P-Q woke up on the couch. Pulling himself up, he stretched looking at Breakthrough’s, lair might be the best way to describe it. Technically, they were back at the docks, at the loading yard. For whatever reason, he lived inside a collection of shipping containers that had been hollowed out into a four floor manor. From the outside, everything looked like any other stack of containers. Inside, it was like a luxury home, with no windows.
Someone had seen Amber and P-Q’s flight through the old town the night before. Not enough people to stop it, but enough to post on social media and get a hashtag going. That’s how Breakthrough learned what was happening, and figured out how to find them. Somewhere in the lair was a pot of coffee. The smell drawing P-Q to the others.
“Alright, who is Amber?” P-Q came up the stairs into the conversation over a breakfast table. Breakthrough trying to understand something about the mysterious woman.
“I was Amber, but I burned my I.D. in the escape. My parents called me their little Firebrand growing up, and that’s probably the closest thing I have to a real name. It’s just not a government name. If it makes you feel better you could call me Tootie.” Amber/Firebrand/Tootie sipped her coffee.
“Hey, thanks for taking us in last night. Apologies to the couch, I hope I didn’t ruin it.” P-Q sat at the table with the others. “I had a feeling about Amber.” He looked to the woman. “Tootie huh?”
“Gertrude really, but if you want to stick with Amber, it doesn’t bother me.”
“You’re an interesting person.” Breakthrough pointed to Tootie while holding his coffee mug. “Then again, who am I to judge? It’s been a long time since I’ve entertained guests. Speaking of…” Breakthrough offered an empty cup to P-Q.
The three metahumans moved into an easy cadence, sharing stories and feeling each other out. Breakthrough was new to Central City, having taken over the base of a villain named Shockwave who was presumed dead. He was new to being a hero, but was doing his best to figure it out. Part of that was a series of alerts designed to get information to him faster than the news could cover. The news did catch up, and none of it was good.
Eventually, Vic, Breakthrough, brought the group’s attention to the alerts he had been receiving. There was mixed reporting on the event. A lot of the coverage was focused on the cell phone videos that had first brought Vic’s attention to everything that had been happening. However, some news stations, along with Hard Harry Huntsman’s Triple H report were calling for an update to the Metahuman Civil Liberties Act to update registration to a compulsory requirement for all people with power. A local channel WSBK has sent their field reporter Sarah Scott to the scene.
“They’re saying that P-Q started a fight in the bar then went on a rampage through Old Town. There’s no real mention of you Tootie. Although, you’re in most of the videos.”
“What are the other stations saying?”
“They’re more mixed. The bartender has spoken up saying the men approached P-Q, but no one is backing up his story.”
P-Q signed deeply leaning back in his chair. “Tootie, I appreciate you and Vic checking, but once they figure out I’m a Be-Man, not born Meta, it’s over.”
“Be-Man, like Harbinger’s Be-Men?” Vic snapped to attention.
“One in the same. Geovani ‘Twin Shot’ Cardillo sold me to Harbinger to clear my marker. Turned me into this. Couldn’t really do anything but work for Harbinger after that. Made me his enforcer for a time. That’s how I got the nickname P-Q, Quin Payne, but mind your Ps and Qs. Then, he got better at his craft and just kind of forgot about me. Wasn’t needed anymore.” Planting the chair back down, P-Q looked at Tootie, then to Vic.
“Here’s the thing though, I wouldn’t have even gotten involved if that kid hadn’t been hurt.” P-Q recounted the events of the previous night and how no one even seemed to notice the downed Master.
“Woah…” Tootie held her mouth. “Look, I can build a new Amber, that’s a trip to my apartment. Vic, has anyone mentioned my light show at the bar?”
“Not that I’m seeing.”
“That will make it easier. Let’s swing by my place, then I want to stop by the hospital.”
