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Stranger Than Fiction (Worm Tinker of Fiction SI) by Throwaway1971
Books » Private Rated: M, English, Romance, Words: 110k+, Favs: 105, Follows: 131, Published: Dec 24, 2023
5Chapter 10: Tenth Page
Disclaimer: I own Jackshit
AN: Ok, so this took a bit, but I managed to get it slapped together, though, unfortunately, it's a bit less than the promised 8K word count, only around 7.6K of reaction text. Plus, I'm still a bit unsure about the PHO segment, and how well I did some of the posts, so I might go back to that later. Still, hope you lot enjoy!
XXX
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Topic: Nine Endings
In: Boards Capes USA Groups Slaughterhouse Nine
SG_Official (Original Poster)
Posted On Aug 10th 2010:
For your consideration: [Video Link]
Warning: The linked media contains scenes of extreme and excessive violence, graphic imagery, gore, and death. Any and all viewings should be made with the full understanding of the nature of this content. Thank you.
(Showing page 1 of 582)
Antigone
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
Oh, this looks interesting...
Edit: What the fuck did I just watch?! IS THIS FOR REAL?!
PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S HOLY, LET THIS BE REAL!
Logs
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
FAKE!
EveryDayJoe (Unverified Cape)
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Priest_of_Firepower
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
HA! HA! Rot in hell, you murderous bastards!
MegaMetalMike_03
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
Jesus Christ... What the hell did I just watch...
NEverDespair (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
logs
Normally, I'd be right there with you, since this seems a bit too good to be true, but not today.
Today, I'm going to dare to hope with every shred of goodness left in the black, shrunken lump of coal I call a heart that this is true, that someone finally managed to find those mad bastards and put them down like the feral mutts they are.
'Bout fuckin' time as well.
MegaMetalMike_03
If I had to guess, an execution.
bothad
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
awesome
ArchmageEin
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
What? Just... Just what?
Procto the Unfortunate Tinker (Not a tinker)
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
Well... I for one, did not expect that... And I'm willing to bet that the PRT and Protectorate are going crazy right about now, since I doubt they expected this, either.
Chaosfaith (Verified Crazy)
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
YES! I proclaim him to be our new Overlord! Long may he reign!
Answer Key
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
Why is it that, every time a powerful new Cape shows up, all the crazies come crawling out of the woodwork and start proclaiming them to be the new Overlord?
Mock Moniker (Unverified Cape)
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
Well, that escalated quickly...
Dawgsmiles (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
That was bliss to watch... Just, pure bliss.
SixteenTons (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
Well, shit. Looks like we got a new badass on the scene! Alexandria, Legend, Eidolon? Step aside, 'cause there's a new name in town!
Thatdude
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
Welp, that happened.
Laser Augment
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
Safeguard? Anyone know who these guys are? 'Cause I've never heard of them before in my life.
Ekul
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
Laser Arugment
No, and I honestly don't care where they came from or what they call themselves, since they just put down the Nine like the dogs they are. For all I care, they can call themselves the Easter Bunnies, and it wouldn't make a lick of a difference.
Now, having said that, you'll have to excuse me, I'm off to find the nearest bar and get completely shitfaced. News like this deserves to be enjoyed.
Pet_The_Fluffy (Veteran Member) (Unverified Kitsune)
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
A Thousand Blessings to the Warrior of Safeguard, for putting down those rabid dogs, as is proper! May their days be filled with Joy, Happiness and Fluffy Tails aplenty!
Winged_One
Replied On Aug 10th 2010:
… What? No, seriously, what?
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 580, 581, 582
Topic: Safeguard: What we know
In: Boards Capes USA Groups New Groups
Bagrat (Original Poster) (The Guy in the Know) (Veteran Member)
Posted On Aug 11th 2010:
Ok, firstly, I was not expecting to go to bed one night and wake up the next morning to people throwing parties and celebrating, never mind the actual reason why they were celebrating. Then again, I can hardly blame them for it, had I been awake long enough to have seen it, I probably would have joined them and would have still been partying with them, even now!
So, with that in mind, I'll begin with a little background, starting with the obvious: The Slaughterhouse Nine are dead.
This has been confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt, with all the current members being accounted for, either with corpses or with video proof that, by now, I'm pretty sure that everyone has seen. Route 60, about halfway between Vici and Seiling in Oklahoma has also been locked down since last night, and been positively swarming with Thinkers and investigators, all of whom have corroborated the already present evidence, along with confirming the sequence of events present in the video that's been spreading like wildfire through the threads.
For anyone interested, or for those who haven't seen it yet, you can find the video in the original announcement thread [Here].
Now, with that out of the way, we can talk about the real star of the show: Safeguard.
Originally, some people thought that that was the name of the S9-killer, who I've also heard being called 'The Silencer' by more than a few people. However, after a bit of digging, I found out that wasn't the case.
Turns out, Safeguard isn't the name of a single individual, but a group! Specifically, a private security company that, according to their website, 'provides Parahuman-related security solutions.' There isn't much else on their official website beyond that, nor any mention of how many members they have, but the fact that just one of them basically butchered the entire Slaughterhouse Nine in a few minutes has... Implications. For instance, does that mean that 'The Silencer' is really just 'one of the Silencers?' Or do they have members even more powerful than that?
Not only that, but a little nugget of information I was able to find was that Safeguard isn't a stand-alone company, but a subsidiary of a much larger corporation that goes by the name of Cerberus, who've set themselves up in our very own Brockton Bay and have slowly been knocking down the abandoned parts of the Docks to make way for new construction, creating lots of new jobs and bringing in fresh money to the area. Though, even with the good they've been doing, a part of me can't help but wonder that something else might be going on.
Now, keep in mind that I'm absolutely thrilled that the S9 are dead, but after digging up all this, I'm left with a lot of questions and few answers. Maybe I'm just being too cynical, since a part of me is just waiting for the other shoe to drop, but what do you guys think?
(Showing page 1 of 739)
ArchmageEin
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
FIRST!
Also, damn, does anyone have any idea what this means? 'Cause I got nothin'.
Chaosfaith (Verified Crazy) (Verified Safeguard Cultist)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
A new Era Dawns! Heralded by the agents of Safeguard! Hail! Hail!
Answer Key
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Well, that was fast. One post, and the crazies are already making an appearance...
As for Safeguard, I'll give them a chance. I mean, they just killed off the entire Slaughterhouse Nine as a way of announcing themselves to the world. If they can keep that kind of thing going, I'm all for it!
SlayerOfKeyboards (Cape Groupie)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
A new Cape group!? Awesome! Hey, you guys think they'd be selling Safeguard-branded stuff? I mean, they're apparently a company, so it's kind of what they do, right?
Procto the Unfortunate Tinker (Not a tinker)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
What I really want to know, is what kind of powers 'The Silencer,' since we don't know the guy's name, has? I mean, I went back through the video and counted at least six different powers, not counting whatever the hell they threw at Crawler that caused him to be eaten by a rainbow bubble.
Feychick
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
If The Silencer, alone, could eradicate the entire S9, then what would a group of Silencers be capable of...?
Dawgsmiles (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Feychick
Goodbye, Endbringers...
Mock Moniker (Unverified Cape)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Feychick
Someone actually competent?
I mean, this is typical... Just fucking typical...
Twenty years, these fuckers have been dancing across the entire country, and it's an independent group that finally deals with them, in a few minutes flat, rather than the actual people who are paid to deal with them!
Really, goes to show just how competent they are... Not that that is a really high bar, all things considered...
Noveltry
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Procto the Unfortunate Tinker
Oh God, I can't stop laughing!
Death by Rainbow-Bubble! I'll never be able to look at another bubble the same way again!
Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Bagrat
Cerberus has been doing alright by me and mine. The new jobs have helped out a lot, and the extra spending money has been a godsend, by itself! They're probably the best thing that's happened to the Bay in the last decade, and things have only been getting better since they showed up.
As for Safeguard? Well, I've been celebrating the 'Silencing of the Nine,' like just about everyone else, so I honestly don't know much about them. Still, if they're coming to the Bay, I'd welcome them.
Who knows? Maybe they'll be able to finally teach the gangs some manners?
AverageAlexandros (Cape Husband)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
So, this is why my wife got called back in on her day off? Just watched the video and I can understand why. I mean, damn...
Tumbles
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
AverageAlexandros
Then she's not alone.
Just got a tip from a friend of mine, who's saying that the PRT and Protectorate are basically calling in everyone, in response to this, holidays being cancelled and everything! It's happening nationwide!
SixteenTons (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Tumbles
Given what just happened, can you honestly blame them for running around like headless chickens?
Chrome
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
'Parahuman-related security solutions?' That's an interesting way of spelling 'Cape mercenaries.'
Not that I'm complaining, really, since I'd be more than happy to pay for their services, given what they've already done. At least, if I had the money too...
QwertyD
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Chrome
You might not, but I'm willing to bet that there's already a growing list of people who'd happily shell out the cash to see these guys go to town on somebody!
Acree
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
QwertyD
Pre-emptively orders popcorn for the shows to come*
Nod
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
QwertyD
I'd pay good money to see that!
Lolitup (Cape Groupie)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
So the new guys took out the murderhobos, so what? Only reason they lasted this long is because they ran with their tails between their legs every time the Triumvirate showed up.
XxVoid_CowboyxX
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Everyone hide!1!1! THe Government Kill-Squads are coming for us all!1!
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 737, 738, 739
(Showing page 520 of 739)
SmileForTheBirdy (Verified Bird Watcher)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Guys! Guys! Guys!
I just saw The Silencer! Multiple Silencers, even! Five of them all riding on identical bikes and driving down the street with three of them carrying guys over the back of their bikes! I actually didn't know who they had as passengers for a second, given how beat up they were, then I recognised the costumes that they were wearing!
They had Dredger, Froststorm and Black Thunder, unconscious, beaten to a pulp and practically hogtied to the back of their bikes, and heading for the PRT station!
And if you don't believe me, feast your eyes on this: [Link]
ArchmageEin
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
SmileForTheBirdy
Holy Shit...
Edit: Also, those three sure look like they took one hell of a beating, and they might not be high-tier Capes, but they're not the bottom of the barrel either, Jesus...
Answer Key
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
SmileForTheBirdy
Think they took a recording of their fight with those three, like they did with the Nine?
Bagrat (Original Poster) (The Guy in the Know) (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
I can confirm what SmileForTheBirdy just said. Contact of mine just passed on that Dredger, Froststorm and Black Thunder have all been handed into PRT custody, unconscious and restrained. Not to mention, beaten black and blue...
According to my guy, the three normally referred to as the Triple Threat Trio, were all handed in as part of the Capture Order that's been hanging over them for the last two years, which was handed over to the Silencers in full.
The exchange itself was short and to the point, with the Silencers being blunt, but not to the point of being rude. In fact, my guy even described them as stoic, speaking laconically, all in the same distorted voice as the one that silenced the Nine. Something they described as 'creepy as all hell' when you're talking with the entire group of them. after they got the paid, they left, no fuss or anything.
Answer Key
And yes, they apparently took a copy of the fight with the TTT, though, calling it a 'fight' implies that the other side even had a chance, much like the Slaughterhouse Nine did against their Silencer. The PRT got a copy, and my guy managed to get a copy, along with a few others. If you're interested, you can find it here: [Link]
Dawgsmiles (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
SmileForTheBirdy
Bagrat
They're not alone! I was taking a video of my girlfriend when Speedfreck and his crew came racing out of a side alley and running like the hounds of hell were chasing after them! A second later, another group of Silencers shot out as well!
And I swear, seeing a picture of those guys does not do them justice! Especially when they really seem to like living up to the name, given how quiet those bikes are.
Here's a copy of the video: [Link]
Procto the Unfortunate Tinker (Not a tinker)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Dawgsmiles
You're not the only one! Red Street just tried breaking into a bank, with Raging Rhino leading things up with a charge, only to be yanked back, off his feet, by a Silencer with a whip!
The others didn't fare much better, since they got slammed into the ground by the other four that showed up seconds later! The Normals practically surrendered on the spot, since they'd probably seen the video of the Nine being slaughtered. So, against five Silencers? I think they didn't like their chances.
Ekul
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Well, damn, that makes, what, sixteen Silencers at the very least? How many of these guys do they have? 'Cause it feels like they're practically crawling out of the woodwork!
Mind you, What I'm really curious about was, what the hell were they even doing out there? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Safeguard managed to bring all those guys down, but why were they even there in the first place?
Chaosfaith (Verified Crazy) (Verified Safeguard Cultist)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
They Come! The Heralds of a New Age Arrive! They're Numbers Growing as Darkness Falters! They Come!
Silence_Is_Golden
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Ekul
Due to not being assigned to an ongoing contract, Squads Beta, Gamma and Delta were currently on standby at the time of the events in question. Any Squad on standby, and without any standing orders, is free to conduct independent operations under their own initiative, under the condition that all the correct procedures are followed and no unnecessary collateral damage is generated.
Further information, such as the total number of Operators, is restricted and not accessible to the public.
Answer Key
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Silence_Is_Golden
Wait, what?! You mean that, so long as they aren't on the job and haven't been told not to, they're free to just go out and hunt down Villains?!
Goddamn! They're practically living the dream!
Edit:
Wait a minute... How the hell do you know that...? Unless...
BadSamurai
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Holy Shit!
Everyone! Safeguard in the Thread!
ArchmageEin
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Silence_Is_Golden
Are you really Safeguard? Like, really real Safeguard?
Not that anyone's doubting you, but can you prove it? If only to keep the crazies happy? Please?
Divide
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Well, that was unexpected!
SlayerOfKeyboards (Cape Groupie)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Holy Shit! Holy Shit! Holy Shit! Can I get your autograph!?
Wait, no, do you guys have a Safeguard brand!? Is it on sale yet?! What kind of stuff do you sell?! Where can I get some!? Do you take pre-orders?! Please, tell me...!
Bagrat (Original Poster) (The Guy in the Know) (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Well, I did not see that coming, when I started this thread...
Silence_Is_Golden
So, given what you've said, is there anything that you can tell us about Safeguard? Also, any chance you could verify that you are a member of Safeguard, just so that the Mods can verify you, since we've got enough problems with trolls trying to pretend their Cape accounts.
Chaosfaith (Verified Crazy) (Verified Safeguard Cultist)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Behold! The Messenger! The Speaker of Silence Arrives to bring the Enlightenment of a New Era!
XxVoid_CowboyxX
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Oh No! They found us! Everyone run for you lives! The Government is trying to silence the truth about their secret agreement with the Alien Daemon Lizard Overlords!
Silence_Is_Golden
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Answer Key
ArchmageEin
Bagrat
Is this sufficient Proof? [Link]
SlayerOfKeyboards
Merchandise is currently under development, but I have been informed that it should be ready for sale within the next month.
Bagrat
It would depend on the question being asked.
XxVoid_CowboyxX
Have you ever considered that the louder you shout, the less people listen? The truth can be hidden easily, when all it takes to hide it from the people is to cast doubt upon those that speak it.
Food for thought, yes?
Noveltry
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Well... That wasn't fucking ominous at all...
BadSamurai
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Noveltry
What I'm more interested, is how they managed to give Bedlam a black eye, since, last time I checked, the guy had a serious Brute rating, due to a mixture of a personal Force-Field and toughness. Just how hard did they hit him?
Edit:
Also, is it just me, or is he missing a few teeth in that picture as well?
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 519, 520, 521 ... 737, 738, 739
(Showing page 739 of 739)
Tumbles
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Lolitup
For the last fucking time! No one gives a shit if you think that Alexandros could solo the entirety of Safeguard! Or that the Triumvirate could crush them! That isn't what this thread is for! If you really want to go on about it that badly, take it to the bloody VS threads! That's why they're there!
ABBForLife
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
If these Whelps seek to dance with the Dragon, they best be prepared to burn.
Valkyr (Wiki Warrior)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Does anyone have a full list of all the guys that Safeguard has caught so far? I've been trying to keep up, but every time I look away from the screen to type out another entry, another three arrests get announced and I'm just falling further and further behind.
Forgotten Creator (Not a tinker)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Anyone got a link to that discussion thread talking about Safeguard's Tinkertech? I saw a link a few pages back, but can't seem to find it.
ArchmageEin
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Forgotten Creator
Here you go: [Link]
Lolitup (Cape Groupie)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Tumbles
You're just upset 'cause Safeguard would get curbstomped if they tried going up against some Real Heroes.
Dawgsmiles (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Valkyr
Safeguard just updated their website, so it now announces the latest takedowns that they're guys have done, along with posted body-cam footage, or whatever passes for that among those guys, since it seems to flip between first-person perspectives, third-person over-the-shoulder perspectives, and completely out-of-body perspectives that seem to just float around the place.
Frankly, I've got no idea how they pull it off, but I'm not complaining, especially since it lets me laugh at Mega Fist's face over and over again!
Mock Moniker (Unverified Cape)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
HA HA! Now this is what I'm talking 'bout!
It's barely been half a day, and Safeguard's been bagging and tagging villains left, right and centre!
See this, PRT?! Protectorate!? This is what competence looks like! Maybe you should take some notes! It might just prevent you from fucking-up again and letting them escape...!
… Oh, who am I kidding, you'll just fuck-up anyway!
Nod
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Damn... They're really cleaning house! How many does that make it now? I lost count after Gravedigger got slapped over the head with one of his own tombstones.
Deimos
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Just curious, but has any information been released on how to obtain a Safeguard contract? I've been looking, mostly out of curiosity, but all I've found is some contact information.
So... I guess you just have to contact them, or something, right?
Blue_streak02 (Verified Cape) (Independent) (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Silence_Is_Golden
Just wondering, but are you guys hiring? Is there an application process that I can submit something through? Or do I just... Turn up?
Silver Strike (Verified Cape) (Meisters)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Definitely something to keep an eye on, considering the progress they've made so far. Though, I'm curious if they do international jobs, since I wouldn't mind having them as backup against some of the threats over here.
Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)
Replied On Aug 11th 2010:
Ya'know, with everything they've done so far, I honestly can't wait to see what happens when they arrive at BB! I mean, it's bound to happen, with Cerberus being their parent-company, or whatever the term is!
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 737, 738, 739
XXX
Watching the video displayed on the screen in front of him, he lifted the tumbler to his lips, sipping at the fingers of whiskey inside as he watched the deaths of the Slaughterhouse Nine play out once more.
This hadn't been his first viewing of the footage, the link to it having been sent to him by an early-rising aide, nor would it be his last, he suspected. Certainly, it had not been the way he'd envisioned how this day would go, never mind how it would start. In truth, he'd been resigned to another day of worthless debate and filibuster that would see him and his allies spinning in circles, only to achieve next to nothing by the end of the day. Already, some of his allies were hanging on by threads, especially after the last budget allocation had seen more and more funds diverted towards the PRT and Protectorate, helped along by the various sock-puppets within the Senate and House of Representatives. It certainly didn't help that, while the two conjoined organisations were receiving an increasingly large share of the budget nowadays, with what remained being viciously fought over.
As such, trying to lobby for changes to the current situation was next to useless, only good for keeping up appearances. Too many conflicting interests and concerns of self-preservation, all too powerful for any kind of mutual self-interest to overcome. Too few seemed to think beyond the short term, in making sure that their own interests remained active and capable of supporting them. Put simply, it was all just one giant mess, one that only grew into an ever greater mess as time passed, with each budget allocation that went through.
And, to top it all off, what measures were being taken to try to rebalance the equation were only making things worse! Taxes were being raised, slowly and steadily, to try and increase the governments stream of income and, in theory, increase the amount of funds that could be allocated in the coming year. However, in practise, things weren't anywhere near that clear cut. Raising taxes across the board meant that, not only were regular Joes paying more taxes, but businesses as well. In order to keep profits up, those same business would need to trim a bit of fat to keep things going. More often than not, that meant employees being 'made redundant' or the shutdown of facilities, factories or offices. That, in turn, meant that those same employees wouldn't have a source of income to pay their own taxes, which would still be as high as ever, and while trying to find a new job and source of pay. It certainly didn't help that the job market was slowly shrinking, even if it wasn't apparent to most people on the surface, the signs were still there.
In many ways, it reminded him of the expression about boiling frogs; Try to put a frog in hot water and it'll fight you ever step of the way. However, dump it in cool water and slowly raise the temperature, and it won't even notice as it's boiled alive.
However, now, things had changed.
Now, a new option had appeared, one that had the potential to act as an alternative, or potential replacement, for the overgrown parasites that the PRT and Protectorate had become in recent times. An option that had already generated massive amounts of positive PR for themselves, while also highlighting just how effective they were by killing off the entire Slaughterhouse Nine. The fact that the very same video also functioned as a very direct, very cutting and very blatant jab at both the PRT and Protectorate capabilities only made it better, in his eyes.
Still, despite how much he wanted to rush in as fast as possible, especially given the demonstrated capabilities of this new group, he knew better than to rush into things. More than once, he'd seen this exact thing attempted by independent groups, only to never amount to anything beyond a single town or city, with some simply disintegrating within a year or two. This group looked different, but he'd rather have all the information first, before making any plans and setting them in motion.
With that in mind, he finished off the rest of his drink before placing the empty glass back down on the surface of the varnished wooden desk in front of him. Reaching out with one hand, he pulled his office phone closer even as he continued to watch the video play out once more, eyes attentive and taking in every detail even as fingers punched the phone number for an old friend of his. Pressing the green dial button, he placed the phone next to his ear as the dial tone started up, before connecting. The phone on the other end only had a chance to ring twice before it was answered, and a familiar voice came across the line.
"... Well, hello to you too, Jack." He started with a smile. "I take it you've just been watching a certain video, released by a certain group...? Oh, I don't doubt that, and I can already see the PRT and Protectorate trying to run damage control on this, though, I have my doubts about it working... Definitely, which is why I called, I was wondering if you'd mind doing a bit of digging for me...? You will...? I never doubted that, especially with how much downsizing your department has been forced to go through recent years, thanks to them... Ha! Yeah, I can imagine, though, we can probably talk about it at the Barbeque. It's still on, this weekend, right...? Brilliant, I'll see you and the others there. Bye."
With that, he put the phone down, feeling satisfied in a way he hadn't been in many, many years as he watched the video came to an end once more, Safeguard's already iconic logo on full display as their parting words faded to black. Already, he could practically plot out a road map of potential, of what could be, if he made the jump that he'd been considering since he'd watched the video the first time. Oh, he had no doubt that the road ahead would be hard, with caution and prudence being his greatest tools, but the rewards? The potential public support and approval ratings generated from being seen as the man backing Safeguard would probably be worth their weight in Platinum alone, assuming that they didn't crash and burn first. If they managed to become more than just another attempt to create an alternative to the current system y groups fed-up with the PRT and Protectorate's lack of competence, then they'd be worth even more.
Who knows, maybe, in two years time, they'd even be willing to return the favour...?
After all, while he didn't have any delusions about himself, he doubted that he could do any worse than the current batch of idiots living in the House right now.
XXX
Pushing himself away from the desk, and the monitor on it, Glenn Chambers leaned back in his chair with a heavy sign, a hand automatically going to knead at the bridge of his nose, a futile attempt to stave off the growing headache he could feel coming. Eventually, he gave up on the attempt with a sigh, simply placing his hand over his face even as a pulse of pain ran through his grey matter, hammering away at it like an overly-enthusiastic jackhammer. Peeking through his fingers, he glared at the source of his irritation, the paused image plainly visible on the screen as it proudly displayed the image of the infamous Jack Slash, hanging limply from a hand grasping his snapped neck.
"No rest for the wicked, eh...?" He muttered aloud, before pulling himself back to his desk. Shrinking the video down, the PRT's Director of Public Image flicked through some of the other windows he had open, ranging from PHO threads, to social media posts, to video posting sites, to a dozen other things that all seemed to showcase the same general trend of emotions and reactions, all tracing back to a single source, and the source of his latest headache.
Safeguard.
In truth, he was willing to admit that he was rather impressed with them, and would easily admit that he'd have loved the chance to shake hands, and speak with, whoever ran Safeguard's PR department. As, clearly, they had some skilled and experienced people working for them, given the quality of their first announcement.
And what an announcement it had been.
Having watched the video several times already, he could see the way that every facet of it had been used to emphasis the capabilities of Safeguard's 'Silencers,' as they were being called. Not only that, but from one moment to the next, the Silencer in the video had never stopped moving forwards, not even pausing as they ran through each member of the Slaughterhouse Nine. Even when they'd engaged with some of the most notorious mass-murderers in modern times, it didn't even seem to faze them. The same constant motion, and the casual way they seemed to carry out those motions, all conveyed a sense of invincibility that was only enhanced by the fact that, throughout the entire encounter, the Silencer hadn't even been injured or harmed. In many ways, the imagery painted them as less mere mortals and beings of flesh, and more like a force of nature that nothing could stand against, something made all the more apparent by the total destruction of the Nine.
That same image of being a force of nature was only augmented further by the casual displays of competence, and the selection of power sets, or Tinkertech devices, that they'd used to kill each member of the Nine. It was a little thing, but it showed that these people were not fools, and did not take chances. Every move had been planned out in advance and each target had been carefully studied, so much so that Glenn didn't doubt that they probably knew what the members of the Nine had had for breakfast the previous week. Given the demonstrated surveillance capabilities that were shown off during the opening stages of the video, Glenn wasn't willing to bet against them knowing exactly that. Though, it did raise a number of worrying questions that would doubtlessly give more than a few members of the PRT and Protectorate's upper management a few sleepless nights. Never mind the wider intelligence community, of both the United States, and the rest of the world...
However, that wasn't his department's, or his, problem.
No, what was his problem, was the fact that the PRT and Protectorate had just had their public image given the mother of all black eyes, along with a slug in the jaw for good measure.
For years now, he'd worked to present the public with the narrative that the PRT and Protectorate were working for the greater good of the nation, of the Human race, fighting monsters, bringing villains to justice and promoting Parahumanity's integration into the wider world. It was a narrative that took large amounts of time, effort and funding to keep on track, the latter of which had earned them no small number of enemies both within the halls of power, and outside of them. Not helped in the least by the continuous downsizing that had been forced to endure, all for the sake of keeping the status quo on track. Likewise, more than one fledgling group had been smothered in the crib, either through direct pressure, indirect intimidation, or by being sidelined through the PRT's vast control over the countries various media outlets. It was regrettable, in many ways, but necessary to prevent competition from forming that may threaten that same narrative that had become a major foundation for the modern world.
Now, however, despite all the years of work that had gone into constructing that narrative like a delicate piece of clockwork, and protecting it, that narrative was now under threat, thanks to the actions of a group that had literally come out of nowhere.
Safeguard, whether intentionally or otherwise, had just taken a sledgehammer to the narrative clockwork that Glenn had spent years putting together, something Glenn took more than a little umbrage at, given how that same narrative was practically his baby. Their actions in killing the Slaughterhouse Nine were, without a doubt, a cause for celebration, but the fact that it wasn't the Protectorate and the PRT that did it was a massive blow to their credibility. After all, the Slaughterhouse Nine had been a thorn in the side of the nation for decades now, and he'd seen the amount of funds, and lives, that had been spent in an attempt to put them down for good, only to fail. For decades, they'd been able to roam freely, practically thumbing their noses at every effort made to stop them, only for their near-endless luck and skills to amount to nothing when Safeguard had decided that the group had lived long enough.
Added on to this massive blow to the PRT-Protectorate's image was the ammunition that Safeguard had all but gift-wrapped for their various political opponents and rival departments, who'd have either noticed, or soon would notice, that there was now blood in the water. And a lot of it, at that.
Something made even worse by the fact that some of their best evidence of their own utility and effectiveness had been tarred with oceans of black ink, hidden away in isolated vaults, so as to prevent mass panic from spreading among the greater population. Such things were only known to their closest allies, sworn to secrecy and blanketed in NDAs, but would do little good in this situation. Even discounting any potential mass hysteria that would come from their release, it was all too likely that it would only provide even more ammunition to anti-PRT elements both inside and outside of the government.
Groaning slightly as he ran a hand over his face, he grimaced slightly, knowing that there was no real way to avoid what was coming. Nothing they could do at this point would prevent the news from spreading, and any attempt to suppress it would be both too late, along with making things worse for them in both the short-term and long-term. Damage control was the only option, and they needed to start on it yesterday, if not sooner. With that in mind, he reached over and grabbed one of the many phones that cluttered his desk, before selecting the only contact saved into it's memory. The phone only rang once before it was immediately picked up.
"Hello, Chief-Director? It's Glenn. I assume you've already seen the latest video making the rounds of PHO...? Yes, that one... Believe me, Director, I'd love for there to be a simple fix for this, but there isn't. Right now, damage control is the name of the game, and we need to start on it immediately, along with various efforts to mitigate the impact this would have on the wider organisation... Off the top of my head? Recalling everyone that you can and making them aware of this, along with making every effort to 'wave the flag,' as it were. I'll start working on a few releases to try and soften the blows when they come, but there really isn't much I can do beyond that, especially with no prior warning... Honestly? We'd need a win, and a big one at that, something that can draw attention away from this mess... I know, I know, but that's really all I can offer at this stage, especially with how rapidly it's developing. And that's without considering whatever Safeguard might do next." Glenn paused, listening to the words spoken on the other side of the line for a moment, before nodding to himself. "... Yes, I can have a rough draft put together and a few preliminary press releases put out before then... Ok, I'll see you at the meeting, Director."
With those final words, Glenn put the phone back where he'd picked it up before turning back to his computer. Interlacing his fingers and stretching his arms out, he felt and heard his knuckles popping as he wheeled himself back towards his desk. Pressing a custom shortcut on his keyboard caused multiple new windows to open as he began typing, jumping between the different windows in jittering steps as he wrote out emails to members of his staff, manages of various departments and the draft of the press releases he'd promised the Chief-Director. Already, there was so much to be done, and far too little time to do it in, especially as he now had a meeting to attend via video conference at, he glanced at the clock on his screen to check, an hour and a half.
No rest for the wicked, indeed...
XXX
It was amusing, in a way, watching the Cattle-Stock react to a change.
Like simple animals, the Cattle-Stock lived their lives following routines they built for themselves, or others built for them. These routines brought stability, brought a feeling of security, as those carrying them out felt they knew what was happening within their own lives, felt they knew what the next day would bring. Nothing getting better, but nothing getting worse either, just a continuous adherence to the status quo that only led to stagnation as nothing changed, despite the lengths of time to pass. In many ways, it only made the comparison all the more apt, as the vast majority of Cattle-Stock simply refused to do anything that wasn't required of them, putting the bare minimum effort forwards.
Simple animals, with simple minds that followed equally simple behaviours that all linked back to primal instincts and base desires.
Of course, she didn't doubt that many of the Cattle-Stock would resent the comparison, arguing that they were intelligent, civilized beings, capable of complex thought and problem solving, not mere beasts. However, such things were didn't need to be mutually exclusive, as even lesser creatures could display such traits. Oh, the potential to be something more than mere Cattle-Stock was definitely there, but it remained that, mere potential. So long as the Cattle-Stock remained in a state of sloth, satisfied with the status quo and their self-inflicted stagnation, such potential would go to waste, left unused. All the better, then, for others to harvest and make use of it in their stead, giving it purpose and utilising it to the fullest, in service of the Alpha.
Ah, but the hypocrisy of Cattle-Stock, and their failings, was not her responsibility, merely something that she could use as another tool in her, already-vast, collection in order to complete whatever task the Alpha commanded to be carried out. Of which, the Alpha had gifted her with several to devote her time and resources towards completing.
One such task was observing the reactions and moods of the Cattle-Stock, before reporting such observations to the two Enhanced-Stock that had been inducted into the service of the Alpha, but not yet assimilated into the Hive itself. It was not a position that would last long, both of the Enhanced-Stock having professed a desire to join with the Hive via upgrading themselves further beyond the base Cattle-Stock that had spawned them. A worthy desire, and one she found agreeable, as to be part of the Hive was to be part of something greater, all in service to the Will of the Alpha. Time would be required to ensure they were assimilated fully, made aware of their positions and purpose within the Hive, but such was the way of things.
Another of her tasks was the monitoring of the Birthing-Crèches that spawned ranks upon ranks of Servants for the Hive. Each Servant was meticulously examined as they grew, thoroughly checked for any instability, along with any other factor that would negatively affect their ability to serve the Hive, and the Alpha. In some ways, it was wasteful, but needed, if only to prevent a drop in efficiency due to a Servant thinking they could advance above their designated position within the Hive, or simply leave it entirely. The arrogance of it was astounding, and she made a careful note of the genes and mental-attributes that had gone into those specific Servants, blacklisting them.
However, while vital, most of her ongoing tasks could be handled by lesser Forks, acting on automatic processes and pre-defined directives. It allowed her to devote most of her attention to the most important tasks given to her by the Alpha, tasks that couldn't be left to run automatically due to a number of factors. Such factors varied, ranging from the constantly shifting nature of their objectives, to the priority given to them by the Alpha.
One such task was the collection and assimilation of members of the Host-Stock into the Hive, potentially as members of a lesser, subordinate Hive, and under the command of the Alpha. It was a task that required much of her attention, made even more important by the number of Host-Stock that had attracted the Alpha's attention, making them, in turn, priority targets for collection and assimilation. An entire database was devoted to profiles of such Host-Stock, with some already falling into range of the Hive's Observance, their every movement and moment watched and documented. Precognitive probes allowed for their motions to be predicted, ensuring that they'd not escape the Hive's notice, and mapping out the path to their eventual assimilation. Something made even simpler once they fell within the expanding Influence of the Hive, and were gradually assimilated by mere proximity.
Even so, steps were being taken to speed the process up, as several Host-Stock had been highlighted for retrieval by her own observation, there locations and situations making them prime targets for assimilation. Already, plans were in motion to see to that, Assembly Vats constructing specially designed drones to conduct the retrieval, and ensuring that nothing could be linked back to the Hive, and the Alpha. One member of the Host-Stock, in particular, was an especially tempting target, already bound in chains and locked in a cage they couldn't even perceive. They couldn't even see the leash wrapped around their own neck, keeping them from seeing what was right in front of them, with the keys to it all in the hands of a Cattle-Stock that didn't even know that they had become a target of interest, if only by association. A tantalizing target, indeed, made even more so by their own capabilities, influence and connections, all practically gift-wrapped and just waiting to be assimilated into the Hive.
And they would be assimilated, Tiamat would ensure it
XXX
AN: Alright then! There goes the first reaction chapter to Safeguard stepping out into the wider world, and people losing their shit over it! Hope you enjoyed it, and, as always, feel free to give suggestions, feedback and comments as the story progresses!
Cheers! :D
Edit: Also, as a side note, I make no promises about how accurate my portrayal of the governmental process, PR, or anything of that nature is. My understanding of it is amateurish, at best!
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