Taylor said. “ No use hiding it”

  Danny shifted his weight beside me. I caught his eye. He gave me a look that said teenagers are exhausting and universal constants should be re-examined. “What…am I watching exactly?” This clueless dad.

  I rolled my eyes at Danny and asked him to shush “ Stop being such a dad about things, your daughter is trying to make a friend, shut up and watch, don’t be such a boomer” Danny didn't know what to say and seemed to be offended by that.

  Sophia looked away toward the street, then back. “I’m not good at… this,” she said finally. “Whatever this is.”

  Taylor frowned. “Talking? Me either. Didn’t expect to talk to one of my bullies, and ended up getting saved by her, but here I am, this is my life now. My bully is a cape and she saved me yesterday, so how do you think I feel about this?”

  “You’re weak Hebert,” Sophia replied bluntly. “Friends, that stuff makes you weaker, you don’t need it. The only reason you got bullied is because you were weak.If only you stand up to yourself, Emma wouldn’t need me to keep doing this to you.”

  Taylor blinked, clearly not expecting that. “ I don’t think thats right…”

  “I’m not trying to be friends with you so forget about playing nice,” Sophia said quickly too quickly. “I’m just… not trying to be enemies either. So, don’t fuck around with me and you I wont either.”

  Taylor crossed her arms, mirroring Sophia without realizing it. “You could’ve fooled me. Are you…still friends with Emma?”

  Sophia’s lips pressed into a thin line. Then, reluctantly, “ I don't have friends, never had it. Don’t need Emma anymore than I need you or anyone else, people kept butting into my life whether I want it or not, And you’re a cape, the sooner you get your powers, the sooner you get stronger. Then maybe I won’t need to treat you like prey all the time.”

  Taylor’s shoulders eased a fraction. “You have one twisted logic..this prey thing. I don't get it..”

  “That’s cuz you’re weak, you’re never gonna understand.”Sophia scoffed.

  Danny snorted softly despite himself. “I-what is wrong with that girl? Prey? My daughter is no-” I dragged Danny away and sat him down at a chair away from the girls “Listen, Danny? Right, here’s the thing… Is it so hard to just keep quiet and watch? Seriously. Butt out”

  Taylor sighed, then nodded. “Fine. We aren't friends. Just ..don’t pretend to not know me when we’re in Arcadia.”

  Sophia hesitated. Just a second too long and then she said, “Yeah. Okay. That I can do.”

  Taylor just nodded without any smile. careful, like she didn’t want to scare the moment away. “Okay then.” They stood there again, awkwardness rushing back in now that the tension had drained.

  Sophia tugged her hood up halfway. “I gotta go.”

  “Yeah,” Taylor said. “ Bye”

  Sophia paused, then added, “Tch, Shit. What a load of crap.”

  Sometimes it just looked like two stubborn kids refusing to give up on being decent to each other, ahh..they need more time. Two awkward girls. How do you process forgiveness? And truly being forgiven? Not easy..not easy. Even Asian hardmode is easier..Not easy. This is darksouls level of social acceptance.

  As Sophia walked off toward the street, Danny finally let out a breath he’d clearly been holding. “Well,” he muttered, “that went…I don't know what went down. Is that how teenage girls talk these days? I’m getting too old for this.”

  “Yeah,” I said quietly. “No shit Boomer, sometimes you really don’t need to understand and fix things and let it all play it out. Let them sort it out themselves. You're gonna be fine going back alone?”

  Danny was a little puzzle”Not heading back to the docks?”

  I shook my head, “ Gotta investigate some stuff, Cape stuff, you know how it is, She’s coming with me of course”

  Danny kept quiet for a while and nodded “I still haven’t gotten you to talk about why my daughter eyes were glowing.”

  Sometimes progress doesn't move the way you want but this is fine, “ Don’t worry, she’s not a cape, it’s just Legadman power interaction, we can talk later with your daughter around since this concerns her as well. I need to bring in some materials to explain things anyway.”

  “Alright, I’d take your word for it, I’ll trust you on this”

  —--------------

  “So? What now Unc? Got any noodlebrain surprise? Where are we going?” asked Sophia and she looked down still in her civilian uniform. Danny already drove off and the both of us are still in the parking lot near the boardwalk.

  “Shanty town, gotta check up on some things” I said as I typed into my holopad I brought that works as a smartphone as well. They don't have those in Earth Bet but when you’re so used to it, it’s hard going back to keypads. Not to mention the ease of use of a smart phone similar to a portable pc.

  “Right, get ready to phase into the dark, Viking drop down Incoming”

  Sophia after hearing that started to get flustered? “What?! Oh shit!”

  The sky above the parking lot fractured into motion, as the Viking dropped out of hover-space and angled downward. Assault configuration locked in, engines flaring blue-white as it descended with controlled violence.

  Wind slammed into the lot.

  Loose paper, sand, and trash whipped into spirals. Car alarms started screaming in protest. The Viking touched down with a metallic thoom, landing struts biting into asphalt, heat rippling outward in visible waves.

  The cockpit canopy hissed open, steam bleeding off the seams. The machine loomed predatory, unapologetically military in a way this city wasn’t used to yet but that’s okay. Terran tech isn’t for everyone.

  I clicked on my visor as it loaded up my Ghost helmet fully and got inside the Viking, “Come on Sophia get in” Dark smoke wisp into the cockpit as I took the back seat and let her sit on the front.

  “That,” she said, eyes wide despite herself, “is still insanely cool.”

  Civilians stared but they couldn’t see much of anything except me. Some backed away slowly. Others stepped closer, awe overriding good sense. A kid pointed and yelled something incoherent about robots. Phones were everywhere now.

  I smirked. “Don’t let it go to your head..”

  “Shantytown, right?” she asked.

  “Yeah,” I replied. “The Empire's been too quiet.”

  Her smile vanished, replaced by something sharp and focused. “Then let’s go.”. The canopy sealed shut with a solid, final clack, muting the outside world.

  As the engines spooled up again, the crowd backed away en masse, instinct finally winning over curiosity. The Viking lifted off, shadows stretching across the parking lot and the watching civilians below.

  The Viking didn’t slow.

  That was the part Sophia hadn’t fully internalized yet.

  The city slid beneath us in muted grays and rusted browns as the shantytown came into view, a mess of scrap-metal roofs, tarps, half-collapsed buildings pressed together like it wasn’t supposed to be there. Downtown is supposed to be the classier side on things, but then something like this exist. Probably the HOA on the outskirt about property investment loss making a fuss about things and want it gone. Easier said than done of course with the Empire control.

  I switched the Viking into passive hover and opened the rear hatch.Cold air tore into the cabin. Sophia leaned forward to look down.

  “…Jason,” she said, voice suddenly tight, “why is the cockpit wide open?!”

  “Because ..we’re jumping.”

  She snapped her head toward me. “You said we were landing.”

  “We are,” I replied calmly. “Just not with the Viking.”

  Her eyes widened. “I haven’t done a drop before.” I checked the wind, the angles, and the rooftops below. “So you never fallen from the sky before? Huh..you learn something new everyday..”

  “That is not comforting.” The green light blinked and she started to panic. I grabbed her harness, clipped us together in one smooth motion, and stepped into empty air.

  And…woops.

  Drop down.

  Sophia made a sound somewhere between a yelp and a curse as gravity took hold. Wind roared past us, tearing at clothes, flattening breath in her chest. I felt her tense, body rigid with instinctive panic, This is why giving her the parachute won’t be a problem.

  I held her tight.

  Counted.

  Then I pulled.

  The parachute snapped open with a violent whump, yanking us upward just enough to bleed off speed. The canopy stabilized, lines humming as we swung into a controlled descent.

  Sophia clutched my arm like it was the only solid thing in existence.

  “I am…” she gasped, then swallowed hard, “ ..never doing that again.”

  I glanced down at her, half-smiling. “You know you can just turn to gas form and you won't go splat right? Seriously…what have you been doing lately? I’m gonna have to send you to bootcamp back at base if this sort of thing is gonna fluster you so much..”

  She did not look convinced “Shut up”

  We drifted lower, rooftops rushing up to meet us. I guided the descent with small tugs, angling toward a flat stretch of corrugated metal reinforced with scavenged beams. We hit with a solid thud. I rolled with the impact, absorbed the momentum, and brought us to a stop in a crouch. Sophia got down safely too.

  Sophia sucked in a shaky breath. Then another.

  “…okay,” she said slowly. “That was terrifying.”

  “But?”

  “But also kind of awesome.”

  I unhooked us, already scanning the area. Voices seems to be absent. Movement between alleys. Empire tags painted fresh on old walls, white runes over older graffiti, territorial and ugly.

  Above us, the Viking peeled away silently, engines dimmed, vanishing into the sky like it had never been there. Stealth raid done successfully! Viking don't have cloaking but the Parachute was, so there’s that. Biodegradable too once deployed. Totally good for the environment.

  “Stay close,” I said quietly. “And don’t do anything stupid unless I say so.”

  We cut through alleys and side streets, the city changing character block by block. The polished boards and neon signs gave way to cracked asphalt, burned-out buildings, and hastily repaired shacks pressed together like they were afraid of being alone. Sun was still up but town seems empty enough. Which is odd enough.

  The shantytown.

  Officially, it didn’t exist. Unofficially, it was Empire Eighty-Eight territory. For a shantytown?It's awfully too quiet around here. Sophia noticed it too. Her posture shifted, weight light on her feet, eyes constantly moving.

  “E88 doesn’t do quiet,” she muttered. “They do loud, stupid, and violent and racist shit.”

  “ Hmm..a bunch of people suddenly gone, E88 has been too quiet lately, something’s up.” I said. We moved deeper in, past a half-collapsed warehouse that had once been a drug den and now looked abandoned.It felt… evacuated. That or its still in the middle of the day, folks are working out hustling, scamming, begging…whatever the folks in the shantytown needed to do to live.

  I stopped near an intersection where three streets met, all of them empty. Sophia frowned. “You think they moved?”

  “Homesless people don't just move out of places like this unless they have a reason.,” I said. “Or they’re hiding.”

  “For what?”

  I looked at the dark windows, the boarded doors, the way even the stray dogs were gone.

  “That’s our job to find out. Got a feeling they were too quiet with everything happening with the ABB and Merchant taken out of the board, and still nothing. Something doesn’t sit right with me so we’re here trying to make sense of things.” I replied.

  The Empire didn’t go to ground unless they were planning to come up swinging. And with the boardwalk tightening, ABB having outside help,, Enforcers playing judge and executioner, and Coil already off-balance… This silence felt like the city holding its breath.

  I am missing something aren't I? My stupid meta lore won’t work here. What the hell am I missing then? Sophia rolled her shoulders, a familiar edge settling into her expression. “Guess this counts as a patrol then.”

  I glanced at her. “It’s just back to your usual self, Shadow Stalker the Vigilante as Dreamhack trust sidekick..”

  She smirked. “ As long as I get to shoot them up, this sniper better purrs like you said it would.. When can I get it?”

  I rolled my eyes “When we get to base later, focus now, just survey, and stick to the rooftops. Go in gas form if you can, I’m going stealth mode now, Keep up”

  I turned invisible from the turn on the Spectre stealth mode from the helmet. We started moving again, slow and deliberate sticking to high ground, into the quiet heart of Empire territory where something was waiting, whether we liked it or not.We heard them before we saw them, finally some chatter.

  I could hear people shouting about in the middle of a hot afternoon, between rusted containers and half-built shacks. The kind of noise that came from people who’d been afraid for a long time and were finally realizing that fear wasn’t enough anymore.

  We rounded the corner and the scene opened up.

  A bottleneck at the edge of the shantytown families with carts, backpacks, trash bags stuffed with everything they owned. Old men. Women dragging kids by the wrist. A wheelchair stuck in the mud. They were trying to leave.

  And they weren’t being allowed to it seems.

  Three men blocked the road. Empire Eighty-Eight colors worn openly now white armbands, iron crosses, shaved heads and smug certainty. Rifles slung low, not even raised, because they didn’t think they needed to be.

  One of the homeless men, thin and shaking, stepped forward anyway.

  “Please,” he said, voice cracking. “We just want to go. They’re letting people in by the docks. There’s food and even free housing! We heard from the radio and we saw it!”

  One of the E88 men laughed, sharp and ugly. “Yeah? And where do you think you’re going, huh?”

  “To the docks,” the man said. “Or the other side. Anywhere is better than here”

  That did it.The Empire thug stepped in close, jabbing a finger into the man’s chest hard enough to make him stumble. “You don’t run to the chinks when things get tough. And you sure as hell don’t go crawling to that hero pet project at some stinkin dockstown.”

  A woman shouted from the crowd, “They got kids fed there! They got electricity! And they don't need to pay anything! Just let us through!”

  Another E88 member turned on her, eyes cold. “You abandon your own people, you don’t come back. You hear me? You don’t get to run off and leave your white brothers behind because things got hard.”

  Sophia stiffened beside me. I could feel it in the way her shoulders squared, the way her breath sharpened.

  “This is sick,” she muttered.

  One of the homeless tried again, louder now. “You don’t own us! We’re not soldiers!” The first man’s rifle came up just a little not aimed, just enough to make the point. The crowd recoiled as one.

  “You live here,” the Empire thug said calmly. “You stay here. Running makes us look weak. And we don’t tolerate weakness.”

  No one answered.A kid started crying. Quiet at first, then harder. Sophia wanted to step forward but forced herself not to, “They are threatening starving people with guns. What’s the play here? There’s too many of em. I don't even have my gear.”

  Behind the Empire line, I saw it clearly now: desperation curdled into cruelty. They couldn’t stop the world from changing, so they were trying to cage the people who might prove it could.

  I took a breath, steady and deliberate.

  “We’re done, Time to call in the cavalry” I said.

  Sophia glanced at me, eyes bright, waiting.” You’re gonna call them aren’t you? The whole team?”

  I nodded “Yeah”

  And I need to brace for potential problems, such as...the mandatory gang retaliation and also PRT problems. I'm sure they are aware with what just happened to Shadow Stalker, Problems after problems. So many problems.

  Yeah, I'm calling in for backup.

  **********************

  A/N

  Today chapter is uhh..I didn't plan this. They seem to write themselves sometimes. Well, I think the Overwatch crew need a proper debut don't you think so? I guess i just remembered that Boardwalk Enforcers were a thing during Endbringer and then later wasn't brought up again, it strike me as odd that Mayor Christner would do that when things were far more dire after an Endbringer Attack back in the Canon timeline. As for the Empire? hmm...future plot I suppose.